Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Miles: 43.0 miles
Gain/Loss: 1900’/2654′
I was awake at 5:10am and out hiking on the dirt road by 5:40am, with a huge full moon still shining overhead. I was able to connect with a few friends as I walked, and that helped pass the time. The road was endless and identical, making the miles feel slow.
I made it to the Pie Town post office by 9:45am. I retrieved my resupply box. I met Dan as I packed up my resupply, and then I headed over to eat breakfast and pie at the Gathering Place. I shared at table with Slowly (Switzerland) and Dan (Australia) arrived later. After I said my goodbyes, I swung by the toaster house. Sadly, this early in the season, there was only electricity but no water, shower, or laundry. I had a cold soda and then headed to the RV park for water and started hiking out of town.
I made good time, even if it felt incredibly slow and boring, and was hot in the sun. As the day progressed, it got very windy. Later in the afternoon, the woman who runs the Pie Town post office drove by in her enclosed ATV buggy and offered me a short ride. I took her up on the offer, looking to avoid the dust, sun, and endless boring road. We saw a big herd of elk jump two barbed wire fences to cross the road and head to the fields on the other side.
A bit later in the day, I met Brad who’s bikepacking from Cuba to Columbus on the Great Divide Trail. For the last handful of hours of the day, I was chased by increasing high wind gusts and menacing clouds. It rained a few times during my last hour of hiking. I pushed far enough down the Guthook brown line (Cebolla alternate) to get to a sheltered place amongst some short pine trees. Coyotes howled nearby at sundown. It rained twice overnight, in short, 4-5 minute bursts.
I stopped around 8pm, and was asleep by 9:30pm. I had some cell service, so I checked on flight costs and possibilities for getting home early, since I’d be finishing 3 days early.
Transcending Mountains 