tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18388843000561395352024-03-13T08:02:06.266-07:00Another Long WalkWandering around the world long distances on foot....Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.comBlogger1217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-64667806264322134512022-10-14T05:00:00.299-07:002022-10-14T05:00:00.220-07:00Day 158: The Amtrak Disaster<p><i>September 25</i>: My train back to Seattle didn't leave until about 6:30 in the evening, so I had all day to relax and goof around in East Glacier. I noticed a few changes since my last visit less than a week earlier. For instance, Brownies had been completely boarded up. The store had closed for the season the last time I was there, but the building hadn't been boarded up--not like it was now.</p><p>Additional businesses had closed as well. I tried to drop into the Glacier Park Lodge, but it was now closed for the season. I was glad I made my visit the last time I was in town. I hadn't realized it would be closed by the time I returned to town again.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigRjYNeJAKCHrKO-Gl7fdaWlQgqBUkwSqDtERo6AMknVTb8I9v7TputmBI4_OVw3tV5wvZrV8YRpCtd231OxPyIeDbyi_Mc2Bh-7Kpb6_JeJiM8uSw2LFS9oWhHEKAYDOawg7eRNFbcuuXTxxkTph9WWeSwdI-SO3a5n1rKYSTeNmZgWoobjHWGvmmpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigRjYNeJAKCHrKO-Gl7fdaWlQgqBUkwSqDtERo6AMknVTb8I9v7TputmBI4_OVw3tV5wvZrV8YRpCtd231OxPyIeDbyi_Mc2Bh-7Kpb6_JeJiM8uSw2LFS9oWhHEKAYDOawg7eRNFbcuuXTxxkTph9WWeSwdI-SO3a5n1rKYSTeNmZgWoobjHWGvmmpg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of drama at the East Glacier train station this evening!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Much of the day I spent just chatting with other thru-hikers. A large group of about a dozen people had just arrived and were working to get permits through the park. One person I was surprised to see was Money. I didn't understand how he had fallen so far behind me until he bragged that he had taken something like 50 or 60 zero days on the trail. He seemed determined to set a record for the most zero days ever taken on the CDT by a thru-hiker.</p><p>About an hour before the train was scheduled to arrived, I picked up all my worldly possessions and said goodbye to everyone, then headed over to the train station.</p><p>There were a few others there, and we sat around waiting. The animated screen showing train schedules showed that our train was scheduled to arrive about an hour late. I wasn't particularly surprised about this since Amtrak is notorious for running late--especially on these long-distance trains. This train we'd be boarding was the Empire Builder, and it started in Chicago, taking two days before arriving in Seattle.</p><p>While waiting for the train, one of the other passengers noticed a fox by the train station, so we all got up to admire the fox. I was surprised it was out in the open and didn't seem to mind the crowd of us watching it. It was my first really good look a fox in the "wild"--if outside of the train station could really be considered wild.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYNVoOj25w0k9TBkSjVi7izZ5iB8Wk9GtQ_VXMboW6kwK1Cgok0mzv3D4LT6oF5NqaozUnHP89Z-5jPCqou3XAwJ4JvvdZOI7P_JaCHXTj0bEpjRCVUCnU5Vmi86n97vzO_Mb1rZ-bE6kTRtp-kU6qiXYWAvoBo-MtwreeZhTeZglpeHy_2CrjyaNDPA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYNVoOj25w0k9TBkSjVi7izZ5iB8Wk9GtQ_VXMboW6kwK1Cgok0mzv3D4LT6oF5NqaozUnHP89Z-5jPCqou3XAwJ4JvvdZOI7P_JaCHXTj0bEpjRCVUCnU5Vmi86n97vzO_Mb1rZ-bE6kTRtp-kU6qiXYWAvoBo-MtwreeZhTeZglpeHy_2CrjyaNDPA=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p>Eventually the fox wandered off, and we continued to wait for the train. I chatted with one of the other thru-hikers who was also scheduled to ride the train. Then a guy showed up saying that he heard that there had been an Amtrak train that derailed. He didn't provide any details, though. Just that one had derailed. Somewhere.</p><p>There are Amtrak trains all over the country, though. I didn't know exactly how many, but even if the rumor were true, it seemed unlikely it would be <i>our</i> train. Anyhow, our train was still scheduled to arrive at 7:30 or so according to the signage at the train station. The train station didn't have an Amtrak worker there to check people in or anything, though, so there was no one to ask about anything.</p><p>It was about 10 minutes later when someone checking their phone found a news article about an Amtrak train that derailed in Montana not too long ago, and that there were at least three fatalities.</p><p>Hmm.... I was pretty sure that there couldn't be more than about two Amtrak trains in Montana today. The only Amtrak route that went through Montana was the Empire Builder, and one train passed through in each direction. At this point, I thought there was a better than 50/50 chance <i>our</i> train had derailed. The morning train going eastbound had gone through town hours earlier, but I wasn't sure if it would have been out of the state yet.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu67Y4inBE04zf_JdJMCgqzX8nVqLUQUh63Wam8fX1-LvxFgLx20sWazF_BlGfQfep2sTmxBwJxkbjkzY28rnAXyuz7DTDOCsdH5xQXWWKjf6O68m9Xef2WSkh1Jtrx_a2GNWV70to_6qK5pbJqOkTXYRsoJgwzPSH6KvJygQ2bmu6VM6yLixTh4tpZw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu67Y4inBE04zf_JdJMCgqzX8nVqLUQUh63Wam8fX1-LvxFgLx20sWazF_BlGfQfep2sTmxBwJxkbjkzY28rnAXyuz7DTDOCsdH5xQXWWKjf6O68m9Xef2WSkh1Jtrx_a2GNWV70to_6qK5pbJqOkTXYRsoJgwzPSH6KvJygQ2bmu6VM6yLixTh4tpZw=s16000" /></a></div><br />At this point, everyone at the train station became immensely interested in this train derailment, myself included. I pulled out my own phone to see what I could find out about it online, at which point I noticed a voicemail from my sister.<p></p><p>She had left a message asking if I was alright. She had heard on the news about a train derailment in Montana and knew I had been planning to take the train that evening. I called her back immediately and told her I was fine--not even on a train as of yet, and that we were still trying to figure out if it was our train that had actually derailed. If it derailed and there were three fatalities, I was very confident in predicting that our train would be canceled--we just hadn't heard anything yet.</p><p>I gave my mom a call to let her know I was fine. I didn't think she had heard about the train derailment yet. If she had, she probably would have called already, but I called her to let her know that I was fine just in case she did hear about it later. No reason for her to worry unnecessarily.</p><p>I also gave Amanda a call. Amanda answered the phone immediately. "Hi, how's it going?" she asked.</p><p>"Well..." I said, not really sure where to start, "I think my train derailed?"</p><p>"What?!"</p><p>"Yeah, I think my train derailed. I'm not 100% certain of the fact, but it seems likely." I went on to explain the situation. "Anyhow, I just wanted to give you a head's up, just in case you happened to hear about it."</p><p>"Do you need a ride?" she asked me. She was with friends at a concert in the Seattle area. </p><p>"Maybe," I told her, but said to hang off for the moment. I still wasn't sure what all was happening and needed to learn more. Maybe I'd just spend the night at the hostel and catch the train tomorrow instead.</p><p>We hung up, but I promised to keep in touch with updates. She had a friend who works as an engineer on Amtrak and sometimes works this route and said she'd try to call him about updates as well. And make sure he wasn't actually on the train, which was a possibility. <br /></p><p>It didn't take long before we found a news article saying that it was
the westbound train that had derailed. It was my train. I was literally
at the train station waiting for that train to arrive, but at this
point, I knew it never would. The board marking train arrivals continued
to say that the train was delayed until 7:30 or so. <br /></p><p>Most of the passengers wandered off by around this point. I decided to wait until about 7:30 and see what happened. Although there were no employees working at this station now, maybe one of them would get a call to come out and help all the stranded passengers. Maybe they were making arrangements to have a bus come by and pick us up. I was curious what would happen with the digital sign when the supposed time that the train would arrive never arrived.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCM7BzpxKIBE9RqMUntEYOARo3xq6484_7buUpJVGd0T7K_EeWjjCDDvkENRuzQVnZ67ucnOFuQjZAFxdd54UoZkwz9hByZvwGbxGZFkAxUuBt_2UULG-CWOYb9BmIwSwfS66SQTUwOegRjg_73SgwY6JeuzIdPSegTJgqVD4jec5cc_OxZAQE_eRwBw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCM7BzpxKIBE9RqMUntEYOARo3xq6484_7buUpJVGd0T7K_EeWjjCDDvkENRuzQVnZ67ucnOFuQjZAFxdd54UoZkwz9hByZvwGbxGZFkAxUuBt_2UULG-CWOYb9BmIwSwfS66SQTUwOegRjg_73SgwY6JeuzIdPSegTJgqVD4jec5cc_OxZAQE_eRwBw=s16000" /></a></div><br />I did call Will and Luna at the hostel to let them know that I'd likely be returning for an extra night. When I called, Will answered the phone, and when I told him it was Green Tortuga, he asked, "So, are you spending another night? I heard about the train derailment."<p></p><p>They had already figured out that I'd probably be returning to the hostel even before I called. I confirmed the situation but said I'd hang out until 7:30pm to see if anything happened.</p><p>While waiting, we continued to look for updates about the train derailment. Apparently, it happened only a few hours before it was scheduled to arrive at this station. And the most recent news reports we read said that there were at least 10 fatalities. It was bad.... But those counts seemed to be wrong. In subsequent days, only 3 fatalities were listed. Dozens went to the hospital.</p><p>I was grateful that I wasn't on the train <i>when</i> the train derailed, but it certainly caused some trouble for me. The other thru-hiker there tried calling the Amtrak customer service number about changing his ticket, but after being on hold for about 45 minutes, it disconnected when his phone ran out of power. Perhaps they were busy with news of the train derailment. They might be bombarded with thousands of calls from family of passengers--as well as passengers like us that now needed to make other plans. Plus all the other passengers at all the other stops the train would have made.</p><p>When 7:30 finally arrived, our train disappeared from the digital arrivals board. I joked with the others around me, "Did you see the train go by? I totally missed it!"</p><p>Almost immediately, my phone rang. It was an automated message from Amtrak explaining that there was a "service disruption" and that due to our remote location, there were no buses or anything available and that our train was canceled. They provided a phone number to call about questions or to reschedule, but it was the same number that the other thru-hiker had been on for 45 minutes before being disconnected, so I didn't put much stock in that for the moment.</p><p>I finally gave up waiting and headed back to the hostel for the night. The large group of 12 people who had arrived made a communal dinner, and after hearing that I'd likely be returning for the night, saved a little extra for me. That was nice. =) </p><p>Back at the hostel, I tried rebooking new tickets for tomorrow night, but the Amtrak website wasn't showing any trains at all running through town, in either direction. And I checked the next several days, and no trains at all were now scheduled to run. That was ominous. I was basically stranded in East Glacier for an unknown period of time. I could try hitchhiking, but that's a long way to hitchhike back to Seattle.</p><p>I gave Amanda another call and told her the situation. "Think you can give me a ride after all?"</p><p>She said she had already thrown some stuff in the car when she got home from her concert and was prepared to drive out, just in case, and would be on her way. According to Google, she should arrive sometime tomorrow, Glacier NP was a 9 hour drive from Seattle non-stop.</p><p>And with that, my day finally ended. I spent an extra night in East Glacier.</p><p>The next day, I ran into Just Awesome who had just finished the trail that afternoon. He shook my hand, congratulated me on completing the Triple Crown, then said, "You got me! You totally got me!"</p><p>I was a little confused about what he was talking about at first, then he explained. "Those four girls you met... you told them to pretend like they had met me on the PCT. They did! And I totally believed them! I was scratching my head, trying to remember where I had seen them on the PCT, then they finally let me off the hook and told me that YOU put them up to it!"</p><p>I laughed. Yes, yes I did. =) <br /></p><p>"So why are you still in town? I figured you would already be home by now?"</p><p>"I tried to leave," I told him, "but my train derailed." Being on the trail, he hadn't heard anything about the train derailment and I filled him in. </p><p>It seemed to be the headline news across the country. The news even made it to Poland. I had sent a postcard to one of my Polish teachers saying that I planned to take the train home when I finished the trail, and after hearing about the train derailment, he sent me an email asking if I was okay. I don't think he had been especially concerned.... at the time I sent the postcard, I had no way of knowing exactly when I'd finish the trail or precisely what day I'd be taking the train, but he noticed that the timing was right and thought he'd drop me a message... just in case. But that's how I found out the incident had made it into the Polish news.<br /></p><p>Anyhow, Amanda arrived later in the day after driving the 9 hours overnight and I finally had a way out of East Glacier.</p><p>We drove nearly non-stop back to Seattle. We stopped briefly to pick up one guy on a bicycle. I had met him at the hostel, actually, and he left earlier that morning riding toward West Glacier, but the wind was fierce and he decided he had had enough. So we piled him and his bike into the back seat and took him the rest of the way to West Glacier. We stopped for dinner, and for gas at a couple of places. </p><p>It was after midnight when we arrived back in Seattle, and my hike was <i>now</i> officially done. I never imagined that just getting off the trail would have turned out to be an adventure in itself.</p><br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com1East Glacier Park Village, MT 59434, USA48.446912300000008 -113.223148220.136678463821163 -148.3793982 76.757146136178847 -78.0668982tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-80609035099767129582022-10-12T05:00:00.293-07:002022-10-12T05:00:00.200-07:00Day 157: The End of the CDT....<p><i>September 24</i>: I slept in a bit late this morning mostly because I had such a short day of hiking, I was in no particular rush.</p><p>The day's hiking was relatively flat and easy compared to the last few days. No major passes to cross over or anything like that.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfIZ_VOwgfZvyZV_EpYpo9BwarQ1bKLXG_GPiV5H1yNEXnKsYWAke4oseB8NxMsNS9A_eFHplkhpGqFodBbfJQ287xjYAUz_1PW1NQtdyRxeOn8mPOjyXH6Bvpqk520DTZ8Xma7Qg11o6t0s8FW582510xG68QsEfv0sFFZeHh_EoQJ1EAZCHd3RVY-g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfIZ_VOwgfZvyZV_EpYpo9BwarQ1bKLXG_GPiV5H1yNEXnKsYWAke4oseB8NxMsNS9A_eFHplkhpGqFodBbfJQ287xjYAUz_1PW1NQtdyRxeOn8mPOjyXH6Bvpqk520DTZ8Xma7Qg11o6t0s8FW582510xG68QsEfv0sFFZeHh_EoQJ1EAZCHd3RVY-g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the common area of the campsite with the bear boxes on the left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A couple of hours into the day's hike, I reached the junction with the Pacific Northwest Trail which was a particularly special moment for me. Upon reaching this junction, I had connected my steps with the PNT, which connected with my steps from the PCT, which connected my steps all the way back to Mexico. Mexico to Canada and back to Mexico again. It's a huge distance, and I've covered it all, on foot, under my own power.</p><p>I still had to hike a couple of more hours to reach the Chief Mountain trailhead and the official alternate end of the CDT. Typically, thru-hikers have used this terminus when the snow is bad or there was some other issue about getting into Canada along the main route, but this year, almost everyone started or finished here just because of the COVID restrictions that didn't allow us to go into Canada.</p><p>There's a small parking lot at the trailhead, but I continued beyond that. I needed to touch the Canadian border. This was a border-to-border trail, and I wanted to step right up to the Canadian border to make it official.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV2-YPsC3EclE0Z84moGeoEE1e33TtokH4P2zbq9V7fhZLqlAOH-I6AQGQ-n6ITMRMGEaaTHSTn5tEQzIlnUqHul2XrtG6nu7YrdmGQxGrl_sbzSRIB1lUrBMD8ySIRuzT0s-GjvELL9W0BE8PE-5Dk6RHFCOdivpdTOlyI4OVYrH7WnYajGrZGheToQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV2-YPsC3EclE0Z84moGeoEE1e33TtokH4P2zbq9V7fhZLqlAOH-I6AQGQ-n6ITMRMGEaaTHSTn5tEQzIlnUqHul2XrtG6nu7YrdmGQxGrl_sbzSRIB1lUrBMD8ySIRuzT0s-GjvELL9W0BE8PE-5Dk6RHFCOdivpdTOlyI4OVYrH7WnYajGrZGheToQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This trailhead not only marks the end of the CDT, but also the beginning of the PNT. I like that the PNT marker is about 4 times bigger than the CDT marker. (I feel like the CDT marker deserved to be smaller since it's just an "alternate end" to the trail rather than the "main end", but this IS the <i>official</i> beginning of the PNT.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>At the trailhead, I found another thru-hiker named Chimney, who told me that he had actually arrived late yesterday afternoon and after several hours of trying to hitch a ride without success, wound up spending the night at the trailhead, and--so far--had been unable to get a ride back to town today either. Several cars full of hikers had <i>arrived</i> at the trailhead this morning, but so far, nobody had left it. Additionally, since the border crossing was closed due to COVID, there was no through traffic. The only possibility for rides were from people who drove out to this trailhead and just this trailhead. </p>It sounded like I might be here awhile before I got a ride out. I knew that was a possibility, though, and made sure to carry plenty of food so <i>I</i> could spend the night at the trailhead if I had to. I didn't want to, though. My hike was done! <br /><p>Anyhow, I walked out onto the main road, where I found two older women looking over the border into Canada, standing next to a line of orange construction cones preventing vehicles from driving over.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwN_I_xqLaSPtELU1lqslbGu1TqkxHKcMsLupTJLZWF2uxcZyUiSlxTdCYsF-LUDULR-cdZzf7RM0E_rUdmkgKlUTocpt5IAuJ464RzPkvcEJ9zfixJeJQLZSYj9umZSEhur9lMwGFxzjdZJJ2KY2KNQNiXUluJVHBjQvVkzrQKFTXxtvTPdT3Qhyw0A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwN_I_xqLaSPtELU1lqslbGu1TqkxHKcMsLupTJLZWF2uxcZyUiSlxTdCYsF-LUDULR-cdZzf7RM0E_rUdmkgKlUTocpt5IAuJ464RzPkvcEJ9zfixJeJQLZSYj9umZSEhur9lMwGFxzjdZJJ2KY2KNQNiXUluJVHBjQvVkzrQKFTXxtvTPdT3Qhyw0A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The building on the left is on the US side of the border. The building further out on the right side of the road is the Canadian customs and immigration building. And the border is somewhere between the two. Clearly, vehicles were not meant to cross the orange cones, but I didn't let them stop me from walking past them!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Normally, this border crossing would be open for vehicles, but again, because of COVID, this particular crossing was closed.<p></p><p>I walked up to the ladies and asked if the cones were the furthest we could legally walk, but they weren't sure. They seemed scared to continue past them, however. Looking around, I didn't actually see any sort of signage that prevented people from <i>walking</i> through the cones to the border, so I plowed through the cones and continued onward.<br /></p><p>I passed the building where the US customs and immigration officers usually worked from. It was empty and closed, but I saw cameras around it. I felt certain that I was being watched, but I didn't think anyone would care if I just walked up to the border, touched it, and walked back, so I kept going. For all I knew, however, there could have been a team of border patrol sent out to tackle me, but they had to get here first.<br /></p><p>I could see the structure that the Canadian border agents used, so the US-Canadian border obviously was somewhere between the two buildings, and I wondered how I'd recognize exactly where it was. What would happen if I accidentally walked too far into Canada?</p><p>As I got closer to the Canadian building, however, I noticed the distinctive border marker on the side of the road. <i>That</i> was the Canadian border. In fact, I could even see where the road changed to a slightly different shade of black, then also another border monument on the other side of the road.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9j0xQGlZEMjhGSlh2HWPChKrW2STU_g3yvkpwwIBBGuTMS0tTaoBwdULNCUhWc4wPVBMgV-08Tzt9d_cCjnXMxAE7qsyTbSpaNfzQpyIBwkceiVy2pC2UisvFK3VPfZvtQs7_XlVpnK-yCXBquLrA7f8dFkwmQt747vPBkDoVskz-V9RxckwXCWKluA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9j0xQGlZEMjhGSlh2HWPChKrW2STU_g3yvkpwwIBBGuTMS0tTaoBwdULNCUhWc4wPVBMgV-08Tzt9d_cCjnXMxAE7qsyTbSpaNfzQpyIBwkceiVy2pC2UisvFK3VPfZvtQs7_XlVpnK-yCXBquLrA7f8dFkwmQt747vPBkDoVskz-V9RxckwXCWKluA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I pose at the border monument, the newest person to join the Triple Crown Club. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I took lots of selfies of myself and some videos, and when I looked back, I noticed the two women who had been standing by the cones approaching me. I guess when no border agents jumped out of the bushes to arrest me, they felt it was safe enough to walk to the border themselves.</p><p>Which worked out well for me since it meant that I could get them to take photos of me at the border and didn't have to rely on selfies. If only I had my tiara, though. *sigh* The tiara would have been perfect for this moment. I was officially the newest member of the the Triple Crown club. =)</p><p>While I was goofing around at the border, Chimney suddenly scored a ride from some hikers just returning to the trailhead. And while chatting with the two women at the border monument and telling them that I needed to hitch a ride back to town, they offered me a ride!</p><p>I must be good luck. The minute I showed up, both Chimney and I got rides--and from different people no less! At least I wouldn't be spending the night at the trailhead like Chimney did </p><p>My ride only went as far as St. Mary's, however, so they dropped me off on the side of the road and I walked out to the road leading out of town to start hitching the rest of the way to East Glacier. As I arrived, I saw Chimney come out of the nearby store and head toward me. Looks like we were both trying to hitch to East Glacier together now.</p><p>Our luck held, however. Well, my luck held. Chimney had been trying to hitch since yesterday afternoon. I'm the one that got a ride in less than 5 minutes! Chimney was clearly black and I wondered if that made it easier for me to get a ride, but its entirely possible it could have just been rotten timing on his part.</p><p>In any case, within 60 seconds of my sticking out my thumb, a vehicle pulled over and we were offered a ride. Sweet! That was <i>much</i> easier and faster than I had any right to expect! =)</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvOW2w94bhauDQtZiSpki6Y8TGxCr83uuF5ncjkKrES47VqHeZ9jU9Kun-zz-FR_3UArzTFdzRPkiU6DF-dUUABLVsX4SvnUNriu-ZctwHZw2oVjEykKwOcDzm3EUAQjuXF1OCx_Czs9PMho3ubEvrzM941Mxj3mcQPeYZZFJ8dh5EGSrYoDRXRCOCUA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvOW2w94bhauDQtZiSpki6Y8TGxCr83uuF5ncjkKrES47VqHeZ9jU9Kun-zz-FR_3UArzTFdzRPkiU6DF-dUUABLVsX4SvnUNriu-ZctwHZw2oVjEykKwOcDzm3EUAQjuXF1OCx_Czs9PMho3ubEvrzM941Mxj3mcQPeYZZFJ8dh5EGSrYoDRXRCOCUA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view toward Glacier NP during the drive back to East Glacier.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p>Originally, I had assumed I might be sitting around the Chief Mountain trailhead for potentially hours and my plan was to eat lunch there. I never got a chance, however, nor did I get a chance to even eat a snack in St. Marys before we got a ride. I was getting pretty hungry. By the time we arrived in East Glacier, I was positively starving!</p><p>But before I could eat, I rushed over to the post office. They had a laptop with my name on it, and now I was in town to enjoy it! I was a little stunned that I made it to town before they closed--I didn't think there was a chance of that happening, but my rides came so darned fast! So I rushed down to the post office, arriving about 15 minutes before they were scheduled to close, and asked for my package.</p><p>But it wasn't there. WHAT?! Where the hell was it?! I had called the Butte post office nearly two weeks ago now. I asked the desk clerk if she could check where it was. I had the tracking number in my wallet and pulled it out. She came back telling me that it was still in Butte.</p><p>What the heck is it still doing in Butte?! It literally hadn't moved at all since I called them and they assured me it was on its way! I remember the woman I talked to on the phone even put me on hold to verify that my package was sitting there before confirming that she'd forward it to East Glacier.</p><p>Clearly, I would not be using my laptop anytime soon. The last time I had seen the laptop was in West Yellowstone. I didn't imagine that I'd basically hike through the entire state of Montana and never see it. Just like Colorado! Basically, I never got to use my laptop in two out five states the trail went through. Well, technically, I didn't use it in Idaho either, but seeing as I was in Idaho for less than 24 hours, it didn't seem fair to count that.</p><p>Well, it wasn't the end of the world, but I told the woman that if the package somehow did arrive for me here, to please forward it on to me in Seattle. I'd have to call the Butte post office again and see if they'd forward it to Seattle. Or maybe I should just wait and let them return it to the sender. It had been in that post office for about a month now. They were bound to return it to the sender sooner or later.</p><p>In any case, I headed back to the hostel for the night. I finally got to eat some lunch. I also got a phone call from the four women I met on the trail a few days earlier asking if I was still trying to hitch a ride back to East Glacier. I know I gave them my number for just that purpose, but I was still a little surprised they made the effort of calling. They had just finished their own hike and weren't sure if I was on the side of the road somewhere still trying to hitch a ride. I assured them that I had already made it into East Glacier--the two hitches into town went remarkably efficiently. I was in St. Marys for less than 60 seconds before getting a ride!</p><p>Back at the hostel, on my phone, I checked the Amtrak website for a ride home. There's a train station right there in East Glacier, and an Amtrak route that would take me from East Glacier direct to Seattle on the Empire Builder. Amanda had called and let me know that she was off for a few days around this time and could drive out to pick me up, but I told her not to worry about it. I <i>wanted</i> to ride the train. I've really enjoyed riding the train in the past. There's lots of leg room, and gorgeous scenery. It really was the best way to travel from East Glacier to Seattle, and I was looking forward to it. I had even arrived early enough in the day to catch the train that passed through tonight at around 6:30pm.</p><p>The price of the last minute ticket, however, was $230, but if I waited until tomorrow night, it was only $106. Since the price of the hostel was $15, I decided to purchase the ticket for tomorrow night and save over a hundred dollars.</p><p>It didn't quite work out like I expected.... I should have paid the $230 and left tonight. It would have simplified so many things.... but I had no way of knowing that at the time. But that's a story for the next post! For now, I had finished the trail. I was a Triple Crowner! And my days of sleeping outside were now over. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr5o7SJlT3P5VfHiXVPH5kN89gF9NleF2pv1IIV92bI8frO_wonhPEW3piT2TCO3JKTIIvzu1YFyjgKeha9muTGS9dAzrsN7rCHCLuaskFt2t-S-Por64ae8UAqfpJBlfAqwDtl1LQn5s5osDtR9dpr0DKK7Xfh4b6Eb9f26kdgkw5tl9CVvLWLnyTfA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjr5o7SJlT3P5VfHiXVPH5kN89gF9NleF2pv1IIV92bI8frO_wonhPEW3piT2TCO3JKTIIvzu1YFyjgKeha9muTGS9dAzrsN7rCHCLuaskFt2t-S-Por64ae8UAqfpJBlfAqwDtl1LQn5s5osDtR9dpr0DKK7Xfh4b6Eb9f26kdgkw5tl9CVvLWLnyTfA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at the hostel, I did find this Burger King hat, so I took a photo of myself wearing it. The one prop I used to mark my completion of the Triple Crown--but I still regret not having my tiara at the border. And... this beard could now be chopped off! I wouldn't need it anymore.... =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQpkRCmZvEHLzvSe-E2GKD4IyINPQR3pXCT1cAacFf0gjrvXONbh5L0g6CykyUHv0IvyJcJgh_F0ecE12Gu4ROkvVsrTxJAKNiI27u6peKMY-GjllGZb9fRS7s6Cijmq0oxiCGajSPuxP9FDxyQQs4ZO3MLajZjrVUg9sAJIPkNsr1SWGW7IFA14DSSw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQpkRCmZvEHLzvSe-E2GKD4IyINPQR3pXCT1cAacFf0gjrvXONbh5L0g6CykyUHv0IvyJcJgh_F0ecE12Gu4ROkvVsrTxJAKNiI27u6peKMY-GjllGZb9fRS7s6Cijmq0oxiCGajSPuxP9FDxyQQs4ZO3MLajZjrVUg9sAJIPkNsr1SWGW7IFA14DSSw=s16000" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8uYtW5ayXGCyyH7Iec0P6x69M8fbbRY6XR_x7bz7h67LcQ1N_v8LhozEFjB_k9i4InMOnP_mXSGCMDlCHiqw7Zxs2Wn7GOnm3U7uhzBS1MgMschUBrmWZwoz0M6apG0tMVmMRbU5uiHBu3govipaXMKPH0ti61XRWSBZhoOG9IbeCvvsn5_vxmwTuOQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8uYtW5ayXGCyyH7Iec0P6x69M8fbbRY6XR_x7bz7h67LcQ1N_v8LhozEFjB_k9i4InMOnP_mXSGCMDlCHiqw7Zxs2Wn7GOnm3U7uhzBS1MgMschUBrmWZwoz0M6apG0tMVmMRbU5uiHBu3govipaXMKPH0ti61XRWSBZhoOG9IbeCvvsn5_vxmwTuOQ=s16000" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUSB_11PnPICyYvNnvyNw_9lzwRumob1GrJ585kzYtWoXg2tgp1cwXcNQUocUbkgKRcdbUvH6Al5d4QqULpKsm_UQnO-eJcsb85MuhNQX8epHM-ge-RPT44yDyltgcbIlybYsV2yAYwF8nUv3uOfR56Rh4dEKQMkptiT7O36hWq-jV6OHNURnNtIQ0lQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUSB_11PnPICyYvNnvyNw_9lzwRumob1GrJ585kzYtWoXg2tgp1cwXcNQUocUbkgKRcdbUvH6Al5d4QqULpKsm_UQnO-eJcsb85MuhNQX8epHM-ge-RPT44yDyltgcbIlybYsV2yAYwF8nUv3uOfR56Rh4dEKQMkptiT7O36hWq-jV6OHNURnNtIQ0lQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I continued to leave more leaf people on the trail in my wake....