After two thunderstorms with lightning overhead again, I’m ready to get to town! Everything I carry on my back is soaking wet so I’m hiking out in my long underwear and town dress. That is not my typical garb, but it’s all I got!

For a hot minute, it looked like the clouds were lifting. I packed up my wet tent, wet clothes, wet camp shoes, wet food bag, and let’s just say it because it’s my reality, my backpack was wet too! I must’ve added an extra five pounds to my pack. I only packed out half a liter of water since all I needed to do was wring my gear and I’d have another gallon!

As me and the girls marched out, the ground was saturated with water. Hogged Up gave me a pair of dry socks and I was determined not to get them wet. Well that lasted for ten minutes! There was no way to get around the flood stage of the trail without submerging yourself in it. Then it happened. The rain came back! You’ve got to be kidding me?

Both Fearless and I popped open our umbrellas and honestly that was my one last saving grace. There was little to no wind so it helped to keep me dryish. Not dry but not soaked like yesterday. Well at least for the moment.

Fearless had contacted Rerun, a TrailAngel who was willing to meet us at the trailhead at 11am. We knew this was our ticket to town, to hot showers, to clean and dry clothes! The trail went through willow trees and bushes, bogs and meadows, across a couple of rivers and streams, then climbed a canyon only to come back down.

As we were climbing up the pass, a pack of mules and horses were coming down to carry out Pam, her husband and friends. For just about $400, we could’ve done that! Maybe on a sunnier day, I would’ve jumped on the chance, but sitting on a mile in the pouring down rain doesn’t sound like a good time.

So we climbed, I huffed and puffed and then we went downhill. That’s pretty much what we do everyday. Just luckily for us gals, this has been our first real exposure to pelting nonstop rain since Glacier. A little over three hours, we made it to our way out, and waited in the rain!

Rerun planned to arrive at 11am and we got to the pickup location just after 10am,. No shelter, no picnic table and no Porta Potty! Because honestly I would not be below sitting in an outhouse, waiting for a ride! Thank goodness there were two large horse trailers that were attached to trucks by a goose neck. Between the truck and trailer was a small overhang that served as a shelter. And so we waited.

Rerun, bless his heart, showed up early. He brought coffee and donuts which we promptly consumed. Oh my, I was reliving my days on the Highway Patrol. Coffee plus donuts equals best day ever! It hit the spot. Fearless, Hogged Up and I crawled into the covered bed of the pickup truck while the Father and Son Duo from Santa Cruz, CA sat up front.

What a ride. We were warned that it was a rough road with many ruts and washboards so I drank my coffee very, very carefully. An hour later we arrived in Downtown Pinedale. Hogged Up booked us a private room at the Jackalope Lodge and Hostel. I chose to get a second room just as Indian showed up. She had been out in this crazy weather too and was looking for a room. Being I just reserved the last room, Indian moved in with me. Yeah!

Our gear was soaked and all I wanted to do was start drying out every piece of equipment that I owned in my little 50 liter backpack. Within a couple of hours, I had all my worldly possessions out in the sun, the glorious sunshine and by mid-afternoon, all gear was dry. Now it was time to do laundry and take a shower.

After two months on the trail, all I can say is this is and always has been an adventure! Indian and I caught up on all things trail and then dove into what really matters, family and friends. We had such a sweet conversation about letting go of the ones we loved, reconciling with our losses and knowing that the Lord promises a reunion in the days ahead. I feel that we were supposed to to be in town. Arriving at the exact time, the same place and knowing that we would have these deep and meaningful moments, was always God’s plan. This encounter is reshaping our thoughts, allowing us to release the ones we loved and lost. Maybe, just maybe, it was suppose to rain after all!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