The Unpolished Princess

Start: 1720.3

Stop: 1744.6

Today’s Miles: 24.3

Total CDT miles: 1396.4

Calling 24 miles a short day sounds so weird, but, that’s what it was! A short day! We all slept in until well after 7am. It was glorious. I got to hiking around 8am, 2nd out of camp. I never saw Firefly again, until making it to camp, but I saw Redline around lunch time, and sat with Pika and Wolf for lunch, though they had been there much longer than me.

Sometime around 9am, I decided to look and see if I had phone service. I did, so I checked the website for a race I want to sign up for, and they changed next year’s dates! I started to panic a little since I’ll be out of the country already on the new dates listed and won’t be able to do the run. This is only a big deal because of the time constraints I put on myself.. 

I want to run a half marathon and a full marathon on every continent before my 40th birthday (December 13, 2027). I want my last full marathon to be in Antarctica, because when I went for the half marathon, the celebration for 7 continents club members was so awesome.. so, that is planned for March of 2027.. my South America marathon has to be before that. So, as any normal human thru hiking across the country does while in the middle of the Great Basin of Wyoming with a slight cell signal: I googled “South America Marathons” and scanned for races and dates that looked good.

I can now tell you that I’m all registered for the Maraton Monumental de Brasilia in Brazil on November 23rd of this year. Surely I could wait until next year-but what if they move dates or cancel it or something silly? That’s too close to March to risk it in my opinion. Don’t worry, I already know I’m a lunatic. 

Since I’m rambling about that, I’ll tell you the ones I’ve already gotten marked off. For the Half Marathons, I’ve completed North America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Antarctica. I’ll do South America in April of 2026, and Australia in August of 2026 ◡̈ For Full Marathons, I currently only have North America and Europe completed, but Asia is already booked (Japan in March) and now so is South America! I’ll have to sign up for Capetown once the registration opens, which will be for May of 2026, and Australia will be in August of 2026 as well. Leaving only Antarctica in March of 2027! 

Fingers crossed all of this works out the way I want it to! 

Anyway-back to today. I hiked easy dirt roads all morning, signed up for the race, and got water wherever it happened to be. The first water source was pristine water under a lid in a metal thing. Not sure exactly how that works, but it does and it was fantastic. The rest of the day was the same endless views of rolling sage brush hills dotted with cows and wild horses. It was hot, but it had its beauty. 

I hiked with Pika once I caught up to them talking with a sweet trail angel who gave us water. We talked to him for a bit then walked the rest of the way to a bridge with a small stream under it. Wolf was waiting for us there. I was so happy! The 3 of us went swimming in water barely waist/stomach deep. Something about getting into cold water on such a hot day just makes the world better. It was awesome!

All my aches and pains in my feet started to ease off, the girl time, talking and laughing and cutting up was almost as refreshing as the water we were swimming in. Eventually, it started to get too cold to stay put and we all got out and got dressed. The 3 of us walked the last 4 miles to camp together, non stop talking about life and friends and anything that popped into our heads. 

When we got to camp, down a dirt road and across a tiny stream, we all harassed the boys for not staying at the swimming hole and waiting for us! They both got there, got water, and hiked to the camp spot-which was in direct sun for hours. They both admitted they should have at least hid out under the bridge to have some shade for awhile at the very least. We missed them, but I doubt I’d have skinny dipped if they had been there, so, no real love lost. I’m quite happy I’m not laying in wet underclothes right now. 

Anyway. It’s 8:30, the sun is setting and the mosquitos are making an appearance. We’ve all eaten dinner and we’re cowboy camping. Tomorrow is 10 miles to get to South Pass City, where my box is being held, then 4 more miles to the road to hitch into Lander, Wyoming. I was originally planning to skip Lander all together, but since Pebbles and I agreed he’d keep going his pace instead of slowing down for me to meet up with him, for us to both potentially hike alone in Grizzly Country anyway since he’s several days ahead.. I might as well go into town, enjoy it, and also get a few random things-I might try toe socks for one.. and I need bear spray. 

