Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Day 25
Grant Village, Yellowstone, WY to Pahaska Tepee Resort, WY
Miles:
Elevation:
Time:
Total miles: 1,010.71
Total Elevation: 44,534
Total Time: 103 hours 1 minute
What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger except bears. Bears will kill you!
Last night, we settled into the tent after storing everything in the bear box. Grizzlies has been seen recently in the area. The final visit to the restrooms so we were running on empty, teeth brushed with extra rinsing to rid my mouth of ‘minty fresh’, I never wished for bad breath but this evening, well… So much is taken for granted in our daily lives…safety, temperature control, dial by number mattresses. Not so when traveling by bicycle across the country. With a silk liner tucked into the Big Agnes sleeping bag, we slithered into our bed perched upon an air mattress. Once settled, turning was executed with the precision of synchronized swimming, turning regularly to warm the body like flipping burgers on the Fourth of July! After a few hours, I could tell I was losing ground with my body temperature slowly declining. I had to do something different. Pulling the silk liner over my head and descending even further into the sleeping bag, I was no longer willing to donate my body’s warm respiration to the tent space. I’m keeping it all! While feeling a bit confined breathing’inside’, I quickly got over it and back to sleep for the next 30 minute cycle. By 3am, the well hydrated body was ready to release its collection. Staring at the bear spray perched in my cycling shoe, the debate only lasted seconds. Not just no, but heck no! Not only would I risk exposure to a grizzly but would lose all the heat I so struggled to hoard. Touring like this teaches one to appreciate the very basic needs we humans experience- water when you’re thirsty, food when you’re hungry, warmth when you’re cold and a bathroom when you need one. Oh, and air. So wonderful when you’re at altitude!!
By 5am, the birds had been singing for an hour and we’d heard another camper up and out. Maybe now it would be safe. We darted out of the tent to the bathrooms and with military precision, broke camp, started and loaded the truck with all the bear box items and evacuated to the nearest gas station that had HOT coffee. We survived the night albeit a bit weary. Onward to the east entrance! Once again driving through the park early, we saw lots of Canadian geese and another herd of elk. Driving up and down, we eventually made it to Sylvan Pass at 8,530 foot elevation. Snow flanked the mountainside. As we drove further, the descent was notably steep with generous gravel on the shoulder. Would we have made it safely on the bikes or would our brakes had faded from overheating? Sometimes I don’t understand why I am where I am at certain times but have learned not to question it. Trust. Faith.
By 2:30pm, we arrive at Pahaska Tepee Resort just outside of Yellowstone National Park, Buffalo Bill’s original hunting lodge. Walking the grounds, we learn of its fascinating history. They tell us about the local grizzlies including the twins. Yep, bear spray in hand!! The log cabin has heat. And a bathroom. And two tired souls who slept like the dead!
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
And warm!!
#RoadrunnerTour2025