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuq0lQHAzgkrSwz8TN79K9tjtaxrLbRvLSE0RigCdLtZjE1wAMHNHFnH_5nd1jVFUuJeLjNEtEJJr63i5olQcsmFlI1FA31Kz4ZAa1lYRZ-SIdi8m0Pq_J-E-c_BtnutA7V3J5Edvenor7dMwOi41VMiP4-E1TBE3iwHl2hJ7wgdOyewl1P5vPQLO9Eg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuq0lQHAzgkrSwz8TN79K9tjtaxrLbRvLSE0RigCdLtZjE1wAMHNHFnH_5nd1jVFUuJeLjNEtEJJr63i5olQcsmFlI1FA31Kz4ZAa1lYRZ-SIdi8m0Pq_J-E-c_BtnutA7V3J5Edvenor7dMwOi41VMiP4-E1TBE3iwHl2hJ7wgdOyewl1P5vPQLO9Eg=s16000" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYGRmV8AzRV0WQNohOuD_RPRSG-cLezKCirTsirslGNUJepNT-thAX7W4CBqsRlzXBf4Ii6H_lJxdnQQfIU2UkF_lsp0_XIqWh1RhfKCusXDsmYZZGhXCkVIzwDgX8CY5PYpGn3lhIY-Jz9kyw6_jQs8_IJJzFVVW62E-PIbZ3jM1w2lOs4VR2Aabl2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYGRmV8AzRV0WQNohOuD_RPRSG-cLezKCirTsirslGNUJepNT-thAX7W4CBqsRlzXBf4Ii6H_lJxdnQQfIU2UkF_lsp0_XIqWh1RhfKCusXDsmYZZGhXCkVIzwDgX8CY5PYpGn3lhIY-Jz9kyw6_jQs8_IJJzFVVW62E-PIbZ3jM1w2lOs4VR2Aabl2A=s16000" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCUHGRFmhw_H4MWymH_q-Gi7njyow_XAZlAOwsWr0hoVpBowpDbZKgPRawbKgz3W3G8CFuywrv80X7asAGDfn-zlZEd9eeEC57OisTkLGFzJKW5i-0eIEm0PB_0twYsFwpSw3bRKTMb6s7jE17b1G98XZNdnPG2VBBqQyWWMjpFVApENXI9djSPp6NUA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCUHGRFmhw_H4MWymH_q-Gi7njyow_XAZlAOwsWr0hoVpBowpDbZKgPRawbKgz3W3G8CFuywrv80X7asAGDfn-zlZEd9eeEC57OisTkLGFzJKW5i-0eIEm0PB_0twYsFwpSw3bRKTMb6s7jE17b1G98XZNdnPG2VBBqQyWWMjpFVApENXI9djSPp6NUA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just love the yellow aspens at this time of year!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIQ5jDZZU_vwickfQlsI__3WlyXr3qTsnyl8wh56ldw5FQANlSmBAWoUUA36kxIhhvkZKn9fzV6k48DzyBPlWRfD8L3q6sDrUf3VIaeZI5dv8_59-DUr0MPMMgZ7PyB-E4_Yo9qq93HjUZKt5-kh9qlSohOy83v93rYnotGpesOGXvCYgQsKQhQTXBDA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIQ5jDZZU_vwickfQlsI__3WlyXr3qTsnyl8wh56ldw5FQANlSmBAWoUUA36kxIhhvkZKn9fzV6k48DzyBPlWRfD8L3q6sDrUf3VIaeZI5dv8_59-DUr0MPMMgZ7PyB-E4_Yo9qq93HjUZKt5-kh9qlSohOy83v93rYnotGpesOGXvCYgQsKQhQTXBDA=s16000" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJMMv32dKce1Krl3qWmuot1595Hg_a-Uvpft4EzOWo6KS0FD-6N3YeBL18GZQ-Ch04awtCsYAWQQx1k9CyNsaNutcV7lx4qtYFRjKrWUOpmRdNcm6WbBrdK7npVvoGwf6c_vEbRo-1waCzjGZFsrEJS_eeKek8Sup2h0VjmFoXlEb4JXPZ5RZm3Vu_Mg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJMMv32dKce1Krl3qWmuot1595Hg_a-Uvpft4EzOWo6KS0FD-6N3YeBL18GZQ-Ch04awtCsYAWQQx1k9CyNsaNutcV7lx4qtYFRjKrWUOpmRdNcm6WbBrdK7npVvoGwf6c_vEbRo-1waCzjGZFsrEJS_eeKek8Sup2h0VjmFoXlEb4JXPZ5RZm3Vu_Mg=s16000" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHmd-uTQ-nrpW3EMZzrN67AuXtZMarlRa8s6GjfoHWLYJnj9Z9drynQGG1Kb8TV4uUc-v1-vsvhoYGL8JNfBE97raqWeBFXdHZNozkUmc8IQSikkhyehGx-7T8p8oQpUmyCLFziwjdCSmEwZXQt1EANEHlXPdWj6aVPMFzkFgCs0oypem0s3ybTBZAtA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHmd-uTQ-nrpW3EMZzrN67AuXtZMarlRa8s6GjfoHWLYJnj9Z9drynQGG1Kb8TV4uUc-v1-vsvhoYGL8JNfBE97raqWeBFXdHZNozkUmc8IQSikkhyehGx-7T8p8oQpUmyCLFziwjdCSmEwZXQt1EANEHlXPdWj6aVPMFzkFgCs0oypem0s3ybTBZAtA=s16000" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh58U7-sKYy_pu1NOGaYI_B8Q9ofFq8pHc_kxsO7d2lASUEEXkgrAMJlqMT2Fsgpk1YWPfBQJ6hhFwP3rh_gHoYhpaRuw-0Sar9pj-mkoXdJVI2zgZ189y9m0s0XIP0bV9sYQi-eQm7X0qWW7S-IhwE71GMFutWoXbkVzJc90IZH_oskMs2dVVyzw1jEA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh58U7-sKYy_pu1NOGaYI_B8Q9ofFq8pHc_kxsO7d2lASUEEXkgrAMJlqMT2Fsgpk1YWPfBQJ6hhFwP3rh_gHoYhpaRuw-0Sar9pj-mkoXdJVI2zgZ189y9m0s0XIP0bV9sYQi-eQm7X0qWW7S-IhwE71GMFutWoXbkVzJc90IZH_oskMs2dVVyzw1jEA=s16000" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwIevMODIZnuJEFR-ZzM89CixXvnbAJ1HPHDXFWd36ZG8AFGHP9t9CIpxRwsYA_ECIRPUIhAWY2CI5bZzLkf2dD1Aq_a6QwgB0je36xTLw7KGCqzEk67KQeBwxnfrnqRR-f7zKX-MjjXJlLY4Ge0imV1nijj37XBw0qXnsgsKonR9Pf3SMpS0rHZKMHA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwIevMODIZnuJEFR-ZzM89CixXvnbAJ1HPHDXFWd36ZG8AFGHP9t9CIpxRwsYA_ECIRPUIhAWY2CI5bZzLkf2dD1Aq_a6QwgB0je36xTLw7KGCqzEk67KQeBwxnfrnqRR-f7zKX-MjjXJlLY4Ge0imV1nijj37XBw0qXnsgsKonR9Pf3SMpS0rHZKMHA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the other hikers at the hostel sketched this photo of me, but now I forgot who it was and didn't think to write down his name!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com5Chief Mountain, Montana 59417, USA48.9327629 -113.609267122.256005011334693 -148.76551709999998 75.609520788665307 -78.453017100000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-70458210120163137122022-10-10T05:00:00.315-07:002022-10-10T05:00:00.191-07:00Day 156: Tunnels and Ghost Towns!<p><i>September 23</i>: I woke up especially early this morning since I needed to hike about 26 miles to the next campsite on my permit. I wasn't happy about this, but it was what it was. My plan had been to start hiking by around 7:00am, but it was still a bit too dark for me to take photos so I lingered an extra half hour before hitting the trail. The days are definitely getting short!<br /></p><p>Fortunately, this morning was considerably warmer than previous mornings so at least I didn't have a bitter cold to deal with. I popped into Reality Check's campsite on my way out to say bye. She was hiking a different route to the Canadian border than I was and so we didn't expect to cross paths again.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDirZQL4Sm9Pt6oGO1y5rDc9J4jCsaya-9uskLhAcuj39RcoaYbwlWSQazSbvl1RKK8tTXbCLMhr07xqeg0FauHCXTTKD0LqYTwR_hCsdsXMoXqmDun-9XH2D_dBMANT20thqqbWtXpR123IxHw2W4YMFoI9HgaCiVyo4MTIHr6r5MLr_lT9nNLeu9ag" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDirZQL4Sm9Pt6oGO1y5rDc9J4jCsaya-9uskLhAcuj39RcoaYbwlWSQazSbvl1RKK8tTXbCLMhr07xqeg0FauHCXTTKD0LqYTwR_hCsdsXMoXqmDun-9XH2D_dBMANT20thqqbWtXpR123IxHw2W4YMFoI9HgaCiVyo4MTIHr6r5MLr_lT9nNLeu9ag=s16000" /></a></div><br />Within an hour, I reached the Going-to-the-Sun road, the main road that crosses through the park. The trail passes under the road through a culvert, but I popped my head up at the road level to admire a distant glacier (Jackson Glacier) and the signs describing the disappearing and shrinking glaciers in the park. If you want to see glaciers in this park, the time to visit is now! If you wait too long, there won't be any left.<p></p><p>Anyhow, the biggest perk at the road was that there were trash cans available so I could throw out my trash. Lightening my load is always a nice perk!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2R_qdB7bo02BQGPvWedeZ0UPC8esYVTM_NhcReSaKztFXq4UP5v7BtDzKzZ3dvpS6e_7ewDwBw0jk4co1Ppc9jUpUPbiAg-M3P_kPPDC2057QnvqoTxIm2sj4OwVvrLEw81kxorBl5CSuMFUCX9ILXdXh4vmguqOIS-NmGCxm7dnwh03xKhbKvl-WGw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2R_qdB7bo02BQGPvWedeZ0UPC8esYVTM_NhcReSaKztFXq4UP5v7BtDzKzZ3dvpS6e_7ewDwBw0jk4co1Ppc9jUpUPbiAg-M3P_kPPDC2057QnvqoTxIm2sj4OwVvrLEw81kxorBl5CSuMFUCX9ILXdXh4vmguqOIS-NmGCxm7dnwh03xKhbKvl-WGw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was very excited about finding this trash can to dump my trash along the Going-to-the-Sun road. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I pushed onward, up toward Piegan Pass. It was a steep and relentless climb, heading up over 3000 feet to the pass. I was surprised at the number of people I passed on the trail. They were day hikers who got particularly early starts to the day, but they weren't in any where near as good of shape as I was and I passed one after another. I can't say that the trail was crowded--but it definitely wasn't empty. I had figured it would largely be empty this early in the morning, and I was clearly mistaken. I wondered how busy it would get later in the afternoon.</p><p>The views from the top of the pass were absolutely stunning. There were patches of snow on the climb up and at the top of the pass, but the snow was quite a bit thicker on the back side heading down. Having a couple of relatively warm days helped melt a good deal of it, though. I imagined it was likely considerably worse a couple of days ago!<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmQzD-sYB-kgwZ-bLxh7OVNDukZsCLXTidTrBMrlpHm_v3gK_IkRdydM-umQfLqBSPSc25wRGtWYr8icccQJtvYMm4YSvc1b2QpuJWikbRwt6oHQ50mVsMq7Cp1Y4AruutlJExkyyUyzzL8WX90-NI_RwA-GUhhSoXAXtIn0Y7RCKwwHda_mTxqXLprg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmQzD-sYB-kgwZ-bLxh7OVNDukZsCLXTidTrBMrlpHm_v3gK_IkRdydM-umQfLqBSPSc25wRGtWYr8icccQJtvYMm4YSvc1b2QpuJWikbRwt6oHQ50mVsMq7Cp1Y4AruutlJExkyyUyzzL8WX90-NI_RwA-GUhhSoXAXtIn0Y7RCKwwHda_mTxqXLprg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View looking back from the climb toward Piegan Pass. I camped somewhere near the bottom of that valley last night! That's the Going-to-the-Sun road cutting down the valley as well.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I stopped for a snack break at the top. In fact, snack breaks would be all I would stop for today. I didn't have time for a proper lunch break. I had a lot of miles to cover over <i>very</i> rugged terrain, and I needed to finish them before sunset and the days were becoming alarmingly short.</p><p>Once I got over the pass, I pretty much saw almost no one the rest of the day. None of the day hikers continued on beyond Piegan Pass. I was in backpacking territory now, and there weren't very many of those folks left this late in the season.<br /></p><p>Down the far side, I had to deal with a bit of postholing--never a pleasant experience--but within a mile or so the trail descended below the snow level and my pace picked up.</p><p>Several hours later, I reached the Many Glacier area. Normally, this place would be full of people. There's an enormous hotel and parking lot, and the area is gorgeous. The hotel, however, was boarded up and completely vacant. I was told that the park needed to do some construction on the road that led out to here, so they closed everything up earlier in the season than normal. They could do the road work they needed without any silly tourists getting in the way.</p><p>But the hotel had the presence of a horror movie. Deserted, quiet and eerie. A stiff wind blew over the adjacent Swiftcurrent Lake. It felt to me like some horrible massacre happened at the hotel, and it was quickly boarded up and abandoned in the aftermath. That, of course, didn't really happen, but that's the kind of vibe it seemed to give off. It was a little unsettling. I imagined scenes from <a href="https://amzn.to/3T4p4FG" target="_blank"><i>The Shining</i></a> as I passed by.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvbtU58dVo4ldTbNbEsYHTs3zEc4SzwiDrAdnAwAl3Pd3PKezW-Kc_Vwk1db6wcDZf8NDdWFDJ5zq4bpF-NAG0qF4msQUy4iJivX7C6-aWdco4RsETLOyYoXyalyMZ54jBmilV7fsr1OJYDYuMe7hTqW_FUPApmKbMQItX_PhAO0l6fycCTIPzZs5ZDA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvbtU58dVo4ldTbNbEsYHTs3zEc4SzwiDrAdnAwAl3Pd3PKezW-Kc_Vwk1db6wcDZf8NDdWFDJ5zq4bpF-NAG0qF4msQUy4iJivX7C6-aWdco4RsETLOyYoXyalyMZ54jBmilV7fsr1OJYDYuMe7hTqW_FUPApmKbMQItX_PhAO0l6fycCTIPzZs5ZDA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Many Glacier Hotel was boarded up and closed for the season, giving it a very lonely, desolate feel. (Well, technically, only the windows on the first floor were boarded up. The rest of the windows weren't. I'm not sure if that's because it was just to discourage people from breaking in, or if it's because the snow pack during the winter months might pile up high enough to break the first floor windows.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>Beyond the hotel, I veered off from the official CDT. The main red-line route ends at the Canadian border just south of Waterton, and, in fact, that's where I would have preferred to end my hike. However, due to COVID restrictions, I could not (legally) hike into Canada. Supposedly I could if I could get a COVID test within 48 hours of crossing the border or something like that, but there aren't exactly a lot of testing stations in the Glacier Park backcountry.</p><p>There is, however, an alternate route that ends at the Chief Mountain Trailhead, so that was my plan. And thus, I veered off the main red-line route for the final time.</p><p>Some hikers are so enamored with the thought of finishing at the "main" finishing point, they'll walk out to the Canadian border at Waterton Lake, then hike out on the US side of the border at Chief Mountain. (Or, even more rare, they'll hike out toward the west side of the park exiting near Bow Lake.) I wasn't feeling quite so ambitious, though. I just wanted to finish this trail. Anyhow, while thru-hiking the PNT, I had seen most of the scenery between where the red-line route ends and the Chief Mountain trailhead. This route I'd be following would be completely new for me up until the last few hours.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggu1R7IsjXQLn2sNmKviMTaSDVf_svEuOIH9R4CJ0pUN969XJKoE_EyOVDORXDkbRghTYfqeWRR9g9gmV_o4iHvhqY9sDrnyD0-9kPqT3iMDLr1HtO0cwoeOAx3Z94dY71iyMmSZn-CYyWPAKlYkJERXX362_9i9HoBBdQ7LZwcIcR4LnlxLoIx4ICQg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggu1R7IsjXQLn2sNmKviMTaSDVf_svEuOIH9R4CJ0pUN969XJKoE_EyOVDORXDkbRghTYfqeWRR9g9gmV_o4iHvhqY9sDrnyD0-9kPqT3iMDLr1HtO0cwoeOAx3Z94dY71iyMmSZn-CYyWPAKlYkJERXX362_9i9HoBBdQ7LZwcIcR4LnlxLoIx4ICQg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views leading up to Ptarmigan Pass were awesome!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>But even then, I didn't follow the "official" alternate route to the Chief Mountain TH. Nope, several hikers who had just finished the trail and showed up in East Glacier recommended that I take a route over Ptarmigan Pass where there was an impressive tunnel drilled through the mountain. It came highly recommended, and the photos I saw intrigued me. So I took an alternate of the alternate and headed up to the pass there.</p><p>On the climb up, I passed two rangers who were heading down. They stopped to check my permit and noted that I had a particularly long day of hiking today. There were two of them, and the guy did most of the talking while the woman mostly watched. I don't think they were being sexist, though. I kind of felt like he was the senior ranger of the duo, but I could be wrong. Who knows? She seemed to watch me like I had stashed a weapon that I might pull out and start shooting though, and stayed far enough back that if I whipped out a knife, I couldn't use it on her. Maybe I just stank really bad, though. It's hard to be sure.<br /></p><p>But yep, I did have a long day of hiking, but I was still well on track to reach my campsite at Elizabeth Lake before sunset. I was tired, though. I hadn't been taking very many breaks or resting, and the trail was definitely very rugged.</p><p>I also asked if they were interested in taking one of the two bear sprays I now carried off of me. Maybe they had a hiker box somewhere they could drop it off or something. I really didn't want to carry it any further than I needed. I told them about finding it on the trail, and they said they'd be happy to take it off my hands. Without a doubt, they could find someone who'd find it useful. So cool. Got rid of that.</p><p>They also reported seeing a moose that had passed through the tunnel at the pass. Okay, that was interesting. I'll have to keep my eyes open for him. (Never did see him, though.) <br /></p><p>We parted ways, and I continued the climb toward Ptarmigan Pass. In the last section, the trail switchbacked up a steep hillside, and I kept cursing the lack of the tunnel. Where was the tunnel? What's the point of a tunnel at the <i>top</i> of the pass?!</p><p>I finally reached the tunnel. The views were absolutely stupendous, but I was huffing and puffing and well out of breath. The tunnel looked like it was maybe 30 feet below the summit, and I wanted to kick it. Why?! Why?! Why wasn't it a couple of hundred feet lower down the mountain where it could have saved me a real effort getting over the pass?</p><p>I didn't know the history of the tunnel. I assumed it must have been created through the mountain before the park was created. Some sort of mining shortcut, to pull resources across the pass more easily, but once I saw where it was, that didn't make much sense.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDgqcbWjAJ_3ynMZLXDXW7T6IZP2Cd44rjNoN9t2eH7ryd4sJaSLjDyqtx7Jn-JCjMMusHrZG1ID7RLMR3yIeYnIpk9IsPlmL0FwEQFFy2qQJPZwAZVksWyMdQgLRhVPv9SNcu601-QoyQBIhWOv6PNBwuJICG7OcyEZv8Ful3GI3Y5iPSwXwVLAPX3Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDgqcbWjAJ_3ynMZLXDXW7T6IZP2Cd44rjNoN9t2eH7ryd4sJaSLjDyqtx7Jn-JCjMMusHrZG1ID7RLMR3yIeYnIpk9IsPlmL0FwEQFFy2qQJPZwAZVksWyMdQgLRhVPv9SNcu601-QoyQBIhWOv6PNBwuJICG7OcyEZv8Ful3GI3Y5iPSwXwVLAPX3Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tunnel was just a stone's throw below the top of the pass. Why couldn't they have made it lower?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>Later, I looked up a bit of information and it was built in the 1930s, well after the park was established in 1910. It was actually meant for hikers to go through. I doubt such a mining operation would be allowed in this day and age in an otherwise pristine backcountry, but back then, it was normal to dynamite holes through mountains whenever it was convenient. Parks were for people, not the wildlife.</p><p>Each end of the tunnel had doors that would seal it off during the winter months, and I specifically asked the rangers while getting my permit if the doors would still be open. I didn't want to reach the tunnel then have to turn back because it was a dead end having closed for the season. They told me that it was expected to stay open for at least another week or so, so I was fine going in this direction.</p><p>From the far side of the tunnel, I could see Elizabeth Lake far below, deep in the valley that stretched out before me. It was a gorgeous view, but it was still miles to the bottom and that's where my campsite was located. *sigh* I was so ready to stop for the day, but couldn't... not yet....</p><p>I finally reached Elizabeth Lake at about 6:30pm, a full hour before sunset. My GPS had logged over 11,000 feet of elevation gains and losses--it had been a long, hard day! But my day was finally over!</p><p>At the campground, there were three other people there already, so I chatted with them for a bit and made a quick dinner in the common area before stuffing my food bags in a bear box and retiring to my campsite for the night.</p><p>It was, if everything worked out properly tomorrow, my last night on the trail.... Because from this point, I was now less than 10 miles from the end of the trail. Canada was near.....</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuFuWJMG-DNs7BhlJQXXGaU6BRAt8iNaEzOzu9YSzpVq0ohoEGu8pryaOdG4rIJmeiy793HkaKbTfCuZZEE0rGJSUpzDXJsGKBJIBhhSuvjcgy7VZB7cjgbMBFMJG6mTdrwqDT-YgsaCovcuN-rff6r6AnqcJuFn5V-ZOTLL04GR_xo4PRDr94Nn6z_g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuFuWJMG-DNs7BhlJQXXGaU6BRAt8iNaEzOzu9YSzpVq0ohoEGu8pryaOdG4rIJmeiy793HkaKbTfCuZZEE0rGJSUpzDXJsGKBJIBhhSuvjcgy7VZB7cjgbMBFMJG6mTdrwqDT-YgsaCovcuN-rff6r6AnqcJuFn5V-ZOTLL04GR_xo4PRDr94Nn6z_g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My campsite for the night<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVIbrFD8TK8ErUOpMNvHY5lhKymo02vWOrgucDTpiVR6tOriXOkKIY41ZiTMxyuwsgGxUKf_2K_3naigwewGG1c8CZB6z4VYL2hIuilBJpqIsyJjaZzB0Hn9qXqW5DJpQa83YyLWniC-wPxZfaw8KUWbrzfeGL2CphKhK8TkeRsq4P2efFwAsD-HZy7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVIbrFD8TK8ErUOpMNvHY5lhKymo02vWOrgucDTpiVR6tOriXOkKIY41ZiTMxyuwsgGxUKf_2K_3naigwewGG1c8CZB6z4VYL2hIuilBJpqIsyJjaZzB0Hn9qXqW5DJpQa83YyLWniC-wPxZfaw8KUWbrzfeGL2CphKhK8TkeRsq4P2efFwAsD-HZy7A=s16000" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9L6lzmOWPCSLOQyHPErIlZ3Hwxx9LJl-VYT0ochYQaP6takr6j-w4i3u7WyWtIaUstJyvM8j1N6IGmOMQh5tcPZzL4GAMNaXuTXkgpx8n1hjCkGw3T22Hkmf5WEghetNWi8biG8cGnB4w70IArSfx9sXHzCwsD_RtwGpvXvrXD6jB1oNKsHKOjtg7sQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9L6lzmOWPCSLOQyHPErIlZ3Hwxx9LJl-VYT0ochYQaP6takr6j-w4i3u7WyWtIaUstJyvM8j1N6IGmOMQh5tcPZzL4GAMNaXuTXkgpx8n1hjCkGw3T22Hkmf5WEghetNWi8biG8cGnB4w70IArSfx9sXHzCwsD_RtwGpvXvrXD6jB1oNKsHKOjtg7sQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Jackson Glacier in the distance, according the sign on the Going-to-the-Sun road that I passed.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOx_EDpDZ3z1eclHOctjKKrJqv3nDYpnZD82MkcErB94OOx2DWEZwUb3Sh7AKDvOqgQUxX0Twc8cbdQQ-fQBBe_Yhe-7uD3Y_giSFjT74yHa0GGWzfPuT_pgTlyDAEEBZVW-N5RX-voAyUfF0OVm1gc-8e882IefhpWsHXzHRMYHPTbr1Xkc2v7VdY0Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOx_EDpDZ3z1eclHOctjKKrJqv3nDYpnZD82MkcErB94OOx2DWEZwUb3Sh7AKDvOqgQUxX0Twc8cbdQQ-fQBBe_Yhe-7uD3Y_giSFjT74yHa0GGWzfPuT_pgTlyDAEEBZVW-N5RX-voAyUfF0OVm1gc-8e882IefhpWsHXzHRMYHPTbr1Xkc2v7VdY0Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoqWUaKN7fNqm4z3fhfI8R1Y3ztL0iKJgKunUOm76AxK_lT7tIL8_Ypju6L8eu2ppjOHVZ58Pv5oO-AW25Z1ycZDY9WtPZZ7w87kUAdOuLfb1SPyDU4_8RAza7x36M5Yv--YcML2U2hFbh522IHZIUoAzMiypA-GPkCq58acvxohiHqKaRLMaE7Y4E0Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoqWUaKN7fNqm4z3fhfI8R1Y3ztL0iKJgKunUOm76AxK_lT7tIL8_Ypju6L8eu2ppjOHVZ58Pv5oO-AW25Z1ycZDY9WtPZZ7w87kUAdOuLfb1SPyDU4_8RAza7x36M5Yv--YcML2U2hFbh522IHZIUoAzMiypA-GPkCq58acvxohiHqKaRLMaE7Y4E0Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNyDtfpwdDkEpM4AAgwQq0KKzt_oNz6E5qNZa4h_Q2MnOuYOodAJfRi2zqeu6S07zl9ukFw5qjxUWax6qSCKMvBsCmTiiKlJcp66pulctmVpbNe5iH6tXxoiI3aU1icK5OeaGDbFrXr-zpx7rQThIPxV-9oR_5JGixYwYZ3wrruucM6U-Bh4-og04Dvw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNyDtfpwdDkEpM4AAgwQq0KKzt_oNz6E5qNZa4h_Q2MnOuYOodAJfRi2zqeu6S07zl9ukFw5qjxUWax6qSCKMvBsCmTiiKlJcp66pulctmVpbNe5iH6tXxoiI3aU1icK5OeaGDbFrXr-zpx7rQThIPxV-9oR_5JGixYwYZ3wrruucM6U-Bh4-og04Dvw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFeLQcu-EUErm3OeeANP8QRbvktSWkb2as1069JpFAGnVnuK8j6upljTFIt-HFsFgpx-nP1mtWdbNNb_y3LIYM4o7IWrHXwrrFboZa_0sXlGCJIIdJSM6u5xw540-YsQk9KHT2V5cT8VlkTKta8tPxFn8_K62oEeW52_EAEDJH3OuAErrTgiKa_wM7lg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFeLQcu-EUErm3OeeANP8QRbvktSWkb2as1069JpFAGnVnuK8j6upljTFIt-HFsFgpx-nP1mtWdbNNb_y3LIYM4o7IWrHXwrrFboZa_0sXlGCJIIdJSM6u5xw540-YsQk9KHT2V5cT8VlkTKta8tPxFn8_K62oEeW52_EAEDJH3OuAErrTgiKa_wM7lg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were still patches of snow at the top of Piegan Pass.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQgFXHTAMP0iRR1PYO6AceLzC7r3nAbkUujuafwPKuxmTs1SECuQ8sfq9IbxrdAI4v4xMU5PB-qlj5pb0FwdffrvBDJKfi75DxO63jbN7L7jnSJfrjA-vb4V-FnYMwLQrPTJD23EnGSOAMRiU4ZVG6pzqzn7EGv8Hw0R3L9IhNu16b8-gZ-AOch5ecKA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQgFXHTAMP0iRR1PYO6AceLzC7r3nAbkUujuafwPKuxmTs1SECuQ8sfq9IbxrdAI4v4xMU5PB-qlj5pb0FwdffrvBDJKfi75DxO63jbN7L7jnSJfrjA-vb4V-FnYMwLQrPTJD23EnGSOAMRiU4ZVG6pzqzn7EGv8Hw0R3L9IhNu16b8-gZ-AOch5ecKA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwNE6-E4EX28v51-CjNL4bhX-bOP9NSYyUupZ4lOZGmihX1TP683TSgiGroUZteUzGIMccRfCI_rWXMY52glf4DngwfjF3bg73-9_PF01XHr5fHY2WHsTQn5VX-2_d64lHc--FMfjYvWcvRK9rj9mYzlVgs6q8te_byKjQQchKuAj6vo3-7hDpA4gtGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwNE6-E4EX28v51-CjNL4bhX-bOP9NSYyUupZ4lOZGmihX1TP683TSgiGroUZteUzGIMccRfCI_rWXMY52glf4DngwfjF3bg73-9_PF01XHr5fHY2WHsTQn5VX-2_d64lHc--FMfjYvWcvRK9rj9mYzlVgs6q8te_byKjQQchKuAj6vo3-7hDpA4gtGQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1J9_jKCeVOROeW7UXQdjITxZWQ1YxwD_kIDqmR7-kmv2Wr7yBrXigTv1yWJAtNu4fM2AFItHs5C2DK52ENmX7jKEpr8vU68mp5uXbQsxq7M1Yec9jTsV47a_zIrGbpfVLHpWLMD0Hi0L6LX_QF0IArPVYdHO2PicMM0-nZi3JAalKBxcNtj0Jovaq1w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1J9_jKCeVOROeW7UXQdjITxZWQ1YxwD_kIDqmR7-kmv2Wr7yBrXigTv1yWJAtNu4fM2AFItHs5C2DK52ENmX7jKEpr8vU68mp5uXbQsxq7M1Yec9jTsV47a_zIrGbpfVLHpWLMD0Hi0L6LX_QF0IArPVYdHO2PicMM0-nZi3JAalKBxcNtj0Jovaq1w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoJIV0yp6DVKGDynU7smzvKXf8uEGtTGti927B1Oiu3wjWrbTfSI0BftOha45uvoaco3RXEzicyw_ErlZRF5ExOCK3JSWy_p0BUdtYuMbyRTX0fUkChqscz5SOgYNegZfqUPZb9bIQwqfu45YGpGfJUIifMe1y_7n7WuGB2SNyfc7_4ycxNp7Z0_EN8g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoJIV0yp6DVKGDynU7smzvKXf8uEGtTGti927B1Oiu3wjWrbTfSI0BftOha45uvoaco3RXEzicyw_ErlZRF5ExOCK3JSWy_p0BUdtYuMbyRTX0fUkChqscz5SOgYNegZfqUPZb9bIQwqfu45YGpGfJUIifMe1y_7n7WuGB2SNyfc7_4ycxNp7Z0_EN8g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSZmkm6QLWM8dywlYxoCbQatzzaPjDT1KpKYDcJVHGpYVWEBBUpqQ-J5hW2vrcuJA6UrBpJKrliRixP22ZCYSskvHK0XQlEhs4NCzIGX9MTqwk3SmfHvoi380Za9fDxwdwGbXY8vHqpRy6fw-WPXIs1XTVVbIovZd1QWN_zW8OD7MZ2BIj8WRQNmKo7Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSZmkm6QLWM8dywlYxoCbQatzzaPjDT1KpKYDcJVHGpYVWEBBUpqQ-J5hW2vrcuJA6UrBpJKrliRixP22ZCYSskvHK0XQlEhs4NCzIGX9MTqwk3SmfHvoi380Za9fDxwdwGbXY8vHqpRy6fw-WPXIs1XTVVbIovZd1QWN_zW8OD7MZ2BIj8WRQNmKo7Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOLYhvDb3BLr9JGGjpjbzhm8UI1hHPTBiUIzSJCUF16Xuw4Ts7MD6jYo8ybnl0opXTN5Tj0dd_UXXpBnnOiS-SPvqxwHuNwqoNEa3rD2MIAn_Qka5c5hDYNHG5esyyVgTvPduW-4A0zHc3nzdFmJr7Aokg547cdt0Xm5_8rnxx4ivk1QphUd2gtgnEdg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOLYhvDb3BLr9JGGjpjbzhm8UI1hHPTBiUIzSJCUF16Xuw4Ts7MD6jYo8ybnl0opXTN5Tj0dd_UXXpBnnOiS-SPvqxwHuNwqoNEa3rD2MIAn_Qka5c5hDYNHG5esyyVgTvPduW-4A0zHc3nzdFmJr7Aokg547cdt0Xm5_8rnxx4ivk1QphUd2gtgnEdg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD6bxDmx85GsIJMriYT5PnTURi1J-HQyxdxni7tUJhDiARC9iTLS-OHIRgCfs6rz8_VBRZEXapvMh8Z1RhFE5eZP2UiBNWYYvq-Zp0YdqN-hJleaIYY9mc1GOfOLIOnmKCylqUwmje6UfcPdCqyxsxYDYnK_CHqvM-m_eJ_mxpNJJcNmf99N2WgT0uQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD6bxDmx85GsIJMriYT5PnTURi1J-HQyxdxni7tUJhDiARC9iTLS-OHIRgCfs6rz8_VBRZEXapvMh8Z1RhFE5eZP2UiBNWYYvq-Zp0YdqN-hJleaIYY9mc1GOfOLIOnmKCylqUwmje6UfcPdCqyxsxYDYnK_CHqvM-m_eJ_mxpNJJcNmf99N2WgT0uQA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkFNVPqWEH3E_AOym0iria9cmSlv0csNgRIfL-ln0nGsYDu4PJWi2FoHnFqIJs74SP2oVnEhsLZ3A3NL-0UQ__kkK1l3-5aNnkR9ffh-ErQNrQJfgxzCCdHVTi-CLSSnf9_x8P9GZoCtb9CXX9WOiI-2Bziy4ov2Pu-vxzS6wQ87tDypUEtMBjHlf1hw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkFNVPqWEH3E_AOym0iria9cmSlv0csNgRIfL-ln0nGsYDu4PJWi2FoHnFqIJs74SP2oVnEhsLZ3A3NL-0UQ__kkK1l3-5aNnkR9ffh-ErQNrQJfgxzCCdHVTi-CLSSnf9_x8P9GZoCtb9CXX9WOiI-2Bziy4ov2Pu-vxzS6wQ87tDypUEtMBjHlf1hw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many Glacier Hotel<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw_u57p0dWpmIktmK2KJA1kKPG1yz4xS9ewCj_6csdFrXy-XIpJ8lfjtglR_WBuDYLh_GBNMDxEEYfIvS7rj_wU_kRdSKMOVhBtwmnl5D2OHUJ5vO1Y_bsaox62zl5VD-1FemnR5wzUYtvPtYiQQ80VuzYvv6P2WlkzX0F-ZTi8Xcjw-voO3WjzyAlFA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw_u57p0dWpmIktmK2KJA1kKPG1yz4xS9ewCj_6csdFrXy-XIpJ8lfjtglR_WBuDYLh_GBNMDxEEYfIvS7rj_wU_kRdSKMOVhBtwmnl5D2OHUJ5vO1Y_bsaox62zl5VD-1FemnR5wzUYtvPtYiQQ80VuzYvv6P2WlkzX0F-ZTi8Xcjw-voO3WjzyAlFA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipEKQJhyGXPxEd6Hrn6HtDZ0TpNEb4ym4Z_gYPx3Xgpbr8xsPnupY8tCWWFmlDrylSkDNpShZkqQ_aOfTY9k72nNrRqMtdGSyJnzLnSZZMPPV2d1vcFkCV8IqfCjwVdMHWwwYhs647kzIzMRhVMCLkmL7HdD2o6hcPthbFOttCIcP8zBKZVdWHq012_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipEKQJhyGXPxEd6Hrn6HtDZ0TpNEb4ym4Z_gYPx3Xgpbr8xsPnupY8tCWWFmlDrylSkDNpShZkqQ_aOfTY9k72nNrRqMtdGSyJnzLnSZZMPPV2d1vcFkCV8IqfCjwVdMHWwwYhs647kzIzMRhVMCLkmL7HdD2o6hcPthbFOttCIcP8zBKZVdWHq012_g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAuDOoNim0Skrng2-6fskZHtMSRhOv6lGfcwREswUOp_IyxF2qbgVLfAL5IovHgsURERfOSPRhwuxxN6NWtA7RdayAk4i9qeoVH_fMEJlwXtPPkWt0dcsfJ9wvIAG1AW2yC9qv-GVijeUeOvq-Xy0g__xW0IevuobO2ASu5wB1NeZSABWnEXqz4ACoMg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAuDOoNim0Skrng2-6fskZHtMSRhOv6lGfcwREswUOp_IyxF2qbgVLfAL5IovHgsURERfOSPRhwuxxN6NWtA7RdayAk4i9qeoVH_fMEJlwXtPPkWt0dcsfJ9wvIAG1AW2yC9qv-GVijeUeOvq-Xy0g__xW0IevuobO2ASu5wB1NeZSABWnEXqz4ACoMg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS-NEDlsEQ-GkNmoroJPy4DsHB-HCpsQ4qBu9CwBJaGY288YAXIGHiuMB59sCMl8--BlxBA0VUcZ-9vuuD2ArNZ6T4DXWx40yczQdoL7XSMQA1cXINy_4v4HdTXFAHaFesxbLHnokzpC9OGbRXvVfO7hFDkhs4CVxE6GWOb-vqkZ210XODlX5VKEVbHQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS-NEDlsEQ-GkNmoroJPy4DsHB-HCpsQ4qBu9CwBJaGY288YAXIGHiuMB59sCMl8--BlxBA0VUcZ-9vuuD2ArNZ6T4DXWx40yczQdoL7XSMQA1cXINy_4v4HdTXFAHaFesxbLHnokzpC9OGbRXvVfO7hFDkhs4CVxE6GWOb-vqkZ210XODlX5VKEVbHQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqmVBoljpxVBKMyiJ4un7X6F_MXUj1GN6i5-afHkq8L9Cn3P0c3zwT0Vf-IasBAmpimJdcli-p45zvP5vPRY3qHkHg4gZ645nz2CoQDpnv56Ax39NZUbCgZot-M5JRtEbdcGUEKrI9x38HsfRPSNvdrNutALNZ78EFrcnZ4qGTzZJtyclbzQVBJRZqnQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqmVBoljpxVBKMyiJ4un7X6F_MXUj1GN6i5-afHkq8L9Cn3P0c3zwT0Vf-IasBAmpimJdcli-p45zvP5vPRY3qHkHg4gZ645nz2CoQDpnv56Ax39NZUbCgZot-M5JRtEbdcGUEKrI9x38HsfRPSNvdrNutALNZ78EFrcnZ4qGTzZJtyclbzQVBJRZqnQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the tunnel at the top of this pass? Yeah, neither could I.... But it's up there!