Thur, 4th of July - Rabbit Ears Range to Steamboat Springs

Great green alpine open ridgeline with wildflowers yesterday.  Scrambled off trail to the summits of Haystack and Sheep Mountain.  Haystack was steep with lots of loose rocks. An exciting climb and difficult decent back down to rejoin the CDT trail.  Sheep was an easier grassy walk up but no sign of sheep.  I am the first one to sign the log in the canister/register on the top for 2013.  Last entries were from CDT hikers in the fall of 2012,

Met up with Soft Walker for a while then the rain started.  First time really hiking in the rain on this trip.  I would have set up my tent but I was on a long ridge of the divide with limited water and thunder showers.  Made good time in the rain because this section is all on dirt roads. It's been a very cool hiking on remote lightly used trail till now but I think it's mostly dirt roads till the hitch to Steamboat. Found a spot to camp then realized Portrait and Castle were camping near by.

Eighteen miles to the hitch for Steamboat Springs.  Unfortunately it's on a series of dirt and paved roads.  Unexpected trail magic cooler of beer and soda on the paved road!  Got one of the last hotel rooms available on this holiday in Steamboat.  Looking forward to barbeque and the largest fireworks display in Colorado.  Happy 4th of July!