John and Sally attempt the Continental Divide Trail

  The Great Basin In the last post I referred to the foreboding 100 mile stretch of Great Basin where water that flows here does not go to an ocean and where its aridity prevented the pioneers journey west. I didn’t tell you the truth.  Sally and I left our Atlantic City apartment before dawn and set off into the cool morning air following an unsealed, but well packed road.    We were swift and chipper as we strode through the cool breeze and desolate landscape of flat desert whose dry sands were kept from drifting by the tens of thousands of acres of sage bush.    Ten miles had passed before ten o’clock and congratulating ourselves we took refuge from the warming sun under a bridge by Sweetwater River where we filtered water, drank our fill and topped up our water carriers.    There would be no more reliable water sources as we left the comfort of the road and entered the Red Desert. And still we were perky, the oasis embankments of Sweetwater ca...

  Wind River Range Our cosy two man tent rests on an escarpment overlooking a wide valley.  The mountain ahead of the valley below is different.    It is flat grey, craggy and shaped like an elephant’s foot in a hunter’s trophy collection.    It is called Squaretop Mountain.   Below the range, in the golden valley there is a large lake which feeds a wide meandering river.    This river, a golden mirror, takes my eye to rose white clouds and a setting sun.   We’re sat having evening snacks and a cup of tea.    Sally who is navigating tomorrow is looking at the map and the ‘Far Out’ comments, and I watch an eagle catch the final thermal of the day and surf the evening breeze.    The moon has risen, almost full, as I drain the last of my tea and begin to pack away for the night. This was our second night into this section which would take us from the town of Dubois to Atlantic City.    We were complet...