Up just before sunrise we crossed back over the fence and started a peaceful morning in Arches. Descending into Courthouse Wash. We alternate walking on rolling waves of sandstone and the soft fine sand of the wash. The sand is a good story teller of recent happenings of the neighborhood. Tracks stamped into ground of … Continue reading A day in Courthouse Wash
At last, we are out on the Hayduke! Mike picked us up in the morning at the storage unit where we are stashing our car. After giving him a bottle of Portland Ketchup we were off! Outdoor, conservation-minded enthusiasts of wilderness and public lands we had a fun chat on route to the start. Thanks … Continue reading We walk where the cryptobiotic soil tells us to
Since Sunday morning, Gabriel and I have been driving, driving, driving from Salt Lake City. And before that from Seattle. Six days on the road. I wonder if the 40 hours of travel in one go from Musoma to Seattle has me conditioned for this phase of the Hayduke. Gabriel thinks not. I do know, after … Continue reading A sneak peek
More to come about the Hayduke preparations and the journey itself (which starts... oh in about 11 hours). But two weeks ago, Gabriel and I were on route home from three weeks traveling around Tanzania. (It's been quite an amazing first month of sabbatical.) We primarily went to Tanzania to see Sarah and get to … Continue reading Before I forget, roughly two weeks ago, we were in Tanzania
From Seattle to Portland to Salt Lake to the Hayduke. That's the plan. Part road trip, part mission, part pure function. There's so many places we'd like to stop along the way. I think about what our friend Sourdough from the PCT said, "If it only takes 15 minutes, check it out!" But with all … Continue reading On the road
Gracie has overseen our packing for many an adventure: the PCT, Grand Canyon, Ptarmigan Traverse, CDT, Chinook, Tanzania, and most weekends here at home. She's an expert at advising us on trip logistics, food, gear, safety considerations, and route options. And she keeps my pack from weighing too much (Gracie's weight is my goal base … Continue reading Gracie now plans our hikes
Day 147: Waterton Town Site to the Monument, ~8 miles, total miles-gotta add that up It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end. - Ursula K. LeGuin Most days, hiking a long distance trail is not about the monuments on either end of the … Continue reading A few moments at the Monument
Day 140: Two Medicine Ranger Station to East Glacier, MT, ~12 miles, ~2,612+ miles total In 2011, we hiked some 900 miles of the PCT as "SOBOing NOBOs". That is, we hiked a good chunk of the trail traveling southbound, but overall hiked most of the trail walking north. We had a couple of reasons … Continue reading SOBOing NOBOs with a dusting of snow
Day 139: East Glacier Park, MT, 0 miles, ~2,600+ miles total We are so darn close. But still 110 miles or so from Waterton Lakes and the northern terminus of the CDT. When we look at the trail on our GPS apps, we can see the rest of our route as a single screen shot. … Continue reading Patiently chomping at the bit
Day 128: Point 8,350 ~1 mile west of Leadville to 3 miles south of MacDonald Pass, ~29 miles, ~2,350+ miles total A day of brushy trail, tangled alternates, and meeting good people along the Divide. When I daydreamed of hiking long distance trails it was for the appreciation of vistas, wildlife, plant communities, wilderness; to … Continue reading People along the Divide
marmot's adventures 