Section 10 is a lengthy 165.1 miles long and runs from Highway 26 to Highway 28. This includes the stunning Wind River Range so the section will be broken up into a couple posts.
The second is 43.2 miles long and runs from the start of the Knapsack Col Alternate Route to Mile 1212. August 17th - 18th.
Extended video of the climb up the Col:
Day 55, 17.8 miles to marker 1186.6
I was up early and ready to tackle this pass which is rumored to be the most technical and sketchy bit of hiking along the entire CDT. I was glad that I camped where I did because there were no trees at all for the rest of this route. I got packed up and soon started boulder hopping over the head of the Green River. When I got to the top of the valley I turned left over the Cube Rock Pass and then changed out of my PJs since I finally arrived in the sunshine. I soon got to Peak Lake, stunningly blue, below Stroud Peak where the trail circles the water and drops right down to the water's edge and sneaks under an overhang. It then goes up a valley carpeted with bright blooming wild flowers and waterfalls on the surrounding walls. I took a lunch break there because it was easily one of the best scenes I've ever witnessed. Soon after, the fun was over and the steep and unmarked ascent to the Col began. There were tons of scrambles and rock hops and, OK, for me, it was a ton fun. As I crested the top, two NOBOs were about to drop down my side of the Col so we exchanged photo ops and traded tips of the route down.
European Columbine.
Peak Lake with Stroud Peak on the right.
Sulfur Peak.
Sulfur Peak.
The Knapsack Col.
Just climbed up from down there.
Top of the Col gazing upon the next valley and super sketchy down climb ahead. Mount Helen is just to my left.
My way down was the sketchiest single bit of trail that I have ever done. Check minute 1:40 of the video above to see what I'm talking about. I either had to jump across a chute and then scramble down scree or just climb down the chute. I could see why people recommend hiking this section with a partner, one slip and I'm breaking something. Luckily I'm tall and lanky and was able to climb down the chute safe and sound. I then cut a corner across the snowfield and was able to practically ice skate on top of the slushy whiteness. There was then a ton of fun boulder hopping around the Titcomb Lakes and some pretty little streams where I took lunch #2. This side of the Knapsack Col was insanely windy as well as had a sudden and massive uptick in dayhikers and section hikers. I continued on around Island Lake which had a sandy beach but I was too tired for a swim. The alt route soon connected back to the CDT and then went up Lester Pass. I barreled down the other side and planned to have dinner at Pole Creek which was rumored to be a deep ford but it luckily had an easy rock hop upstream a little ways. It was beginning to get dark after supper so I decided to camp at the first spot I found. That spot turned out to be a whopping 0.5 miles later next to a little creek with rustling water. I was hoping to get to 20 miles on the day but the climb up and over the Knapsack Col really slowed me down and wore me out.
Titcomb Lakes.
Island Lake.
Day 56, 25.4 miles to marker 1212.
I was feeling pretty wiped out from all of the scrambling and straight up rock climbing yesterday so I slept in and was not on trail until 8:45. The ascent up to skirt around Mount Baldy was pretty easy but would have felt like Mount Everest if I went over last night. There were great views of the valley ahead with lush trees, seemingly hundreds of lakes and ponds, and the desolate basin off of the edge of the Wind River range. It was then another simple climb up Hat Pass followed by a ton more lakes which actually began to bore me. Sandpoint Lake, Bob’s Lake, Dream Lake. It was a shame that it wasn’t warmer out and I would’ve gone for a swim or two. Ricky Bobby and Seabiscuit caught up to me and we chatted for a bit before they took off. I had a few miles to go to make it back to tree cover but I passed a pond as the sun was setting and there was a perfect amount of cloud cover to set up a great sunset. So I stayed there to enjoy the light show and then night hiked the rest of the way under an intense canopy of stars.
August Lake.
Mount Victor behind Pipestone Lake.