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNjd1ub1wFn5P06MQw7tZF4dkysJLwJEin3SzDKGEe9crK1G63gkhw5nZs5ypw7nzHn8vTirg_ekbQgL7AhFZ_G3QL4ai0B-UHOEkzmNAhqU9MpFrmCZGBAqcs2xb_cEKw_lIG-7wutdG4cLYRSq3xMRCc8VVQ7afj5fdAV7ldsgY1DPJomea4zErZZg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNjd1ub1wFn5P06MQw7tZF4dkysJLwJEin3SzDKGEe9crK1G63gkhw5nZs5ypw7nzHn8vTirg_ekbQgL7AhFZ_G3QL4ai0B-UHOEkzmNAhqU9MpFrmCZGBAqcs2xb_cEKw_lIG-7wutdG4cLYRSq3xMRCc8VVQ7afj5fdAV7ldsgY1DPJomea4zErZZg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkicswo2AqP5ezKX2lfOtQZX7j7uY3v1lvAXV-Xd8yf4l9mJDRCV8E7EkiXHbPpQAbiYv-nc_yeOajARCyMUbZkpbdxmFLs1_de3utreaUzrbTR8u73pXdO1H1uGDQ0tsjYyjRDrHe0aWQ2Xdkfum1pniJ368u7YnwCjCOOnIplaJgI_lkGOYN1mihqg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkicswo2AqP5ezKX2lfOtQZX7j7uY3v1lvAXV-Xd8yf4l9mJDRCV8E7EkiXHbPpQAbiYv-nc_yeOajARCyMUbZkpbdxmFLs1_de3utreaUzrbTR8u73pXdO1H1uGDQ0tsjYyjRDrHe0aWQ2Xdkfum1pniJ368u7YnwCjCOOnIplaJgI_lkGOYN1mihqg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Elizabeth Lake at the bottom of the valley, and my campground is located along the shore at the far end of it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrrpwBCV7OBotWyc_vcs7UODZ_NaOmB6n39b4mu38GbnHEZHxjyZRqHKJk2UelBSkk4gVV-6uayC5zpa9nmIXkT5iYy3SHHHn33tGIJJwdhsWp4ChpMXaeI6hCQ4SS397u0_Vgz1LYHbHk-RRPH7SGWYXdi2FA8r871M7xDhisSXjEKchrKoYi6rq7Ig" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrrpwBCV7OBotWyc_vcs7UODZ_NaOmB6n39b4mu38GbnHEZHxjyZRqHKJk2UelBSkk4gVV-6uayC5zpa9nmIXkT5iYy3SHHHn33tGIJJwdhsWp4ChpMXaeI6hCQ4SS397u0_Vgz1LYHbHk-RRPH7SGWYXdi2FA8r871M7xDhisSXjEKchrKoYi6rq7Ig=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAxqIbdtC8HP8mKBs9Vd3szUDp9O-lCXVDJ3I6Fim7qBrJp5BBdFno7K7vP133voGieXGYmSelDXHUbdxAZKAK6ff7Ax7MFh2KsF-P3X7wfJbUQrIwRKuLbewERYzgPvFHErY3j_rVFR_lKW36lUkV__8t65Dle1a4GQCcbibHAS-DRjhboirztxsYnw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAxqIbdtC8HP8mKBs9Vd3szUDp9O-lCXVDJ3I6Fim7qBrJp5BBdFno7K7vP133voGieXGYmSelDXHUbdxAZKAK6ff7Ax7MFh2KsF-P3X7wfJbUQrIwRKuLbewERYzgPvFHErY3j_rVFR_lKW36lUkV__8t65Dle1a4GQCcbibHAS-DRjhboirztxsYnw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZtIkvOKxmKHNnhtbN2OZIQqneA_RIdA8NAWk7KEN5kxm9vENoqH-MGOKDPfxnvFory1AA-nW782vxFiZ-i7LRhU1eS0RhbEV2qND7B2fhK7EJ--6W4Hc206pPHa2ohNayjEv1jzqnAagnW-Yt4st4g1IyFeBG0tWvKez0pGe_HlHAcm5fdULabJ7VLg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZtIkvOKxmKHNnhtbN2OZIQqneA_RIdA8NAWk7KEN5kxm9vENoqH-MGOKDPfxnvFory1AA-nW782vxFiZ-i7LRhU1eS0RhbEV2qND7B2fhK7EJ--6W4Hc206pPHa2ohNayjEv1jzqnAagnW-Yt4st4g1IyFeBG0tWvKez0pGe_HlHAcm5fdULabJ7VLg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEianOlMwvxXkkVBN0NgP7N05E3IxJIty8EfQf_zEFitUEOeIVigVxINI1-bP0fdAl4NhT0nYYyS9UYU8N_Rh-ZBm9IO-gOU9MYyqQ4REmBmA10xffVK-iXLQF-LOObk_9tsbaR6uunhZO2o-Vt3AYHNP8ux9B8DfadvgxxBGkseE8ODXlnjYtfNaVl4Iw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEianOlMwvxXkkVBN0NgP7N05E3IxJIty8EfQf_zEFitUEOeIVigVxINI1-bP0fdAl4NhT0nYYyS9UYU8N_Rh-ZBm9IO-gOU9MYyqQ4REmBmA10xffVK-iXLQF-LOObk_9tsbaR6uunhZO2o-Vt3AYHNP8ux9B8DfadvgxxBGkseE8ODXlnjYtfNaVl4Iw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was one person fishing in Elizabeth Lake when I arrived, but I didn't walk out to him to introduce myself. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Rte 3, Montana, USA48.827087 -113.555656920.516853163821153 -148.7119069 77.137320836178844 -78.3994069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-26467221996340085822022-10-07T05:00:00.165-07:002022-10-07T05:00:00.198-07:00Day 155: Tragedy on the Trail!<p><i>September 22</i>: Since I had another particularly short hiking day due to my permit, I slept in late and didn't get on the trail hiking until about 8:30am. The strong winds still ruled the terrain, but the morning was considerably warmer than the previous few mornings, so that much was an improvement.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlTWw7W6vlNQy2f7UW7VruZjoGkEcvTr9cgOnXZr7mUK5Dtf_zDXKZ0pWzw5Sd3C1nPq4RcWf0cNAqJ1lmn6R4Y6heHJ4lVkzFH87_wZmBZbLuHPhxwrN7jgBqqoQyNUZnMzcqfS1wMLSmGOnyxaDVnJvrUQb6ZsQQNZeTNLVV-shG1Wbw4i91JTz8Zg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlTWw7W6vlNQy2f7UW7VruZjoGkEcvTr9cgOnXZr7mUK5Dtf_zDXKZ0pWzw5Sd3C1nPq4RcWf0cNAqJ1lmn6R4Y6heHJ4lVkzFH87_wZmBZbLuHPhxwrN7jgBqqoQyNUZnMzcqfS1wMLSmGOnyxaDVnJvrUQb6ZsQQNZeTNLVV-shG1Wbw4i91JTz8Zg=s16000" /></a></div> <p></p><p>A couple of hours into the day's hike, the trail veered around the south side of St. Marys Lake, which I followed near for much of the day. The views were often spectacular, but near the start of that section, I noticed a few buildings and the Going-to-the-Sun road on the other side of the lake and tried checking for a cell phone signal. I didn't really expect to get one, so I was surprised to discover that it actually worked! I got a signal!</p><p>I went ahead and stopped to check emails and messages while I could. With less than 15 miles to hike, I had plenty of time. May as well!</p><p>A bit further down the trail, I found a can of bear spray laying on the ground. I had no doubt that it fell off the pack of a hiker heading down the trail, and I wondered how long it took before they realized it was missing. I went ahead and picked it up. I wasn't particularly optimistic that I'd find the owner, but I could always shoot it off somewhere if nobody else was nearby. Or give it to someone if they were in need of it. Or... I didn't know. At the very least, I could put it in a hiker box back in East Glacier and either a CDT or PNT hiker next spring could use it and save the money rather than buy a fresh one.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjszQh7Cz5wcTf5xjqGOCEYnEKhUZ2nOTuE34kyFNvRhsaPYnUzQdGa7-dduqdFXw-c0X18RSyhPrZ_uJ-nK2otFnyXitSl2U0dPk4kgkB1u0VICgbSRLsafUg5fVvBv1D5doJNJZzl0r4QCA__YGDnCy_Af-V6jhmS3jzoXPFWSMOWR6SxrbZMTUvEBA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjszQh7Cz5wcTf5xjqGOCEYnEKhUZ2nOTuE34kyFNvRhsaPYnUzQdGa7-dduqdFXw-c0X18RSyhPrZ_uJ-nK2otFnyXitSl2U0dPk4kgkB1u0VICgbSRLsafUg5fVvBv1D5doJNJZzl0r4QCA__YGDnCy_Af-V6jhmS3jzoXPFWSMOWR6SxrbZMTUvEBA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mess with me, bears! I've got <i>two </i>bear sprays now!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The trail was completely empty of people until I reached Virginia Falls at which point they were <i>everywhere!</i> Day hikers! Dozens of them! It wasn't super far from a trailhead parking lot and I had to admit, Virginia Falls was pretty darned scenic. I could see why so many day hikers would come out to enjoy it.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMnd9AhCJa38lHrLP4JpZyUkaFYnBoIbqwnNrRLHCm_Ue5_A1JGYKEPGk_Pmvo5KvSfrsQg1B78TNMHd0dXdth3TzpBjDDfWoug_zJxOGuU30_RtoeIe6wLzfFVHMWohCtxUzpnFlsHND4sskSTgGO2T6bztEgTqvpxy4fcv4NHTdpkW5uRcwowaFFJQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMnd9AhCJa38lHrLP4JpZyUkaFYnBoIbqwnNrRLHCm_Ue5_A1JGYKEPGk_Pmvo5KvSfrsQg1B78TNMHd0dXdth3TzpBjDDfWoug_zJxOGuU30_RtoeIe6wLzfFVHMWohCtxUzpnFlsHND4sskSTgGO2T6bztEgTqvpxy4fcv4NHTdpkW5uRcwowaFFJQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have to admit, there's a good reason so many day hikers hoof it out to Virginia Falls. *nodding*<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Then, not far beyond that, the trail passed by St. Marys Falls, which was also quite nice.</p><p>But so... many... people! Ugh!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh22qKCoyJWXvh5UXa9DHR9F-TJzr7ZfJ3bx0wR0mYs9ZhKZ7ub0ei6wrLGrmxiySJ0r_T_6R6deHXNnujbhvLbEEBfCpUY3hBo7Un_1_Ov3HWuvmJRAjWxXzhqBAB26lQHvGRtH3hTMlaeGrhi8zZcvgHAhcRyazq5YWqTYOO_lKm-vlVOg002eS0rhg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh22qKCoyJWXvh5UXa9DHR9F-TJzr7ZfJ3bx0wR0mYs9ZhKZ7ub0ei6wrLGrmxiySJ0r_T_6R6deHXNnujbhvLbEEBfCpUY3hBo7Un_1_Ov3HWuvmJRAjWxXzhqBAB26lQHvGRtH3hTMlaeGrhi8zZcvgHAhcRyazq5YWqTYOO_lKm-vlVOg002eS0rhg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Marys Falls<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It was somewhat of a relief when I turned off the main trail that led to the parking lot to continue onward to Reynolds Creek Camp where I'd stop for the night. There were a few day hikers along this trail as well, but nowhere near the numbers that the route to Virginia Falls got.</p><p>At the campsite, nobody else was around. Not yet, at least. There was still time for additional hikers to arrive, but it meant that I got my choice of the available sites at the campground. I picked my preferred option and set up camp.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjlc53iNeN6V8S1lc8wQvZJtxZRuhYoo9DRwtwzM-t5Y4g25z35FOc4BeYdvbV-rFNsm8i9ecZutnJlZPizCQp3jRiOaOstma25_yfl2WP4M6OnS-c8YafNAJ4YzGbplsZIWcRYVp92YNhkOpUVz7J8bd69ecQW5xbVHIyHufilrMm0go-yZ6JilYqcw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjlc53iNeN6V8S1lc8wQvZJtxZRuhYoo9DRwtwzM-t5Y4g25z35FOc4BeYdvbV-rFNsm8i9ecZutnJlZPizCQp3jRiOaOstma25_yfl2WP4M6OnS-c8YafNAJ4YzGbplsZIWcRYVp92YNhkOpUVz7J8bd69ecQW5xbVHIyHufilrMm0go-yZ6JilYqcw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My campsite for the night. Tonight, I decided to cowboy camp. Mostly because tomorrow I had to hike about 26 miles to my next campsite and I didn't want to take time in the morning to break down a tarp. I'd need to hike pretty much from sunrise to sunset if I wanted to reach camp before dark! And breaking down a tarp in the morning would just slow me down. And, since no rain was in the forecast, I decided to cowboy camp.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>That was when I realized.... my tiara was missing! It must have fallen out of my pack at some point! Nooo!!!! Not only did I litter somewhere along the trail, but now I had absolutely <i>no</i> props for the end of the trail! I hit myself in the head in frustration. How could I have lost my tiara?! Argh!</p><p>It was starting to look like I might have the entire campground to myself, but around sunset, Reality Check dropped in. Where did she come from?! She had done something like a 25-mile day and was doing much bigger miles than me through the park, quickly catching up. She had left East Glacier the day after did!<br /></p><p>We spent the rest of the evening chatting around the non-existent campfire. I asked her if she happened to spot a tiara on the trail, and she had. It was located maybe five miles back, but she didn't pick it up because... why would she want to carry a tiara on the trail?</p><p>"So you could give it back to me!" Duh. *rolling eyes*</p><p>In any case, I had no intention of backtracking 5 miles to get the tiara, but I still mourned its loss. I never even got a photo of it. I figured I'd take all the photos at the end of the trail. It never occurred to me that I'd lose the darned thing before reaching the end! In hindsight, I wished I had at least taken a photo of my tiara to share with everyone, even if it wound up not working out. A true tragedy. *nodding*<br /></p><p>And thus ended another day on the trail.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrs_8s_8lfODUugP-F-TY3NeUy_qKniw7pD6abiRMQRaC8rl_MlLJL2R9vGC-sFkUpjXoz4c1n3r28mE3NKSEVrE38LHhMEcfD8SxGiECe2Ge3Q1btukcMubuwZGEr0Y_4zQOHJkLOyIc-C1ze61GW8gYYZPPJ0VdxSOewYv7NEnoHITbKlqr8RA4ABA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrs_8s_8lfODUugP-F-TY3NeUy_qKniw7pD6abiRMQRaC8rl_MlLJL2R9vGC-sFkUpjXoz4c1n3r28mE3NKSEVrE38LHhMEcfD8SxGiECe2Ge3Q1btukcMubuwZGEr0Y_4zQOHJkLOyIc-C1ze61GW8gYYZPPJ0VdxSOewYv7NEnoHITbKlqr8RA4ABA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxEx0JbruV9OV4R4xUfBincV0I8pbor1-MmY-KUQhvBO13xFHpcQ2xgrYsGuUZwS3Y57r9HLDVQEBl7N4khs7Rjd20zItIbmwNnx5qD_TKjCuYaNuSfKb1IDTnE_AdCenE22bzY7YgnnhEVyN12cTkAY0AEq6b6FFpicNmKGrFQ2nd6V16jXpN28dJKw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxEx0JbruV9OV4R4xUfBincV0I8pbor1-MmY-KUQhvBO13xFHpcQ2xgrYsGuUZwS3Y57r9HLDVQEBl7N4khs7Rjd20zItIbmwNnx5qD_TKjCuYaNuSfKb1IDTnE_AdCenE22bzY7YgnnhEVyN12cTkAY0AEq6b6FFpicNmKGrFQ2nd6V16jXpN28dJKw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1SzNgk47-SfiJlH6GNWt1uHP4wunuZJ9w6qqgpRStHo4kuR-MZbaRCUl5fUGDK7_6ZE2KxXQWErfXgAeYFKWbyPdzGsrU4AnB8-EjA0uD47LBFLu-yFcGBJcmrwWs1OgfiSv1771XSuhLa2HQg-DnFF4lSJjIhhYZbzjDFF8cSra_VmwKGiU881ZnRQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1SzNgk47-SfiJlH6GNWt1uHP4wunuZJ9w6qqgpRStHo4kuR-MZbaRCUl5fUGDK7_6ZE2KxXQWErfXgAeYFKWbyPdzGsrU4AnB8-EjA0uD47LBFLu-yFcGBJcmrwWs1OgfiSv1771XSuhLa2HQg-DnFF4lSJjIhhYZbzjDFF8cSra_VmwKGiU881ZnRQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd follow near the south shore of St. Marys Lake for much of the afternoon.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeewwKMl3RLU02DglxDMsgwoTjhxHac7rSFdtT1Rlw7yhKDmR9bxMWG87Qf_MiodyPJtzOD7rPy5qgLibkzaHBWQ4J2hkAP-q4uUlcKjDo8eNlElSNbfzu5Il3BeTSRUcIzxIt7L_MkXhtvnxltJfFLlZIVwedlV2M0HSy-5BMc68YTfiAg52w2BHOsg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeewwKMl3RLU02DglxDMsgwoTjhxHac7rSFdtT1Rlw7yhKDmR9bxMWG87Qf_MiodyPJtzOD7rPy5qgLibkzaHBWQ4J2hkAP-q4uUlcKjDo8eNlElSNbfzu5Il3BeTSRUcIzxIt7L_MkXhtvnxltJfFLlZIVwedlV2M0HSy-5BMc68YTfiAg52w2BHOsg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRnRIcEkgOteV_8zytYCnCjosyJkT3ZqGQOwgx22KKmfvi-EVfuqROXFzgzgdilNhuCvNI7j8Qoj240ihgT4r1cFfrJcdohIWjHJ3VWJtyZQB7MS2RhRLo4T3mKj09YRJJ2jAT-u7HCB7ODvB28x2C6mvz4dZhpOyeYtqUlZUXihaIQht0hTxHqGj_Ew" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgArAVzISinEP_snGCf24F29fV7VwmqbR8MRuyHs6jX01lyC2aBmNo79lVzb1TQAMxf_XsFxmO6xQCCO-fGhSvPHVdqJcMaNud5WokfRRQ5rts3YpWFV91ZUOqgCuvaad7mIqHhaf6-hXtTG13Uvt3pnZ4O_zM1x0d4XJppnd1ixP1-8KbCIJcYHk8F7A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgArAVzISinEP_snGCf24F29fV7VwmqbR8MRuyHs6jX01lyC2aBmNo79lVzb1TQAMxf_XsFxmO6xQCCO-fGhSvPHVdqJcMaNud5WokfRRQ5rts3YpWFV91ZUOqgCuvaad7mIqHhaf6-hXtTG13Uvt3pnZ4O_zM1x0d4XJppnd1ixP1-8KbCIJcYHk8F7A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the viewpoints were awesome!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2soRciZDgY5WhU9-tyi4nhwDBIHP9M6Ssl8rYrow6Qf6W8rsFcNeocQwFzPe_xRhP3yw3KBH7o2kKH4Dmjevoo_y0a2E2K1hb7m46DcAWnq4gcvhKEbqKwRgrNPrMRAXDYmskVLOdaUUeDdbnsRfHU68nEpkWlIY-1J2QF_MiA4E4y-gk_P_uj9-k2Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2soRciZDgY5WhU9-tyi4nhwDBIHP9M6Ssl8rYrow6Qf6W8rsFcNeocQwFzPe_xRhP3yw3KBH7o2kKH4Dmjevoo_y0a2E2K1hb7m46DcAWnq4gcvhKEbqKwRgrNPrMRAXDYmskVLOdaUUeDdbnsRfHU68nEpkWlIY-1J2QF_MiA4E4y-gk_P_uj9-k2Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found these antlers along the trail!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigmynCAhuGRAUoHEL4GyvflUfKRwjV4QK8oJhokjlKASuNGcDSLKMXx8AQHC-cP2u8RWmgpTAQFbaR-1K0AnQekXW9ZEOaTXKy4GSeCowmCfa2lBbllc3f6En6jW6HHO0ygQhctDff3QkmXfbcmKmuCD61vwQcFZuP2TRzp3BcyGFuXYud_MXjURCSPg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigmynCAhuGRAUoHEL4GyvflUfKRwjV4QK8oJhokjlKASuNGcDSLKMXx8AQHC-cP2u8RWmgpTAQFbaR-1K0AnQekXW9ZEOaTXKy4GSeCowmCfa2lBbllc3f6En6jW6HHO0ygQhctDff3QkmXfbcmKmuCD61vwQcFZuP2TRzp3BcyGFuXYud_MXjURCSPg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I lost my tiara when I stopped here for a snack break.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwDIRcduW5kBsH2FGbxqV6HqoC-VAs-SXO7Ipts9i-TraBIxFuswBFd8PtndbuWMMi3cHvTJs_nkVnPuVnnz9f2sp6-Cp1GUuf9D0xHmOR7pTYY9jAORjV-ckU1dZ7eyC44QUSIxRW5aGvhlc3ZiLpOgtqu6WH7D2CYZek91UzjH4UBZ8uFBz94Y8xuw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwDIRcduW5kBsH2FGbxqV6HqoC-VAs-SXO7Ipts9i-TraBIxFuswBFd8PtndbuWMMi3cHvTJs_nkVnPuVnnz9f2sp6-Cp1GUuf9D0xHmOR7pTYY9jAORjV-ckU1dZ7eyC44QUSIxRW5aGvhlc3ZiLpOgtqu6WH7D2CYZek91UzjH4UBZ8uFBz94Y8xuw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVbzqWIedtwAgBXM50P7ZbvfEbOv9iH142nyGR_gtSkYvXU098AHcpHXli7FrccFxI_E9wTkLMLKlkppulDvnfn4g1voKB-71V803y2NHiSTe9-OyTHMfkLFQO5CU911Rimv2X86JKJckN3FQ0C6_C_mIf46VOaSJezBWVEHX5alkas30-AYd6lup1OQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVbzqWIedtwAgBXM50P7ZbvfEbOv9iH142nyGR_gtSkYvXU098AHcpHXli7FrccFxI_E9wTkLMLKlkppulDvnfn4g1voKB-71V803y2NHiSTe9-OyTHMfkLFQO5CU911Rimv2X86JKJckN3FQ0C6_C_mIf46VOaSJezBWVEHX5alkas30-AYd6lup1OQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV2w-zNDXMMM06xOvvRV7vSQpzmmzPsnWIjVKcwbRUN2FbChvvt9Sa02R3W6BqvmY5T-_C9T9RKEbvNnUUZCdMQullOE83JEcE6BuLt2kbMp9Za3MidF9f2RKdpuh8d7Fu0v3ceTa2tirlNwtyPiIvICC9MmbnDuTfhRcn927EE-1ag4pN4d6XT0MTMg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV2w-zNDXMMM06xOvvRV7vSQpzmmzPsnWIjVKcwbRUN2FbChvvt9Sa02R3W6BqvmY5T-_C9T9RKEbvNnUUZCdMQullOE83JEcE6BuLt2kbMp9Za3MidF9f2RKdpuh8d7Fu0v3ceTa2tirlNwtyPiIvICC9MmbnDuTfhRcn927EE-1ag4pN4d6XT0MTMg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk7_E3Y3ZwNQqbRNw8MHj0XFCqMwUyP55pJAShpp72TUsbV6enQul4UoD2C5oRvTLDjZOkF4yUrWju-XIfs78h8qm9Z9ibE-4yuaikcaRdQtfBR-4rTayhcBVcKH-byYVP9jdbJYp1XNcZbLGbLq0hQNnfP59n6Q2enK6rW_nO00qJkd_etjSvrV4JxQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk7_E3Y3ZwNQqbRNw8MHj0XFCqMwUyP55pJAShpp72TUsbV6enQul4UoD2C5oRvTLDjZOkF4yUrWju-XIfs78h8qm9Z9ibE-4yuaikcaRdQtfBR-4rTayhcBVcKH-byYVP9jdbJYp1XNcZbLGbLq0hQNnfP59n6Q2enK6rW_nO00qJkd_etjSvrV4JxQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a bit of a challenge to get photos of Virginia Falls without people getting into it!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSrdS74LzWTunUjYKyXUJansg7-1VjoFRN420lUd9SPfRr20Pb-UFwtylYpbmjtcehhwridojcUxPOmBEQS2Lk1RUPxhMZtH0Ggit2_jgz-r0USRdlxI3CjpKlljKSu0SgNq1b_VsNm1TYxxZxMq9cvYFHh-PcPZRNpO429YZy1QoO3c-v1sS9t1ZVCA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSrdS74LzWTunUjYKyXUJansg7-1VjoFRN420lUd9SPfRr20Pb-UFwtylYpbmjtcehhwridojcUxPOmBEQS2Lk1RUPxhMZtH0Ggit2_jgz-r0USRdlxI3CjpKlljKSu0SgNq1b_VsNm1TYxxZxMq9cvYFHh-PcPZRNpO429YZy1QoO3c-v1sS9t1ZVCA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqFQkFnwCBytk4zt89mjr9D_OjCEgMxmet7-XCc5cB1woIV17RXqUlpp8xRtA3VUG_Tful7Ph9Lrp9ApiyYJKceQ_b1T7zNZs6ebRXIxTGDLYGqyopbV51EbsBKxuWe7-xUODr0seuQrhh5xvv0RLyfMEX07pUYh5MZofR2ZNKZHVmZhPUpgtVpu-zSA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqFQkFnwCBytk4zt89mjr9D_OjCEgMxmet7-XCc5cB1woIV17RXqUlpp8xRtA3VUG_Tful7Ph9Lrp9ApiyYJKceQ_b1T7zNZs6ebRXIxTGDLYGqyopbV51EbsBKxuWe7-xUODr0seuQrhh5xvv0RLyfMEX07pUYh5MZofR2ZNKZHVmZhPUpgtVpu-zSA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgki1zn7G-3vu-Go355vu1yq-y3auZgEHSsqbh0byddSH4WZUgTZkm4XgtFudXXZLrUvanJjwu_4yP4FeoZmEbR_HsIKTiEZ1o_EvUVY0VS9hX085gNDXpRGaCjnKsluRNnwviAef9jSmDs5x67BDCGTzcKRFZYmRBAMX6UkNhA87te3HPDzjfMZOJ14A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgki1zn7G-3vu-Go355vu1yq-y3auZgEHSsqbh0byddSH4WZUgTZkm4XgtFudXXZLrUvanJjwu_4yP4FeoZmEbR_HsIKTiEZ1o_EvUVY0VS9hX085gNDXpRGaCjnKsluRNnwviAef9jSmDs5x67BDCGTzcKRFZYmRBAMX6UkNhA87te3HPDzjfMZOJ14A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiawdOngjhIzXlBLUA3rIXk-G__oqMmKsx-1B27PBifUUjaLrN9kmIq3A_G4qiEm7mTdnesCTo8DQaXVrHcDNeQ56ntj4NQ0pFBfMqfu2dpZ8ID_5zTuTqA6t0opIVWK12RfWpe0M68cxd_mDS8txCpIJ-gLAGbO-kDeuTO2A5FrehZlqAbP4zbhpXk4w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiawdOngjhIzXlBLUA3rIXk-G__oqMmKsx-1B27PBifUUjaLrN9kmIq3A_G4qiEm7mTdnesCTo8DQaXVrHcDNeQ56ntj4NQ0pFBfMqfu2dpZ8ID_5zTuTqA6t0opIVWK12RfWpe0M68cxd_mDS8txCpIJ-gLAGbO-kDeuTO2A5FrehZlqAbP4zbhpXk4w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I prepare to pull my food bags up onto the bear pole.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com1Virginia Falls, Montana 59417, USA48.6606905 -113.613046719.580758449875027 -148.76929669999998 77.740622550124982 -78.4567967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-17280658614803790522022-10-05T05:00:00.261-07:002022-10-05T05:00:00.189-07:00Day 154: A rough day in the snow<p><i>September 21</i>: It was a cold and windy night, which led into a cold and windy morning. Since I only needed to hike about 15 miles, a distance forced on me by my permit, I took my time getting up. I definitely wasn't in a rush with a mere 15 miles to do, which is how I didn't end up on the trail and hiking until about 8:30am.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6H4nrS-DyTJfUwK5G89x4fBoblSqjqY8tO7Gd1qMdICX1EaMlyAby61WbuBwcKx_dO0I3bQBTfUzwfUk8PZM7K03eUQYIjVy-rVZt6QDXQc8BjTyKjaWMmHkYwOOQQcUh2FCjekx667ODaTBY4M2dvx1EZ0Wbq4-vGaDPIxmZVElaeT8s168R5kq0Og" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6H4nrS-DyTJfUwK5G89x4fBoblSqjqY8tO7Gd1qMdICX1EaMlyAby61WbuBwcKx_dO0I3bQBTfUzwfUk8PZM7K03eUQYIjVy-rVZt6QDXQc8BjTyKjaWMmHkYwOOQQcUh2FCjekx667ODaTBY4M2dvx1EZ0Wbq4-vGaDPIxmZVElaeT8s168R5kq0Og=s16000" /></a></div><br />I hiked quickly just to warm up, but didn't really thaw out until climbing upward toward Triple Divide Pass where I got above tree line. Triple Divide Pass got its name since it's next to Triple Divide Peak, on which is the continental divide of the continental divide! Well, that's how I see it. If you check <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Divide_Peak_(Montana)" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>, you'll see it's technically called a<i> hydrological apex</i>, but basically, the water from this peak flows into three separate oceans. At least it does if you consider Hudson Bay a tributary of the Arctic Ocean. I imagine some people might disagree with that assessment. <p></p><p>On the climb up, I passed a hiker who was heading down. He hadn't come from over the pass, but rather had hiked up and was now coming back down and wasn't carrying a pack. We stopped to chat for a few minutes and he noticed the tiara I had hanging off my pack.</p><p>"I like your tiara," he told me.</p><p>"Oh, yeah... that." I laughed. I imagine it must look pretty odd to anyone I came across. =) I explained about thru-hiking the CDT and about to complete the triple crown, but alas, I couldn't get my hands on a crown and settled for the tiara instead. He seemed to find the story funny. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsCBrjG4_7SXStQTWiJNVFnGzVvx4P0cWgUbn7dz3N0yNtxJGJBtfgaLP5zeVVHryUv87zPrS8P7bUAoz3KdUWLn4GfmyvYwtu2Y6d1GgV0WmH5Q4FkFSqe7J9jO0m6drLhnjI113X1tdRT0L3qSfRN-B1WwU6LF2BaMYhc0A_0GF9nvnZm27va0ih_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsCBrjG4_7SXStQTWiJNVFnGzVvx4P0cWgUbn7dz3N0yNtxJGJBtfgaLP5zeVVHryUv87zPrS8P7bUAoz3KdUWLn4GfmyvYwtu2Y6d1GgV0WmH5Q4FkFSqe7J9jO0m6drLhnjI113X1tdRT0L3qSfRN-B1WwU6LF2BaMYhc0A_0GF9nvnZm27va0ih_g=s16000" /></a></div><br />Anyhow, I pushed onward, and there was still a small bit of snow along the trail near the summit of the Triple Divide Pass, but when I went down the other side, it became positively <i>wild!</i> The snow itself generally wasn't too problematic on its own, but the powerful wind blasts pushed me over multiple times and on the steep slope, that was problematic. Then I reached an actual snow chute--I was stunned to realize that enough snow had fallen to create an actual snow chute! If I slipped on that, I could slide a long, long way down to my potential death. I had to cross it, though, so I dug my feet deep into the snow and slowly pushed my way across, all the while hoping a particularly heavy wind gust didn't blow me down the chute. <p></p><p>I had heard rumors that someone actually died on this pass early in the hiking season when strong winds blew them "off the mountain", and I wondered if this was where it might have happened. I never checked the authenticity of the story, however, and didn't know any details. And knowing how rumors on the trail change like a game of telephone, it wouldn't surprise me if someone did die in the park but the details about where and how changed into something completely unrelated to the truth.<br /></p><p>It was, however, definitely a dangerous stretch for me--especially across the snow chute!</p><p>I made it across okay, however, and continued down the trail. I soon passed another couple heading up the pass from the other direction and we stopped to shout at each other over the wind.</p><p>"Don't worry!" I shouted. "It's a lot easier on the other side of the pass! Just be particularly careful going over the snow chute!"</p><p>They shouted back that they had seen bear prints in the snow.</p><p>In the snow? Really? What the heck was a bear doing up here? The snow had only fallen two days earlier so the prints couldn't have been very old. I made a point to keep my eyes open for the bear prints. It never even occurred to me to look for bear prints in the snow.</p><p>We continued on in our separate directions, and eventually the trail descended below the snow level and once I got among the trees again, the wind died down as well. All was peaceful once again.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQgsBf0IETzIYh_Vt2HFYNRIzqjktFriIzK_NAyDivmOJXmyGxOD3vfkdguhKrUJHkb0cMulimVg2VkNsc721F7_RWN_eX1kgU4uMhYFgOhgBszDrnGgG4GRIWUIHV5jkSxyY7MjnoCTRqlpCuUUv1-JyTMAPqWI__O2JcsGOY3uEbHdsdUHdicggoqg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQgsBf0IETzIYh_Vt2HFYNRIzqjktFriIzK_NAyDivmOJXmyGxOD3vfkdguhKrUJHkb0cMulimVg2VkNsc721F7_RWN_eX1kgU4uMhYFgOhgBszDrnGgG4GRIWUIHV5jkSxyY7MjnoCTRqlpCuUUv1-JyTMAPqWI__O2JcsGOY3uEbHdsdUHdicggoqg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The north side of Triple Divide Pass was pretty sketchy between the snow and the wind gusts!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Safe and sound on the far side of the pass, I decided to take a lunch break. I sat down next to the trail, ate some snacks and read my Kindle for a bit. I had plenty of time to reach camp and didn't want to get there too early. I'd be bored out of my mind if I arrived <i>too</i> early.</p><p>I'd been sitting there for about 20 minutes when I heard a loud crashing sound coming through the woods in my direction. I couldn't tell what it was, but I shouted out and jumped up to get a better view through the trees. I saw a bear pop its head above the foliage, look at me, then immediately turned around and ran away. I didn't get a very good look at it, but I think it was a black bear, and it didn't seem to realize I was right there until I shouted out at it. I thought bears could smell you a mile away? Especially since I had my snacks out eating. This fellow was probably 30 feet away and didn't have a clue I was there until I shouted out at it. Sometimes, I think people overestimate a bear's ability to smell.</p><p>Anyhow, after the bear ran off, I sat back down by the trail and continued my break.</p><p>I eventually reached my campsite at the foot of Red Eagle Lake. When I arrived, there was a party of 3 hikers who had already set up their camp. They introduced themselves as Gary (a.k.a. Lovechild), Hana and Second Breakfast. Two of them had trailnames, but they weren't thru-hiking. They were just out for a week or so, enjoying the gorgeousness known as Glacier NP. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxV8smZSq8sYxz5v-Z0pdZKcG676wis3_UwyVfZbaauQbpiDv1YZdmvZlLSYhi5kJKz8sEix9EmgMPrv068UWhDSCU5uMO6tqLrtBzHol-0lLs0s71FwlXAZMXYYsPheSrBSsRU40tk6hm0-V4HVIrlzp_0e4zdxLADMVQaRjei0TiqkfnjSF5VA38TA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxV8smZSq8sYxz5v-Z0pdZKcG676wis3_UwyVfZbaauQbpiDv1YZdmvZlLSYhi5kJKz8sEix9EmgMPrv068UWhDSCU5uMO6tqLrtBzHol-0lLs0s71FwlXAZMXYYsPheSrBSsRU40tk6hm0-V4HVIrlzp_0e4zdxLADMVQaRjei0TiqkfnjSF5VA38TA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food bags hanging form the bear poles at our campsite<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>We were seated around a fire ring, and thinking back, I couldn't remember a single campfire that I had enjoyed on the trail. Pretty much from the very beginning, campfires had not been allowed. They were either prohibited as a fire danger, or at high altitudes, the terrain was environmentally sensitive and therefore campfires weren't allowed. And in some desert areas, the risk of fire might not be very great, but there wasn't anything around to burn.</p><p>It seemed shocking to me that I'd been hiking over over 5 months now and never enjoyed a single campfire, and I happened to mention the fact.</p><p>Gary jumped up and said that <i>that</i> definitely had to change. I deserved at least one campfire on the trail, and that they were going to band together to create one!</p><p>Cool! =) I didn't want to leach off of all their hard work, however, so I did poke around looking for fallen wood that could be contributed to the campfire.</p><p>Shortly after arriving, a group of four women arrived hiking southbound and stopped to chat for a bit. They seemed a little starstruck at meeting a real thru-hiker and asked me all sorts of questions about it, and I answered the best I could. They also joked that they had tried to get this campsite but couldn't because the group of three had taken up all the available slots. Well, I don't think they were <i>joking </i>about that, but they were joking about how "angry" they were about it. </p><p>Their campsite was on the other side of the lake, at the head of the lake. I had passed it on my way here and assured them it was a nice site and probably a little nicer than this one. This site was surrounded by a bad burn area while the other campsite had a lot more trees that survived the fire and seemed a little nicer by comparison.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1g-k9tccrvlJcBSaAs4LKdTEgR_B-P8WvhK1x1AMIaZLy9oYcsudj-citQKnhglITmmGoeFsjw2NrWv3MsmqnN_IDDOS5K5g8pJ8UP4B2t8riFrryIGyWZFhpm4Uk-hCmJ9gAJtnzLf5Ewbci_aqhzr4gvk0ySWXvl2BWT0bWxQZfaLsjyBj1gtUR5Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1g-k9tccrvlJcBSaAs4LKdTEgR_B-P8WvhK1x1AMIaZLy9oYcsudj-citQKnhglITmmGoeFsjw2NrWv3MsmqnN_IDDOS5K5g8pJ8UP4B2t8riFrryIGyWZFhpm4Uk-hCmJ9gAJtnzLf5Ewbci_aqhzr4gvk0ySWXvl2BWT0bWxQZfaLsjyBj1gtUR5Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is taken from the campsite at the head of Red Eagle Lake, which actually had a few trees that survived the wildfire that had come through.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We shared each other's schedules. I told them that they would be passing Just Awesome tomorrow. I knew roughly where Just Awesome would be camping each night, and I described him in detail and told them it would be really funny if they pretended that they knew him. "Hey... wait a minute.... are you Just Awesome? Yeah? I knew it! We totally met on the PCT! Remember?"