For about 550 miles, the CDT takes the hiker through Yellowstone (with an alternate over the Teton Crest) through the mighty Wind River Range and across the Great Basin.
Teton Crest Trail: Day 1, Leigh Lake to Upper Paintbrush, 7.2 miles
Feeling strong with a mostly “all-clear” from my cardiologist, I begin hiking the Teton Crest Trail.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 2: Upper Paintbrush to Upper Cascade, 4 miles
The Divide is short but steep to Lake Solitude where I nab the best site with its own resident moose.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 3: South Fork Cascade Canyon to Kit Lake, 7 miles
The trail traces Cascade Canyon to Avalanche Divide where an off-trail scramble takes me to a remote lake.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 4: Kit Lake to Alaska Basin, 7 miles
Switchbacks over Hurricane Pass take Blissful into the magical polished granite of Alaska Basin.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 5: Alaska Basin to Marion Lake, 6 miles
Sheep Steps leads to the “cobble stones” of Death Canyon Shelf and scrambling up Spearhead Peak.
Teton Trail Day 6: Lake Marion to random spot near Ski Lake, 10 miles
Thunder brings Blissful down from scrambling then tachycardia brings her down from a high alpine lake.
Teton Crest Trail Day 7: Ski Lake to Highway 22, 5 miles
A creature walking past my tent wakes me up before I head to Ski Lake and back to civilization.
WRHR, day 1: Green River Lakes to Peak Lake, 18 miles
It’s beautiful walking along azure lakes under the gaze of the Square Top, then 2,400 feet up Cube Pass.
WRHR, day 2: Peak Lake to Indian Basin: 10 miles
It’s big climbs over Knapsack Col into stunning Titcomb Basin then up towards Indian Pass.
WRHR, day 3: Indian Basin to Alpine Lakes: 6 miles?
The hardest day yet across Knifepoint Glacier, up Alpine Pass and Class 3 scrambling to a magical camp spot.
WRHR, day 4: Alpine Lakes to near Hay Pass, 11 miles
It’s a long day beginning with pouring rain, then passes, including Hay, and lakes in forest and above treeline.
WRHR day 5, near Hay Pass to Bonneville Lakes: 13 miles
Bog, rock ramps, gullies, talus and bushwhacking take us over one of the most stunning passes yet.
WRHR, day 6, Bonneville Lakes to Shadow Lake: 13 miles
It’s a big pass with big talus in wild wind to a magical camp behind the towers.
WRHR, day 7, Shadow Lake to Big Sandy Campground: 15 miles
The final day takes us over Texas Pass into the astounding Cirque of the Towers.