CDT - Day 78 - Leaving Steamboat Springs
I decided not to take a zero day in Steamboat Springs. It had been very hot the day before, and I didn't feel like spending another day in town with temperatures in the low 90s. I started the morning with a great breakfast at Creekside Café & Grill, then walked over to the post office to mail my resupply box to South Pass City. After that, I headed back to my hotel to pack up my gear. The night before, I had contacted a trail angel named Suzie, and she agreed to pick me up around 11:30 a.m. and drive me back to the trailhead. While I waited, I spent some time at The Beaten Path Bookstore & Café. Suzie was fantastic—she even gave me a face mask in case the wildfire smoke became too heavy. Physically, today's hike was very easy, even with four days of food in my pack. The terrain was gentle, with no steep climbs or long ascents. I had been worried about the heat, but the trail quickly dropped into the forest, and the cloud cover helped keep the temperature comfortable. Unfortunately, as I got deeper into the forest, the mosquitoes became relentless. I quickly realized I couldn't even stop for a break without being swarmed. They had no trouble biting straight through my sun hoodie, and it was absolutely miserable. For the first time since starting the CDT, I broke out the insect repellent. It helped, but only a little. The only real solution was to keep moving and hope to find a campsite with fewer mosquitoes. I eventually camped in a meadow near Grizzly Lake, which wasn't exactly ideal. The grassy ground was uneven, and the mosquitoes were just as relentless as they had been all afternoon. I wasted no time setting up my tent, tossing my gear inside, and zipping the bug net shut.