After finishing the stunning, but expensive — both physically and financially — Colorado stretch and entering the much anticipated state of Wyoming, a couple of rest days are much needed, especially to honor the Fourth of July. I am forever grateful to be a citizen of the United States — the ongoing practical experiment in liberty, opportunity, equality, and justice. Our nation may be founded on principles of idealism, but like any experiment, the reality or application will have some discrepancy as compared with the theory. Perfection is unachievable, but through iteration of moderated trial and error and civil debate, we may approach towards the model laid forth by our founding forefathers. Nonetheless, I am undeniably grateful and privileged to live in the most innovative country in existence. There is no more freeing of an experience than to hike the spine of the country with my life in a backpack, and I certainly must acknowledge those who have risked and sacrificed everything for the freedoms I appreciate — much of the time ignorantly.
Much of the holiday was spent doing chores and planning for trail ahead. The lazy afternoon was beneficial, but I awoke on the fifth with a bit of soreness, so I booked another night. I knocked out resupply and some healthy eating along with a long nap on my day off. Plenty of large, fattening meals accompanied my activities.
Rawlins has been a quiet and easy stay, and I’m looking forward to some desert walking before I hit the Wind River Range. Arguably my most anticipated part of trail, I continue to hear praise of the Winds from friends who previously hiked the trail. I originally imagined alternating to do Andrew Skurka’s Wind River High Route, a 100-mile, mostly off-trail line that hits a couple 13,000 foot summits and alpine passes. Instead, to avoid the inevitable deep and abundant snow of the high country, I’ll stay to the CDT line, and alternate to Knapsack Col and Cirque of the Towers for a taste of some alpine terrain.
I look forward to what the cowboy state has to offer, but I suspect the miles will go fast in this state.
Signing off,
Zeppelin / fReaK (ON a leash)
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