</p><p>I wasn't really sure if they'd do that or not, but it would be really funny, I thought, if they did. I'm so mean. =) The girls were also scheduled to finish their hike the same day that I finished at the Canadian border, and they said if they saw me trying hitch back to to East Glacier, they'd give me a lift! Cool! Already an offer of a ride! I wasn't too optimistic that the timing would work out, though. But theoretically, they might see me at St. Mary's or someplace trying to hitch a ride onward.<br /></p><p>They eventually continued on to their own campsite, but about a half hour later, one of the girls returned to ask if she could get my phone number. They had been talking about me and were creating all sorts of other questions about thru-hiking that they wanted to ask. I gave her my phone number, and they said they'd try calling after they got off the trail. Maybe I'd have a signal and would still need a ride back to East Glacier. That would be great if it worked out!</p><p>My neighbors for the night eventually got a campfire started, and we chatted the rest of the evening around my first campfire of the trail. =)</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj58w8WDVa9qzfz_yE_z61Vu_THuF_46oT94BMjXhgzkdAbiPN9jpCWfNc3wSn0k-IIiSJnYzntnav9Bp9E1j50c_f_2Y1Ee2OFpG-9VmmynQb9SnJEFpsjaN__wv1c7_oca397i9xzU4vE49pNQzQCScsuv_egSfKn2_4-JiUfZjWfLu78ASpSJgl9Lg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj58w8WDVa9qzfz_yE_z61Vu_THuF_46oT94BMjXhgzkdAbiPN9jpCWfNc3wSn0k-IIiSJnYzntnav9Bp9E1j50c_f_2Y1Ee2OFpG-9VmmynQb9SnJEFpsjaN__wv1c7_oca397i9xzU4vE49pNQzQCScsuv_egSfKn2_4-JiUfZjWfLu78ASpSJgl9Lg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Second Breakfast, and we're enjoying my first campfire of the CDT!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip7_C9epjPS6hgJ1cpT8UTcl-5kO7lqLsinBEvGoPxjLSeCaRzf0IyEZtJEVyX_0GMpTfWeThA7PFIqOFOUmDqEN-ETv2crr6c_oqVa0VV6XDLrUyIsUbtfYZB5TVgvGwTPAr1hB_KvN3FxtocRAqfcpHj3N3QHmrYdYc9j2O8Y9a_a0DDvbsk_2cwpw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip7_C9epjPS6hgJ1cpT8UTcl-5kO7lqLsinBEvGoPxjLSeCaRzf0IyEZtJEVyX_0GMpTfWeThA7PFIqOFOUmDqEN-ETv2crr6c_oqVa0VV6XDLrUyIsUbtfYZB5TVgvGwTPAr1hB_KvN3FxtocRAqfcpHj3N3QHmrYdYc9j2O8Y9a_a0DDvbsk_2cwpw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shortly after leaving camp in the morning, I found this bear print on the trail. It looked pretty fresh! I wondered if it was wandering around the campground last night.... (If it did, I never heard or saw it.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyM3r5VHV0ajrBHtzuTcXOXLqTyf0oovb6lxmim5_qLqZSfhZLvi-rqgr17NM7HU3R8jFBPKbnZnhjSACjYmBTok1yGPghrO0RPf2S9_hWkKpxZQZaVPBMbOL98R2UBMGMhVpTkkgdUt5UVzxmXaDyfWKRkWqriOr2wCva5vd9yXdND6b0ilSPsPzqDg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyM3r5VHV0ajrBHtzuTcXOXLqTyf0oovb6lxmim5_qLqZSfhZLvi-rqgr17NM7HU3R8jFBPKbnZnhjSACjYmBTok1yGPghrO0RPf2S9_hWkKpxZQZaVPBMbOL98R2UBMGMhVpTkkgdUt5UVzxmXaDyfWKRkWqriOr2wCva5vd9yXdND6b0ilSPsPzqDg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoXRD6sUTL4DNBn78JZpulKnswtBQinXuFu7htK2XAh8eNiGgncOLXSssK3Aj_Ha1tE_RjC4GJLp0TeQAT0LEoRmbfwBi0QnMYiOjSg1I5hYzF57eWf3F4QTaTX9Fz-KXZNMqb0ugnntmvsl2eSQq8Kmj-fousdovgEnfZnq_STyGMkChYOQTYB4teXA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoXRD6sUTL4DNBn78JZpulKnswtBQinXuFu7htK2XAh8eNiGgncOLXSssK3Aj_Ha1tE_RjC4GJLp0TeQAT0LEoRmbfwBi0QnMYiOjSg1I5hYzF57eWf3F4QTaTX9Fz-KXZNMqb0ugnntmvsl2eSQq8Kmj-fousdovgEnfZnq_STyGMkChYOQTYB4teXA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEianX1kPebGGxdl5MojPj5wjm1jFn-TQW1nZEo0TqwaxXVoVUg9uEwtrKilArFFZwHHMQANx6g967wk12MFLA1VW2wwGhZKma8Jz_J_-AOo8WfXiokAzU_mATzfZF7Fv8tBKmip_E8Z_hKk8o3JgoRaRutlF_3dnrnobHMgbudt70wMhWgOAzdk6pyQyQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEianX1kPebGGxdl5MojPj5wjm1jFn-TQW1nZEo0TqwaxXVoVUg9uEwtrKilArFFZwHHMQANx6g967wk12MFLA1VW2wwGhZKma8Jz_J_-AOo8WfXiokAzU_mATzfZF7Fv8tBKmip_E8Z_hKk8o3JgoRaRutlF_3dnrnobHMgbudt70wMhWgOAzdk6pyQyQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwWhzP46xetordtInQ-nf2ANNkrMnfz9aWSoPwKSYkFhzC9PHZiZBzq4xNfxqbXyPQ4XMl5gP2WUzYK7O3ImFNOTuuQrr6awKecKVVTsBvz88HFKiZjl4zU5-Zhq-oUU7QHf8CS7VObjb-_i2NUoEcmLg_hDdzHPegpzHzUBiHkjw8vx74nPvStTBqVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwWhzP46xetordtInQ-nf2ANNkrMnfz9aWSoPwKSYkFhzC9PHZiZBzq4xNfxqbXyPQ4XMl5gP2WUzYK7O3ImFNOTuuQrr6awKecKVVTsBvz88HFKiZjl4zU5-Zhq-oUU7QHf8CS7VObjb-_i2NUoEcmLg_hDdzHPegpzHzUBiHkjw8vx74nPvStTBqVA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu9gjMCwOWwqTtdZRXeHq1QsXBvpaMqnDHBM78ExkkXcA-mNeA3pE8D5jWJFPKTL7Jnpaa6QpBPtBVmVaFP0Xnfty9QDnCFsGeAeWTqMm8T-807zQmhyDxA_QLCIsHrlZV4diYeKJPBaeoqMM8chGWyOIznhgFZlWStYFREH2T6Dl9aElv-X3T85cHZA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu9gjMCwOWwqTtdZRXeHq1QsXBvpaMqnDHBM78ExkkXcA-mNeA3pE8D5jWJFPKTL7Jnpaa6QpBPtBVmVaFP0Xnfty9QDnCFsGeAeWTqMm8T-807zQmhyDxA_QLCIsHrlZV4diYeKJPBaeoqMM8chGWyOIznhgFZlWStYFREH2T6Dl9aElv-X3T85cHZA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views climbing up toward Triple Divide Pass were <i>awesome!</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNvjsWFKbCasc1aZkoRHJfJWR9OyyS1vzSzhjnBmkONzOz_fY_sl9Lorl17Z9clMpCp7kehWyMlpgGf_83z0WFCoxXWFvQ2eVOTo3Z07dpBvQzyhZ_XOfJAq8pGNQAF5vFUC9FsgpOhNthSGkIPKEhWoSAH9CnifLrynnKtf-CZqQcXUZ0kZWf1x6l7A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNvjsWFKbCasc1aZkoRHJfJWR9OyyS1vzSzhjnBmkONzOz_fY_sl9Lorl17Z9clMpCp7kehWyMlpgGf_83z0WFCoxXWFvQ2eVOTo3Z07dpBvQzyhZ_XOfJAq8pGNQAF5vFUC9FsgpOhNthSGkIPKEhWoSAH9CnifLrynnKtf-CZqQcXUZ0kZWf1x6l7A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The snow at the pass had not yet melted, however....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWkcIzHC7WRtwHG7mswWXu0KzWy9Ck0MN6rLlodJM9p-n_KR-mj6-h_0e-i_ZQRDKaeE9DWyCxXKYomSb6i4OT58Z2geXO48taTg3lJRZcmZADrQbofW-Cg_Jdd23Ue3Iid-PoIv8YE4Ha4pyZlpKYg888qgr4UjrH8ow6bwX1Mz6IQ7Vv39XWbW8uMg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWkcIzHC7WRtwHG7mswWXu0KzWy9Ck0MN6rLlodJM9p-n_KR-mj6-h_0e-i_ZQRDKaeE9DWyCxXKYomSb6i4OT58Z2geXO48taTg3lJRZcmZADrQbofW-Cg_Jdd23Ue3Iid-PoIv8YE4Ha4pyZlpKYg888qgr4UjrH8ow6bwX1Mz6IQ7Vv39XWbW8uMg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was a bear doing playing in the snow?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEkVBQmf1rT-OkIVI-H6btTOELnYWulsD7--96r0a_r2BbJhPiP9V-1RAWi5mZhcVlPA1lo8m3FBZaIn2U6ZAbPZNYefJdRABVB6mqpOyJIad59TFFY5BfDVr_4zH6FoFXEicicgj-fwGtOgD_UcdQRGhlJXRUBwwy4hIFg2suM3dv4ugSGbzzfO2RqQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEkVBQmf1rT-OkIVI-H6btTOELnYWulsD7--96r0a_r2BbJhPiP9V-1RAWi5mZhcVlPA1lo8m3FBZaIn2U6ZAbPZNYefJdRABVB6mqpOyJIad59TFFY5BfDVr_4zH6FoFXEicicgj-fwGtOgD_UcdQRGhlJXRUBwwy4hIFg2suM3dv4ugSGbzzfO2RqQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmAmdYoslZEe0CBZcOVzr_GSCIjfiDhevO6ncYPNHL8SN0R795XYj46pN0yGOK5d8uIvYRJP8D6Babcy4MTtq-mp1opWpGe3O18OShZJxBTDpMkCqDB19fRK7b3WrGDvie5-2PNUbDmJGeM9TKYTapOMyN3wir84vZvz12N6Nkrs3uzneOvG1y8zpbew" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmAmdYoslZEe0CBZcOVzr_GSCIjfiDhevO6ncYPNHL8SN0R795XYj46pN0yGOK5d8uIvYRJP8D6Babcy4MTtq-mp1opWpGe3O18OShZJxBTDpMkCqDB19fRK7b3WrGDvie5-2PNUbDmJGeM9TKYTapOMyN3wir84vZvz12N6Nkrs3uzneOvG1y8zpbew=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK3vQp0FfqSStY0sej7_whk_9xPVvHnhjViPUP1G10MDaioV7tpGdjRQY3f7WJsWYlHJ0-4khc4Apez6ULHpw3L8ryB7W7PwRWKhGkx09kM1gK3N973YAzETBqNVFbwlTYnO086NyhOtAAlROKlqVutQXN7sVQE1so5Y5p3cru2TAADlvknYHmgHjiww" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK3vQp0FfqSStY0sej7_whk_9xPVvHnhjViPUP1G10MDaioV7tpGdjRQY3f7WJsWYlHJ0-4khc4Apez6ULHpw3L8ryB7W7PwRWKhGkx09kM1gK3N973YAzETBqNVFbwlTYnO086NyhOtAAlROKlqVutQXN7sVQE1so5Y5p3cru2TAADlvknYHmgHjiww=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRS72lG75Lm7Gdi2NqWo4jk8O_FciAEzgL7rJlZI8W39fsvDhCBoRhlV2r_AFDNmH1zbex_aLwqdGHGh4cIhHW6v66wcjmXVRyiVlgUOEIBYiEx1JM7X38msSLTC7DVdmJGlKvJqqY8G9OZPkDA1J3m1cAfQAFu5xWnXeTUgDUwNsu2JuOLOC83uF9sw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRS72lG75Lm7Gdi2NqWo4jk8O_FciAEzgL7rJlZI8W39fsvDhCBoRhlV2r_AFDNmH1zbex_aLwqdGHGh4cIhHW6v66wcjmXVRyiVlgUOEIBYiEx1JM7X38msSLTC7DVdmJGlKvJqqY8G9OZPkDA1J3m1cAfQAFu5xWnXeTUgDUwNsu2JuOLOC83uF9sw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1piNvI5BvrQS_uS-aANoZdODfgAKSD3xse81iVlsqSP3s4Yu-Qz1wEuSCR8ohvAVJg36MPlUpCv1grvKNYj5fmG4zkvZOCfwvrqea_y0xvUOrY_aFNyhQYKT0rnwU3DV47pNj-Ulit0jFmKhumT-GvwuCZT1SUvI8zq6BPXVH9mGJWwVBIffSE2ci7Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1piNvI5BvrQS_uS-aANoZdODfgAKSD3xse81iVlsqSP3s4Yu-Qz1wEuSCR8ohvAVJg36MPlUpCv1grvKNYj5fmG4zkvZOCfwvrqea_y0xvUOrY_aFNyhQYKT0rnwU3DV47pNj-Ulit0jFmKhumT-GvwuCZT1SUvI8zq6BPXVH9mGJWwVBIffSE2ci7Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAGSszVIi5Z7YdqAuFambnKejT0uMajY4wPy0kM8BjMFJ_AgToCyJVULrJ3-o87N-tcHlupgJdGH4rr-TDfUDL6I4s71o_XlVVfAoECSUHaMdAOpAXCLlDsRaSnTOpzOXeY_QqMQzoD9GmcOnzCXx0Fq71FdyaRmfG2_6wfocOdB77LbGC_eMAQ7qmag" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAGSszVIi5Z7YdqAuFambnKejT0uMajY4wPy0kM8BjMFJ_AgToCyJVULrJ3-o87N-tcHlupgJdGH4rr-TDfUDL6I4s71o_XlVVfAoECSUHaMdAOpAXCLlDsRaSnTOpzOXeY_QqMQzoD9GmcOnzCXx0Fq71FdyaRmfG2_6wfocOdB77LbGC_eMAQ7qmag=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com1Red Eagle Lake, Montana, USA48.6548401 -113.505411720.344606263821156 -148.6616617 76.96507393617884 -78.3491617tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-275602059531627202022-10-03T05:00:00.181-07:002022-10-03T05:00:00.186-07:00Day 153: Finally leaving East Glacier!<p><i>September 20</i>: Upon waking up, I ate the rest of my leftover pizza from yesterday for breakfast, then headed over to the post office to pick up my packages. I was expecting two packages: a food package with some food items that I'd likely never find in such a small town otherwise, and that arrived just fine. My other package, however, the one with the laptop, had not arrived. What?!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSiMWIsvwHmgKyFvosjhsZ9LcMzxK1JScqRRTU2NmP2SBQnuwAlpZMhic6hc8SLPe-K9fpNZlDYPo3zQoZjRwyhEx6TR0PMIzXvGp8NtUH5jMm6iL6q3eJWLNRCwxiDRzKTSMjECxUMZcM-7RjXulO6_bE8YOEwmEVPyieeDinllBaw1BCQFb3lZWodA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSiMWIsvwHmgKyFvosjhsZ9LcMzxK1JScqRRTU2NmP2SBQnuwAlpZMhic6hc8SLPe-K9fpNZlDYPo3zQoZjRwyhEx6TR0PMIzXvGp8NtUH5jMm6iL6q3eJWLNRCwxiDRzKTSMjECxUMZcM-7RjXulO6_bE8YOEwmEVPyieeDinllBaw1BCQFb3lZWodA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to drop by the post office to pick up some packages.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Of course, I didn't want or need the laptop at this point. I was leaving town today, and I certainly had no intention of carrying my laptop into the backcountry. The box, however, did contain some other items like extra batteries and such that I could make use of. But, more importantly, it also included my crowns. I was about to complete the Triple Crown of hiking--one of the few people that will ever hike all three of the main long-distance hiking paths in the United States: the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. To celebrate the feat, Amanda had found some small, lightweight crowns that I could use as photo ops at the Canadian border. They were made of paper and could lay flat, but they were glittery and showy and perfect for a photo op to celebrate the end of the trail. Not wanting to carry them anymore than I needed to, however, I had shipped them here in my bounce box.</p><p>But it never arrived, so I didn't have my crowns. =( Well, actually, I did have the letter A for A.T. That had fallen off the A.T. crown and when I reported it to Amanda, she sent me a new letter A to an earlier post office which I had been carrying ever since. But the glittery letter A was useless without the rest of the crown. Bah! Stupid post office!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7sBhHaNQsazCiJS3UhJN2aqmEqhlqShr2gXRPDLWRDkuWWQyWpTBBlqh8IV9RmHK4cfzzVLIK4cvvMHSdx8SNzPaXj3grIY-wq-D2KcYMJqEjN2rJKjLdJ0DZoRYsY6i_Ms9QckyBo7cZ8pz3Wo3GOsKGOks6Xq4PJPlbFy4csXc9leIYoGDceS-9nQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7sBhHaNQsazCiJS3UhJN2aqmEqhlqShr2gXRPDLWRDkuWWQyWpTBBlqh8IV9RmHK4cfzzVLIK4cvvMHSdx8SNzPaXj3grIY-wq-D2KcYMJqEjN2rJKjLdJ0DZoRYsY6i_Ms9QckyBo7cZ8pz3Wo3GOsKGOks6Xq4PJPlbFy4csXc9leIYoGDceS-9nQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In case you ever wanted to know, the world's largest purple spoon was in East Glacier.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br />Back at the hostel, I repacked all the food from the package I did get into my pack and I threw away the now-useless letter A. At the hostel, however, I did stumble on an old, broken tiara that somehow ended up there and I thought <i>that</i> would be my crown for the end of the trail! The tiara was shiny and a bit small for my head. I think it was meant for a child-sized person. It was also broken in half, but nothing a little duct tape couldn't fix. In fact, I think a little duct tape would give it just the right character for a thru-hiker. =)<p></p><p>Finally packed and ready to go, I left the hostel at around 11:00am. The air was cool and crisp, and the surrounding mountains showed a thin layer of snow. I hadn't been able to see the mountains through the clouds yesterday, but now that the weather had cleared, I could definitely see that the higher elevations had gotten some snow.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyzlHCbMiYXQ0H4NT8rINzCgxxy1d37DiZzsjDSttJAdKcdJdfzexD0j-SvA89BOvvjdWN9UDYW6DrTe7ZC2QZxi6msEsJAkGk9J8FUBJzEMVzMqrY6yA4GgdPknRdvoe7mmTOp_3MfPFrY2X1fHytCa_X3IcJG1arLtx322qIaaUNue3EB-ndwbE8fg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyzlHCbMiYXQ0H4NT8rINzCgxxy1d37DiZzsjDSttJAdKcdJdfzexD0j-SvA89BOvvjdWN9UDYW6DrTe7ZC2QZxi6msEsJAkGk9J8FUBJzEMVzMqrY6yA4GgdPknRdvoe7mmTOp_3MfPFrY2X1fHytCa_X3IcJG1arLtx322qIaaUNue3EB-ndwbE8fg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting my day's hike at Two Medicine</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The first hitch took about 15 minutes. Two Canadian girls that easily could have passed themselves off as hippies stopped to pick me up. They were heading back to Canada, however, and not to Two Medicine in Glacier NP where I needed to pick up the trail. So I was only with them for 4 miles until they reached the junction with Two Medicine and dropped me off there.</p><p>The next hitch took considerably longer--I had to wait about 1.5 hours before someone pulled over to offer me a ride down the rest of the way. The traffic was moderately busy, but car after car passed by without picking me up. About a half hour in, what looked like a homeless guy searching the side of the road for aluminum cans wandered up to me and tried to chat me up. I tried to discourage him, though, fearful that someone who <i>would</i> pick me up might have second thoughts if they thought this guy was also looking for a ride as well. Go away! After about 10 minutes, he did go away, though, and I continued my solitary attempt at hitchhiking.</p><p>I finally got a ride and was back at Two Medicine by around 2:00pm. I only needed to do about 11 miles to reach my assigned campsite, though, so not a problem. I could knock out 11 miles before sunset. Definitely. *nodding*</p><p>The trail climbed steadily upward, eventually climbing up a pass overlooking Oldman Lake. The pass was covered by a few inches of snow, though, which annoyed me to no end. It was so miserably cold up there! And I had not wanted or expected to hike in snow. The pass was only located about 7700 feet above sea level, after all. *grumbling*</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIlMX50ZVJgJX3-Yi78z1DVhyeK27QzqCg_VcxVraJJUJNsPQZMprGt68aEYBMm9VLsrqPMZc5Q7opXejaI3QtYy1neGv9zGKBZzAoiVK0czq2dCnqTEJfV5cllmIWkus9B28xTFYAosAxkXebWkMMn-yJE9hFda8aPBTYwNF2T8qncl-C3bQW8s-F7Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIlMX50ZVJgJX3-Yi78z1DVhyeK27QzqCg_VcxVraJJUJNsPQZMprGt68aEYBMm9VLsrqPMZc5Q7opXejaI3QtYy1neGv9zGKBZzAoiVK0czq2dCnqTEJfV5cllmIWkus9B28xTFYAosAxkXebWkMMn-yJE9hFda8aPBTYwNF2T8qncl-C3bQW8s-F7Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had a bit of snow to hike through at the top of Pitamakan Pass.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I pushed onward. After the pass, the trail descended a couple of thousand feet leaving the snow behind me. I was grateful that I wouldn't have to <i>camp</i> in the snow, at least.</p><p>I didn't find anyone else at the campsite, but that didn't surprise me. I couldn't imagine why anyone would be traveling southbound this late in the season and I didn't see any footprints in the snow over the pass, so I knew nobody was immediately ahead of me. I also didn't know of any other hikers who planned to reach this point this evening. Just Awesome, I knew, was hiking the section from East Glacier to Two Medicine and would camp at the campground at Two Medicine. I was 11 miles ahead of him on the trail as of this evening, and would only extend the lead as the days went on.</p><p>So I wound up having the entire Morning Star Lake campground to myself. Although rain wasn't in the forecast, I went ahead and set up my tarp to help keep me marginally warmer during the night. Given how cold the day was, I had little doubt it was going to get uncomfortably cold during the night!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUtUXlDk-HrsNHm0jpDlyTlj72E44XHorw_LZO5osqlmipPJsT7wEHsc4aFO810j9j2lBWqmYpkNsHTizUn6UI3gULZqW2XzStf9rpV4xZELFy_sNrROnzZVHHpyYBA1jXV4x-sUzcQgDkw5oEk71d60qJh7D26zMu-Z0IQ7ioBr792SsGh-y2Lb3tmg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUtUXlDk-HrsNHm0jpDlyTlj72E44XHorw_LZO5osqlmipPJsT7wEHsc4aFO810j9j2lBWqmYpkNsHTizUn6UI3gULZqW2XzStf9rpV4xZELFy_sNrROnzZVHHpyYBA1jXV4x-sUzcQgDkw5oEk71d60qJh7D26zMu-Z0IQ7ioBr792SsGh-y2Lb3tmg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My campsite for the night would be at the Morning Star Lake CG.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHBFl6P8HCgH3yYzvXeBzo1UqOUsryVpy2zcBs0z3ofOC98IjKTN1MmqjCFM1aDzkw8zj2YKZ1JlkHmkzjckNCiBAmJHHz6cdoXJHMniP_h5LG280U9x9n2Z1F1vwJQcWT3IjcMKICMX6jtCbJRpMcsxq83CzVX3HF4sWjdCvJ2r4dj27fcazT2KEhHg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHBFl6P8HCgH3yYzvXeBzo1UqOUsryVpy2zcBs0z3ofOC98IjKTN1MmqjCFM1aDzkw8zj2YKZ1JlkHmkzjckNCiBAmJHHz6cdoXJHMniP_h5LG280U9x9n2Z1F1vwJQcWT3IjcMKICMX6jtCbJRpMcsxq83CzVX3HF4sWjdCvJ2r4dj27fcazT2KEhHg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tunnel under the railroad was the only (legal) way to get between the two sides of East Glacier.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMGWshX3SRwmmU7bsMskkP8xM839kbuCSnFytnx2j0hepUjTJq1C83gtOMPUJUmfiXdZ4aRGIBr0Sye-GNq_f_ME35FJAjheq5-7hFxP5mhWqMfaWYzp4hEN4RHZo32cH_h6wKlNSVLIkkom0SvxCsoOPxux1UPbQ9uRQLUJGyabILZ13yRPW_SzQrgQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMGWshX3SRwmmU7bsMskkP8xM839kbuCSnFytnx2j0hepUjTJq1C83gtOMPUJUmfiXdZ4aRGIBr0Sye-GNq_f_ME35FJAjheq5-7hFxP5mhWqMfaWYzp4hEN4RHZo32cH_h6wKlNSVLIkkom0SvxCsoOPxux1UPbQ9uRQLUJGyabILZ13yRPW_SzQrgQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaOgyXr4k8u6BV9rn3SrUVMtffRiE8rVHlgIJDE1sx0enZ0tcMiuajjW5fh6kRq7VyOqMRcO3csK0cYNaonaJ559v57VBoQOqi_D52jjhRZQxXwrQaimV4CQAIdfRgFqhOV-X0foGFsyM2vjSlLu6pucVWuoFm4VRzr5o4A2zs7wQG6uVqIXP3lw2YCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaOgyXr4k8u6BV9rn3SrUVMtffRiE8rVHlgIJDE1sx0enZ0tcMiuajjW5fh6kRq7VyOqMRcO3csK0cYNaonaJ559v57VBoQOqi_D52jjhRZQxXwrQaimV4CQAIdfRgFqhOV-X0foGFsyM2vjSlLu6pucVWuoFm4VRzr5o4A2zs7wQG6uVqIXP3lw2YCg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV5PzCqBWkrAVNcUKrCPCmMyssnvXdTZHxOPStdXLALiyvnrfsSU8TH03TDa5YfbMV3wZpmg3xPZBFyPaxHn0DoJ15VHu9dOS9o-RsEOowFScPIv03plU9vOY2nUbSDly_-4VW16brRtb43Kbz0lf1Kiw98u5CTEjn_Dl7EgcOsNGDRPxeR86N6CHojA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV5PzCqBWkrAVNcUKrCPCmMyssnvXdTZHxOPStdXLALiyvnrfsSU8TH03TDa5YfbMV3wZpmg3xPZBFyPaxHn0DoJ15VHu9dOS9o-RsEOowFScPIv03plU9vOY2nUbSDly_-4VW16brRtb43Kbz0lf1Kiw98u5CTEjn_Dl7EgcOsNGDRPxeR86N6CHojA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvXPKVjzGYl5R-Ntw8oPcHwnY86sldcHYWobWhtoK45GtygR71PFTc2MK1DdAnoQtuFOSv6ZJHZV_N-lDxbHdjZdQXEbUCffnY58IMGKRdyQSkiIszQx0R0Hq665tE_hA4daHDjfcKEY8XpB6KPMY9ukv1GxE2CGZJI9OUEgkOe8TnUGWBuhvgYUCGvQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvXPKVjzGYl5R-Ntw8oPcHwnY86sldcHYWobWhtoK45GtygR71PFTc2MK1DdAnoQtuFOSv6ZJHZV_N-lDxbHdjZdQXEbUCffnY58IMGKRdyQSkiIszQx0R0Hq665tE_hA4daHDjfcKEY8XpB6KPMY9ukv1GxE2CGZJI9OUEgkOe8TnUGWBuhvgYUCGvQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was definitely some snow that fell at the higher elevations yesterday! Except for the pass, however, I didn't have to go through much of it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4HvPJJ3UD3OXulfp8u4tzPmanC3P5r551474Czwr3FwEEb0FyWWRN6kCUoFgYXCrmpIODgC8k4rRt7gf6xWlOohfKK6WgvMT1Mdg5ytj7IbID-dRlZ_F97Lo8qdpeuQ3UODUOLYf5hPFT74on-bRTQn4al9e8tnvqAVj2whI4fC3PJojdnAAajTCR4w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4HvPJJ3UD3OXulfp8u4tzPmanC3P5r551474Czwr3FwEEb0FyWWRN6kCUoFgYXCrmpIODgC8k4rRt7gf6xWlOohfKK6WgvMT1Mdg5ytj7IbID-dRlZ_F97Lo8qdpeuQ3UODUOLYf5hPFT74on-bRTQn4al9e8tnvqAVj2whI4fC3PJojdnAAajTCR4w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Later in the afternoon, the clouds started rolling in. It wasn't raining, but it did make things even colder!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilahysHAVJ-2jdIAtJLf37TFQTc9B7gcndKAKMki74Y7EvE0QTNzsicLmqqwa96h1KpbVRsYKVJ8FMqSCANH45II7WkdQgTN_gk4ghbMiRCH_7CTW-hZULmF_wD9pKzOl9rARGNfosxqi_MYcvfouPJWr0IrcduB5wFYgl1wX5B-z_-2dUy1hhlMfl-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilahysHAVJ-2jdIAtJLf37TFQTc9B7gcndKAKMki74Y7EvE0QTNzsicLmqqwa96h1KpbVRsYKVJ8FMqSCANH45II7WkdQgTN_gk4ghbMiRCH_7CTW-hZULmF_wD9pKzOl9rARGNfosxqi_MYcvfouPJWr0IrcduB5wFYgl1wX5B-z_-2dUy1hhlMfl-w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg106IlGOqQmqknOsZ-apcWkBFeCBTPKXe2So2CLURf8MPup-fK0oNMw8qh3lW5UNied4Y4pWRShuSyfV8U6fkOs_nwKEkgCmFiKwoQPms3_sh0XI2Ni0OI0Fb_d7PV9A8zQFykZQ8VFsDMkR4skF_5bNyEVUiA7IBBpCS3pWI8WhzbQJIJU5gALBuSoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg106IlGOqQmqknOsZ-apcWkBFeCBTPKXe2So2CLURf8MPup-fK0oNMw8qh3lW5UNied4Y4pWRShuSyfV8U6fkOs_nwKEkgCmFiKwoQPms3_sh0XI2Ni0OI0Fb_d7PV9A8zQFykZQ8VFsDMkR4skF_5bNyEVUiA7IBBpCS3pWI8WhzbQJIJU5gALBuSoA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBbZgIe2ZD0CyJ_IX-_m60iHV6LQfqTY-T5qiGwSBKJJtXcGnwaisAAia-DfmUfZrN98kU5DQVhTZBnjyz5fzMwF5lezch56hjfy8qajZsVWprZwmtsE5RgvSlfuWJEK71-hDHHe83Bmrv1m2dWhhIUeQjmU4r3M2I7QuQ47oYl6iX38DKiqW9dppW4g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBbZgIe2ZD0CyJ_IX-_m60iHV6LQfqTY-T5qiGwSBKJJtXcGnwaisAAia-DfmUfZrN98kU5DQVhTZBnjyz5fzMwF5lezch56hjfy8qajZsVWprZwmtsE5RgvSlfuWJEK71-hDHHe83Bmrv1m2dWhhIUeQjmU4r3M2I7QuQ47oYl6iX38DKiqW9dppW4g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Oldman Lake down in the cirque.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFpy7H28dqrd4UNwr5Fgf8bzhI8qWYSm0RIeZLqB_hO_1iUg9kwuPLA86EW4Tbzh1gdYh0uHe00RzDfXsE-az-BS8X0fIlft7k7ujFohXs4_xh555ikYST0AnO284ZJwNh74g-GjrvHMPtjTP2ZgptTyU6MBWaZxe8xiNMqUFvQtX2200lZo6LZvWYfg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFpy7H28dqrd4UNwr5Fgf8bzhI8qWYSm0RIeZLqB_hO_1iUg9kwuPLA86EW4Tbzh1gdYh0uHe00RzDfXsE-az-BS8X0fIlft7k7ujFohXs4_xh555ikYST0AnO284ZJwNh74g-GjrvHMPtjTP2ZgptTyU6MBWaZxe8xiNMqUFvQtX2200lZo6LZvWYfg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pitamakan Pass was where I had the heaviest snow to deal with, and it's coming up soon!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzVDCzW-_gsUZJ9DD5KchV8y_hmzYMBK6FODjhMv0lkz5YAg_4CjDgBSdMQGu3SPzN0gKXw5kCJ5V7PHaIBqGsL3HXiR73vcJASN647FGj3S8N-HIdo5rdjnef-STGQa7iPaQJMFKt4uLlwxAESWIOGUmJEDa17JxANDL2ebGkgY4ElqJF9ZYyU8NR7w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzVDCzW-_gsUZJ9DD5KchV8y_hmzYMBK6FODjhMv0lkz5YAg_4CjDgBSdMQGu3SPzN0gKXw5kCJ5V7PHaIBqGsL3HXiR73vcJASN647FGj3S8N-HIdo5rdjnef-STGQa7iPaQJMFKt4uLlwxAESWIOGUmJEDa17JxANDL2ebGkgY4ElqJF9ZYyU8NR7w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiG32cR4QKHoAMSpTVdyypCFIHTe3XhlnpbA9HnEPQkKt8aA8RIx1q50iwgIg3_5HMsNnZLtPxK6hExUm5XOJLjDC6QeId5wiQeqeIX7Pb_SQui1nL6AWfNnS4Ff71PBzk4sGBdjwaOuhkXywamwMlYYNevLPwHePiyBo8CjadeJ1X1r7rrOPj6cWQ0g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiG32cR4QKHoAMSpTVdyypCFIHTe3XhlnpbA9HnEPQkKt8aA8RIx1q50iwgIg3_5HMsNnZLtPxK6hExUm5XOJLjDC6QeId5wiQeqeIX7Pb_SQui1nL6AWfNnS4Ff71PBzk4sGBdjwaOuhkXywamwMlYYNevLPwHePiyBo8CjadeJ1X1r7rrOPj6cWQ0g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pitamakan Lake<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPYDvrMjog3_XIqctFsb2Y1K3fT01T64OMWytOBl4uxfhBpmrSvkqSlp_Mt69gtEaJUVVaGAxF5LkyYUGX1g8bfOuWmSD9nd3jIOk47Qmmi80wn1ItRU5K4f43I2yK3aoQzwADL6_ibuyjdw5dM7eVJAXZ7nN6XhNEcBBgFsxwdTGpb9011EqIVYI8yw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPYDvrMjog3_XIqctFsb2Y1K3fT01T64OMWytOBl4uxfhBpmrSvkqSlp_Mt69gtEaJUVVaGAxF5LkyYUGX1g8bfOuWmSD9nd3jIOk47Qmmi80wn1ItRU5K4f43I2yK3aoQzwADL6_ibuyjdw5dM7eVJAXZ7nN6XhNEcBBgFsxwdTGpb9011EqIVYI8yw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8Ss0AeAAQ_aVmrPp2hzuOtWRH-ZgQlZWLh1wqnJcf1e9C51kiahTGbW24OkjCdNuny0awRllhqx6EO4HygfgRRlKpGhjHbAS9WyxebppoWqb3K1L6V40Pi8QUQ5u6m2QPEUnW9tXMXjXGyotTYGv_hqQrF48MrpPNSLWsbrbabOrxpowpChm9c_dfsw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8Ss0AeAAQ_aVmrPp2hzuOtWRH-ZgQlZWLh1wqnJcf1e9C51kiahTGbW24OkjCdNuny0awRllhqx6EO4HygfgRRlKpGhjHbAS9WyxebppoWqb3K1L6V40Pi8QUQ5u6m2QPEUnW9tXMXjXGyotTYGv_hqQrF48MrpPNSLWsbrbabOrxpowpChm9c_dfsw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVwE11aPMg72RZ5Dj2K1F9ZL8k8kwW59wWBibSKN0JhPAFnoJGCnK-Jn8bGfRkhhlCf59Y0i5Tv3fDiF9_wY_pXxG2tFbQpUkiNsTlcpv1SwGNZfc4UFgZWTjm_PyACl_7fvFWaIzLTYpL0mc26_HzOILNHknMtAtNnX1bal5vl2QYVqF5dEDLz3wYZw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVwE11aPMg72RZ5Dj2K1F9ZL8k8kwW59wWBibSKN0JhPAFnoJGCnK-Jn8bGfRkhhlCf59Y0i5Tv3fDiF9_wY_pXxG2tFbQpUkiNsTlcpv1SwGNZfc4UFgZWTjm_PyACl_7fvFWaIzLTYpL0mc26_HzOILNHknMtAtNnX1bal5vl2QYVqF5dEDLz3wYZw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this old patch of snow a little creepy--it looked too much like a melting face to me! It was right over Morning Star Lake as well, so it watched over my campsite all night long!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAmheBd2gSf4mM1hDh1TRpzrlB6gB4EdxgzfBBCTPKA11v7aLgTFiz8tJW-TY0RBwP-a09i8mxb79sYMGwNklQuRNwWNjasWY5VI_-de50vQZDtxHiz4U4hu2jxWDDa1yGcJptaCr7Fh872jlaPWJDC0KkmwfxC4NULRB-FHGucpEu1R6w8Qj0HZAAxQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAmheBd2gSf4mM1hDh1TRpzrlB6gB4EdxgzfBBCTPKA11v7aLgTFiz8tJW-TY0RBwP-a09i8mxb79sYMGwNklQuRNwWNjasWY5VI_-de50vQZDtxHiz4U4hu2jxWDDa1yGcJptaCr7Fh872jlaPWJDC0KkmwfxC4NULRB-FHGucpEu1R6w8Qj0HZAAxQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were designated spots within a campground where you were allowed to prep food. Bringing food into your campsite was <i>not</i> allowed!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com1Two Medicine Campground, East Glacier Park, MT 59434, USA48.491536300000007 -113.36455120.181302463821162 -148.520801 76.801770136178845 -78.208301tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-31502272861639728202022-09-30T05:00:00.210-07:002022-09-30T05:00:00.243-07:00Day 152: The East Glacier Zero!<p><i>September 19</i>: Today would be my first zero day since Debois, WY--36 days ago and two states back. For over a month, I've been hiking the CDT without a break. Some days were shorter than others, but every single day required some amount of hiking. My shortest day of hiking in the last 36 days was a little over 8 miles during one of my days in Yellowstone.</p><p>But today, I would take a zero day. For a couple of reasons. The main one was wanting to pick up my packages at the post office tomorrow, but perhaps a better reason was that the forecast for today was expected to be terrible. Rain, wind and possibly even snow at higher elevations. Not a great day for hiking, and I was perfectly happy to sit it out. However, after today, the weather forecast called for pretty decent weather the rest of the week. Not to mention that hanging out at the hostel only cost me $15/night--this zero day was very affordable.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhelfdQR7-XO_6rOBnqKbT9Oqzf7d9e6GUBa1RZC3NHyLDna0mksbOZCysph5xOIgH-tVDQxKCFNSc0la6M8dP1DCLgueaWhMENWCSTRGY0h5thZL3FZr7Dl1qLDQ3ZNZDJrnG3fbvahzk2dOFfS326ImlgccUDR6YkMxpOeRiW7F88FBb3POaoxAPJpw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhelfdQR7-XO_6rOBnqKbT9Oqzf7d9e6GUBa1RZC3NHyLDna0mksbOZCysph5xOIgH-tVDQxKCFNSc0la6M8dP1DCLgueaWhMENWCSTRGY0h5thZL3FZr7Dl1qLDQ3ZNZDJrnG3fbvahzk2dOFfS326ImlgccUDR6YkMxpOeRiW7F88FBb3POaoxAPJpw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the CDT hikers going through East Glacier signed this page. (PNT hikers coming through also had a small portion in the lower-right corner they could sign, but their numbers are pretty small compared to the number of CDT hikers passing through.</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>I did, however, still have chores to do and the most important of them was getting myself a permit so I could legally hike through Glacier National Park. Just Awesome had a friend he had met on a previous trail, Granite, who had just finished his CDT thru-hike and Granite and Lady Granite planned to catch up with Just Awesome--who also happened to need a permit and arranged things so he could get a ride with them to the permitting office, and further arranged things so I could get a ride as well.</p><p>Which meant I needed to wake up early since Granite, Lady Granite and Just Awesome planned to meet up at 7:00am in time to be first in line for permits when the permitting office opened at 8:00am.</p><p>Just Awesome introduced me to Granite and Lady Granite, and we hopped in the car and were soon on the way to the backcountry ranger office.</p><p>We arrived before they opened, and kicked around waiting. The rain had stopped momentarily, so we waited outside for the doors to open at 8:00am.<br /></p><p>There were two rangers to handle the permits, so Just Awesome and I each got our own ranger. Just Awesome wanted to follow the same path and schedule that Granite just completed, but the pace was a bit slower than I preferred so we arranged separate permits.