West Yellowstone

Day 36, Wednesday July 22, 2015
Start near MI-090M, approx mile 2040.2
End Macks Inn US20, approx mile 2046, then get a ride to West Yellowstone

The way continues on forest service road, past vacation homes.

Getting closer to Mack’s Inn, I meet Max, who had stopped on the road last night to chat. He was doing road walk exercise. He offers me a ride to West Yellowstone(!), since I mentioned yesterday that was my destination to catch a bus. We agree to meet at the post office at 10.
I get to highway 20 and meet three thru-hikers who flipped to the border to hike south, Track Meat, Spark, and Carrot.

They had prepared to bring snow gear to hike out of Chama, but a storm blew in, so they flipped up to Glacier which had no snow. Seems like a fun group.

I get a hiker box at the post office that had been shipped before I decided to stop the hike here, then meet Max and family and they drive me to the Visitors Center at West Yellowstone, Montana.

The town is very busy and very touristy. Rooms are usually filled early.

My hole-in-the-wall hotel did not allow check-in until 4PM, no exceptions, so I find a laundry that also has showers, then go to the library to use a computer with printer to book my bus tickets. I might have been able to optimize my route back home a little better, but time on the computer was limited, so best get something printed and prepare to enjoy a looong ride. Greyhound does not serve Montana especially well, but the bus company Salt Lake Express is trying, so my trip involves two bus lines.
The hotel lobby was locked until 4PM.

I never saw that before.

No more hiking on this trip, so you can stop reading. Next year: Montana!