It rained pretty much all night with some thunder and lightning added in for good measure! From what the locals say, this is quite unusual. They don’t get rain like this in August. Lucky me, as I received a full dosing of rain, hail and more rain today!

This was our big climb to Green River Pass. After yesterday’s fiasco and the lack of communication on all our parts, we decided that the three girls were going to hike together. The weather was downright miserable and we didn’t want a repeat of the past. So we headed out, in single file, one after the other and up the mountain. It was our first time above 11.000’ and the weather forecast was for monsoon-like rain all day! This was our first experience with the three of us in such conditions.

The morning climb was mostly in the trees, rock hopping across the creeks until we made it to Upper Green River. With all the previous days rain, there was no way to get across without wading in. Dang it, I had just put on clean dry socks today.

Once above tree-line, there was no escaping the pelting rain and wind. There were two access points down to our next town of Pinedale. Either route had its challenges so we chose the first option, Summit Trail. It was reported to have blowdowns and not maintained but at this point, we needed to get off the summit and away from the altitude.

It started out as good as can be expected. The trail was rocky with only a couple of blowdowns. Bit the issue of the day was the constant downpour that went from freezing rain to hail. All three of us were drenched and I made the command decision to find a place to pitch our tents. On a knoll, not in the meadow or down by the lake. We stopped at one location that wasn’t plausible for two tents and a hammock and continued down.

Just above Trapper Lake was a knoll that overlooked the lake and appeared somewhat protected. We walked around a bit, saw some other campers and found a reasonable spot for all three of us.

We all had the beginning stages of hypothermia as we all struggled just to unbuckle our packs and set up our tents. It took me no less than two minutes to take off my backpack and another three minutes or so to pitch my tent. From the top of my head to the tips of my toes, I was soaking wet.

For some reason this morning, I was prompted to double bag everything that was vital to me. My sleeping bag, down jacket, my extra clothes, I had wrapped in both my trash compactor bag and a second trash bag I had picked up in Yellowstone. That saved my bacon because everything else in my pack was soaking wet. Thank you Lord for bringing the voice of preparedness that spoke in my ear this morning!

After a good hour of warming up, I finally emerged from my cocoon. I hung out a clothesline which doubles as my bear hang. The clouds started to break up a bit but the sun never really produced enough heat to dry anything out.

We met our neighbors, Pam and the guys, who made hot tea for the girls. Then we all went over and had dinner with them. They reside in Jackson Hole and have been camping in this area for years. They also told us that it never rains like this here. Hmm, I’ve heard this before. I guess we really are the lucky ones to have experienced such a fluke in Wyoming. I’m sure they will write stories of this torrential downpour that occurred in the Winds! I’m just glad to say we will be hiking out to Pinedale tomorrow to defrost, take showers and to do some much needed laundry. And definitely eat some Town Food. At this point, I think we are all craving Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