</p><p>We both were required to watch a video about backcountry safety and the rules of the trail. I had seen it before--or at least something similar to it two years earlier when I hiked through the park when I started the Pacific Northwest Trail so there wasn't anything new or surprising for me.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLyXsf38fBcLe6YbPMijLEVyxKdY2SSlXnPVrIWe-coTasehKLwtxPoq9yqeXvTP_CrNjdj3CMHqjko3C8xeIoUFxsqwYEI8oy6XLS0HNumCFhR2frnQcl9p0XLpXMMLW5mCdRQmEAbBM8-XzI732efflVtTDO1dV4Yj3YVgu1aPhDvVIzZq2A9KlZnw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLyXsf38fBcLe6YbPMijLEVyxKdY2SSlXnPVrIWe-coTasehKLwtxPoq9yqeXvTP_CrNjdj3CMHqjko3C8xeIoUFxsqwYEI8oy6XLS0HNumCFhR2frnQcl9p0XLpXMMLW5mCdRQmEAbBM8-XzI732efflVtTDO1dV4Yj3YVgu1aPhDvVIzZq2A9KlZnw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Just Awesome, watching the video that we were required to watch before we'd be issued our permits.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>We paid for our permits, then the rangers printed them and handed them over.</p><p>I liked my schedule for the most part. It wasn't <i>totally</i> want what I wanted. Tomorrow I'd do a pretty short 11-mile day, but that just meant I could take my time leaving town. And my last full day of hiking would require a long 26-mile stretch. Given how short the days were now, that would be a sunrise-to-sunset hike. I'd have preferred breaking it up into two days, but there weren't any nearby campsites available to do that. I'd live, though.</p><p>On the permit, they had written that the itinerary was not recommended--probably because of that 26-mile day. But the rangers knew were were thru-hikers and 26 miles wasn't a bit deal for us. =)</p><p>In any case, I officially had my permit, and I now knew the precise day I would finish: Friday--five days away. In five days, I'd reach the Canadian border and call it done. In five days, I could finally go home. Just Awesome, with his slower-paced schedule, would finish a couple of days after I did.<br /></p><p>Afterwards, the other three wanted to get breakfast in St. Marys. I wasn't particularly excited about the idea because I had already eaten some cereal before we left East Glacier and wasn't hungry at all--not to mention that the town was in the wrong direction--but I joined along anyhow.</p><p>Upon arriving, however, we learned that the restaurant that they had wanted to go to wouldn't be open for another 1.5 hours. Argh! We looked through the gift shop nearby (which was open) before driving back to East Glacier. The drive was pretty, but it seemed like a huge waste of time overall.</p><p>After making it back to East Glacier, I rushed over to the laundromat to do some laundry. I never quite seemed to have enough time to do it yesterday while they were open, but I had time now. Timing was critical here. The laundromat was next door to Brownie's, and both were scheduled to close for the season <i>today</i>. They were owned by the same people, and the town was shutting down. Neither business would open their doors again until next year.</p><p>And, in fact, they were scheduled to close at 4:00pm. The last load of laundry was allowed an hour before at 3:00pm. If I didn't get my laundry started by 3:00pm, I'd have to wait until next year to do it here!</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2IlJMZYKb6SeCHd5SxGFhCHH0nSCZaBmOgVSCMthISeUlVNRFOIYZXW_QhUKfzGXkaXU_vLwV5TQfaczaxlJ_r1HyLvWXFYGHOOU7xF0vkugvTlcB-2ToJ-oaaVqC3NeMNF-s7lCdbMaS43VxWbkp1SIc8Evhy2W8ZE7RQW_z1Cd0ne3eze9U7-g1Pg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2IlJMZYKb6SeCHd5SxGFhCHH0nSCZaBmOgVSCMthISeUlVNRFOIYZXW_QhUKfzGXkaXU_vLwV5TQfaczaxlJ_r1HyLvWXFYGHOOU7xF0vkugvTlcB-2ToJ-oaaVqC3NeMNF-s7lCdbMaS43VxWbkp1SIc8Evhy2W8ZE7RQW_z1Cd0ne3eze9U7-g1Pg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brownies was scheduled to close for the season at 4:00pm, so anything you wanted to buy, you had to do it now or never! (Or at least not until next year.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>Anyhow, I got my laundry started with plenty of time to spare. I wandered back to Brownie's at 3:30pm to order a late lunch and early dinner. Since it closed at 4:00pm, I really couldn't come back any later!</p><p>I ordered a pizza and a Coke. With only a half-hour left before the store closed for the season, the shelves were mostly empty and a lot of food options were no longer available. Everything must go! Well, the non-perishable items seemed to mostly be in stock, but the perishable items were very limited.</p><p>While paying for my pizza and Coke, the lady behind the counter asked if I wanted one of the pastries for free. Anything they didn't sell in the next half hour was going to get thrown out anyhow. I was happy to help clear the store for her, and offered to take one of the cookies.</p><p>"Sure you don't want two of them?" she asked me.</p><p>"Well... okay..." I replied. "You twisted my arm." =)</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI0VjypaL22cN3MBu3ResHna9n8zGgQdgMqbz1Uoqta4_W5VbrxahGeBOX7x2bSsStX61A1kXLrpYBEE433LvBqUlZZ3rQgzrexV08Eeqou_CnQ6OguD4ZEeEGDZZp7sqs-abBN8JcdC_BGswH0Vfg4-pw2t_vUQxLPQyQQEYUihp6w2TUo2CybFSVrQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI0VjypaL22cN3MBu3ResHna9n8zGgQdgMqbz1Uoqta4_W5VbrxahGeBOX7x2bSsStX61A1kXLrpYBEE433LvBqUlZZ3rQgzrexV08Eeqou_CnQ6OguD4ZEeEGDZZp7sqs-abBN8JcdC_BGswH0Vfg4-pw2t_vUQxLPQyQQEYUihp6w2TUo2CybFSVrQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just Awesome shows off all the empty shelves at Brownies.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>I went outside to wait for the pizza to be ready where Just Awesome was also waiting for his own pizza, and he looked longingly at my cookies. When I told him that I got them for free, he was a bit jealous. He went back into the store hoping to score a cookie for himself.</p><p>He came back out a few minutes with a cookie, but told me that he had to pay for it. I laughed.</p><p>"The trick," I told him, "was that you had to pretend not to be interested. When I didn't ask for or show any interest in the cookies, she tried to foist them off onto me. But you walk in asking about them, and she thinks she can sell them instead."</p><p>At least he enjoyed the cookie, even if he paid for his.</p><p>A short while later, our pizzas were ready and we sat at an outside table to eat them. At 4:00pm, the store closed for the season, and I took a photo of the sign in the window saying as such. There would be no more Brownie's visits while I was in town.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAmYIWl16ucm5kW_yMD6fDtEdEa4cGjlti1faj7P7iCdR6zNVDYCSc1B1Q1JUD-bCJ7VrkWMZIiZVL4eWOvJFHTUuj04VNNTY9Rd0Y0ZlbJTbVLj7LtiCyKcBq_iuv_xPWKg1LYLmakxNswY4L8Yhri8KTXhuZuJ9jU1itbKzQnqiHdGj405g7t9wqwg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAmYIWl16ucm5kW_yMD6fDtEdEa4cGjlti1faj7P7iCdR6zNVDYCSc1B1Q1JUD-bCJ7VrkWMZIiZVL4eWOvJFHTUuj04VNNTY9Rd0Y0ZlbJTbVLj7LtiCyKcBq_iuv_xPWKg1LYLmakxNswY4L8Yhri8KTXhuZuJ9jU1itbKzQnqiHdGj405g7t9wqwg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's official, Brownies was now closed for the season. It happened right before my very eyes!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>The whole town seemed like it was shutting down or soon would be. Many of the businesses already had signs up saying that they were closed for the season, and many of the others that were still operating I heard would be closing within the week. The place was starting to feel like a ghost town.</p><p>Later in the evening, I wandered over to the Glacier Park Lodge, a magnificent and historic building in its own right. I bought a postcard, a patch and a pin for my hat.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv-pWjT-iWxwinQs2nqk6HRVSg_qLRRXAEVIz49Rta3MT-P74FpTwJGDG1fFOq4JSNlGKsvX7yl40gNIOB-Q7zMPhGOCrHELCQyeOvrKCAvn1GnNhTzb6_5OwWZrzTkSOrxME7mnYmSsucXSpFOrcr6VE-ulyPbXtKxFXpmd_x45w9oNWIQi8bPl6zlQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv-pWjT-iWxwinQs2nqk6HRVSg_qLRRXAEVIz49Rta3MT-P74FpTwJGDG1fFOq4JSNlGKsvX7yl40gNIOB-Q7zMPhGOCrHELCQyeOvrKCAvn1GnNhTzb6_5OwWZrzTkSOrxME7mnYmSsucXSpFOrcr6VE-ulyPbXtKxFXpmd_x45w9oNWIQi8bPl6zlQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The interior of the Glacier Park Lodge was magnificent!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The rest of the evening I mostly spent with all the other hikers in the hostel, chatting away and having a great time. Life was good!</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnZN9th2xgx2e1UW5bT28DWUgvSQP58qsrsBIrjYCB1SbVwYEj_H9oU5JwXIkXETfeSlfLbbRtFIqaWKVKXjOdanO0-6quAHMezF-yZ_CPxkEFx0N2xSrh7N5PAUf-PXit-b7pJb5NbCaBe-IUBKdJ2WeYF2Wr9UtsadFXyyT5bxojp-5dg1JjlUrPmA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnZN9th2xgx2e1UW5bT28DWUgvSQP58qsrsBIrjYCB1SbVwYEj_H9oU5JwXIkXETfeSlfLbbRtFIqaWKVKXjOdanO0-6quAHMezF-yZ_CPxkEFx0N2xSrh7N5PAUf-PXit-b7pJb5NbCaBe-IUBKdJ2WeYF2Wr9UtsadFXyyT5bxojp-5dg1JjlUrPmA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although Brownies closed, the one store that was still open and would be all winter is the general store. So no worries, we won't be starving in town! Just that our options were becoming more limited.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0East Glacier Park Village, MT 59434, USA48.446912300000008 -113.223148220.136678463821163 -148.3793982 76.757146136178847 -78.0668982tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-31931109173741078462022-09-28T05:00:00.211-07:002022-09-28T05:00:00.202-07:00Day 151: The Two Medicine Slackpack<p><i>September 18</i>: While looking at maps the evening before and planning out the next section of my hike, I realized that I had an unexpected slackpacking opportunity. From East Glacier to Two Medicine, it was about 10 miles, and permits for Glacier NP could be acquired at Two Medicine. And I realized--I could therefore hike from here to Two Medicine, pick up a permit, then hitch a ride back to town until I could pick up my packages on Monday. It meant I'd only need one zero day instead of two!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFiDmwXvc9lpTTBME7keTqc0R0xxIUh0gbYm-YUNw4IPcvRSpKDNOjR6Vg-SUaOHFw03Gc_MB-T6Q-GcnpixzMuvenyF-GyvcAexk3avVw0otGkCZURybseX6YiVhGsdlT-TaQY4whOQhX1We6Hc7u2tkz_gWPS0O2MGK5nf0UwwAbSPtpXyQGW44s-A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFiDmwXvc9lpTTBME7keTqc0R0xxIUh0gbYm-YUNw4IPcvRSpKDNOjR6Vg-SUaOHFw03Gc_MB-T6Q-GcnpixzMuvenyF-GyvcAexk3avVw0otGkCZURybseX6YiVhGsdlT-TaQY4whOQhX1We6Hc7u2tkz_gWPS0O2MGK5nf0UwwAbSPtpXyQGW44s-A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Even better, tomorrow, Sunday, the weather was expected to be <i>bad</i>. Definitely a good day to take off! Which meant I should slackpack today.</p><p>The one kink in my plan, as I looked up permit information for Glacier, was that permits would be issued only a maximum of one day in advance of starting a trip. Since I didn't plan to start for two days, I couldn't get a permit today. I'd have to wait until tomorrow.</p><p>Well, at least that would give me something to do on Sunday, I suppose. I could hitch a ride to Two Medicine, then hitch a ride back into town. At least I wouldn't be hiking in the bad weather tomorrow.</p><p>I really liked the idea of not taking a zero day today when the weather was... well, the weather had problems, for sure, but rain and snow were not in the forecast. "Dangerously" strong winds, however, were most definitely in the forecast. As well as a heck of a lot of smoke from wildfires burning who-knows-where. But I could live with that.</p><p>So that's why, at about 8:30 in the morning, I found myself back on the trail and hiking. But my pack was very light--I would be returning to town at the end of the day and therefore didn't need much more than snacks to eat and some water. Perhaps a jacket if I got cold.</p><p>As I got above tree line, the wind was <i>bad</i>--perhaps the strongest wind gusts of any day on the trail so far. It knocked me over several times. The smoke was quite thick as well, thick enough to smell it in the air, and definitely enough to obscure otherwise phenomenal views along the way.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjZTXMju4LWn0s-ALJBk2MgCw6zntD1asa71RbsR77KqjS3SvGzk9x6Tu0kEgGdvl5mHiN5jk_J7R86zt-HyaOcc-EJwVzD_tNSdy6z7UskzW-ho6002idJC8_dty4i-964cNSgZR0AdiiwpHxnXZ_8DLkW2H6JvCN0sQpLtQNno6jj8QcqRGk2-yOaA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjZTXMju4LWn0s-ALJBk2MgCw6zntD1asa71RbsR77KqjS3SvGzk9x6Tu0kEgGdvl5mHiN5jk_J7R86zt-HyaOcc-EJwVzD_tNSdy6z7UskzW-ho6002idJC8_dty4i-964cNSgZR0AdiiwpHxnXZ_8DLkW2H6JvCN0sQpLtQNno6jj8QcqRGk2-yOaA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From this photo, you can't see that the wind was strong enough to knock a grown man over, but you can see a lot of the smoke in the sky that just seemed to get worse and worse throughout the morning.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>It was also a fairly rugged day of hiking. Although I covered barely 10 miles for the day, my GPS recorded over 3,000 feet of elevation climb as well as another 3000 feet down. In total amounts, it wasn't much, but given the relatively short distance I covered, it was some of the steepest terrain of the trail. A perfect place to slackpack! =)</p><p>Near the top of one of the ridge lines, I found a credit card laying in the middle of the trail. It was an Amazon card, and surprisingly heavy, as if it were made out of metal instead of the usual plastic that <i>my</i> credit cards were made out of. It seemed like a weird choice for a thru-hiker--I'd imagine that a thru-hiker would prefer a lightweight credit card!</p><p>I didn't recognize the name on the card, but I didn't know the real names of most of the hikers on the trail. It looked like the card had only been out since that afternoon, and I knew Jazz Hands had left shortly ahead of me. Maybe it was his card? I wasn't sure how to contact him, though. In any case, I decided to pick it up and perhaps back at the hostel, someone might recognize the real name. Luna and Will might even recognize the name on the card if they had a record of the payment there. Additionally, almost all thru-hikers return to East Glacier after finishing the trail since it's pretty much required to go through on the way to anywhere else after getting off at the end of the trail. If it belonged to a thru-hiker, they'd probably wind up back in East Glacier within the week. I might be able to get this card back to the owner.</p><p>The first half of the hike, I saw absolutely nobody on the trail, but after passing a side trail to a scenic viewpoint a few miles from the end, I started passing a large number of day hikers from the park. They were climbing up a steep mountain and most of them looked exhausted and out of breath, but I often stopped to chat with them when they stopped to catch their breath as I was passing by.</p><p>One group said they could give me a ride back to East Glacier if I were still trying to hitch when they got back to the trailhead. That made me happy--there was a limit to how long I might have to hitch to get back to town! Probably not more than an hour or two. I hoped to find a ride sooner than that, but it was nice that I had this as a Plan B.</p><p>Eventually I made it down to the trailhead, and it only took me about 15 minutes to get a ride from two women who just finished finished their own hikes.</p><p>Back in town, I finally took a shower. I had arrived late enough the evening before that I never got around to it, but now in the middle of the day, most of the other hikers at the hostel were gone so I made use of the shower while I could.</p><p>Then I headed to Brownie's for lunch, where I ordered a sandwich, potato chips and a Coke.</p><p>Back at the hostel, I met a few of the other hikers there. The place was surprisingly busy with probably 10 or so hikers in all loitering around. Some of them had just finished the trail, reached the end, and were passing through East Glacier a second time, this time as a stopping point on their way home. The others were like me, still hiking toward the Canadian border.</p><p>One of the hikers fresh back from finishing the trail turned out to be from San Luis Obispo--my hometown in California. Wow! Way cool! His name was StormMocker, and he told me about first trying to thru-hike the CDT back in 1977. I couldn't imagine what the planning for something like that must have been like so long ago. Without Guthook, without GPSes, without decent guidebooks and resources to learn about thru-hiking. Of course, the operative word was <i>tried. </i>He didn't actually succeed, but it had been burning a hole in him ever since and he really wanted to finish the trail while he still had the health to do it, and by golly, he finally finished. He finished <i>today!</i> Congrats!<br /></p><p>Later in the evening, I headed out with four hikers to Serranos Mexican Restaurant for dinner: Reality Check, Just Awesome, Click and StormMocker. We got there just as the restaurant opened for the evening and spent the next hour or two eating and chatting and laughing and having a good old time. I really missed people on the trail and was thoroughly enjoying my time with all the other hikers in town! It seemed odd that the trail could feel so empty but the trail towns so busy with other hikers.<br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqFvAtwqgRxuVU9p1H51gREITpU1_MJPHlHiHOo-SuRAdZglvTEN5e-DJvIxqNtruIUJhgqn_IwxVzon7IJzq5r1j_01NKIUTi5jxJ4-NXI3KEjY0_me8RPLrVTPFjIZ-W2OXal-i0jXyAyeqQ20GY8Acuu9iJ5Kf-NMZvraR0pLx3BNCPJbZBX2DHKQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqFvAtwqgRxuVU9p1H51gREITpU1_MJPHlHiHOo-SuRAdZglvTEN5e-DJvIxqNtruIUJhgqn_IwxVzon7IJzq5r1j_01NKIUTi5jxJ4-NXI3KEjY0_me8RPLrVTPFjIZ-W2OXal-i0jXyAyeqQ20GY8Acuu9iJ5Kf-NMZvraR0pLx3BNCPJbZBX2DHKQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reality Check and Just Awesome couldn't sit still long enough for me to get a decent photo in the dark interior of Serranos!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I had already inquired among the other hikers if they recognized the name on the credit card they found, and when we sat down, I joked that they could order anything they wanted--that he hiker who lost their credit card was paying for our meal. I was <i>totally</i> joking--I had no intention of really using it, and they all knew that but laughed anyhow. =) <br /></p><p>Then we headed back to the hostel where we eventually headed off to sleep for the night. Living the good life!</p><p>I did get a lead on the credit card I found, though. Someone said they thought it was a certain hiker with a given trailname, and he was actually hiking with his friend--both of whom were trying to hike the Triple Crown <i>this year</i>. I'm not talking about finishing a Triple Crown this year, but hiking the <i>entire</i> thing in one calendar year. That's the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail--all in a single year. Most people only do one of those trails in a single year, but a precious few want a bigger challenge and attempt to do <i>all three</i> in a single year. It's insane. Even by thru-hiker standards, it's totally insane.</p><p>Anyhow, I hadn't realized that's what he was doing. I met him briefly at my last campsite on the trail when they hiked by me in the dark, and the rumor was that they were planning to finish the CDT within a few days then hop over to the PCT and finish the Washington section of that trail. The rest of the Triple Crown they had already done.</p><p>In any case, I was finally able to find his account on Instagram, and the name on the account matched the one on the credit card. I found him! So I sent him a message to let me know that I found it and asked if he wanted me to throw it away or send it to him. I didn't expect a response quickly--he was in the backcountry probably without a signal. He might not even have realized he was missing his credit card yet, and wouldn't notice it was missing until he finished the trail and tried to pull it out to pay for something.</p><p>So I sent him a message, but I didn't expect an immediate response. I was a bit surprised when he finally did send me a message back a couple of <i>weeks</i> later. I figured he'd finish the trail in a few days and reply then, but it was two or three weeks later when I sent a second follow up message that I planned to throw it away unless I heard back otherwise, and a few days later he finally replied. He was already back on the PCT and had canceled the card and had a replacement sent after realizing he had lost it. So after carrying the card myself for two or three weeks, I finally just threw it away. At least he learned what had happened to it. =)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW1oxUllpbWgV8M5vJAPeb0f-wxZ2mI09EJGb_feAlsilvWj_VwlVBuiXdMTagIfg71iutcCJrElE5CPQ3IGqbJbRLRySV5i1V9CycqQCxzIkz9JUSw1mUWAojDM3Qt0sIWsMm_5jH4l4xmOg5ZFU4kMyrXAxbz8_LfZd2Ze2vMo0NtN7sj2Gjb6mHyw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW1oxUllpbWgV8M5vJAPeb0f-wxZ2mI09EJGb_feAlsilvWj_VwlVBuiXdMTagIfg71iutcCJrElE5CPQ3IGqbJbRLRySV5i1V9CycqQCxzIkz9JUSw1mUWAojDM3Qt0sIWsMm_5jH4l4xmOg5ZFU4kMyrXAxbz8_LfZd2Ze2vMo0NtN7sj2Gjb6mHyw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwUg8yx4NdCQzwZ9LbfDtbjjwjvE7NsjV_vFEUW9-hIUhjMA_vcWdjGlTwGh4SCjcOf4fpPdjgbezHfyjGV3hku27SPTgGKSO_y0n01t5KZF1t0-JN8KGqPAWRZAFUZ63rOSpxzg9hIqa_D9h5ZNh4saET0wjs39Wp4NlV8d77f5WtQq5mhnHmPWW38A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwUg8yx4NdCQzwZ9LbfDtbjjwjvE7NsjV_vFEUW9-hIUhjMA_vcWdjGlTwGh4SCjcOf4fpPdjgbezHfyjGV3hku27SPTgGKSO_y0n01t5KZF1t0-JN8KGqPAWRZAFUZ63rOSpxzg9hIqa_D9h5ZNh4saET0wjs39Wp4NlV8d77f5WtQq5mhnHmPWW38A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8m80_4B9hEgRskDKdC0F_hwupQS2PjhgQ-9CzvcMknhQnJ6U_3IF7b8Rt79uuSYqRNuc6DhYUjYMuJX_0_q258DyJapod3i2HV3GuRYoBQ629HJ4MK9bx6yyEPcM3WKZY3HGtNrGY29O7sYf3_fQrJfpJq10r3KPBsl4cSLvjJRLTtDRVEbcDmzONfw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8m80_4B9hEgRskDKdC0F_hwupQS2PjhgQ-9CzvcMknhQnJ6U_3IF7b8Rt79uuSYqRNuc6DhYUjYMuJX_0_q258DyJapod3i2HV3GuRYoBQ629HJ4MK9bx6yyEPcM3WKZY3HGtNrGY29O7sYf3_fQrJfpJq10r3KPBsl4cSLvjJRLTtDRVEbcDmzONfw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJUWNj656dd2k-PxNUxWZF9CZeyGPwswv4PJ5wYnCyidP5yRWeFKNepKerOpNZmAbzojjoikcwrDMyKnd6iKBlj5FxRewTjsbRfrOfap95PND7wyKUlIYe-uQgNgpA_aSr03gTJnuTkTf8ts_M2Vhj5U3B9N7ppxwKiA-qPF5wSnEvnPIVQuZ19FGP-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJUWNj656dd2k-PxNUxWZF9CZeyGPwswv4PJ5wYnCyidP5yRWeFKNepKerOpNZmAbzojjoikcwrDMyKnd6iKBlj5FxRewTjsbRfrOfap95PND7wyKUlIYe-uQgNgpA_aSr03gTJnuTkTf8ts_M2Vhj5U3B9N7ppxwKiA-qPF5wSnEvnPIVQuZ19FGP-w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmpjDUp4wB5yS0cNaGIFG7vBcGe7wkjEVTRF9YJAnSNGoyQY_tXlYvIJKJL3Nny54QaOF_Zi-G4grKfITLL0yzeRh1xIKoVN2q8u6rfdcTATGcLJRFq_oflfgovFa3ynKWtqiA3Z7Z6DLl61vgb_FqXStr146u2hqN6kQw5pNYZhdvvp1xRdAenmIlXQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmpjDUp4wB5yS0cNaGIFG7vBcGe7wkjEVTRF9YJAnSNGoyQY_tXlYvIJKJL3Nny54QaOF_Zi-G4grKfITLL0yzeRh1xIKoVN2q8u6rfdcTATGcLJRFq_oflfgovFa3ynKWtqiA3Z7Z6DLl61vgb_FqXStr146u2hqN6kQw5pNYZhdvvp1xRdAenmIlXQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views were awesome, but I imagined they would have been even more awesome if not for all the smoke in the air!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkZIosGENRK4fLk7rwKVkmwBGBIxy8kZRG7wA3Gx5IN4ju_xzQ7I2eM5UGmOgVZ6pXMX0BtfOPjvPPVXyzHs316H_ufqlKfuSnHXiDnFjSCLWXIqOMPg-daQGCVNT_efOxdglZe6kVKYnurrbZJg8AvJCIsf4jeV89i6QRdSzUarbMBSe5-IFDyCG48Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkZIosGENRK4fLk7rwKVkmwBGBIxy8kZRG7wA3Gx5IN4ju_xzQ7I2eM5UGmOgVZ6pXMX0BtfOPjvPPVXyzHs316H_ufqlKfuSnHXiDnFjSCLWXIqOMPg-daQGCVNT_efOxdglZe6kVKYnurrbZJg8AvJCIsf4jeV89i6QRdSzUarbMBSe5-IFDyCG48Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDsnwOLXOCO1DJrT2A3mZCE9R8qR9YvFbJ_m1EE2GYPTNeRi2X-VmlxQkuoUq_81i_PZKfvPwWAH5itnThQzCSuV1OUEzHWQN2L3RACzuDHRvWakQ9pAwa33-y1BzOr3y1dUSf83JHWmPAp3YcLy8M4Apvka8EgUgKwtIPt12oOMjkO8xdHzBS6iZDtQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDsnwOLXOCO1DJrT2A3mZCE9R8qR9YvFbJ_m1EE2GYPTNeRi2X-VmlxQkuoUq_81i_PZKfvPwWAH5itnThQzCSuV1OUEzHWQN2L3RACzuDHRvWakQ9pAwa33-y1BzOr3y1dUSf83JHWmPAp3YcLy8M4Apvka8EgUgKwtIPt12oOMjkO8xdHzBS6iZDtQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6zc4tAqriIOjM-0OytORkyb6ywBLtvuzZoh38ptVlLLi4dXdSPOSL6QPqptgfadtJezef-NsH3n9Bn_f4b1-OPZbEyxPiWS1UOrWGx3FWAi3Ic0nBS3bHKPQbylUQhpj3Wabk6HBEncsXDDQnRrrhjnRs7bso5modsbTpywj4H_b1vOSeQ6I2LuBTIw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6zc4tAqriIOjM-0OytORkyb6ywBLtvuzZoh38ptVlLLi4dXdSPOSL6QPqptgfadtJezef-NsH3n9Bn_f4b1-OPZbEyxPiWS1UOrWGx3FWAi3Ic0nBS3bHKPQbylUQhpj3Wabk6HBEncsXDDQnRrrhjnRs7bso5modsbTpywj4H_b1vOSeQ6I2LuBTIw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi18mjw0_YFdpdqUCrwVf1uYEYPu9nbHgqrTtD2idUjtRBp1QCr6YkfXMBaHLbJi2CJqibTW7fwn7gUAd8Yikp3A6OsFn0Lz-90tWl5EBjQK2UbAZQhw8uGbpE9BmEy34WOGcFArCom29XpCr4lBgYn0ZyZ0LFHvnQXBUGA-V-RNm6MnFS3q2gpX1a2KA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi18mjw0_YFdpdqUCrwVf1uYEYPu9nbHgqrTtD2idUjtRBp1QCr6YkfXMBaHLbJi2CJqibTW7fwn7gUAd8Yikp3A6OsFn0Lz-90tWl5EBjQK2UbAZQhw8uGbpE9BmEy34WOGcFArCom29XpCr4lBgYn0ZyZ0LFHvnQXBUGA-V-RNm6MnFS3q2gpX1a2KA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My ending point for the day was somewhere near the bottom of that lake in the distance.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsWuH79s_Ix6gwNZ89yK3gL_YVTq1__6FGq2qv7YkXt6IRg-gETaopfgjnuWjsXSIt8CZIeymZgd1tGrY-ecvrfSPQAUpJuw_Gt2xKsPilkESOzAFfynisHmCs4yPQQ-ilMMT6pJ1nWm9yDjYtIXyAWElKr9srvUWm90ITDqy-A-WHmSTS_ezN6Dw9zQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsWuH79s_Ix6gwNZ89yK3gL_YVTq1__6FGq2qv7YkXt6IRg-gETaopfgjnuWjsXSIt8CZIeymZgd1tGrY-ecvrfSPQAUpJuw_Gt2xKsPilkESOzAFfynisHmCs4yPQQ-ilMMT6pJ1nWm9yDjYtIXyAWElKr9srvUWm90ITDqy-A-WHmSTS_ezN6Dw9zQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-brctMdeiLTzm6Rvz3j1swbg1FKgmR6l1tb85yCI5TVGUSKLtmsc5x4IJ2paxBwF3X_mXeGM9eN5zBqvXlxahXY15GTyNfDSIO9LVj3lo_CJa2m6wyG7QMqN0uOllZsNFUTxNG0rwluqJdA74YKC_IkeZSvw9Z5sI7SfPCk1s5A4zUjSudAJ3uUrhvQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-brctMdeiLTzm6Rvz3j1swbg1FKgmR6l1tb85yCI5TVGUSKLtmsc5x4IJ2paxBwF3X_mXeGM9eN5zBqvXlxahXY15GTyNfDSIO9LVj3lo_CJa2m6wyG7QMqN0uOllZsNFUTxNG0rwluqJdA74YKC_IkeZSvw9Z5sI7SfPCk1s5A4zUjSudAJ3uUrhvQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmdFqGTzXyW9jAAixh-a_SFew_Tfemo8LiTCXaqb6286teVlu05qTppcejBKge5o-D85uQapMhwO9RDxZ6FrBk9sOi4zylYDiZLna8B1-Kr2p6EeFAXmmiG9S1cYAOgXakTyrkXM3Fz1GuzpD9DMDA0CmBXRN1M9ZA4ihnroAP60vffPv01GCVtoofOw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmdFqGTzXyW9jAAixh-a_SFew_Tfemo8LiTCXaqb6286teVlu05qTppcejBKge5o-D85uQapMhwO9RDxZ6FrBk9sOi4zylYDiZLna8B1-Kr2p6EeFAXmmiG9S1cYAOgXakTyrkXM3Fz1GuzpD9DMDA0CmBXRN1M9ZA4ihnroAP60vffPv01GCVtoofOw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys walked up to me like they expected me to feed them. They had definitely picked up some <i>bad</i> habits from earlier hikers!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgW-l7visLnrSLMCYVpB22ENgf_8gVYe-dhKrw7qL1pEfT5HQeiRnWFhpaT9IqP86HKmk7km4vIt-oXi2kmxAG6qufnw3mP7bmY1nG3HMg5v6dV4d2yIRQYI7zktqK4nG4wges5tgaS12jvq-zqFR4o9KH88hkzy9A8W71cWSRpQYiyHNXRROJXp54Cg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgW-l7visLnrSLMCYVpB22ENgf_8gVYe-dhKrw7qL1pEfT5HQeiRnWFhpaT9IqP86HKmk7km4vIt-oXi2kmxAG6qufnw3mP7bmY1nG3HMg5v6dV4d2yIRQYI7zktqK4nG4wges5tgaS12jvq-zqFR4o9KH88hkzy9A8W71cWSRpQYiyHNXRROJXp54Cg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Two Medicine ranger station where I could get a permit to hike through Glacier NP, but since I didn't plan to camp until two nights later, I couldn't pick up a permit until tomorrow. I will return!!!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0East Glacier Park Village, MT 59434, USA48.446912300000008 -113.223148220.136678463821163 -148.3793982 76.757146136178847 -78.0668982tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-89687901179564231522022-09-26T05:00:00.242-07:002022-09-26T05:00:00.220-07:00Day 150: The East Glacier Run<p><i>September 17</i>: It was another bitterly cold morning. My water bottles partially froze and frost covered everything. I <i>so</i> did not want to get up this morning! Or rather, I very much did not want to leave the confines of my sleeping bag.</p><p>The sunrise, however, turned out gorgeous. I eventually pulled myself up and ate breakfast and brushed my teeth afterwards, but I skipped flossing them like I usually did. My fingers were so cold and numb, I just couldn't work the floss. My fingers just didn't have the necessary dexterity. Argh! Stupid cold. I really needed to get this trail done.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQogjkEDozPyb5Oq6ImKAFolOXeBHcrFVrObQVqLNlRw43dPVWV2f0mtsZeivbgx-QJZANMXeuvH7OhnXie-TjgHNkDsMoYnYvDylCh_3UR25H-xoM_k20KKnJgO8PUO3Cl1A3kq2LeOyDGt-8V6zc3BUDUwwdpkXfGjvsmt-iB66Uv3vOxakgmhyChA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQogjkEDozPyb5Oq6ImKAFolOXeBHcrFVrObQVqLNlRw43dPVWV2f0mtsZeivbgx-QJZANMXeuvH7OhnXie-TjgHNkDsMoYnYvDylCh_3UR25H-xoM_k20KKnJgO8PUO3Cl1A3kq2LeOyDGt-8V6zc3BUDUwwdpkXfGjvsmt-iB66Uv3vOxakgmhyChA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunrise was gorgeous! Cold, but gorgeous!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I managed to get on the trail and hiking at 7:47am according to my clock. A quick and steady walk helped warm me up a bit, but it was still a cold morning and I wore my fleece jacket for the first part of the day.</p><p>The trail largely followed parallel to a creek, but it crossed the creek about a dozen times in total. I didn't count them all, but none of them had bridges and comments on Guthook reported some fairly harrowing crossings at times by the southbound hikers. However, a few of the northbound thru-hikers with more recent reports said that the water level was low enough that it was possible to rock hop across every single crossing without getting one's feet wet. Given how cold it was, that sounded like a swell idea to me!