[Cdt-l] Southbound trip report from SouthPass WY to BattlePass (Encampment)

[Scott Wyatt]

After finishing NM we skipped up to SouthPass WY to hike south in an attempt
to avoid the snows of southern CO.  Reports showed extremely high snow in
all the southern sections that we wanted to enjoy so we gave it time to melt
while we continued hiking.

We started May 27th southbound.  The trail & roads north of SouthPass were
snowed in deep.  The trail (SB) to Rawlins is all dirt road walk with very
high winds in the afternoon (60-90mph constant) but dying out by 9pm.  Lots
of pronghorns & wild horses.  Mormon springs is an excellent water source,
but make sure to find the 2ft diameter rock circle with no growth in it for
the best water.  Bull(?) spring is a solar well but due to the broken,
leaking external valves there is a swampy 6 foot moat around the pump.  Fish
Pond (~14 miles N of Rawlins) is a new solar well put in by the BLM & Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation

>From Rawlins to Encampment is a road walk for the first 2 days, changing to
heavy snow the last 35 miles which completely hides the trail in the trees,
the trail getting lost and constant post-holing.  Signage/posts/cairns are
excellent in the open areas.  The 17 miles over Bridger Peak (north of
Battle Pass) is solid snow, 4-10 feet deep, but very little post-holing
except near rocks.  The trail follows the ridge & possibly a dirt road but
is completely hidden.  We saw zero signage & touched dirt once during the
day.  GPS & map skills are a must, but staying on the ridgeline is the key.
Water was plentiful due to snow melt but no liquid water before/after
Bridger Peak.  The road up to Battle Pass is currently closed so you must
road walk down to Encampment.  This should hopefully change in about a week.

The ridge south of Battle Pass is under 4-7 feet of snow at the moment, so
we are reevaluating our strategy.  We are leaning towards heading back to
Cumbres Pass.

30-30 & Fireball
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