August 7th
The day broke clear and dry. I cruised initially. However, once I went up one of the less used valleys to follow a creek, the trail got muddled. The tread was just a notch better than a game trail. I got soaked pretty good from the previous night’s rainfall that came off the grass and shrubs.
I eventually made it to Sheridan Pass. That is the location where the re-route ended, so I was back on the official route. Yeah! Right nearby s bear had dug up some large rocks looking for varmints to eat.
Unfortunately, the weather turned unpleasant. It was mostly just rain, but batches of lightning and thunder would come along. Of course, this was just as I was walking along a ridge line. I know lightning is dangerous, but when it is far away, I’ll keep hiking in the rain. I carry a lightweight umbrella and it was a stellar performer.
While the umbrella protects my head, upper torso , and pack, it doesn’t do much for legs and feet. My rain pants work great. However, my shoes, were not doing so well. I could tell that they were going to come apart soon. I tried to get internet access to order some on line, but no luck. Fortunately, I was able to reach Helen who ordered a replacement pair even though she was traveling.
After one hellish hail / lightening / rain outburst, it cleared for a while. I passed another hiker who had pitched her tent to wait out the storm. She was outside trying to decide if she should stay or go. Above us it was clear blue, but over towards the Wind River Range, a monster thunderhead was developing.
I eventually made it to my goal. It was Bull Moose Creek. I was intrigued with the forest. It had either burned or been logged about 30 years ago. However, this was the first replacement forest I had noticed which was symmetrical. That is, the trees were spaced evenly apart and in rows. It took some getting used to having the trees move by in what appeared to be rows. It made me curios to know whether this method was more effecient than natural re-population.
It was getting towards natural sunset, but the thunderhead was definitely headed my way. I hurried to get my tent pitched, although there were not too many good spots. Just after I got it all secured, the skies opened up. I ate a cold, rehydrated meal in my tent. Due to its possibility of attracting bears, food in my tent is a no-no, but I didn’t have much of a choice.
After the storm passed through, the moon came out. Also, the elk came out in a nearby meadow. The bulls were practicing their bugles. I can’t decide which way to best describe these early season efforts. My first thought was humpback whales, but as the youngsters tried to copy the elders, it struck me as the Vienna Boys choir going through puberty.
Eventually got used to the sounds of the elk and the rain drops falling from the trees onto my tent.
backpacking over the hill 