Hmmm.. ok, I’ve rambled so much today. I think this is all I have. Also, my fingers are cold so time to tuck in and get warm! Goodnight yall!

Start: 1693.6

Stop: 1720.3

Today’s Miles: 26.7

Total CDT miles: 1372.3

Today was gorgeous! I think these wide open views are beautiful, even if they are dry and covered in dead grass as far as the eye can see. The hills just roll and roll and the wind makes the grass look like it’s dancing. I’m not sure if I’m loving everything so much because it’s just that beautiful, or if it’s because I’m just that happy.. either way.. today was another good day!

Pika, Wolf, Redline and I were all up and walking pretty quick this morning.. right as the sun was coming up. I think they were just as anxious to find Firefly this morning as I was. I mean-we ALL know each of us is perfectly capable and fine on our own.. but when it wasn’t planned, there’s a little niggle in the back of your mind saying, “well what if he started going the wrong way, broke his ankle, and then ran out of water?” Hahaha-leave it to me to be dramatic. None of us voiced these thoughts, but we were all up and moving fast none-the-less.

Less than a mile in, right by the only actual tree with limbs and leaves and shade, there was Firefly packing his stuff! He had passed Redline yesterday and by the time he realized it, he had spotted this gorgeous tree and decided not to backtrack. I kinda wish we’d have pushed to get to his awesome spot, too.. but that’s a thought today-not on tired legs yesterday! Ha. 

I was keeping up with everyone pretty well throughout the morning, until about 9:30am when I had to beeline behind some rocks to dig a hole. After I was done-I everyone had passed me and I didn’t see them again until I made it to camp. But, I did have enough cellphone service to call Pebbles! We talked as long as cell service lasted. He’s about 3 days ahead of me and doesn’t plan to do the Grand Teton Alternate. I thought it through, and decided I’d rather stay with the Island Hoppers, if they let me, and be part of their trail family. Otherwise, I’d have to rush like crazy to catch up to Pebbles, early mornings and long days, alone, and through grizzly country no less. 

And that’s even if I can catch up to him! Then, it’s full steam ahead with no Tetons, because Pebbles is trying to finish in time to get back to Seattle for a possible internship he’s been aiming for. Which is so proud of him for.. but the more I think about it, the more I don’t want my triple crown hike to be a fast march to the end. I’ve been having so much fun with Pika, Wolf, Firefly, and Redline.. the idea of leaving them to speed hike alone for days is just not appealing. Not to mention, Wolf is the literal QUEEN of making a *BIG* deal about our triple crown hike.. like making sure to enjoy every single second-even when it sucks-that I just don’t want to miss a single moment with her or any of the others. Wolf, Firefly and I are all triple crowning at the end of this, and she’s right-ITS A BIG DEAL! 

I tried begging Pebbles to change coarse and meet up with us, to come join this trail family, too.. but he has his eyes on the prize, to finish and get back to be able to set his future self up with this awesome, probably once in a lifetime internship-so I can’t even really blame him for not slowing down to hike with us. I am, though, really sad about it. 

So, after we lost service, I accepted that I won’t be finishing my hike with my friend. As sad as that made me, knowing I would tell the Island Hoppers tonight when I reached camp that I was planning to stay with them gave me a thrill. I was on cloud nine the rest of the day. The wind was insane, the hills weren’t terrible, and once when I got to the top of a climb and the wind was blowing me back like crazy, I started singing a Michael Jackson song, “it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white!” Which-to be honest.. that’s the only lyric I sang, and the rest was a bunch of “hee hee”s and “ouuuuuhhhhh”s.. and twirling in the wind. Ha. I probably looked psychotic, but I was having a blast!

I finally showed up to camp just before sunset. Everyone else was cowboy camping, so I decided to do the same. The little area we were in was next to a creek and the grass was absolutely covered in cow-patties. I found my spot, set up, all while chit chatting. And then I said something like, “hey-so, I talked to Pebbles and I’m not gonna try to catch him now, I think I’m gonna stay with yall, if that’s ok..” and immediately Wolf said, “well duh, bout time you admitted you’re not leaving us.” Hahaha so, it’s settled. I’m gonna be an Island Hopper now.

