06 1776.8 6/20/2021 sunny, clear, puffy monsoon clouds? In Quality Inn in Pinedale WY. Woke at 4, laid there until our agreed upon 5 am, packed up stuff into backpack, then put backpack in Jeep. In was a long one hour and 15 minute drive back to the trail. Justin is an angel for doing this. We said our goodbyes and see each other in 3 days. Got back to the CDT and knowing that the first 2-3 miles are clear I bopped along. I met two hikers coming SOBO and asked about blowdowns ahead. Then met another pair of hikers. One said it took him only 40 minutes to do the blowdowns. He was right and after a couple of messy ones the tread was clear. I sailed along and the scenery was spectacular. I feel they are better that any of the Colorado Rockies. I was making good time and mileage once the trail cleared. Oh sure there was a few more dead trees across the trail every so often, but not many. Nothing like previously. Unfortunately as I negotiated under one of the fallen tree it caught my backpack stretchy pocket and ripped a gash in it. I’ll have to repair it tonight. At lunch I sat and looked out on the majestic Wind River peaks – beautiful! I did 13 miles and it was good. The blowdown hell and the misery it caused is over for the time being. And what a different mental attitude I’ve got after taking a nearo in Pinedale.