</p><p>Some of the crossings were a bit of a challenge or required navigating up or downstream to find a suitable place to cross, the I did manage to cross them all without ever getting my feet wet. Sweet!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXqz7uNkGlBZaIjyJHymNIkqombItYopIvgnB7ttJFESYs6br0GTeQyO3H3xtQ6oPV3VSS_0ZhZZV-ETw5U4UeIbXmd997lDfWUx8g-VWB-peKkzhJQRRZB12bt7s3-7U8HibIbRpMFA9qVepaYuORtHafBuQPWImgiTEsV3o7t0HG5PCqavZaFHa1UQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXqz7uNkGlBZaIjyJHymNIkqombItYopIvgnB7ttJFESYs6br0GTeQyO3H3xtQ6oPV3VSS_0ZhZZV-ETw5U4UeIbXmd997lDfWUx8g-VWB-peKkzhJQRRZB12bt7s3-7U8HibIbRpMFA9qVepaYuORtHafBuQPWImgiTEsV3o7t0HG5PCqavZaFHa1UQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many water crossings, but I managed to keep my feet dry! Whew! =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Early in the afternoon, I reached a campground at Highway 2. Originally, my plan had been to stop here, or at least somewhere nearby, and camp for the night. Just across the highway on the other side of Marias Pass lay the promised land: Glacier National Park. I did not, however, have a permit that allowed me to legally camp in the park. Not yet, at least.<p></p><p>The trail, on its way to East Glacier, eventually leaves the park and enters the Blackfoot reservation--which one also needs a permit to camp in. (I'll make a note here that I <i>thought</i> you needed a permit to camp in the reservation, but I later learned that you actually need a permit to hike <i>through</i> their reservation as well. I didn't know about that at the time, though. So while I refer to needing a permit to camp, I completely ignore the fact that I needed a permit to hike through--but only because I didn't realize it at the time.)</p><p>Which meant.... the next legal place where I knew I could camp was actually in the town of East Glacier itself. That was quite a distance away, however, and it was only Friday in any case. If I made it into town today, I'd have to take a double-zero to wait for the post office to open on Monday.</p><p>On the other hand, I really didn't really feel like stopping so early in the day. Eventually, I decided to push onward and hoped I'd reach town before dark and hope I could find cheap accommodations. If I didn't make it before dark, I guess I'd have to stealth camp illegally. Somewhere to be determined. I hoped it wouldn't come to that, however.</p><p>I did stop for a lunch break at the Summit Campground, however, used the outhouses and checked out the impressive obelisk marking the pass. Then I crossed Highway 2 and a railroad--the railroad actually predates the highway over this pass. The pass was discovered by the white men when explorers were looking for a route to get the railroad through the Rocky Mountains in this area.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRHWHQUL-PoAhVNiYPSj-4fhXt5WWOocFrNpMU3bBN1ejN_gnKnlzDxzQ-ln2EhDJ387zmuxM1svIb1cAaT_HZoCUbITKOA01ud62490OyaKVxn2S2ZMynvJVWltbJC6rNw1wVzcAASK3iD_uYBDQvypsM6D8yX4Q1X9X8h28PETYGAor5zD5L44t0uA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRHWHQUL-PoAhVNiYPSj-4fhXt5WWOocFrNpMU3bBN1ejN_gnKnlzDxzQ-ln2EhDJ387zmuxM1svIb1cAaT_HZoCUbITKOA01ud62490OyaKVxn2S2ZMynvJVWltbJC6rNw1wVzcAASK3iD_uYBDQvypsM6D8yX4Q1X9X8h28PETYGAor5zD5L44t0uA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The obelisk at Marias Pass<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>And just passed the railroad, I officially entered Glacier National Park. I couldn't help but smile at finally being in the park. The CDT <i>ends</i> in Glacier National Park! This was the last stretch of trail! I still had the entire park to go through before I reached the end, but still... the end never felt so close. I had sewed a patch of Glacier National Park on my hat--it was my destination the entire time. And finally, I was here! It was a sweet, sweet feeling of success. =)</p><p>I had only been in the park for about 3 minutes when I came across a moose standing on the trail. Wow! How cool! It's like he came out especially to greet me for my grand arrival!</p><p>I watched him for a bit, and he watched me, but eventually I grew bored of the watching and shooed him off and continued the hike.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV0Gx4BPPC7hpc9VBWN89TwzR7NbOv1XOcuUisd-o2J_FyXyTZ2sWQSGmSR0AWOlSXOw6holaFhyRHoqFsXY52UWJeQFeGmYShQdVVV8oyzuyrfME2qf590zxHNrV-EtOM7D1HF3eVlXBuyg-4jBUDzT0LDKvqoMYm2Pd3zBti0wQ9_veNclYb8Pt5BQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV0Gx4BPPC7hpc9VBWN89TwzR7NbOv1XOcuUisd-o2J_FyXyTZ2sWQSGmSR0AWOlSXOw6holaFhyRHoqFsXY52UWJeQFeGmYShQdVVV8oyzuyrfME2qf590zxHNrV-EtOM7D1HF3eVlXBuyg-4jBUDzT0LDKvqoMYm2Pd3zBti0wQ9_veNclYb8Pt5BQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This moose greeted me on my entrance to Glacier NP.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The weather forecast for the afternoon included an advisory about "dangerously high winds." The wind did, indeed, pick up strongly about the time I entered the park. I wouldn't say that they seemed especially dangerous, although even a light wind could blow down an occasional tree. That's always a risk. The bigger problem I had with the wind was the wind chill. Even in the sun, the air felt <i>cold</i> and the wind chill even worse! The entire day was just plain cold.</p><p>A couple of hours in, I took a short snack break during which Reality Check rounded the curve and caught up with me. I last saw her way back in Rawlins, WY, which seemed like a lifetime ago. We chatted for a few minutes, catching up with each other's adventures. She mentioned having reserved a cabin in East Glacier for $50/night or something, and I asked if I could sleep on the floor or something if I couldn't find my own accommodations in town and split the cost. She didn't have a problem with this, and I felt much better having a definite place where I could stay for the night without breaking any laws. =) But my plan was to find other accommodation and let Reality Check have her cabin all to herself.</p><p>She pushed onward, and I finished my snacks and followed a short time later. Reality Check hiked a lot faster than I did so I had no expectation that I'd see her again until after arriving in East Glacier.</p><p>I passed a couple of weekend backpackers heading in the other direction, but otherwise the trail was empty. Late in the day, I crossed into the Blackfoot reservation--at this point hiking illegally since I didn't have a permit but still oblivious to the fact thinking that I only needed a permit if I camped there.</p><p>In the reservation, I noticed a <i>lot </i>of bear poop. Not just a big pile of it, but it seemed like bear poop was <i>everywhere!</i> I must have passed dozens of separate poops the last couple of miles into town. I definitely did not want to camp anywhere near this area. My gut feeling was that the bears were particularly thick here because they'd try to go into town and score food in trash cans or on the street. I suspected these bears weren't especially fearful of people given the close proximity to town. And there were likely <i>grizzly</i> bears included in the bunch. Nope, I definitely had no intention of camping in this area after seeing all that bear poop.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0t8cU-g00_GVbbmmom-gs6SaWrCozeBxzrxLtiqhj5PQQ1VvztX9wd8wbTsCywIw4hR9zDyi7w8PgI06VK_8RTSx0l6oV0ZXHJmjxmjSDtQr2rJPjV9EpdjXbHNbfieVWCipD4MJdMEuUB_QPlCfBrF5oV3ExpVL0MZ82Rm3W6FM5RKuHQplkyzz28A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0t8cU-g00_GVbbmmom-gs6SaWrCozeBxzrxLtiqhj5PQQ1VvztX9wd8wbTsCywIw4hR9zDyi7w8PgI06VK_8RTSx0l6oV0ZXHJmjxmjSDtQr2rJPjV9EpdjXbHNbfieVWCipD4MJdMEuUB_QPlCfBrF5oV3ExpVL0MZ82Rm3W6FM5RKuHQplkyzz28A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much bear poop on the way into East Glacier. It was everywhere!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I reached town very close to sunset and headed out to the Looking Glass. It used to be a restaurant but turned into a hostel this hiking season and hikers could camp <i>inside</i> the old restaurant for a mere $15/night. It was easy enough to fit a dozen or more hikers as well. Plenty of room for everyone!</p><p>So that's what I wound up doing. And since the post office didn't open until Monday and I therefore had two more nights that I wanted to stay in town, the low-low price of $15/night was absolutely awesome. Safe from the elements! Safe from the cold! An enormous, industrial kitchen to cook! It was a pretty nice setup.</p><p>The owners, Luna and Will, were incredibly friendly and welcoming and shared all sorts of interesting stories about the hikers who came through behind us. They seemed to really enjoy their hiker clientele as well. I had arrived so late, however, that I didn't spend much time chatting with them this evening. I'd definitely get to know them better over the next few days, though! =)</p><p>In hindsight, I realized that if I hitched a ride from Marias Pass into town, I could have arrived in time to pick up my laptop from the post office. Argh! That would have been an awesome choice as well! I could have hitched a ride back tomorrow then slackpacked the distance from Marias Pass into East Glacier. Now I was stuck in town for two zeros days without a laptop. *sigh* So I was a little disappointed for not thinking of that alternative option earlier.<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAtkyNaCI7wptn2SX_5IX7NyTccOC2tIYPD_8HLEvrEVFCugU9W7O02JJwIcpFTygsrYX-Kgi2OF3_lvW2ZR7MqHAeIvRs6IW3gm0uaG1MwUjBH3V21UtLj49qzDNvEaAisQJLZTlrurbovA7fPRxCxugMTP7syYEgx54ekFnNSikftvD5VRk0_LIDxQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAtkyNaCI7wptn2SX_5IX7NyTccOC2tIYPD_8HLEvrEVFCugU9W7O02JJwIcpFTygsrYX-Kgi2OF3_lvW2ZR7MqHAeIvRs6IW3gm0uaG1MwUjBH3V21UtLj49qzDNvEaAisQJLZTlrurbovA7fPRxCxugMTP7syYEgx54ekFnNSikftvD5VRk0_LIDxQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My home for the night... actually, the next few nights.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK39PhHZUHzo8CmBNsUOqRghPebFMrVsohgeH_iU6r4OR3WU3iJa-wcKUVz8u58ysSIS6OF_sSF0sJUpLTkWHNF8mOHMbpgsAeovI-YczVb2aDqkXpmeYQXimbZ8LNYbgYlI4rJf1iv-4Kl45Yvs_uKAA0ZjSmghm7aFwKTygpBwTlujNVsh3D7p93GQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK39PhHZUHzo8CmBNsUOqRghPebFMrVsohgeH_iU6r4OR3WU3iJa-wcKUVz8u58ysSIS6OF_sSF0sJUpLTkWHNF8mOHMbpgsAeovI-YczVb2aDqkXpmeYQXimbZ8LNYbgYlI4rJf1iv-4Kl45Yvs_uKAA0ZjSmghm7aFwKTygpBwTlujNVsh3D7p93GQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG6JHBytsOQ-fk8VQgSOYYPct6W7RdhWFpWAY1erbzKAK7AjiiooUy6Awk6y-TIcUcgOpxnJtKCd2tqwwaq3sySpe7SGnpDOw75wMDIxV4U7oBvdf3rgz-0fXIyPX3kOs3vMmEhp3HZODDVbq_Pj4KogCPSxDWCE6B7_BboKCSVVpYFdKvXA7nzcctQQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG6JHBytsOQ-fk8VQgSOYYPct6W7RdhWFpWAY1erbzKAK7AjiiooUy6Awk6y-TIcUcgOpxnJtKCd2tqwwaq3sySpe7SGnpDOw75wMDIxV4U7oBvdf3rgz-0fXIyPX3kOs3vMmEhp3HZODDVbq_Pj4KogCPSxDWCE6B7_BboKCSVVpYFdKvXA7nzcctQQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXp9c1jC_0d0WiodduXSSNeTXHwXoT2yG3p91hn4EmmEASKeTd7nnLp6jsdZKYgNV2tJ-e9ab4wT95v-n8XhVft8NpABfBO8lUCYld36hPd-adfDHziEqJY4z6-4r2U7bRqxJemda33-GwvbMr_ajFL3K5IECoVTALZbP4YEs21tPpLGon4oBQAhYSaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXp9c1jC_0d0WiodduXSSNeTXHwXoT2yG3p91hn4EmmEASKeTd7nnLp6jsdZKYgNV2tJ-e9ab4wT95v-n8XhVft8NpABfBO8lUCYld36hPd-adfDHziEqJY4z6-4r2U7bRqxJemda33-GwvbMr_ajFL3K5IECoVTALZbP4YEs21tPpLGon4oBQAhYSaA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc_qVumzrDunOG5gp7U4MLrSEHZ1aPYxgpQVI9BtdmvXtGRlG3ROBAUeh04M6F_5tJXpOp7NZLKRQi_liCVnzlmrXnXjnNN-I1peu8CaXLmWOeFBIZFle_-ywBHJ-CgBp_tLlglI9dAILBhlojDoc9vnB-FPfdWqg-DarEdOMTOyGm1gQYUwhA3_Q-cQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc_qVumzrDunOG5gp7U4MLrSEHZ1aPYxgpQVI9BtdmvXtGRlG3ROBAUeh04M6F_5tJXpOp7NZLKRQi_liCVnzlmrXnXjnNN-I1peu8CaXLmWOeFBIZFle_-ywBHJ-CgBp_tLlglI9dAILBhlojDoc9vnB-FPfdWqg-DarEdOMTOyGm1gQYUwhA3_Q-cQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a short lunch break at a campsite at Summit Campground, just off Highway 2.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBwGQ5_3b6MOL72XsWRV9JfC5isuDR1coCP2hKvw5BEWyE3gqV9H7MDuGS8EhxIproc4tf9ps3RKyeC1DZE3ddqhdPxT33ssOFBWeYIfeHa9SLH34eI8tbS2m_yKAz3GZixWHtCnh26pH313NxpKngI9dtkc0_gXMclMKK_1QjU39UWnEfnB5P4QgDUQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBwGQ5_3b6MOL72XsWRV9JfC5isuDR1coCP2hKvw5BEWyE3gqV9H7MDuGS8EhxIproc4tf9ps3RKyeC1DZE3ddqhdPxT33ssOFBWeYIfeHa9SLH34eI8tbS2m_yKAz3GZixWHtCnh26pH313NxpKngI9dtkc0_gXMclMKK_1QjU39UWnEfnB5P4QgDUQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the last railroad tracks of the trail....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkFnL1unjD2lhwSTtTvTHB3IfsnrR0498QzKtf9P22AGZuXBFNLMEnpx4C_8mAEaUIdhzf4VfnpaeWqTqqTUwmeFOi-NTQw-zgXLUku-ynJ4uy5MwG4FxqiKQtd5pAYCjNK4FFKpaxxCu6lvRuzvHKE03J1aadZZWyvrRnW-v9Dq_Qbl0ajglcvADsuA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkFnL1unjD2lhwSTtTvTHB3IfsnrR0498QzKtf9P22AGZuXBFNLMEnpx4C_8mAEaUIdhzf4VfnpaeWqTqqTUwmeFOi-NTQw-zgXLUku-ynJ4uy5MwG4FxqiKQtd5pAYCjNK4FFKpaxxCu6lvRuzvHKE03J1aadZZWyvrRnW-v9Dq_Qbl0ajglcvADsuA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess you don't have to register here unless you come in the winter?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_OnPNAzhJoeYQpySfsX7ebDpQgKPgTVCnqlCuR4CDbj0WwZGhmvuXfnFgbvFxMKxEqGLWBk80N-VaxIGTV4Zkhv7TXhhSy2sB16XpliouafCduyZzySGZfcWbNmZW4zlHQZBaCe64awnXUW7mM-EfSSmqGcBqXYMN7Hm6Bm8BtLj7ZPGu4eRese_YFg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_OnPNAzhJoeYQpySfsX7ebDpQgKPgTVCnqlCuR4CDbj0WwZGhmvuXfnFgbvFxMKxEqGLWBk80N-VaxIGTV4Zkhv7TXhhSy2sB16XpliouafCduyZzySGZfcWbNmZW4zlHQZBaCe64awnXUW7mM-EfSSmqGcBqXYMN7Hm6Bm8BtLj7ZPGu4eRese_YFg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello, Glacier NP!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI5N1Dg9I5hCV7mNaDYc1t2lrv2OTnMQYltEgmKRV8stj0xs_b-9cUjBDZJjlcvQJJ1RS_gtJYFMED-olamrYNAIbeJ7bHdARUSspTs53896mS4eMmvMV5vP4formjbiFdC7lQZovE4W7oQdccUX0SJuchAsF_RPfJtpjX_fg8aLOok01UE_ADTy65Kg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI5N1Dg9I5hCV7mNaDYc1t2lrv2OTnMQYltEgmKRV8stj0xs_b-9cUjBDZJjlcvQJJ1RS_gtJYFMED-olamrYNAIbeJ7bHdARUSspTs53896mS4eMmvMV5vP4formjbiFdC7lQZovE4W7oQdccUX0SJuchAsF_RPfJtpjX_fg8aLOok01UE_ADTy65Kg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSQi4a63ZbcKdQ-GB8lotjocqMgnpoA_bHCbArc9lyC61eYf-3AISn2_Bbx0urfaxCw1uucbX7B5IvJwPPao1b4EPBDsbwzuLvgGQxidbFLSOc0FXLpskbUElOCCJkpE5U3axKZ5NWUw4XxekZWl8BRp2alWrddKus-mf7WWJs7RIAD16YiBAhimuvBA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSQi4a63ZbcKdQ-GB8lotjocqMgnpoA_bHCbArc9lyC61eYf-3AISn2_Bbx0urfaxCw1uucbX7B5IvJwPPao1b4EPBDsbwzuLvgGQxidbFLSOc0FXLpskbUElOCCJkpE5U3axKZ5NWUw4XxekZWl8BRp2alWrddKus-mf7WWJs7RIAD16YiBAhimuvBA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQGy8bGXojBwp9Zy1XuxtJAxuq5JMTTjCMAPot1m5_Of8s4fx4I0gsljZu3E4dGhDk3CWVeVujec1fXa7Yy-IM2tTkO5hoc4KxS80vHgsmZga_v-kRYAa8qaz_Y1EcwL4-oUaV4qSBqT7RjF_-egDJtIMMxUclRERv3H969lJh1PNsMFSZ1wF6t77LWQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQGy8bGXojBwp9Zy1XuxtJAxuq5JMTTjCMAPot1m5_Of8s4fx4I0gsljZu3E4dGhDk3CWVeVujec1fXa7Yy-IM2tTkO5hoc4KxS80vHgsmZga_v-kRYAa8qaz_Y1EcwL4-oUaV4qSBqT7RjF_-egDJtIMMxUclRERv3H969lJh1PNsMFSZ1wF6t77LWQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7o2NXqVsFiUhtg2hdZSc2dWaxWvFCsqkPwMU0J0gvOJGCl7GtJlPgoY7jDQMxOWzm8xxGZMXQ-Zg9fn57BSU5gaZzmoV1m2XdAP5R8G6QU1wKB8-MQfoqyBDijRc-90Jb6stxBBuNbjniO2opUG0jempfya-4VYF-1B2Hnuyz5LziocTMv2oE2ySsKA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7o2NXqVsFiUhtg2hdZSc2dWaxWvFCsqkPwMU0J0gvOJGCl7GtJlPgoY7jDQMxOWzm8xxGZMXQ-Zg9fn57BSU5gaZzmoV1m2XdAP5R8G6QU1wKB8-MQfoqyBDijRc-90Jb6stxBBuNbjniO2opUG0jempfya-4VYF-1B2Hnuyz5LziocTMv2oE2ySsKA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmUQ2Sn7ZHbQbGnwI0J3OUswplaVrLJe_e68qj2X1N1VcMVjXswxjXSKS3HxMesNgcCwJPjhY2SFy8ddwTG3qY0LilsDmDir4tVy0XFsaVvYJV8u1LO6OsHAv13N5Mu617bR_zJ92NDt-nt5qh1yKAPJbcfEaY1fGRYIUG9VprazSFr95PCAsc4QP9cQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmUQ2Sn7ZHbQbGnwI0J3OUswplaVrLJe_e68qj2X1N1VcMVjXswxjXSKS3HxMesNgcCwJPjhY2SFy8ddwTG3qY0LilsDmDir4tVy0XFsaVvYJV8u1LO6OsHAv13N5Mu617bR_zJ92NDt-nt5qh1yKAPJbcfEaY1fGRYIUG9VprazSFr95PCAsc4QP9cQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I left a few leaf people faces on the trail for those behind me to enjoy. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAf7UZrlc6F6BOe16JPaUBfBKV2KX5nOv9edcotucGuQF9LrgS8m_zbdXGAOJSElA3ZwfYQCXWoxNJcInoKTyBbsITGqrNAsA6bCePC8W8vcDFMhY7MoozW0rMCu6XDiEWrNRklVP2Pw8wd1R3u-TPHh2i7PATtJmcS39KWX66nTl8qWx0fSWrWXONRw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAf7UZrlc6F6BOe16JPaUBfBKV2KX5nOv9edcotucGuQF9LrgS8m_zbdXGAOJSElA3ZwfYQCXWoxNJcInoKTyBbsITGqrNAsA6bCePC8W8vcDFMhY7MoozW0rMCu6XDiEWrNRklVP2Pw8wd1R3u-TPHh2i7PATtJmcS39KWX66nTl8qWx0fSWrWXONRw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I suppose it is an open range....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0East Glacier Park Village, MT 59434, USA48.446912300000008 -113.223148220.136678463821163 -148.3793982 76.757146136178847 -78.0668982tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-11025186225731278192022-09-23T05:00:00.102-07:002022-09-23T05:00:00.219-07:00Day 149: Music on the Trail<p><i>September 16</i>: The wind finally died down during the night, and except for the lightest of sprinkles that lasted a few minutes, rain turned out not to be an issue either.</p><p>But the morning was bitterly, bitterly cold. I was surprised, however, when I looked out from under my tarp and saw actual snowflakes falling! It was snowing! It was <i>very</i> light and short in duration, but they were honest-to-goodness snowflakes! Absolutely none of it stuck so it wouldn't be a problem, but it was definitely a reminder that the seasons were changing and I really needed to get this trail done--and the sooner, the better.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidRGlQnd1hzBcjq21HATVY2vMbnDmmZJOD7Wm_N9KkDOd-H-ZHEGivzzByVDOcnTZ2s5KoyL1yt9lDW94lLlFJy3YcpzAfEPHY0QELNRHyURAAGU8ENDvKjTkNPoyz-QrgZsb6AxcZLeuaH8KGZf8f3Y4te9x2EbQx8xGzv1N7ftHxx_Ehl6ujxAJXfA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidRGlQnd1hzBcjq21HATVY2vMbnDmmZJOD7Wm_N9KkDOd-H-ZHEGivzzByVDOcnTZ2s5KoyL1yt9lDW94lLlFJy3YcpzAfEPHY0QELNRHyURAAGU8ENDvKjTkNPoyz-QrgZsb6AxcZLeuaH8KGZf8f3Y4te9x2EbQx8xGzv1N7ftHxx_Ehl6ujxAJXfA=s16000" /></a></div><br />Knowing all the hunters prowling around the area, I decided to play music on my smartphone out loud for most of the day. Let them know I'm coming and hopefully none of them would mistake me for an elk and start shooting. If it warned a grizzly bear that I was rounding a corner, that was a perk too. No reason to scare a bear by accident! But mostly, I wanted to make sure the hunters nearby knew it was a person walking down the trail. My pack was bright with colors--which, in fact, was the main reason I always sewed my packs with bright colors--but that was the only gear I really had that stuck out to say, "Hey, don't shoot! I'm a hiker!"<p></p><p>But I wound up never seeing any hunters at all on the trail the entire day. In fact, I saw absolutely nobody the entire day. Since hunting season started yesterday, I theorized that I saw so many hunters because they were all heading into the backcountry all at once, but now they were already <i>in</i> the backcountry and probably hiding, waiting for their shot at an elk.</p><p>I did pass one campsite with a few horses nearby which I assumed belonged to a hunting party, but the campsite was empty of people. They were definitely around somewhere....</p><p>The day was a largely easy day of hiking. The burn areas were ugly, but at least they provided nice views. Not much to report, really--so I played my music aloud all day long and enjoyed the walk.</p><p>By the end of the day, I decided to set up camp need Woods Creek--away from burned trees. There was a single living tree nearby, and the ground was flat (albeit a little rocky for someone without a pad to sleep on), and--much to my surprise--I wound up getting a cell phone signal from the location as well! It was the first hint of a signal I had gotten since leaving Augustus several days before.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwM8_q5XvCnWtk2HKoqrQsQSSoF2eEJQtLT_7FSjTB58aJqb2dyYFdgrGBycFMyiNMqOT8M8b0ZpLYeQ7WTs3kMqIEXxiqdP22oKTxRp1sfahy8bCNpVmb39aXOtoMy4WgjdfUE5084eRxm7xF8KZQvbMarQjk_B6zKxy-2eVzlNeilrU5iBZ2LOI65A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwM8_q5XvCnWtk2HKoqrQsQSSoF2eEJQtLT_7FSjTB58aJqb2dyYFdgrGBycFMyiNMqOT8M8b0ZpLYeQ7WTs3kMqIEXxiqdP22oKTxRp1sfahy8bCNpVmb39aXOtoMy4WgjdfUE5084eRxm7xF8KZQvbMarQjk_B6zKxy-2eVzlNeilrU5iBZ2LOI65A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My campsite for the night was on this rocky patch that let me camp somewhere without a lot of dead, standing trees nearby. (There are quite a few live trees in the background of this photo, but there are dead trees just behind them that could easily fall and hit me if I tried camping closer to those.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>So much of the rest of the evening I spent catching up on emails and messages. My campsite was located in plain view of the setting sun which allowed me to soak up its warmth until the very last minute before sunset. And I needed the warmth. The day never really warmed up. Even in the middle of the afternoon at the hottest time of the day, it was still quite cold in the shady areas so all my rest breaks were in the sun.</p><p>Once the sun set, however, the temperature plummeted and I stopped using my phone. My hands were just too cold to make effective use of it, so I went to watching Netflix videos and reading my Kindle for the rest of the evening.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh80Kpz1dCq8koNBiT4tYSDwknJcxorVoyt_XxAId9scQJNFBTmQs48Tfx-hq6AUglXVgxdAXdtZXjALTjnHfmfw-BxzqFXJ69gUFKF2zP7SGhAzltKvqf9aIjqGmGi_jcBbayBzsjqcx9E7NwCWk8ZklheAml2rT7eJyxogJ9xliOUyK8sK9V4zxWZCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh80Kpz1dCq8koNBiT4tYSDwknJcxorVoyt_XxAId9scQJNFBTmQs48Tfx-hq6AUglXVgxdAXdtZXjALTjnHfmfw-BxzqFXJ69gUFKF2zP7SGhAzltKvqf9aIjqGmGi_jcBbayBzsjqcx9E7NwCWk8ZklheAml2rT7eJyxogJ9xliOUyK8sK9V4zxWZCg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOLfwFnhnpjYgzcjjZ48Hm2pernnKHaipsJ2mt5vhemMEbyy2Ed-y9KNcI8l_1deAgpnOVPhwHbXWushlTqxlceDCMGoD1JL4w7GE9XTBzK6dBRMzuifHVJenntO6rDbf8gIGmJytGOpthP__zxyhCBZUsjB2MtVDoUNuUd0X4p4pU2TXaRrVgrYTg4g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOLfwFnhnpjYgzcjjZ48Hm2pernnKHaipsJ2mt5vhemMEbyy2Ed-y9KNcI8l_1deAgpnOVPhwHbXWushlTqxlceDCMGoD1JL4w7GE9XTBzK6dBRMzuifHVJenntO6rDbf8gIGmJytGOpthP__zxyhCBZUsjB2MtVDoUNuUd0X4p4pU2TXaRrVgrYTg4g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsNgf_51hCHKzGBtBTTgYJbv2WSoHoGeY22tsMBPv0tC6V7A77AvMe7gEV3DLoMKn1q_E2XipQWbGO5_mxBzrnP4UeUl12nqwK7gibpF4_q61HCEjue3jGhLsbS55Pbt9RdrDfeVTDu11mRplmRBrK8djUcL-j4ZZSL3ZgDoqeSoYpV1y4btectcEAvw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsNgf_51hCHKzGBtBTTgYJbv2WSoHoGeY22tsMBPv0tC6V7A77AvMe7gEV3DLoMKn1q_E2XipQWbGO5_mxBzrnP4UeUl12nqwK7gibpF4_q61HCEjue3jGhLsbS55Pbt9RdrDfeVTDu11mRplmRBrK8djUcL-j4ZZSL3ZgDoqeSoYpV1y4btectcEAvw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj13zkcw9sAaWZRuvaR6m_TGGqseRR7GmHEaj0TCNUJvnXQADFCA-4KtnzC_1AzQYyCwZGa2yl_w3T_qir5Et7nrs3S83HXHzG3WH9BLwRHk5krXGgg7EjN_uvnLihFWwalLpklQZreUuEhkMxOs6Im7OfUvKbX7DycKvjPBdAL1CqFYbc6mQDldqKeCw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj13zkcw9sAaWZRuvaR6m_TGGqseRR7GmHEaj0TCNUJvnXQADFCA-4KtnzC_1AzQYyCwZGa2yl_w3T_qir5Et7nrs3S83HXHzG3WH9BLwRHk5krXGgg7EjN_uvnLihFWwalLpklQZreUuEhkMxOs6Im7OfUvKbX7DycKvjPBdAL1CqFYbc6mQDldqKeCw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguyCXjPlpO5xBgi2GtFFu-0ypidqqXzLKMNKE0RDE8wqMKk4nVTlrKi7yctOTdX-FY6Ifm_FNpgbiiROuoXa-WTZSyPiGXRU9lwmFkTHM8DH_QsGcxybDb6k0R_IpfQ8nekilS7KwaMAta67vv0MUlGDd2tLyZjDBIbi2Lgk1aAB0UddWBjZZFSs2n_Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguyCXjPlpO5xBgi2GtFFu-0ypidqqXzLKMNKE0RDE8wqMKk4nVTlrKi7yctOTdX-FY6Ifm_FNpgbiiROuoXa-WTZSyPiGXRU9lwmFkTHM8DH_QsGcxybDb6k0R_IpfQ8nekilS7KwaMAta67vv0MUlGDd2tLyZjDBIbi2Lgk1aAB0UddWBjZZFSs2n_Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember these guys from the PNT? No, whoever did those on the PNT isn't ahead of me on the CDT, but I remembered them from the PNT and thought I'd plant my own leaf-people on the trail for the hikers behind me to enjoy. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyr7MUy9lBsscStscj9vtQM-8D2SxvCO55m6w0JQ9bPwYgCK4qUzIR8irZhnQofJW5dapwhvSAjk2Wyc099uK3049EhI3wJu-DxoQQ1pvw8hp2-coecXo4ziVWxmYTB-5fZ3HIumVW3Z3QWhJ2uRm8u7dhDZETM2LmqTrRkpjdbO-UEIteatQEwdaR0Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyr7MUy9lBsscStscj9vtQM-8D2SxvCO55m6w0JQ9bPwYgCK4qUzIR8irZhnQofJW5dapwhvSAjk2Wyc099uK3049EhI3wJu-DxoQQ1pvw8hp2-coecXo4ziVWxmYTB-5fZ3HIumVW3Z3QWhJ2uRm8u7dhDZETM2LmqTrRkpjdbO-UEIteatQEwdaR0Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0V3yAzxvQ6MKQpTaze7y1G6GVIja0x0_uRENttHcHd9MMyunDHF9yb5mERGRhyAzztEBHfoUQLw83GKtLwdLf4pE4tx4Doyy5zUjZqB4zWYD2do31MdKX6S78xWscyDuT1-fT9RCvj2Sltr7KG_3Ob_9Ai-8yKwmR900uXHfEQ9xlaI9YlMnwNV3ECQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0V3yAzxvQ6MKQpTaze7y1G6GVIja0x0_uRENttHcHd9MMyunDHF9yb5mERGRhyAzztEBHfoUQLw83GKtLwdLf4pE4tx4Doyy5zUjZqB4zWYD2do31MdKX6S78xWscyDuT1-fT9RCvj2Sltr7KG_3Ob_9Ai-8yKwmR900uXHfEQ9xlaI9YlMnwNV3ECQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOrCLc_LrZCeigJCcgFEPAlopGmsPF0oqCskpGSCGHitsbdY1Qu0wHRb2cXASuXsSFX_Zb46j7-h3lLvKWYRLeUIsBcDtWLbR9dPbvr9WohbP2JUfA8gzAT4nCHtiTegBW-b73ipKf7eiufBtXhEKpfYV5Jw8PgDo62AYuj-Ld4wp2UmyP7XQ8eAlc3g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOrCLc_LrZCeigJCcgFEPAlopGmsPF0oqCskpGSCGHitsbdY1Qu0wHRb2cXASuXsSFX_Zb46j7-h3lLvKWYRLeUIsBcDtWLbR9dPbvr9WohbP2JUfA8gzAT4nCHtiTegBW-b73ipKf7eiufBtXhEKpfYV5Jw8PgDo62AYuj-Ld4wp2UmyP7XQ8eAlc3g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_29G7sRO-TBByghTSJ4xCFYAzp_HldjewB8UFUEKlQEky-j2oTABCgUmLXBGDBjaO55T8pGFU2FI05XU-xbnGBtoHNthfA6Mxm7CThc96xnFWM6JPBTJDNzWRRNTDnRmEPBCJ0nZiLeZCgBxJSamvw_Qoo46vhplsUpwoIN2seDHnOwmEc2wXWPo1EQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_29G7sRO-TBByghTSJ4xCFYAzp_HldjewB8UFUEKlQEky-j2oTABCgUmLXBGDBjaO55T8pGFU2FI05XU-xbnGBtoHNthfA6Mxm7CThc96xnFWM6JPBTJDNzWRRNTDnRmEPBCJ0nZiLeZCgBxJSamvw_Qoo46vhplsUpwoIN2seDHnOwmEc2wXWPo1EQ=s16000" /></a></div><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Helmville, MT 59843, USA46.9311447 -112.974547218.620910863821152 -148.13079720000002 75.241378536178843 -77.8182972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-89264380335990697472022-09-21T05:00:00.144-07:002022-09-21T05:00:00.182-07:00Day 148: Hunters! Hunters! Everywhere!<p><i>September 15</i>: I didn't sleep well during the night. Super strong wind gusts picked up, which not only generated a lot of disturbing noise, but also left me worrying about the stakes holding down my tarp getting ripped out. Although the stakes did hold, it still left me largely sleepless for most of the night.</p><p>I lingered in camp until about 8:30am. It was a beautiful albeit windy morning. The trail headed down a steep valley before largely leveling out the rest of the day.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRo3KqW6Gz6OvMmjx0KKDZX3y9EerA0XeVHBlYrx8tss4ZlPoMYhTbbLwtno4hT92hOe8ce8DiUaAHqqp-Tz3PkKRAaL19CEs6_ZNarZ93ErCxF-gMYqHE7Yl8gqG6H-IwnhRuZReA_X0w_4v0JIkno472I5jKkPzMtZtVPrwzd759QKenXzjALPZw-Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRo3KqW6Gz6OvMmjx0KKDZX3y9EerA0XeVHBlYrx8tss4ZlPoMYhTbbLwtno4hT92hOe8ce8DiUaAHqqp-Tz3PkKRAaL19CEs6_ZNarZ93ErCxF-gMYqHE7Yl8gqG6H-IwnhRuZReA_X0w_4v0JIkno472I5jKkPzMtZtVPrwzd759QKenXzjALPZw-Q=s16000" /></a></div> <p></p><p>The Spotted Bear alternate route that I followed eventually recombined with the red main-line CDT route in the early afternoon, and now that I was back on the main route, I took a look at the Guthook mileage and realized that I was about 10 miles behind the schedule I thought I had been following. Oops! So I mentally added an extra 5 miles to today's hike. Instead of the planned 15 miles I'd do for the day, I'd shoot for closer to 20. I'd do the same for tomorrow as well.</p><p>With an extra two-or-so hours of hiking to do, I wished I had started a bit earlier. Perhaps at 7:30am instead of the 8:30am when I actually started. That would have better suited me, but there was no changing the past--I'd have to live with my mistake. At least the problem wasn't critical.</p><p>In the early afternoon, I passed one CDT hiker heading southbound, a fellow who had started hiking from the Mexican border then flip-flopped to Canada to get through that section before the snows started. I hadn't crossed paths with him before, though. We talked for a few minutes before continuing on our separate ways.</p><p>Given how late in the hiking season it was getting, I figured I'd be passing all sorts of people who were flip-flopping, but they were surprisingly scarce. In all, I could count on one hand the number of flip-floppers I would pass on the trail with lots of fingers to spare. I wondered how many hikers were still behind me. I knew there were some, but it couldn't be very many, nor very far back. Anyone more than a week or two behind me would almost certainly have to flip-flop in order to be assured of finishing the trail this year, but they just weren't flip-flopping which made me think that there weren't many people that far back. I was near the back of the pack.