Day 34 – 4/16/16
19.8 map / 21.8 GPS miles
522.0 / 564.3 miles total
I’m writing this a day late because it was seriously too cold to do anything last night except instantly go to bed. Bubs has a long running joke, “Contrail sleeps 2.” (Contrail is the model of her tent, which is very much intended for only 1 person). We made good on it last night, both Bubs and I squeezing into her Contrail, hoping the extra body heat would keep us from freezing to death.
We caught the first morning shuttle bus back to the trail, walking an extra half mile from the first stop rather than sit on the bus another 45 minutes to it to loop back to the actual stop we got on last night. We walked along the picturesque rim trail, with much ooing, ahhing, and shivering. It was really bleeping cold.
After ~4 miles we finally dropped down on the “Under the Rim” trail, getting a much needed respite from the wind. We stayed on this trail, mostly in trees, the rest of the day. Today was the first day of the Hayduke that was entirely on trail. But technically, we weren’t even on the Hayduke until the last 3 miles of today. The official route goes through just a scant few miles of Bryce at the southern end of the park, completely bypassing the iconic rim on the north end. We’ve been on an extension route since Bull Valley Gorge, adding an extra 35 miles or somthing like that. Totally worth it.
I’m fighting breast cancer so as you walk….I’m with you. As you describe you surrounds….. I’m with you. As you tell of your tales of walking and camp sights…. I’m with you. Now lets continue with our journeys. Karen
Thank you for following and sharing your story. We are thinking of you.
Hi Karen,
Me too!
Thank goodness not Cancer, but a serious, disabling condition, none-the-less.
So, ‘I hear ya’!
I’m also right along with DnR! 🙂
Following her footsteps, her fantastic journal and ‘eye’ for photography takes me on a journey of ‘escape’, to better days in So. Utah, too!
Bless you and good luck!
…And thank you DnR!!
…And so if Karen is helped and inspired and if Bruce is helped and inspired….
Agai , Thank You, DnR!!
You didn’t say if the two of you in a single person tent helped? I’ve taken a temp gauge with me before and find that getting in the tent and closing it up the tent will rise around 10* fairly quick. And that’s just me, no second body in the tent. Hope you haven’t been cold anymore.
Well I was toasty all night, so I’d at it helped! I definitely agree just being in a zipped up tent helps about 10 deg. My only temp gauge is my water bottle! Temps are forecast to go up significantly from today on, so I think it’ll be good for a while!
Ain’t no one who do that voodoo like you do!