[cdt-l] Rawlins

[Alistair and Gail Des Moulins]

On our southbound CDT hike last year we were told that Rawlins was a dump by 
a number of people. However, for us, it turned out to be a very pleasant 
place to stop.
We walked in on highway #287 on 22nd September. It was raining at about 40 
degrees. We got into town at about 2 pm and found an excellent Thai buffet 
at Anong's Thai restaurant just north of the PO.
We stayed in a Kabin (as our tent needed repairs) at the KOA on the south 
side of town near the Interstate. Very pleasant staff there.
 On the 23rd we awoke to snow on the ground! We found good stores (Pamida, 
City Market and Discount Grocery) to resupply at and get some new long 
underwear at a store downtown. Also a good Chinese lunch buffet (China 
House) on the south side of the main road going east of downtown.
On 24th We had an excellent breakfast buffet at the T & A truck stop on the 
south side of the interstate near the KOA before continuing our journey 
south.

Alistair

> Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:10:13 -0600
> From: "Trey Corkern" <treyis3 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [cdt-l] Rawlins
> To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID:
> <e0a3dc880707180810g428f87bfu1f29d5abf5ed0846 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Just a note to those planning on staying in horrific Rawlins on their way
> thru...
>
> Yogi's guide lists the Jade Motel as an option for lodging at around $49.
> The motel has changed owners, is now $89, and the rooms are disgusting. 
> You
> don't want to stay there.  The owner was VERY rude to me.  I checked in,
> took one look at the room, and asked for my money back.  She flatly 
> refused,
> and then started spouting profanities at me.  The buttons on the phone 
> were
> black and the carpet looked like a mat in a restaurant kitchen.  Lesson
> learned, look before you leap.  I left, and stopped payment on my credit
> card.
>
> The town is also filled with pipeline workers that are taking up most of 
> the
> hotel/motel rooms each night, jacking up the prices upwards of $100 range
> for anything decent.  A good option is the Western Campground, which at
> least has a restaurant, liquor store, and convenience store nearby.  They
> have tent sites for $7.50 (for hikers), and 3 cabins that are only $34 a
> night if you can get one of those.  They are very nice, have clean
> showers/bathrooms/laundry/internet/payphone.  Pretty far from downtown/PO,
> but there's really nothing in town anyway.
>
> Just a heads up.  The best option is not to stay here at all.
>
>
>
> Trey