I began around 7am. Analyzing my map this morning, I noticed a couple points to legally cut trail. By legally, I mean that I crossed public lands to eliminate needless miles. Trail followed dirt roads the entire day, and roads often honor grading before efficiency or directness.
A urine-like nitrate smell was common today. I am unsure of the source, but I expect some desert plant is the origin. The landscape today was unique — a conjunction of the deserts of the west and the prairie plains of the east.
I was wondering if I’d see another rattlesnake on trail. At mile seven, I heard the sound of a light maraca and got excited. A beautiful prairie rattlesnake with a greenish hue coiled in the grass aside trail.
| 🗓️ Date | July 3rd |
| ⇢ Mileage | 39.0 |
| 📍 Trip Mileage | 1528.9 |
| ⛅️ Weather | Sunny 80°F by noon, sudden drenching thunderstorm around 5pm, cloudy through end of the day |
| 🏞️ Trail Conditions | Rolling dirt road all day with some highway into town |
Trail followed some of the Overland Trail for a ways today. The Overland Trail was a stagecoach route that served as a critical mail and passenger trail from Atchison, Kansas to Salt Lake City, Utah in the early 1860’s. I reached Bridger Pass, the formal start of the Great Divide Basin, at mile 15 for the day. Beyond Bridger Pass, the road was uneventful mostly, cruising by cow ponds. Deeper into the Basin, the ponds became more alkaline — undrinkable.
By mile 30, I decided to make the push to Rawlins. I had three hours of daylight left. The winds were quite heavy in the early afternoon, and clouds were running me down the valley. They seemed broken and fluffy though — not storm-like. I climbed atop a ridge, and dark clouds sat at the edge of the trail. Despite my optimism, rain, hail, and sleet ensued with sharp wind and thunder. I was soaked through immediately, and I ran for a rock ledge on a hillside to avoid the lightning. After 30 minutes, I walked on damp, but drying.
Sounds of approaching civilization welcomed my arrival — train horns, sizzling power lines, highway tire and engine noise. I powered my way to Highway 71, leading me into Rawlins. I walked through old downtown Rawlins to the more commercial east side of town.
I expect to take a spa day in Rawlins to celebrate Independence Day, and I may even consider another day off should I need more time to prep for trail ahead. I checked in at my hotel and grabbed McDonald’s. There was one last test of the day. At McDonald’s, an old hippie, Vietnam veteran talked at me for two hours about 70’s and 80’s rock music, theology, UFO’s, Native American histories and legends, his high school days, and political opinions. I put up with it, shaking my head and agreeing, and he threw me $20 — I guess for listening to his stories. I rarely spoke, but he said I was the only person in recent memory that could keep up with his rambling. Physically and mentally drained, I crashed at my hotel.
Signing off,
Zeppelin / fReaK (ON a leash)
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