Journey Day 399 | CDT Day 62

Fording in Wyoming in 1987.

8/15/87

Tough getting up with dreary, nasty clouds and occasional raindrops. Skip breakfast, ready to begin this adventure without (guidebook author Jim) Wolf's guidance. Follow horse and cow trail Wampler said would be there, cross two more drift fences, noting Harness Gulch at last and making several fords as rain comes and goes, cold stays, as do the ugly clouds.

Notice a valley up the South Fork, so cut across another ford, muddy and wet still full rain gear and polypro. Take break by the South Fork as sun comes out for the first of many quick appearances. Big meal, noodles, instant breakfast and granola bars.

Hike on when it clouds, begins to rain. The trail comes and goes, mud cakes alternate with soakers in bootland. Sometimes I slide out of control, my soles made useless by the layers of clay and mud collecting on them. Other times I slog in boots soaked with water. Rain pelts, still need my rain paints.

Faced with a serious ford, this of the South Fork, so I take off rain pants. Deep, some current, but not too bad. Several encores, falls in the mud, lose trail several times as rain pesters.

Find a nice trail along the bank after slogging through several bogs and streams. Realize I'm back on Wolf's route. Happiness blunted by loose bowels. Follow the trail up, several Wolf orientation points. Notice herd of she elk in a meadow. Follow trick trail, banks washed out. Neat spires, rocks, earlier on the South Fork.

Hit good road, which makes mud skis of my boots. Quickly back to old jeep road. Feeling sick and weak. Miles go slow, but I keep going to a site on Leeds Creek and Fish Creek. Enough for today. Stagger about looking for a good flat spot. Never succeed. Also want sun, no dice, settle for one-bump spot, pitch, cook a bit disoriented. Boil water, clean up, happily in tent before dark to update for the past three days, which were hectic and action-packed. Rest now, as tomorrow will probably be the same!