Start: 1665.3

Stop: 1693.6

Today’s Miles: 28.3

Total CDT miles: 1345.6

We have officially entered the Wyoming Basin. Hot desert miles with gentle rolling hills that everyone keeps calling flat-it’s not flat, maybe it’s not hard-but it’s not flat! That’s a “hill” I’ll die on! Ha

We woke up and got to walking, and everyone stayed within site for quite awhile! I chatted with everyone as they passed me, and watched everyone speed off into the distance. There were wild horses and not a whole lot else out there. Water was scarce. If trail angels didn’t put gallons and gallons of water out here for hikers-we’d probably all pass out. 

Sometime around noon, I caught up to Firefly again and we talked while walking-he hikes so much faster than me that he’d ask something and I’d be too far behind him for him to hear me-kinda funny. He’d slow down and I’d try to speed up. I really wish these legs of mine would speed up-shouldn’t I have trail legs by now? 

Way off in the distance, we saw a tent and a truck.. we started to get excited. Could it be.. trail magic? It’s one of those things-you don’t want to be so excited that if you’re wrong, you’ve accidentally ruined your own day.. but you always WANT it to be trail magic. Because the basin is so vast and dusty and hot, it took forever to get close to the truck. The whole time I was walking towards it, I was praying I wasn’t seeing a mirage! The heat can do some wild things to a person!

I heard squealing up ahead, and figured it had to be trail magic and that Wolf had just made it there! When Firefly and I arrived, the tent was one of those shade tents with chairs set up underneath, and a man was grilling off the back of his truck!! I was thrilled!

I made me a plate while everyone talked-come to find out-this is the same guy that gave Pebbles and I trail magic back in Colorado! The one that was taking another hiker down to town from trail because of the snow and altitude! How cool!! He even remembered me and asked about Pebbles! I had to tell him that my friend is already light years ahead of me, but that I’m trying my best to catch up to him (even though I think he’d have to just stop walking for that to actually happen..).

We all laid around in the only shade available for miles and miles and enjoyed soaking up every second with this kind hiker dude and his trail magic. The shade was almost better than the hotdog.. almost. It was so hard to get moving again once the time came. It was already after 2pm.. we’d sat around for over 2 hours! Trust me, it was necessary! Before we set off, our new friend filled up our water for us, so we wouldn’t have to collect and filter from cow streams that were slow moving and pretty gross. What a gem! 

From there, the trail was basically sandy dirt roads and paths that wound and criss crossed all over the place. When I caught up to everyone, Firefly wasnt there. He was definitely ahead of me though, so he must have taken a wrong turn or was moving so fast he passed the mileage we planned to camp at. To be fair-where we stopped has no where to put up a tent anyway.. but we’re all exhausted and the sun is starting to set (finally!). 

So, Redline, Wolf, Pika and I are all cowboy camped on a dirt road tire path-all in a row! There’s so many cactus spikes around, I hope we don’t pop a sleeping pad tonight. The temperature is already dropping with the sun fading away. It’s so crazy to me how the temps can change so dramatically when there’s no humidity to contend with. We’ve all eaten our food and tucked ourselves in. I hope Firefly isn’t too far ahead or off track (I’m sure that’s not the case, but I know there’s no way he’s behind me). 

The plan is to get up in the morning and hike until we find him, then decide with him where we all want to get to tomorrow. I’m really loving having this trail family include me. I’m starting to have some serious doubts about my next moves, as far as leaving them to catch up to Pebbles. I really wish he had the time and could just lay low a few days until we caught up up to him and then the 6 of us could go through the Winds and the rest of Grizzly country together. Maybe I’ll try to talk him into that the next time I get good enough service to call him! 

Ok, with that-I guess it’s goodnight everyone! Sweet dreams!