Lander, Wyoming

July 3 - Lander Wyoming is a really great little town. It feels both "Old West" and aging hippy-like. Organic food is found next to the beef jerkey. When we arrived last night, Mr. F met us at the Silver Spur Motel where we were to spend two nights before leaving on the "big hike". It's a nice little motel. Very old school - Route 66 like. Lot's of characters hanging around their open room doors. Or as Emily and I dubbed them "creepy dude 1" and "creepy dude 2". Mr. F had spent 7 days in the same area we were planning to hike to, so he could provide some valuable insight into what we were up against. Apparently, his group had run into 8 foot snow canyons while hiking upward. Hmm. But they melted by the time he hiked out, so we could look forward to a very wet trail and mosquitoes.

While the kids swam in the motel pool, Mr. F helped us revise our hiking checklist. We needed water purification tablets. Having gone through a bout of Giardia with Sam once again I was NOT going to risk it. We needed mosquito netting for our hats. I needed a new reel so I wouldn't spend all my time untangling line. Water shoes for crossing streams that would be high.

We spent today shopping for these items and doing laundry - again. I got a fishing license. I repacked my pack. I took out clothes and added a camera. I stuck some Benedryl in - just in case. I can barely lift my pack and I don't know how I will hike it 4 miles tomorrow (up to 10,500) and 2 more miles the next day. I'm carrying 2 changes of clothes, a sleeping bag, a 2 man tent, food for 5 days, a fishing rod, a water bottle, water shoes, mosquito spray and netting, personal hygiene items such TP, toothbrush and paste, soap, etc. And of course bear spray. Well, pepper spray and a whistle.

There won't be another post until I hike out on Thursday.