wanderingherald - Tumblr blog

[wanderingherald]

Wandering Into The Winds!

Making way out of the desert, change in landscape begins to quickly take shape. A change that presents itself through magnificent uplift. Predominately granite, this place once home to many miles of glaciers has shaped this valley nicely for being billions of years old. It’s truly such a spectacular place that nobody really knows about,

(the rangers try to keep it that way).

It was refreshing to be welcomed around copious amounts of water after being faced with such scarcity. It’s a shame early summer months is a recipe for mosquito hell here. Many points throughout this section I didn’t even bother to stop in fear of being swarmed and eaten alive. No amount of Natrapel could combat something like that. I spent some time alone on alternate routes that split off the CDT, some well worth the deveation. With blow downs that make up the first half of The Cirque, I wonder if I’ve made a judgment error and contemplate finding another way back to red line. As I break through the sudden halt in overgrowth, I’m greeted by these magnificent formations. Unlike Colorado, these mountains felt in a way much bigger and more vast. With my trash bag pants and my bug net synched, these quickly become the most essential items of that 100 mile stretch. Much of thru hiking is understanding the reality of not having luxury over entering these ranges during the most ideal of times. You’re at the mercy of short seasonal windows that make it possible to succeed in a long distance hike. I planned this section with intent on taking my time along with some on trail zeros but I simply couldn’t submit myself to such torture from the blood suckers. I feel as though in a way I misrepresent the weighted value of how this range truly felt. I was grateful to have captured something, notably this White Crowned Sparrow perched in curiosity, I dare no further in identifying, I just hope I got it’s good side. The Bridget-Teton National Forest quickly became my favorited section of trail, and for good reason. In the future I will come back with the ability to enhance my experience, spending as much time as I possibly can in a truly extraordinary section.

[wanderingherald]

Welcome to Wyoming!

AKA, the cowboy country. I could harp on forever about Colorado but I think it’s time we move on. As I approach yet another state, I’m filled with admiration and pride. Another down and quite frankly some of the hardest hiking I’ve ever done. In my mind, if I could endure the variable conditions I was subjected to in the last, who’s to say I can’t finish this thing out strong. With that notion I’m reminded of the thousands of miles that lay in front of me. Unlike the Pacific Crest trail, you’re dealt the certainty of two separate biomes both in the form of desert plain. The Great Basin much more flat, water much more scarce. The blistering sun radiates with harsh reminder, this time, there’s no where to hide. Paved road walks with no shade and the constant depletion of water in my body weighs on me constantly. To really bring it all together, I’m left rationing a small tube of sunscreen I’ve neglected to refill towns ago. My shoes blow out just in time to take on this stretch, leaving me improvising with Walmart shoes I will make do for 100+ miles. With these arduous moments I come to terms with the unfortunate reality and push forward with optimism. Through my flare ups with plantar fasciitis and cracked lips I embrace this brutality as I’ve come to know many times before. A painful dance that can either break me or shape me, sometimes those options feel more like a coin flip than a swift decision. I didn’t capture many photos throughout this section, most days were fueled with putting one foot in front of the other and that was good enough for me.

[wanderingherald]

[wanderingherald]

[wanderingherald]

New Mexico was a journey within itself. From almost creating my own demise, spending much of the state alone and adapting to walking everywhere again; This place is not to be disparaged. I was humbled by its complexity, its pain and beauty. Desolation that presents itself with no need to boast but serving an incredible role in the world around us. I try and listen to what it teaches me, but fail to recognize it often. Examining carcass as they were wildflowers, algae filled water as it were gold. Yuccas and Opuntia embrace my flesh with open arms. The underbelly of the Desert beams with an ecosystem that is alive and well. Nights are much cooler and pleasant, serving no need for any form of shelter as I’m blanketed under Milky Way. Shooting stars dance across the sky as I cherish my last few gummy worms. In the morning I’ll wake up to this routine for 700 miles more. Dismay takes over as I fantasize being where the mountains sit high and the water flows. Maybe next time I will revisit these places in a different light, a time much later.

[wanderingherald]

Starting a thru hike was something that was not a new experience to me. From completing the Appalachian Trail I immediately knew I wanted to invest my time towards a very outlandish goal of completing the three long distant trails of America. Being my first backpacking trip out West, I was confounded with endless possibilities of this trip and spending a lot of the first state in solitude was something that was very difficult for me to overcome. Through my spiraling uncertainties, I didn't take many photos of New Mexico and regret that heavily. I felt completely uninspired at the time; It was a force I simply couldn't shake. This became a potent feeling that stuck with me for miles.