Journey Day 392 | CDT Day 55

Enjoying a fire in the Yellowstone backcountry with Eric Gallandt in 1987.

8/7/87

Up against my body's will, partially due to hacksaw snoring action of 66-year-old birthday boy. Stuff gear in, get wine coolers and pile into truck for ride to West Yellowstone for stores and expected permit hassle. Wine coolers and donuts for breakfast.

Go to entrance station where nice rangers Laura and Chester see to our needs beautifully - two permits that meet on down the way. Leave after marveling at the traffic, back to West Yellowstone, a tourist town rivalling any with its strip of commercial action. Eat giant breakfast burritos (that haunt me later) before exiting to tasks: store for me, bank for Carl, room for Leonard and Laurie. Meet up, drinking wine coolers since 7:30 a.m.

A Golden Ager gets us into Yellowstone, we enjoy sites, coolers, as we ride to Old Faithful for mail drop and bear slide show. Enjoy little girl giving out official permits. Eric and I say goodbye to Leonard, Laurie and Carl.

Raining, hailing which started during drive in, dampens our resolve. We head to post office where a pretty clerk is alluring. Then to the Bear Pit, where beers usher in clear skies. Back to the backcountry office, a cutie directs us to the trail head. Buzzed walk out into excellent backcountry. Graded climb before leveling out to Firehole River and hot springs.

Eric Gallandt in the Yellowstone backcountry in 1987.

Good talking through the forest and hot pots. Take dinner on trail for bearproofing. Hike short ways to a spot, organize, pitch before hanging food and building fire. Shoe goo toes of boots, enjoy fire late into night before collapsing with gastric problems.