Day #41 (98)-Last pit stop. Miles hiked: 19.3

In true CDT fashion, today was an entirely new biome of lodge pole pines and climbs where I could peep over into Colorado.

Also, there was shade!!!

There was also hiking with my new friend, PI, and headed up and over Bridger Peak and down to Battle Pass for a hitch into Encampment, WY.

One last wave to the Great Divide Basin…it was a fun change of scenery for 200 miles or so, but I’m also glad to be back up in the mountains. 

Once we got to Battle Pass, we caught the first car which happened to be a rad couple from Key West, FL on a road trip and kind enough to pick up some hiker trash. 

They even gave us some refreshments to enjoy while picking up packages at the post office.

Although the original plan was to hitch back to trail and keep hiking, the Sirens of town lulled is into a cheap RV site, a shower and the first campfire of the CDT. It cracks me up when people ask me if I build a fire everyday on trail. The answer is absolutely not for both wildfire prevention and mainly exhaustion.

But for tonight, it was a lovely treat after an entire large pizza was consumed in one sitting. Goodnight from my last trail town before Steamboat!