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9d9AVnJzp9kxnzc_Wnf0Z-wW06VvPTcXzKZ_ZGVN7zwnHl1T8tf6RulSKv91-9s_cEgr8ZARCFvDJC8L-090Fa-2N0DTxOUil7RsdM8dOWmtCKYDQc4JChbjMfjeslt6RfHFU3IdgJ7lTADF4xPmppor4pJ2udCQ8uaU6gmgKgrc6wKUU0cgGwKWYkA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9d9AVnJzp9kxnzc_Wnf0Z-wW06VvPTcXzKZ_ZGVN7zwnHl1T8tf6RulSKv91-9s_cEgr8ZARCFvDJC8L-090Fa-2N0DTxOUil7RsdM8dOWmtCKYDQc4JChbjMfjeslt6RfHFU3IdgJ7lTADF4xPmppor4pJ2udCQ8uaU6gmgKgrc6wKUU0cgGwKWYkA=s16000" /></a></div><br />Late in the afternoon, I passed quite a few hunters on the trail, walking around with their giant rifles and leading or riding horses along the trail. Generally speaking, they were friendly and always asked if I saw any elk today, but I hadn't and told them as such. Apparently, elk hunting season started today according to the guys I talked to. Good to know, and that would certainly explain the sudden presence of so many hunters after seeing none for so long.<br /><p></p><p>Two of the hunters I met up with reported that they shot a 7-point buck and were now heading back to their campsite to get their horses. They needed the horses to help carry the 1,200-pound carcass back to the trailhead. They had planned to be out there for the better part of a week, but now that they got their elk, that was out the window. They'd pick up the buck and go home. I think their permit only allowed them to shoot one animal so once they got it, they basically had to stop hunting, and they seemed almost a little disappointed about the fact--despite being so happy about getting themselves a 7-point buck.</p><p>Late in the day, the trail passed through a large burn area, so I had trouble once again finding a good area to set up camp away from all the burned and dead tree trunks. The trail passed by one small patch that the wildfire somehow missed, but the trees were relatively thin and short and didn't provide as much protection from the wind as I would have preferred. It was the best option available, however, so I grudgingly took it.</p><p>Both rain and wind were in the forecast, so I set up my tarp which is when I discovered that one of my tent stakes was missing. Noooo! It must have somehow gotten left behind at my campsite this morning. With the strong gusts of wind, I needed every stake I had to help pin down my tarp, so I wasn't happy about this discovery. When the air is calm, I usually don't use stakes to pin down the middle of my tarp along the sides, but this was definitely not one of those nights. Nothing I could do about that now, though, except live without it. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp9lv8pJESY6lgCZRi1avwim1Tsn_hI_qQxBLV-eEftvVh_y2hBDeBoOOE-J0n-neWIADgnn-lMYzdaJrkYaakYgsnpOQc7c_ux3er59OnISH06T1hp9mYUKNyuIOU9XKEOjY-WiEc028mRqygF221FezLD-296xmSxvfMQqmYMT9EGJyRhI9s9XpYpA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp9lv8pJESY6lgCZRi1avwim1Tsn_hI_qQxBLV-eEftvVh_y2hBDeBoOOE-J0n-neWIADgnn-lMYzdaJrkYaakYgsnpOQc7c_ux3er59OnISH06T1hp9mYUKNyuIOU9XKEOjY-WiEc028mRqygF221FezLD-296xmSxvfMQqmYMT9EGJyRhI9s9XpYpA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This small patch of trees were the only unburned trees for miles in every direction, so I tried to make the best of them to protect me against the wind and rain. But they were very thin and didn't provide much protection. At least I could be happy knowing that there weren't any dead trees close enough to fall down on me during the night! See that "divot" at the bottom in the middle of my tarp? That's a stake holding it down. The other side, however, didn't have that because I lost the stake! Booo! The other side was mostly flapping free!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqoL7BD0NYwmWPnMgYgLmNn701ntxyi9siZ3XZrK_yHilH15rYXWWRD37DDaWSn6FKkOw7bvkSMKUNdUB-X9RO8HLo5GdgYHqBKamqQFJK75d5qi8yQPBQBIMZhMM-1a2D3qw8d4U_3Wgqho4OJWOkHT0tBSlHCwcVAdWCWqCtpAO3xI_y7b6nA4a8dQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqoL7BD0NYwmWPnMgYgLmNn701ntxyi9siZ3XZrK_yHilH15rYXWWRD37DDaWSn6FKkOw7bvkSMKUNdUB-X9RO8HLo5GdgYHqBKamqQFJK75d5qi8yQPBQBIMZhMM-1a2D3qw8d4U_3Wgqho4OJWOkHT0tBSlHCwcVAdWCWqCtpAO3xI_y7b6nA4a8dQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB7lQmx7URIdFDWtjb3zNArlHqp3_YPlWZg1XuCvIjCt3HtCZ-JRn_UC1pRyw0sUbayCwdvZaWcTTXCoas1ecHavSNqQwAdeyD61Z0JGihfclssMCPxZweRMQxNHMblRHymYVQoWnsdztxmPVgrrk68duF737SQ_G8rMDPtK3V68I2KnkEt-vPa2xmjw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB7lQmx7URIdFDWtjb3zNArlHqp3_YPlWZg1XuCvIjCt3HtCZ-JRn_UC1pRyw0sUbayCwdvZaWcTTXCoas1ecHavSNqQwAdeyD61Z0JGihfclssMCPxZweRMQxNHMblRHymYVQoWnsdztxmPVgrrk68duF737SQ_G8rMDPtK3V68I2KnkEt-vPa2xmjw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr3XUXlEU9m0R0x9fAcuh_gQrycafbwvfS8yRJX16P1iXwGtfd8b8iUPpwGzQKqZtvmzoXS48W6uLkX1SoHJCsthb-cD53WlzOI6QL7rSzguAs0RFzo6d24hBEytaS1Vmlhqe9B9ip6UvckojhVgVi60P2VZWxipsePbefBRjPAYM1WDYd_LA4Pk6Ysg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr3XUXlEU9m0R0x9fAcuh_gQrycafbwvfS8yRJX16P1iXwGtfd8b8iUPpwGzQKqZtvmzoXS48W6uLkX1SoHJCsthb-cD53WlzOI6QL7rSzguAs0RFzo6d24hBEytaS1Vmlhqe9B9ip6UvckojhVgVi60P2VZWxipsePbefBRjPAYM1WDYd_LA4Pk6Ysg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWAkfFnjVZH9rcOPtpu2XGiwKcpz4_2SJ3xW5CgDEN1yCD05M5UfhJxZtVWHMfuyVhY5Iu4FNgiBkGLO8ISu17WgJ3VGvLqTN-rwAC319UBAIVJr0WhEScR4mOwivNnDGRrstu9iSHtJ8pYwWs2Cr1dkKqxbogI3RiDwgrfV1P6LsEdkaQ3JKtbOw1gw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWAkfFnjVZH9rcOPtpu2XGiwKcpz4_2SJ3xW5CgDEN1yCD05M5UfhJxZtVWHMfuyVhY5Iu4FNgiBkGLO8ISu17WgJ3VGvLqTN-rwAC319UBAIVJr0WhEScR4mOwivNnDGRrstu9iSHtJ8pYwWs2Cr1dkKqxbogI3RiDwgrfV1P6LsEdkaQ3JKtbOw1gw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibMkVZgT1cZApApA6zPozxtLsu5I5xcQqho951g0LwgkHVApBaPAYeyzoWFiwkYRRw-X4oR6_kevDKlPZsvrkjZpqyB624CqUjhIlG-jlfLecT97z9zTfZd8_C8dmCvtKW9pWgO4bqnsyG9OU_PGyPovUQU5k4dP8ZUirDzBM2i2BMOXwYS4VtHETUvQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibMkVZgT1cZApApA6zPozxtLsu5I5xcQqho951g0LwgkHVApBaPAYeyzoWFiwkYRRw-X4oR6_kevDKlPZsvrkjZpqyB624CqUjhIlG-jlfLecT97z9zTfZd8_C8dmCvtKW9pWgO4bqnsyG9OU_PGyPovUQU5k4dP8ZUirDzBM2i2BMOXwYS4VtHETUvQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This patrol cabin was locked up tight, but there was a register in the front that hikers could sign. Inside the register, other hikers had written that the outhouse behind the building had quite a nice view and gave it two thumbs up, so I went and tried it out....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi84oh336fq8f5xpcgpQNkwY4OAKZlPuHTTrLLQys6bfvIMcdu3gxw_finN0s3rzRrnWUTMkJKYsaQHjvI3ZUqYiam9OhZ-ust5NrIqjKI-X9mvW1bDohGFf6kGd0k2uowOa8bfmeRokxte86zpEO9qcX8ynwexYGa7yOtLL0al07rEwhWq-6syoQVUgA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi84oh336fq8f5xpcgpQNkwY4OAKZlPuHTTrLLQys6bfvIMcdu3gxw_finN0s3rzRrnWUTMkJKYsaQHjvI3ZUqYiam9OhZ-ust5NrIqjKI-X9mvW1bDohGFf6kGd0k2uowOa8bfmeRokxte86zpEO9qcX8ynwexYGa7yOtLL0al07rEwhWq-6syoQVUgA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know how the view from the outhouse was, however, because I got absolutely engrossed by the Bugle magazine I found as reading material inside. ;o) You do have to leave the door open when you do your business, however, because otherwise it's <i>completely</i> dark inside. Usually there are small windows to let in the light, but this one was completely and totally dark unless you left the door open a bit.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhg52JKWwuO_BZ88lp31HqubYAJc_YnIxyO1X_0kcrR73HkPvd6TYgEisztMwqwwK9eAv5C7oH1SNUJvSuBUAC0dDJGK3SYIAnuOooSYdXSUMxwx-rMbMvIxv0tBzu6P-DweYfdqW_1lX4dCCqHW-WakdghFbAD7-u5Uy-vS-djbJa3NIRhi9-MQctCbQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhg52JKWwuO_BZ88lp31HqubYAJc_YnIxyO1X_0kcrR73HkPvd6TYgEisztMwqwwK9eAv5C7oH1SNUJvSuBUAC0dDJGK3SYIAnuOooSYdXSUMxwx-rMbMvIxv0tBzu6P-DweYfdqW_1lX4dCCqHW-WakdghFbAD7-u5Uy-vS-djbJa3NIRhi9-MQctCbQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run, little fellow! Run! There are hunters everywhere!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCwx5wx24Djf_7zR4tympJJBzJjVLboz-ds8qahrbyvHuugvEeauYADYycqOKTCttvtgzPmgHBzRl-UI0SyxRb4J3VHugk72agDrYNHtD9josooPpS0KyOdGkWogm5CzZ0B-6NnxLrxJbJ2EcyXZWqSjY3F8EMstLhQKC5JC4E_6k8Yb7JVvAEhH8aRQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCwx5wx24Djf_7zR4tympJJBzJjVLboz-ds8qahrbyvHuugvEeauYADYycqOKTCttvtgzPmgHBzRl-UI0SyxRb4J3VHugk72agDrYNHtD9josooPpS0KyOdGkWogm5CzZ0B-6NnxLrxJbJ2EcyXZWqSjY3F8EMstLhQKC5JC4E_6k8Yb7JVvAEhH8aRQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This burn area was <i>huge!</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Helmville, MT 59843, USA46.9311447 -112.974547218.620910863821152 -148.13079720000002 75.241378536178843 -77.8182972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-63890729223275116602022-09-19T05:00:00.096-07:002022-09-19T05:00:00.192-07:00Day 147: Slowing down....<p><i>September 14</i>: I woke up to a bitterly cold morning. <i>Really</i> cold! Just another reminder that the seasons were changing, and that I really needed to get this trail done. Being such a cold morning, I did <i>not </i>want to get out of my sleeping bag. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYeU8IeFuAys874lTu8A0OBPBSGsop5iRoqMZOolIL9zuVlclB4oqqKfahSgoDP-KMKTcxLaGugD-ak9KB3c2rU16yN9pWN8Sme0_kSiNsWApLGT_mNV9VxF2rXRkX2navtO0cSRDrClQXbwVIjMMrA-41TACERrRWoNXK_LmxLb1q8gGaLYm7Oq0PGw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYeU8IeFuAys874lTu8A0OBPBSGsop5iRoqMZOolIL9zuVlclB4oqqKfahSgoDP-KMKTcxLaGugD-ak9KB3c2rU16yN9pWN8Sme0_kSiNsWApLGT_mNV9VxF2rXRkX2navtO0cSRDrClQXbwVIjMMrA-41TACERrRWoNXK_LmxLb1q8gGaLYm7Oq0PGw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Then I started doing some math in my head. Today was Tuesday, and my original plan had been to get into East Glacier on Sunday. A few days ago, I had managed to call the post office in Butte and had my laptop forwarded to myself in East Glacier. It's a small post office in a small town that wasn't open on Saturday or Sunday, which meant I couldn't pick it up until Monday. And I was making much better time than I had expected. At the pace I was going, I could actually get into town on Friday, but there was little hope that I'd arrive before the post office closed for the day. That would force me to take a <i>double</i> zero day and for what? Just to leave on Monday after picking up my package? A double zero seemed kind of pointless, so I decided that I could just slow down and enjoy my time on the trail more by reading books and relaxing. No need to rush! </p><p>I figured just by averaging only 15 miles/day, I could still arrive in town on Saturday and enjoy a zero day on Sunday which--at this point--might be extra nice since bad weather had finally shown up in the long-term weather forecasts. I had had a surprisingly long run of pretty good weather for the past month, but that run was coming to an end.<br /></p><p>So I was pondering all the possibilities and given how incredibly cold it was this morning decided to slow down to 15 miles/day. Which meant I could stay in my sleeping bag quite late--which is why I didn't end up ready to hike until about 9:20am.</p><p>Even this late in the morning, however, the temperature was still shockingly cold. The vegetation on the overgrown trails was still dripping with rain from yesterday afternoon, and it quickly soaked my legs and feet to the bone. It was ice cold water and pretty miserable.</p><p>By about noon, the sun had finally dried off the vegetation and the lower half of my body started warming up again.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPzD0_Z-QBgW42k26IOcfNuTiWOJTlSL7dfhaAWkKMyoJtDDSqPa_JTAyUGHy4ltUqQ4q411fUPAcGQuXueFYQJBI5L9IyMU5VU3_0lnKY0iXxLP8tagwZCw4eJXqCbN52BVV4PiOhB7M04ikZJhKJJaNxdnqgfmgGDs13ACFhSYdKgH5-lQl-x0JW9Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPzD0_Z-QBgW42k26IOcfNuTiWOJTlSL7dfhaAWkKMyoJtDDSqPa_JTAyUGHy4ltUqQ4q411fUPAcGQuXueFYQJBI5L9IyMU5VU3_0lnKY0iXxLP8tagwZCw4eJXqCbN52BVV4PiOhB7M04ikZJhKJJaNxdnqgfmgGDs13ACFhSYdKgH5-lQl-x0JW9Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Today there was only one big pass, Switchback Pass, I think, but it was a doozy with a 2500-foot climb over the top of the pass. I took my time going up, not in any particular hurry, then started descending the far side.</p><p>In the afternoon, I started looking for a place to camp which was a bit of a problem. Much of the area I was then hiking through had burned, and every hiker knows that camping in burn areas can be dangerous since dead, standing trees often fall and will kill anyone unfortunate enough to be camped under it.</p><p>So I tried looking for a place outside of the burn area, eventually settling for a grassy location a bit off trail. The part I did not like about the location, however, was that it was in front of a large mountain so I wound up being in the shadow of the mountain a full three hours before sunset was expected, which meant it was unpleasantly dark and cold all evening.</p><p>In any case, I wound up setting up camp after completing about 15 miles for the day--my new schedule to arrive into East Glacier on Saturday--and despite my very late start in the morning, I was still done by 5:00pm. Plenty of time to relax and read a book! </p><p>I went ahead and set up my tarp. The sky was clear, but given how cold it was getting, I was afraid the condensation might be pretty bad, so the tarp was meant to protect me from that. And if it keeps me a couple of degrees warmer as well, even better! =) <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivnl2ExJ7npL5xGYezTxMo3gE-ZMB5yb6R3wlLyfkkQLl4bltZadks9YvOL8LePpplexiMF2jaYDm5ngQd-K20ZcgO6ZiiYGpjagpDhskJt0ehjYBVlGvhczbOgkQRRHnrHhn48c0ALoMkeGv_AsKOIDdRFxa3o7KtNbpOqs4GwW0jl-FGuhz7gJjp7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivnl2ExJ7npL5xGYezTxMo3gE-ZMB5yb6R3wlLyfkkQLl4bltZadks9YvOL8LePpplexiMF2jaYDm5ngQd-K20ZcgO6ZiiYGpjagpDhskJt0ehjYBVlGvhczbOgkQRRHnrHhn48c0ALoMkeGv_AsKOIDdRFxa3o7KtNbpOqs4GwW0jl-FGuhz7gJjp7A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzTzrYZHgAHqfC4q1MbQ47ReObCCKEn8Gop0V1n_58DptAIKtq06hOk72UQBE9OGtGFBkczIVqJRT2KCkFq8sPwHOz7p05QuR_LUDHrYw2u_exWSsGqwkMSSlaODWCg2udSW3lzzHd5wGfzx1ArgtVbCAdKiX1vs_zcTK-kztRoi6U3WQE91y3sUtKZQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzTzrYZHgAHqfC4q1MbQ47ReObCCKEn8Gop0V1n_58DptAIKtq06hOk72UQBE9OGtGFBkczIVqJRT2KCkFq8sPwHOz7p05QuR_LUDHrYw2u_exWSsGqwkMSSlaODWCg2udSW3lzzHd5wGfzx1ArgtVbCAdKiX1vs_zcTK-kztRoi6U3WQE91y3sUtKZQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQYObKbWl5xBZjQvDNbjsuDvCkzHAnK2Qqw4bWf8_PmG2r0fbQX9ADGV73gkofwi4WLZur8nGd-VpcifrWjeqow0a0yg90ejN8yelUjwFUtNHw3qRpsHLplZOtMqmmXd-r9JlQxLDZhE87wrp7FYlD_4694_HslZGYoia3zXUMReyJscb574aOxIoUFQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQYObKbWl5xBZjQvDNbjsuDvCkzHAnK2Qqw4bWf8_PmG2r0fbQX9ADGV73gkofwi4WLZur8nGd-VpcifrWjeqow0a0yg90ejN8yelUjwFUtNHw3qRpsHLplZOtMqmmXd-r9JlQxLDZhE87wrp7FYlD_4694_HslZGYoia3zXUMReyJscb574aOxIoUFQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaxGJ1r_XEX2W53KR1Vt8zGSknvKgjdHv0-WM1hiIERau2izjKEWZPJUD-a37_F7He_PrSx4aoMHeLDU9NxdOJ2tUm-aNIjSxbQKowzFlQNj7sIHU2jMAMl7P_QhgG8d9KucFQu670xNQc0VELMW_sUaBSVT_mVnVVG9bhq6hlAE0eMAb7xPDReHbYAQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaxGJ1r_XEX2W53KR1Vt8zGSknvKgjdHv0-WM1hiIERau2izjKEWZPJUD-a37_F7He_PrSx4aoMHeLDU9NxdOJ2tUm-aNIjSxbQKowzFlQNj7sIHU2jMAMl7P_QhgG8d9KucFQu670xNQc0VELMW_sUaBSVT_mVnVVG9bhq6hlAE0eMAb7xPDReHbYAQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cabin was locked up tight when I went by.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBmMFHxCjzVg2vv0mL-wcEAkCP2y-NXuAxhcBVW0Yrut4IVlsN2eDUTsBEb85d4hNLzgDnGBqtcvocQ7g0Pxd5H9ypd5-VJAiKlVszYQHPAYgWD8PclZphE1aD0p_7-KqGpozNDDlihUc2g3Pfx_vkTaYNWh2aoS7NbRYwiOv1PjRwG9sQwA52QEBJGA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBmMFHxCjzVg2vv0mL-wcEAkCP2y-NXuAxhcBVW0Yrut4IVlsN2eDUTsBEb85d4hNLzgDnGBqtcvocQ7g0Pxd5H9ypd5-VJAiKlVszYQHPAYgWD8PclZphE1aD0p_7-KqGpozNDDlihUc2g3Pfx_vkTaYNWh2aoS7NbRYwiOv1PjRwG9sQwA52QEBJGA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After drying out from the wet vegetation in the morning, I decided to ford a creek in my Crocs and keep my shoes dry. I had been tired of walking in wet shoes and refused to do it anymore today!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip_VEFRBylP5hKVRZMDnkrNkLviPv2WlAXaS0KQ2fwKn-R7W856hMLsHPfzLr_iEaAHwipvswN3gsZ3hWmJcVYM8BxczNzQutcSUTGVpQztW1BV1sWzdFcxsHySBqYyz-dGiprXGXA5G2Hyoq_IIRS9wog6Ne3kBOmUAvLG1bFWfQVrMSnjd8Wwcuv1Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip_VEFRBylP5hKVRZMDnkrNkLviPv2WlAXaS0KQ2fwKn-R7W856hMLsHPfzLr_iEaAHwipvswN3gsZ3hWmJcVYM8BxczNzQutcSUTGVpQztW1BV1sWzdFcxsHySBqYyz-dGiprXGXA5G2Hyoq_IIRS9wog6Ne3kBOmUAvLG1bFWfQVrMSnjd8Wwcuv1Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR_97gwsGPZUwtDt_-8H8Qb0DRXJc4b01pXNluz3PTk_UJzKM59A6u0ZthjcEAjTQlBD-qQ7o-kIxbvWX04ydDq7oSJPmA5ZTGaF2DCCy0a6_ON3ypi7Y1XcsuRLuqwPqeEFot5YMpZenQivbzQ_befpP594YMYlGK5iaafkjW0cEQOGLB6pkkND3QvA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR_97gwsGPZUwtDt_-8H8Qb0DRXJc4b01pXNluz3PTk_UJzKM59A6u0ZthjcEAjTQlBD-qQ7o-kIxbvWX04ydDq7oSJPmA5ZTGaF2DCCy0a6_ON3ypi7Y1XcsuRLuqwPqeEFot5YMpZenQivbzQ_befpP594YMYlGK5iaafkjW0cEQOGLB6pkkND3QvA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLbAfcWqYzpd6yOdvBK2DocSN8Kph1E9Y0rl248Wx53wG2-ue9lU2JdR4CO1jX8TsafTUZGLxwyGpIjt-c5iFxyJKnW2-UKXFO7IwgkJGAZL1qmoSfCyhnvnCV0Dw-BVD81ewYBuv1PcZQASuWStEMmpom7CLZ8R_V3rcO_D-0tskqXpB8w_0qRQ-UWA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLbAfcWqYzpd6yOdvBK2DocSN8Kph1E9Y0rl248Wx53wG2-ue9lU2JdR4CO1jX8TsafTUZGLxwyGpIjt-c5iFxyJKnW2-UKXFO7IwgkJGAZL1qmoSfCyhnvnCV0Dw-BVD81ewYBuv1PcZQASuWStEMmpom7CLZ8R_V3rcO_D-0tskqXpB8w_0qRQ-UWA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFEiGMdggnjfPyVUCf7XsPUNH7EtVgVlTpYcA7GOPj47XHrb6BaTLNrv0Bi2AEij-sLuGeoP9u9Kqwg4Tn5Bc0egIfWl7CjlPWBRsg51KNvK0Kd_dOO6xwKjWfCmHjdtaEGmWXIKHGcj_S5oD3AYE18BlSzDrP7FH4FclU02-9Xj_xkAGwlovcqgBcUg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFEiGMdggnjfPyVUCf7XsPUNH7EtVgVlTpYcA7GOPj47XHrb6BaTLNrv0Bi2AEij-sLuGeoP9u9Kqwg4Tn5Bc0egIfWl7CjlPWBRsg51KNvK0Kd_dOO6xwKjWfCmHjdtaEGmWXIKHGcj_S5oD3AYE18BlSzDrP7FH4FclU02-9Xj_xkAGwlovcqgBcUg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com3Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Helmville, MT 59843, USA46.9311447 -112.974547218.620910863821152 -148.13079720000002 75.241378536178843 -77.8182972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-34652432637192807332022-09-16T05:00:00.125-07:002022-09-16T05:00:00.207-07:00Day 146: The Chinese Wall<p><i>September 13</i>: It didn't rain during the night, but it did start to sprinkle as I was eating breakfast so I decided to lay around in my sleeping bag and hoped to wait it out. IB Tat filmed himself recording making coffee in the morning, an activity I knew he found annoying but did anyhow to keep his YouTube fans happy. He didn't let the rain stop him from packing up and leaving before I did, however.</p><p>It wasn't until about 8:00am when I finally broke down camp and started hiking.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1qxg6Zn4oHXmPbt9he-ctT_hwmH8AczIZfIFgYH3GKIKsfej7zMhf58Fdx61886gaVq9bOvM6C1tKZlD159-nOIbxJb3WehX6p_BOpTg-OqDXL73-UzqGXYkFr6m7tujCoOEnGmKxoz94m67kGqn-H3PBMwh-S7jhznlrt81V7V_a-7GSu0HT_2QBEA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1qxg6Zn4oHXmPbt9he-ctT_hwmH8AczIZfIFgYH3GKIKsfej7zMhf58Fdx61886gaVq9bOvM6C1tKZlD159-nOIbxJb3WehX6p_BOpTg-OqDXL73-UzqGXYkFr6m7tujCoOEnGmKxoz94m67kGqn-H3PBMwh-S7jhznlrt81V7V_a-7GSu0HT_2QBEA=s16000" /></a></div><br />Today would be a fairly rugged day of hiking with lots of ups and downs. In all, my GPS would record about 4000 feet of ups and another 4000 feet of downs. Not as bad some some recent days, but definitely comparable to a typical day in Colorado which is no easy feat!<br /><p></p><p>I was looking forward to seeing the Chinese Wall this afternoon. I'd been hearing stories about it from other hikers for eons. That and this area in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in general were among some of the most popular areas along the trail, and today I would finally see the Chinese Wall for myself. IB Tat said he had spent time in this area before and was excited to be back at the Chinese Wall again--almost deliriously happy to be back, it seemed to me.<br /></p><p>And it was.... nice. It was a huge wall thrust out of the ground, several miles long--so long, that there was no point along the trail where you could see the entire thing. It was dramatic and beautiful, but I still found myself a little disappointed with it. Perhaps everyone had built it up so much in my mind that it was bound to disappoint. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had no idea it was there and "discovered" it for myself.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ9IWatMI9ENEAnvPW_7b_IMDsWKKUfcerpNK_EjR-6a_r8rlZKn7TXbGlxoifTOKx9e9tpGbUenPz-tKyuXwHUQoX_XudmFC1V2vu--aaKc74oTPvBhYyvuVX4a8WFoBAa0pqKTDNpES8iEaLNCr4CXtEKoQ9PVCO5ID7-0zV9BosORMPdPz4AObxRQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQ9IWatMI9ENEAnvPW_7b_IMDsWKKUfcerpNK_EjR-6a_r8rlZKn7TXbGlxoifTOKx9e9tpGbUenPz-tKyuXwHUQoX_XudmFC1V2vu--aaKc74oTPvBhYyvuVX4a8WFoBAa0pqKTDNpES8iEaLNCr4CXtEKoQ9PVCO5ID7-0zV9BosORMPdPz4AObxRQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the day, I followed along near the base of the Chinese Wall in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, which was dramatic, but at no point could I see the entire wall much less fit it in a photo!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>I caught up with IB Tat taking a break in front of the wall. He would be the only hiker I saw all day, but when I passed him at his break, he did report seeing Just Awesome so he couldn't have been far ahead even though I never did cross paths with him.</p><p>Shortly after that, I took a wrong turn at a junction and wound up getting off trail for about a half hour. Argh! In the grand scheme of things, I only lost a half hour of time, but I was still annoyed at having to backtrack back to the trail. If I had checked my GPS more often, I could have caught the mistake much sooner. <br /></p><p>Late in the day, I <i>deliberately </i>veered off the main red-line CDT onto the Spotted Bear Alternate. There were conflicting accounts about which route was nicer. It sounded like the first half of the main red-line route was prettier, but then the second half of the alternate was better which probably added to the confusion. Hiking the first part on the main red-line CDT then taking a side trail to the second half of the Spotted Bear Alternate would probably be the most scenic option of all, and if time weren't an issue, that's probably what I would have chosen, but still a little concerned about getting done with the trail before the snow started flying, I decided to take the shortest route which was the Spotted Bear Alternate.</p><p>It sprinkled a bit in the afternoon--not so hard that I needed an umbrella--but it was enough to get all of the vegetation wet and when I reached the overgrown alternate, the water from the vegetation absolutely soaked my legs and feet with cold water. That was pretty unpleasant and annoying.</p><p>I soon reached a clearing by a creek and called it a day. I switched out into my warm, dry camp clothes and made myself comfortable. Thus ended another day on the trail.............</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTvrkpQvEV0nrfr92TlrNRP8Ow1S8fq8wcfOyHdxa24ZbLDcl9kRqE9iIV0W0AxpSQ3ow7gGKBIaC4QWaQRzf9s5MOX6WxOyfExBOwRsIkjcn3JWFr4NOoaxeRpmHlZmf-PUSpUAh4tahHAXOFosu5RKg6UVHeuA-5BLlgHvseAHT_WwxmPkC86BJk7w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTvrkpQvEV0nrfr92TlrNRP8Ow1S8fq8wcfOyHdxa24ZbLDcl9kRqE9iIV0W0AxpSQ3ow7gGKBIaC4QWaQRzf9s5MOX6WxOyfExBOwRsIkjcn3JWFr4NOoaxeRpmHlZmf-PUSpUAh4tahHAXOFosu5RKg6UVHeuA-5BLlgHvseAHT_WwxmPkC86BJk7w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOyQ2VJo3VCtchL7XjJFOOBoU0lyRpavmmTH7hOUj9O5jpKQoXirplbehkhbt5uFrryK7560BLuwD_ASNncFagNrkvNOwR0JhbhLVZyR1aQ9Z2kdfxMKZHGjBm9GVU7fjp3o3vVoJpmWT8UNdn_Eh--GUYq03SV1NQuHgcZd31xywT1S_37r1C6Pz9dw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOyQ2VJo3VCtchL7XjJFOOBoU0lyRpavmmTH7hOUj9O5jpKQoXirplbehkhbt5uFrryK7560BLuwD_ASNncFagNrkvNOwR0JhbhLVZyR1aQ9Z2kdfxMKZHGjBm9GVU7fjp3o3vVoJpmWT8UNdn_Eh--GUYq03SV1NQuHgcZd31xywT1S_37r1C6Pz9dw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0RoCqe315gtjZ0w8g1AwVk9BjC2eDdOsgHfpYwNxizyJw2uRndeZkRNARkw302GvksED73YwTHC4Kj9ma0ZsBRjbvvmhTr_z-xUILu4W1WyPvzkX2ao1YxkM1wnyibYFCZLMDIvaOQgbIbJROOC5Wdq9UfsLKVi5ihu5SzAePUICVrG2jPNTd7-U6EA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0RoCqe315gtjZ0w8g1AwVk9BjC2eDdOsgHfpYwNxizyJw2uRndeZkRNARkw302GvksED73YwTHC4Kj9ma0ZsBRjbvvmhTr_z-xUILu4W1WyPvzkX2ao1YxkM1wnyibYFCZLMDIvaOQgbIbJROOC5Wdq9UfsLKVi5ihu5SzAePUICVrG2jPNTd7-U6EA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCKquuKcPftzd9wsrn5UGWBasLZFx0u1t1DjYfbONQgDZoZtzfwcOdhJqpuKtPHGCC_3dxFAT2OMmbixp5czFIxCaRJgilrXFnw1pVoIXSRRDKUjVYc31TXrLyi_T20DgwI6u7HC5XU_4TqnE53PigJetKNlgrKXgkxuSqnAwx4EnGjA7ptnSM2dX8Tg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCKquuKcPftzd9wsrn5UGWBasLZFx0u1t1DjYfbONQgDZoZtzfwcOdhJqpuKtPHGCC_3dxFAT2OMmbixp5czFIxCaRJgilrXFnw1pVoIXSRRDKUjVYc31TXrLyi_T20DgwI6u7HC5XU_4TqnE53PigJetKNlgrKXgkxuSqnAwx4EnGjA7ptnSM2dX8Tg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh03OMEQrDAAPCv6z5nKlHrZyd9nls68pJ2Fm8KdZs602Mz6TtrYlfu_ZXEfr5byrCa6pRgTWCrXkhWv_ubq4Mxm3fsTvPOl6R_Ix5mNiaQ0LqgrsFUvs5zNivzfcAMBdaBmlUQwvweR2Ekovh6wIbAVoPqZhBtp3M6VTdVwMfs_UHDngUV3GHYBrQBgA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh03OMEQrDAAPCv6z5nKlHrZyd9nls68pJ2Fm8KdZs602Mz6TtrYlfu_ZXEfr5byrCa6pRgTWCrXkhWv_ubq4Mxm3fsTvPOl6R_Ix5mNiaQ0LqgrsFUvs5zNivzfcAMBdaBmlUQwvweR2Ekovh6wIbAVoPqZhBtp3M6VTdVwMfs_UHDngUV3GHYBrQBgA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUKJi2Pd0LE2IgMd6EzbxDvqS2KbFi5szc9nvY6kC1JxP8ZVL9Qk-jwJL1V8NTk47pU86N-UGqoQIC7df8KJvSMfLtcNY3q28G3KIg0UoHWlopBfLULjdg_brnJ0rSysMvKu436JMMKqgqfsEqK-Ktd2z4RVo-Sc839dJBRoR5H9nqd9l_QpvhedcvaA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUKJi2Pd0LE2IgMd6EzbxDvqS2KbFi5szc9nvY6kC1JxP8ZVL9Qk-jwJL1V8NTk47pU86N-UGqoQIC7df8KJvSMfLtcNY3q28G3KIg0UoHWlopBfLULjdg_brnJ0rSysMvKu436JMMKqgqfsEqK-Ktd2z4RVo-Sc839dJBRoR5H9nqd9l_QpvhedcvaA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At one point, I spotted a mountain goat on the Chinese Wall. I zoomed in as much as I could and digitally zoomed in as much as possible, but this was the best I could get. See that white spot near the center of the photo? Mountain goat! I'm just amazed at the places these guys can climb up to. There is no way in the world I could climb to this point and not fall to my death!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnaZuwrjCOKj8TuHRE49jvYymC0xhrQrZ7-1zu_8YyVgCrXMpxNMAhnsh94ekPqI-F_CWfn0AhUzGQ-aP0lcDCvROcdT1RPvLCprUE2yTx5JF2JUq7zoUT7myiHdTVbZchcYbKnJ0Q1hvnddc-817Xvk7OyfXyXBmHfhHUUxVQbUgGz9RrFEugnSp6cA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnaZuwrjCOKj8TuHRE49jvYymC0xhrQrZ7-1zu_8YyVgCrXMpxNMAhnsh94ekPqI-F_CWfn0AhUzGQ-aP0lcDCvROcdT1RPvLCprUE2yTx5JF2JUq7zoUT7myiHdTVbZchcYbKnJ0Q1hvnddc-817Xvk7OyfXyXBmHfhHUUxVQbUgGz9RrFEugnSp6cA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wall just keeps going and going and going....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFCN0Tw4K2t6azy_bBJqN_cPSRzLcfFaakUBTrERrHsTlqnHT-CtsqvT8TJ793UJ8tHtmS4I3ohAHBABR-nEAQDa9vYWGJT6o6llWIkCI7Iqs5P3qXsbwyj00COX2RwNaLcfNr_s9BAvP9KtDZ9nJ_etstVS8z3jkEthH5TawEs2otygDJ0jk5sMyD5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFCN0Tw4K2t6azy_bBJqN_cPSRzLcfFaakUBTrERrHsTlqnHT-CtsqvT8TJ793UJ8tHtmS4I3ohAHBABR-nEAQDa9vYWGJT6o6llWIkCI7Iqs5P3qXsbwyj00COX2RwNaLcfNr_s9BAvP9KtDZ9nJ_etstVS8z3jkEthH5TawEs2otygDJ0jk5sMyD5w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi25gSB05xGIiCc-Td12AhozeUDBSpmyqiQVjRfCQ2bFOhD4OrpHKnOEphg-muYbXxdeG5_S1nYa5kziBolQLBQsjG7QZxCOoP-Kq28XHmM8FWZuuHdQD9AZHzrQMYG3Z2kYOj-3NVT8b2VHPtCdLhjyMuPorqVLKJEr5U3YX4l2YTSePffrxW1R89bMQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi25gSB05xGIiCc-Td12AhozeUDBSpmyqiQVjRfCQ2bFOhD4OrpHKnOEphg-muYbXxdeG5_S1nYa5kziBolQLBQsjG7QZxCOoP-Kq28XHmM8FWZuuHdQD9AZHzrQMYG3Z2kYOj-3NVT8b2VHPtCdLhjyMuPorqVLKJEr5U3YX4l2YTSePffrxW1R89bMQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQiiBPlmOxbOI0Nofi7G8WunIzrhP9DpHV_97hx1mvadyQRynlSRSjQjbdtx33dBT3V_GYO5EM3W51BKx6cH7TNMAAeKvu_xmf03AKYyOTS9HVWgI_MvEVbgs8IWiKRROF0FtIPtllLxArc_xinvhtjXQ1mslzXLIuMRZBr1B44En6FKXJKStHXbA07A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQiiBPlmOxbOI0Nofi7G8WunIzrhP9DpHV_97hx1mvadyQRynlSRSjQjbdtx33dBT3V_GYO5EM3W51BKx6cH7TNMAAeKvu_xmf03AKYyOTS9HVWgI_MvEVbgs8IWiKRROF0FtIPtllLxArc_xinvhtjXQ1mslzXLIuMRZBr1B44En6FKXJKStHXbA07A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuiLY1Mo4SWv80LCqWM1NBj9x08HFC7hnV2QStZnU_tltBjsYbvHycv8X-nFnV-hOJbIqWeUsfMKFboSn-F_nQJUaITfmh31CgDtOms0b6WoZD_5NIN4fPM8OZG9YdnVTTHEoq4pL_S5jU5I7PlvwTJzWu4PISeTn1FpCCtvaNtF8C2ZvriFrQoM5zbQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuiLY1Mo4SWv80LCqWM1NBj9x08HFC7hnV2QStZnU_tltBjsYbvHycv8X-nFnV-hOJbIqWeUsfMKFboSn-F_nQJUaITfmh31CgDtOms0b6WoZD_5NIN4fPM8OZG9YdnVTTHEoq4pL_S5jU5I7PlvwTJzWu4PISeTn1FpCCtvaNtF8C2ZvriFrQoM5zbQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwHVPGIMx5HVIcjoJr3IQKa7AZA8yifYGigjXpSzxI03KW0nnFqAjibCSjk9zsyPJ1IvCYX8XVcZ2E56fLE6HjsdIEBHqvPMAKwLFMwNdoPJRcf8watN0K-eZpoQRV_Ovenu8yJzEYsy-xvHs2FNDhlFHWdJfk1M4x1vpFwzrp2f6D_8gdZlZu4fa_Tg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwHVPGIMx5HVIcjoJr3IQKa7AZA8yifYGigjXpSzxI03KW0nnFqAjibCSjk9zsyPJ1IvCYX8XVcZ2E56fLE6HjsdIEBHqvPMAKwLFMwNdoPJRcf8watN0K-eZpoQRV_Ovenu8yJzEYsy-xvHs2FNDhlFHWdJfk1M4x1vpFwzrp2f6D_8gdZlZu4fa_Tg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoEeod5t9Nmp9gxE7D6E-78fHrIp3O8DJh3OeSaDbCFYOioaPd6tY5VO82R22RuLKly-8Bm6mRYno7SjccuXsZ2-1_p9k8UnwFH1giaVqqEnVHAG2PvY8N8se4R85B5F0oDqsIkplgQkzhhi8TOfTgeS9a3HNNutuhRykfEUUVhpLGhwj2KMfExAa3ng" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoEeod5t9Nmp9gxE7D6E-78fHrIp3O8DJh3OeSaDbCFYOioaPd6tY5VO82R22RuLKly-8Bm6mRYno7SjccuXsZ2-1_p9k8UnwFH1giaVqqEnVHAG2PvY8N8se4R85B5F0oDqsIkplgQkzhhi8TOfTgeS9a3HNNutuhRykfEUUVhpLGhwj2KMfExAa3ng=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJQsVVrDDLDeJFQKXdBADpyak1jhjHBDT6ZKQLnsda4vHKZ0DEvPwFBuMt3zpyHdTR-LvQxzY1BO6wkG6uk7QtiJbmqOQH0wrDQ9qQpqBr1ytQS9V5x_2uXcMFmMTMWA67w0457I6DGqi7nWV8auWRVVKdN1oTKhHnJGoATmnpdEU2zKDpjWug1VAklg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJQsVVrDDLDeJFQKXdBADpyak1jhjHBDT6ZKQLnsda4vHKZ0DEvPwFBuMt3zpyHdTR-LvQxzY1BO6wkG6uk7QtiJbmqOQH0wrDQ9qQpqBr1ytQS9V5x_2uXcMFmMTMWA67w0457I6DGqi7nWV8auWRVVKdN1oTKhHnJGoATmnpdEU2zKDpjWug1VAklg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home, sweet, home for the night!