CDT Day 105: YNP’s Heart Lake to Shoshone Lake

Daily Miles: 26.0, Total Miles: 1,832.1

Another cold one and unfortunately had to get an early start to make my next reserved campsite.

I hiked up and around large Heart Lake, remembering that Mrs. Haze and I had hiked to this lake several years ago. I had a nice break at the Heart Lake Ranger Station – nobody was home.

Headed out to the South Entrance Road and passed by my first thermal features, bubbling pools and steaming vents.

I got stopped at the Heart Lake TH by a NPS law enforcement officer. We had a nice chat about the trail and he asked me if I was going to hitch on the entrance road. I thought, uh oh, here it comes, it’s against the park rules. But no, he just wanted to inform me the South Entrance Road was closed due to a fire in the Tetons (same smoke I have been in) and it was heading towards Yellowstone. He said he would be happy to give me a lift to Grant Village if I needed anything. What a nice guy!

I set off for Shoshone Lake, my next destination. Started in sunshine but thunderstorms moved in and I hiked in a drizzle with some hail. That, combined with fording Lewis Creek, got me all wet again. By the time I got to my beautiful, empty Basin Beach campsite next to Shoshone Lake, the sun was trying to come out again. A stiff wind was sending big waves to the lakeshore. Looks like I will be the only one here tonight.

I did a Yellowstone marathon today!

I met several SOBO’s today including Dora the Explorer and Dirt. You don’t have to go far off the road to escape the Yellowstone crowds. I have only seen CDT hikers on the trail so far in the NP.