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com3Chinese Wall, Montana 59410, USA47.6893859 -113.150895119.379152063821152 -148.3071451 75.999619736178843 -77.9946451tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-47306113071178202612022-09-14T05:00:00.181-07:002022-09-14T05:00:00.189-07:00Day 145: Leaving Augusta<p><i>September 12</i>: I ate breakfast at the restaurant attached to the motel where I ordered pancakes, eggs and sausage patties--all of which were very filling and delicious! Joining me were four other thru-hikers: IB Tat, Jazz Hands, Click and Just Awesome, so we swapped trail stories and generally had a good old time.</p><p>Fortunately, I didn't have to worry about hitching a ride back to the trailhead. There was a trail angel in town, Frank, who gave rides to hikers </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUgFYaSh2U6Hho4-iCaIDpax-KPU-qDv7Kkby-FcczcX4EzJDuYPzBUtQw14qgwoVicGy1EuqYZkcO2WTuGeM51hWQmoD07KRK4FVniN8m2i4egGPzUb80DSG0hbhnzKnZ_XNgS_BRXiOJgaM3w5DRvLCEuNSxA7_wiVjZk-BDcM3JKPdfRIn9KPsO0Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUgFYaSh2U6Hho4-iCaIDpax-KPU-qDv7Kkby-FcczcX4EzJDuYPzBUtQw14qgwoVicGy1EuqYZkcO2WTuGeM51hWQmoD07KRK4FVniN8m2i4egGPzUb80DSG0hbhnzKnZ_XNgS_BRXiOJgaM3w5DRvLCEuNSxA7_wiVjZk-BDcM3JKPdfRIn9KPsO0Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For breakfast, I stopped at the restaurant attached to the motel. (That big window on the right is the restaurant part.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p>He was planning to drive anyone who needed a ride out that morning, but that put me in a bit of a bind since I still needed to drop by the grocery store to resupply. IB Tat also had some tasks to take care of, and Frank said he'd go ahead and give everyone else a ride, then make a second trip later in the morning or early afternoon for me and IB Tat. He had to go back to the trailhead anyhow to pick up hikers that had texted to let him know that they'd be arriving.</p><p>So that worked out really well for me. After breakfast, Jazz Hands, Click and Just Awesome got a ride from Frank back to the trail. IB Tat went back to his room to do some work for his YouTube blog, I assume. And I headed over to the grocery store to resupply.</p><p>The general store was sufficient for my purposes but hardly a supermarket. It was adequate, though.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC2ICsstEfqCGWTYc5mtgrp7ToNjsgVVCkVKFDCcAgjhK52sWeG8sSr6ULUb3P61PL8YOaSZkBb8eUCQxoKP3l0GUzEgWgyJjF40EoMl2XAbpiE6WAcgibk8rrFnOT0tRj2egPCevVdN7One_YJhF9ATj5XGiv5UobsHEt44_K2KOeWpDvl2FTrO_Xxg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC2ICsstEfqCGWTYc5mtgrp7ToNjsgVVCkVKFDCcAgjhK52sWeG8sSr6ULUb3P61PL8YOaSZkBb8eUCQxoKP3l0GUzEgWgyJjF40EoMl2XAbpiE6WAcgibk8rrFnOT0tRj2egPCevVdN7One_YJhF9ATj5XGiv5UobsHEt44_K2KOeWpDvl2FTrO_Xxg=s16000" /></a></div><br />Back at the motel and campground, after packing up my pack, IB Tat checked out of his room and we sat around chatting and killing time until Frank returned and gave us a ride back. IB Tat seemed a little confused about exactly where Frank had picked him up to go into town, and Frank told him precisely where he was when he was picked up. It seemed important to IB Tat that his steps stay connected, so I found it a little amusing when he seemed a bit confused about directions.<p></p><p>I, on the other hand, knew exactly where I had walked in from and asked to be dropped off at the junction just past the airfield, which--as it turned out--was exactly where IB Tat needed to be dropped off as well. Frank drove onward, checking two different trailheads where hikers might have come out at and could be waiting. I gave Frank a $20 for his gas and time. He never asked me for any money and I had assumed that he was just offering these rides for free because he was generous and enjoyed the hiking community, although when I talked with someone later, they said that Frank actually required a payment. It wasn't an unreasonable request--this trailhead was a long drive from town and the cost of gas and wear and tear on his vehicle was undoubtedly very real, but it seemed like the type of thing he might have mentioned before giving someone a ride.<br /></p><p>Anyway, given how far out of the way it was to drive to this remote trailhead, I felt perfectly happy offering $20 for the lift. Still a lot cheaper than an Uber! It was about 1:00pm when we got dropped off. I lingered for a few minutes to eat a snack. It was lunchtime by now, and I felt a bit peckish. So I ate some snacks for a few minutes, then continued up the gravel road in the direction IB Tat had already started hiking.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPEM14KpEuJ5_uzkGWtu5b7iBzuWGsyziFC1-AmXjPOngvv20qAeWK3lqVfKj7fQ3L4TGoueEAP7kgHuM9TxYucBO7OpmdTx0U45ym1i0Q5kvH7NZ8vSCi__XvWTvlvvSHaxEooAZ1sLlLGyt_Xpzzctysa4wSVv4ZjSldF0glqq6QDRuwx53R9kTkDA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPEM14KpEuJ5_uzkGWtu5b7iBzuWGsyziFC1-AmXjPOngvv20qAeWK3lqVfKj7fQ3L4TGoueEAP7kgHuM9TxYucBO7OpmdTx0U45ym1i0Q5kvH7NZ8vSCi__XvWTvlvvSHaxEooAZ1sLlLGyt_Xpzzctysa4wSVv4ZjSldF0glqq6QDRuwx53R9kTkDA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A short bit of gravel road to walk before hitting real trails again.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> I followed the gravel road only for a couple of miles, I think, before it reconnected with real trails. All-in-all, it was a pretty easy day of hiking. Very flat, very easy.<p></p><p>The only problem was a bit of sprinkling late in the afternoon--a sprinkle that had not shown up in the weather forecast--but it wasn't so hard that I ever pulled out my umbrella.</p><p>And, a couple of hours into my hike, I saw a lone figure hiking in the opposite direction and quickly realized... I knew that person! It was Foxy! Who I had last seen after hiking into Pinedale, WY, together. I knew she had planned to flip-flop to the Canadian border and start hiking southbound, but I was surprised to see her so far north. I had expected our paths would have crossed a week or two earlier, and assumed that maybe they had but that we had taken different routes or managed to miss each other in a trail town somewhere. Particularly on that Super Butte Cutoff, we could have easily have taken two entirely different routes and passed each other without even knowing it. So I was a bit surprised to find her still so far to the north.<br /></p><p>She told me that flip-flopping with Prince had probably been a mistake. It took a lot longer to get to the Canadian border than she had expected, she had trouble getting a permit for Glacier NP, and soon after, Prince wound up quitting the trail so now she was hiking alone and still had the better part of a month to hike before reconnect with where she had gotten off the trail to flip flop, but that she was still determined to finish the trail this year no matter what. I believed her, too!</p><p>We only chatted for a few minutes, though. Foxy was anxious to get into Augusta to resupply. She said she passed IB Tat not long before me--not a bit surprise there since we had gotten a ride to the trailhead together--but that he reported having seen a baby bear on the trail somewhere nearby and that he hadn't see the mama bear but wanted to make sure to get well away from the area before mama returned. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0l9c4KEIrQtAQ-4t5YQwlHZ3noCH2q2rFMP6nwudHVOm7SfOgRGxhMdEdlHCrxYb1HkJ2kJ_4X6lhHVkQh8ETFpkv_ToQ_s-M3Gxb-rwZUiBFVXfEgQwXGAlsu-xrAQvu8s49Jur88PMIDvTUvn01uqEe4JIjMPg6EuW_2ijCXJJ2cktl6R7b3cNxdA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0l9c4KEIrQtAQ-4t5YQwlHZ3noCH2q2rFMP6nwudHVOm7SfOgRGxhMdEdlHCrxYb1HkJ2kJ_4X6lhHVkQh8ETFpkv_ToQ_s-M3Gxb-rwZUiBFVXfEgQwXGAlsu-xrAQvu8s49Jur88PMIDvTUvn01uqEe4JIjMPg6EuW_2ijCXJJ2cktl6R7b3cNxdA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing paths with a familiar face--Foxy!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>With that report, I kept my eyes particularly alert for bears--babies or otherwise--but never saw any. I guess IB Tat scared them off.</p><p>By about 6:00pm, I was ready to quit for the day. I had only covered about 13 miles, but with the dark, menacing clouds lurking overhead, the light was getting tough to take photos and I liked the idea of setting up camp before any real rain might start.</p><p>It happened to be where IB Tat had already set up his tent. There was plenty of room nearby for other hikers, but before setting up my own camp, I asked if he'd mind if I set up nearby. He said it wasn't a problem, and I quickly set up my tarp for the night.</p><p>He spent most of the night working on his YouTube video for the day. I'm still amazed that he puts out a YouTube video every single day on the trail--and even does the editing for the videos each evening in his tent. It's all I can do just to write in my journals on a reliable basis. I gave up trying to actually write blog posts while <i>on</i> the trail. But he manages to do a YouTube post for every single day of the trail. It sounded awful, truth be told.</p><p>We did chat for a bit and he did admit that it was exhausting at times, and he often didn't want to do it. But it was a relatively easy way to make a few bucks that allowed him to do hikes like this in the first place, which made it worthwhile. I could definitely understand that sentiment.</p><p>Having stopped so early in the evening, that gave me plenty of time to watch some Netflix videos on my phone and read my Kindle. Living the good life! And, of course, writing the days adventure in my journal so I could still post reliably about it a year after the fact. =)</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNWWDwjbkrgzhjb5Zr6FSDN83Yug-5WZZ_vXDsCMuvMjE5GgBoyE8g9Vkal10xs8D7MoCa-nouo_Sduusr9eMaMqgezvtkYPWbPeVRmiuDf8mnd_2ubcmn6be2BIYC_XrQh1YY6XXyqbd221Ei9SDttgIyfSKCGpV43gFi80tNn9eKQ3CRikOQSKGQDQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNWWDwjbkrgzhjb5Zr6FSDN83Yug-5WZZ_vXDsCMuvMjE5GgBoyE8g9Vkal10xs8D7MoCa-nouo_Sduusr9eMaMqgezvtkYPWbPeVRmiuDf8mnd_2ubcmn6be2BIYC_XrQh1YY6XXyqbd221Ei9SDttgIyfSKCGpV43gFi80tNn9eKQ3CRikOQSKGQDQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IB Tat by his tent for the night.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6uM4tMtIAdQUrkxsi44h1iXZRpWZTV8lVQ_aEHJTEYF0qCEl0cUD_vtifpzO5ZXoMTUbhBZhjDPeCzS-Ghv67rZ78olfMTHQsrPryM4XKv6reIvLmV1x7Y3T0gKXsJRbVasJDo9dhbKq7PsT7xIL3TZvWRGAb0LPNSZn2JwtfgR0XUYIFQLORtXGe4w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6uM4tMtIAdQUrkxsi44h1iXZRpWZTV8lVQ_aEHJTEYF0qCEl0cUD_vtifpzO5ZXoMTUbhBZhjDPeCzS-Ghv67rZ78olfMTHQsrPryM4XKv6reIvLmV1x7Y3T0gKXsJRbVasJDo9dhbKq7PsT7xIL3TZvWRGAb0LPNSZn2JwtfgR0XUYIFQLORtXGe4w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi11pJle4dpLB-tYCoQhJJDVqOC-wto-Vitf3j6m2dIpEEqa--oblaTORIUAJ5XoMP1IzQlFfTRirfk7s1Pk0xxD9GUd01ZilSR6KcP0nWBRbP6-FFXEaZznNHzNtyxSMb1u1PmyiMa_1g9SqkQQDpOVGiV3OG6pQOkaWxjjm0IXuCoR5YYwrIwiVObYg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi11pJle4dpLB-tYCoQhJJDVqOC-wto-Vitf3j6m2dIpEEqa--oblaTORIUAJ5XoMP1IzQlFfTRirfk7s1Pk0xxD9GUd01ZilSR6KcP0nWBRbP6-FFXEaZznNHzNtyxSMb1u1PmyiMa_1g9SqkQQDpOVGiV3OG6pQOkaWxjjm0IXuCoR5YYwrIwiVObYg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More evidence that the seasons are changing....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR5Q9TC5cV2y6bthuKy8nJvv4uvh6yUkI3z9JNuCzoJKTrw_fvlXJVfMLx18TcMf3hd2oJiNd0OnKM1hVqgjPoM1encxDctwhsFta9I4JG0Zhq1wN0gj1p0bPXuA3nL2EUIotDIHKOcZkxMoSr7y40qK1_t6R-NDixBMtG1XksD6A7-m6t8TrzVxDtjg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR5Q9TC5cV2y6bthuKy8nJvv4uvh6yUkI3z9JNuCzoJKTrw_fvlXJVfMLx18TcMf3hd2oJiNd0OnKM1hVqgjPoM1encxDctwhsFta9I4JG0Zhq1wN0gj1p0bPXuA3nL2EUIotDIHKOcZkxMoSr7y40qK1_t6R-NDixBMtG1XksD6A7-m6t8TrzVxDtjg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think a bear did this? I'm not sure what the tree did to piss off the bear so much that it would attack the tree, though! (Just kidding... probably getting to the sap or insects under the bark or something. I don't really know, though.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWGXAvgeTnAhiTi3cY_gMmxukBkdxomDoApYj-ZSSDCKoroVmEpFuTxSkYgpxWAXeXhmHLtV3LLoC1izb2Sn8itLRhvJk_hEnpf8hAAPAq421lr9gqoeD-WGo5DcauyX2uV6ljks6uB6tnNH8OM4Igg6ieODtno0eeHDOOaSqdum662s1J6HZ9PaaWdQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWGXAvgeTnAhiTi3cY_gMmxukBkdxomDoApYj-ZSSDCKoroVmEpFuTxSkYgpxWAXeXhmHLtV3LLoC1izb2Sn8itLRhvJk_hEnpf8hAAPAq421lr9gqoeD-WGo5DcauyX2uV6ljks6uB6tnNH8OM4Igg6ieODtno0eeHDOOaSqdum662s1J6HZ9PaaWdQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCbPibfW1k2kOFsqImyoyOmRFwXOyz5UWtb3sGf2PkU28QjT6x1dVWbNchGcB6RjVWr9qVXRKpPOVdKekNYbQfWynPxx8Fvru1u-TUBkCtL9brqAQT29qRIWHL4FWGall3pytyKnDvc4zJM_3L5ee_V3irblztwfHHdTBHC9b0anD5sVIRIoQp5za_IA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCbPibfW1k2kOFsqImyoyOmRFwXOyz5UWtb3sGf2PkU28QjT6x1dVWbNchGcB6RjVWr9qVXRKpPOVdKekNYbQfWynPxx8Fvru1u-TUBkCtL9brqAQT29qRIWHL4FWGall3pytyKnDvc4zJM_3L5ee_V3irblztwfHHdTBHC9b0anD5sVIRIoQp5za_IA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGDN2bXafjVT-hZ3J7Z05VV4XPbQ0JwrK35trxkt2160ScDq8AZfpX00C3p_dEl7kkEciRoo6wkttWM9vO7IXqDjt4okuTTW6Mq1uf0QjYqlcc4AnUhEv3G7I9hHFhlbfh85RxSdMCV8GVB0du8K7Obm9plOVQ4lrOgSUebkmuLMTLGXfdF-mIUJ15Eg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGDN2bXafjVT-hZ3J7Z05VV4XPbQ0JwrK35trxkt2160ScDq8AZfpX00C3p_dEl7kkEciRoo6wkttWM9vO7IXqDjt4okuTTW6Mq1uf0QjYqlcc4AnUhEv3G7I9hHFhlbfh85RxSdMCV8GVB0du8K7Obm9plOVQ4lrOgSUebkmuLMTLGXfdF-mIUJ15Eg=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Augusta, MT 59410, USA47.4927251 -112.392245819.182491263821156 -147.5484958 75.80295893617884 -77.2359958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-391077894331248162022-09-12T05:00:00.138-07:002022-09-12T05:00:00.182-07:00Day 144: The Augusta Hitch<p><i>September 11</i>: Just as a quick note about dates.... if you noticed, I marked this day's post as having happened September 11th, while today is September 12th. But! It did not happen yesterday. It happened <i>one year ago!</i> My CDT hike was so long, and the three-posts-per-week schedule I keep, means my posts are now a full year out of date! So just remember, when you see dates listed for the rest of the this blog, we're talking about last year. However, the time of year when I did the hike is basically the same time of year it is now when I'm posting it.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbRTobm5oZKUWGbb9Vn1ME5kQo9W06IKITTx6P7mP6P0kpBQ7ZDED1dhE-cOy-bDAHVNOSJHtmxJ6V-3_t2vhkMt4JCeWmtRVRNdifaHQZHd5O10588mi90zdafFgm-XFdG1A27Hj9VJl3j83RJ_6rHeTAM5ctJkSvIdAxw_1S7BaqR6LhstSfGzX08Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbRTobm5oZKUWGbb9Vn1ME5kQo9W06IKITTx6P7mP6P0kpBQ7ZDED1dhE-cOy-bDAHVNOSJHtmxJ6V-3_t2vhkMt4JCeWmtRVRNdifaHQZHd5O10588mi90zdafFgm-XFdG1A27Hj9VJl3j83RJ_6rHeTAM5ctJkSvIdAxw_1S7BaqR6LhstSfGzX08Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite the rain all night long, I stayed pleasantly dry under my tarp. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>So... back to your regular scheduled programming. It sprinkled for much of the night, and the morning clouds were so thick, it didn't get light enough to hike until fairly late in the morning. Which allowed me to sleep in a bit, but it also meant I didn't get started hiking until about 7:40am.</p><p>Nor did the sprinkles did stop. It continued to sprinkle lightly on and off throughout the morning. Only for about one 10-minute period did the rain get heavy enough for me to pull out my umbrella, but I still found it all quite annoying.</p><p>I did, however, make great time hiking down the trail. The trail was super flat and easy, and I pushed through nearly 20 miles before reading the trailhead at about 3:00 in the afternoon.</p><p>There's a small airfield there, and I waited near it for about an hour on a gravel road hoping to hitch a ride into town. During that hour, only one vehicle went by... and it didn't stop to pick me up. Curse you, driver!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglbEYeOED2Uqxq41ZPbuzKan5V3LUqu4PeEDVykChSBGU_kimaLkM7E4g7tI7gtCyPaKQmRn5MuQIHMeWQ6aKdCyeQnHkD4JC5slkRoKEgq78dPIKXNkOcLXZBA0Ljqwv7au8Td77hGBls47lwFuE2uiXsSDZuWBKy0G9mIRqHE1IGwVRGIDhVbVrHNQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglbEYeOED2Uqxq41ZPbuzKan5V3LUqu4PeEDVykChSBGU_kimaLkM7E4g7tI7gtCyPaKQmRn5MuQIHMeWQ6aKdCyeQnHkD4JC5slkRoKEgq78dPIKXNkOcLXZBA0Ljqwv7au8Td77hGBls47lwFuE2uiXsSDZuWBKy0G9mIRqHE1IGwVRGIDhVbVrHNQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only there were a plane nearby to whisk me into town! Now <i>that</i> would have been an awesome resupply!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>Unfortunately, hitching a ride was pretty much a requirement. The town I needed to resupply at, Augusta, was located about 30 miles down this gravel road--way too far for me to walk into today. I had gotten the impression that hitching a ride wasn't terribly difficult, but maybe my being there after Labor Day caused a lot fewer people to be traveling to this remote trailhead?</p><p>I decided to start walking down the gravel road into town. I had no intention of walking <i>all</i> the way into town, but I figured the network of small roads combined like tributaries to create a large river. I hoped if I walked far enough down the road, the network of smaller roads would combine into a bigger road and improve my chances of getting more traffic and therefore a better chance of getting a ride.</p><p>A half hour later of walking, traffic never really picked up, but one truck finally drove by in my direction and I stuck out my thumb and this time, the vehicle stopped. Yes! Praise the Lord!</p><p>The man introduced himself as Tall Paul, and I was immensely grateful that I didn't have to walk anymore off trail. It only took an hour and a half to get a ride, but at least I got one.</p><p>He drove me all the way into Augusta, and I tried checking into the Wagon Wheel Motel. But, alas, they reported that their rooms were full. No space available. A quick Google search of the area found no other reasonably-priced lodging available. Crap. *sigh* Some on, man! It's after Labor Day! Why haven't all the tourists gone home?</p><p>So I went with Plan B, which was to pay $20 for a campsite adjacent to the hotel. I <i>hate</i> paying for campsites. For the last 5 months, I'd basically been camping for free pretty much anywhere I wanted. The idea of paying to be in a crowded campsite with lots of other people didn't appeal to me at all. I could have tried looking for a place to stealth camp at the edge of town, but figured this would be easier. I didn't have to be sneaky about it, and I could get a wi-fi connection at the motel, take a shower and hang out inside the restaurant/bar if I got tired of hanging out outside.</p><p>Once that was taken care of, I started doing my usual town chores: laundry and showers. Inside the bar, I chatted with a few locals including one who worked as a park ranger in Glacier NP who warned me not to try sneaking through the park without a permit. They catch those kind of people all the time. I had no intention of hiking through without a permit, but I was a little curious about what they do to such law-breakers. I didn't ask, though. I figured he'd probably assume that I was assessing my chances of whether or not it was worth sneaking through the park.</p><p>The next day, him and a couple of buddies were planning to hunt some grouse. I assured him that he could practically just stick out his hand and catch one and wring its neck. The grouse seemed to be everywhere, and they didn't seem to have any fear of people often letting me hike by them quite close. It seemed a little unfair to hunt grouse, really. They seemed too stupid for it to be a real sport.</p><p>He asked me what kind of grouse I had seen, but that... I had no idea. Apparently, you can tell them apart based on their eyes or the patterns around their eyes. I hadn't seen enough of them close enough to identify them based on their eyes, though, so I had no idea. But the grouse were definitely out there in large numbers. <br /></p><p>Back outside, in the evening, I chatted with Jazz Hands until late into the night. He was also camped at the campground, and this is when I learned that the headlamp I found in the yurt a couple of days back was his. If only I had carried to here, I could have returned it.... Oh, well.</p><p>There were a few other thru-hikers around that I saw glimpses of such as IB Tat and Just Awesome, but they had gotten into town early enough to score an actual motel room and weren't stuck outside camping with Jazz Hands and myself.</p><p>By around 11:00pm, I finally laid out my groundsheet and cowboy camped near a picnic table for the night. My day was done!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYfPvmzcyO6PEQNgETTYaniP3eKn4hvlLj5pJ97dcEQKyG3EQvqLPz2FFO7xOIioCsAvEViWt5lBkNRXI69nKGceqdapKbxCPqk-ApNQpKJXPg4u2tkG4IAzuwADYUYptwqfFIrmXjRUMIAhlDm7XwCy655ZB3rZj-yJlE7VYHAmjAhYeCiVutf-QAmQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYfPvmzcyO6PEQNgETTYaniP3eKn4hvlLj5pJ97dcEQKyG3EQvqLPz2FFO7xOIioCsAvEViWt5lBkNRXI69nKGceqdapKbxCPqk-ApNQpKJXPg4u2tkG4IAzuwADYUYptwqfFIrmXjRUMIAhlDm7XwCy655ZB3rZj-yJlE7VYHAmjAhYeCiVutf-QAmQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty much every day I'd see grouse on the trail. I didn't always get photos of them, but they were everywhere! And did not seem to have a healthy fear of people.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgoNe55nc1_nHoCdT90Mm9s1WImrXlzoon7GurEkNI9RdBcpLMbmNXwTPF1cxD7xuGDnmf3YjUp2rVr-jRGgQbcVab-jsHuA_GPcoFPGQcVRHrnfa28NQzTJI1xz6DxqFOdttHhAsfDA48aMKF7A91BdptoEpdsHM9cIZrSiAExyQ9AmLniUtOfTAc7A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgoNe55nc1_nHoCdT90Mm9s1WImrXlzoon7GurEkNI9RdBcpLMbmNXwTPF1cxD7xuGDnmf3YjUp2rVr-jRGgQbcVab-jsHuA_GPcoFPGQcVRHrnfa28NQzTJI1xz6DxqFOdttHhAsfDA48aMKF7A91BdptoEpdsHM9cIZrSiAExyQ9AmLniUtOfTAc7A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those fall colors! Awesome!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1CbLk9OcfsJEBp2Vpdhibo8DTAohXy-Eg1mcasVDNvFAubG4jnprTpWeDTo1msdGvHUeGON3WtCChk6FLpvbuX-s1CG0uK5oX6akQTbQsIyA-5r7S885iwW4RS-jDlbsTDLRYzPFcHSTJByykkvKZqKPK27iweuSeZ95FC3fCqP-QjQzXghzhmWwlEA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1CbLk9OcfsJEBp2Vpdhibo8DTAohXy-Eg1mcasVDNvFAubG4jnprTpWeDTo1msdGvHUeGON3WtCChk6FLpvbuX-s1CG0uK5oX6akQTbQsIyA-5r7S885iwW4RS-jDlbsTDLRYzPFcHSTJByykkvKZqKPK27iweuSeZ95FC3fCqP-QjQzXghzhmWwlEA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaaQLlwktno2DPPkB7VskHYtxrI8BEg_C3ngTOgG5uVB1prGbW4vBclGnloy5zoA-vMTdGUr-sUmTfEZ8K4o0Y0OYJjaPusiq8uS5E2IGKvXzDq5QNRbNwPiuk-YKP6SbfCpRar3wQhnqHJjVqKvJcBHMA_wam3G9KQ0Vaq_eYsoqNl7zb0CxQbcc47A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaaQLlwktno2DPPkB7VskHYtxrI8BEg_C3ngTOgG5uVB1prGbW4vBclGnloy5zoA-vMTdGUr-sUmTfEZ8K4o0Y0OYJjaPusiq8uS5E2IGKvXzDq5QNRbNwPiuk-YKP6SbfCpRar3wQhnqHJjVqKvJcBHMA_wam3G9KQ0Vaq_eYsoqNl7zb0CxQbcc47A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjeEkcOAo1MpULqcoSRV2_rXEw_INYpsAvE40qRBj1Am-s2IYbz0Z4jgrIZZRg643pIJGnb7SrT4i6ytwB1phXYL7NupLBgeYlYdQOg5wc-LDeYMeEXi7ZBTABKwH-YE6K6okPcXWzHQ87Fzy1B78-WC0_wMBm0LI_-RRH2qftHfGEdyUiu-7docGSDQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjeEkcOAo1MpULqcoSRV2_rXEw_INYpsAvE40qRBj1Am-s2IYbz0Z4jgrIZZRg643pIJGnb7SrT4i6ytwB1phXYL7NupLBgeYlYdQOg5wc-LDeYMeEXi7ZBTABKwH-YE6K6okPcXWzHQ87Fzy1B78-WC0_wMBm0LI_-RRH2qftHfGEdyUiu-7docGSDQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMBXCyW4SXiqPqdNkGz-_YbbgFzIvzSsl8MU6WY8dOzSFhwbetFBU94pZiTqJCaV5Flp4ZrLmKhNtIdc-CYMx8f2mLAPujNZSm-ROHepaAcCp-6mzOSyBBaCTOvksFk0Mq6tnh5b9GgBtVhNhFwbMP4-WIbMX5xU3EcHrePl-P-rO8P1ahVxs8tQvnsg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMBXCyW4SXiqPqdNkGz-_YbbgFzIvzSsl8MU6WY8dOzSFhwbetFBU94pZiTqJCaV5Flp4ZrLmKhNtIdc-CYMx8f2mLAPujNZSm-ROHepaAcCp-6mzOSyBBaCTOvksFk0Mq6tnh5b9GgBtVhNhFwbMP4-WIbMX5xU3EcHrePl-P-rO8P1ahVxs8tQvnsg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwbU2JZ5bnRvsKDCaybST_bAty2uHGsBTrbUL_rhPxk_nteJQgHKPIUt3ip_IXOg4rhgWac-3SoDo4cGYRFywK0BEYFYiVMB7zSxdxSwHv_s_33y8OIn3Zw8QNzUWFxiqDg4mqrljudB-LTfOt_Y3JdEmcYOzLxIwKS9e6SNoFeHY3Y4dVdlD6Hb2B0w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwbU2JZ5bnRvsKDCaybST_bAty2uHGsBTrbUL_rhPxk_nteJQgHKPIUt3ip_IXOg4rhgWac-3SoDo4cGYRFywK0BEYFYiVMB7zSxdxSwHv_s_33y8OIn3Zw8QNzUWFxiqDg4mqrljudB-LTfOt_Y3JdEmcYOzLxIwKS9e6SNoFeHY3Y4dVdlD6Hb2B0w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If anything goes wrong in this wilderness area, just blame the goats!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5L11zrG_6j3EO6N9IK8q8K-yrwcEDFpSLhuHIt53ENkUteDlyEoMRUJzGY7GGykhiEQJ6_EXQKYrUBt0E6Hn3P6MZxHtBKnuPdNUFE4e7orirFVJ70pH5bmqWQTqLaj57Gqzk814gZb0k5v_XcEvL_EYNk7Nhr3u-y6QQhOAPjSM771wV4HYvGSjtEw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5L11zrG_6j3EO6N9IK8q8K-yrwcEDFpSLhuHIt53ENkUteDlyEoMRUJzGY7GGykhiEQJ6_EXQKYrUBt0E6Hn3P6MZxHtBKnuPdNUFE4e7orirFVJ70pH5bmqWQTqLaj57Gqzk814gZb0k5v_XcEvL_EYNk7Nhr3u-y6QQhOAPjSM771wV4HYvGSjtEw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0jSodN1F4OJadBQaYFxnuA3aRC5HxPdWF41Z3vSX93JZk9xg0ISG2-dAC7zR7gh2NZboac8cUZ6Ug5hIKZdOd1FFSyAtIFlcWWz8LiK3ImE1IbZ0o-J34avdkuDmAUTCr5Dhf5Ey94vrGGbDpPgZ59ovHFLCX5d1lDOD4pnF2OX5_IVHnTJRJCuAijw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0jSodN1F4OJadBQaYFxnuA3aRC5HxPdWF41Z3vSX93JZk9xg0ISG2-dAC7zR7gh2NZboac8cUZ6Ug5hIKZdOd1FFSyAtIFlcWWz8LiK3ImE1IbZ0o-J34avdkuDmAUTCr5Dhf5Ey94vrGGbDpPgZ59ovHFLCX5d1lDOD4pnF2OX5_IVHnTJRJCuAijw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't see this warning until <i>after</i> leaving the wilderness area. It was posted at the trailhead. Why do I never learn of these things until they're already behind me?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com2Augusta, MT 59410, USA47.4927251 -112.392245819.182491263821156 -147.5484958 75.80295893617884 -77.2359958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-70378423492229862482022-09-09T05:00:00.119-07:002022-09-09T05:00:00.197-07:00Day 143: The Hunt For Water!<p><i>September 10</i>: During the night, I felt a few small drops of rain, so I quickly threw out my tarp like a blanket as a precaution. Rain wasn't really in the forecast, but better safe than sorry! I'm happy to report, except for the few scattered drops, nothing amounted from it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUUPhSXWSanLeiOIsMBsEU8bM8s1JsJZQEg0AV2q4RlfxlKou1_5yM8PFR6YJB4me8rV99oV0Aso8lC8JmMR-dUEYCQBZfhicjgs3feFUNNiTdsOw3jmcbAUS7I7ruAqM2uSZ8Z_X7iURe2D6z2l5i_DhQQA86hHKRDzmAGrONshqhR8c9I3R6KTfEwA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUUPhSXWSanLeiOIsMBsEU8bM8s1JsJZQEg0AV2q4RlfxlKou1_5yM8PFR6YJB4me8rV99oV0Aso8lC8JmMR-dUEYCQBZfhicjgs3feFUNNiTdsOw3jmcbAUS7I7ruAqM2uSZ8Z_X7iURe2D6z2l5i_DhQQA86hHKRDzmAGrONshqhR8c9I3R6KTfEwA=s16000" /></a></div><br />By morning, the wind was still howling like a baby after stealing its candy. The views were still filled with smoke, but it didn't seem quite as thick as it did when I went to sleep.<p></p><p>The next water source was another 3.8 miles down the trail, and I had precious few drops left to get me there since skipping the previous water source yesterday afternoon. In fact, I hadn't resupplied my water since way back at Rogers Pass. I was almost completely out. In less than two hours, however, I should have plenty!</p><p>That was my mission in the morning: water. Get the water. I was quite thirsty from my rationing, and I decided to drink the last of my water about a half hour before I expected to reach the fresh water. I was going to arrive without a drop of water on me.</p><p>Oh, delicious water! This water source was also located about a quarter-mile off trail, but skipping it this time was a no-go for me. I definitely needed the water! In the back of my lizard brain, I wondered what I would do if there was no water. What if I couldn't find the spring? What if the spring had dried up since the last Guthook report? It seemed unlikely, but not impossible. Fortunately, there was a large lake several additional miles ahead and a mile off trail. That would be my Plan B if something didn't work out here, but given how thirsty I already was, I really didn't want to wait until then for water. I probably wouldn't die, but it would be pretty darned miserable.</p><p>Fortunately, it didn't come to that. I found the water without any trouble, flowing well and clear. I immediately filled my 1-liter water bottle and drank the whole thing. Awesome! Even after drinking a whole liter, I still felt thirsty, but I was too full to drink anymore. I knew it would take time for my body to absorb the liquid and the thirst to stop, but I was fine.</p><p>In the meantime, I filled up my bottles with the water I'd need on the next segment of trail, then returned to the trail and continued the day's hike.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeYrLWie8kLK0tEHGF9fwNP2_rLRbAqMVj8JwGoq7oKq5FYyFK4IU8dgKzqnbG6CwHqOCWZc41gX7pGUlGvKDyUV2SwC4aeKJ74rbY6ICDtEE4iScGeiNeLYtpIxqm_80lANupVAdWRGgLfzY7Qje6wFrbD4XCN4JuR-SX_Xh6F8GAX4ltadkhxa6C4Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeYrLWie8kLK0tEHGF9fwNP2_rLRbAqMVj8JwGoq7oKq5FYyFK4IU8dgKzqnbG6CwHqOCWZc41gX7pGUlGvKDyUV2SwC4aeKJ74rbY6ICDtEE4iScGeiNeLYtpIxqm_80lANupVAdWRGgLfzY7Qje6wFrbD4XCN4JuR-SX_Xh6F8GAX4ltadkhxa6C4Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, water! How I love thee! =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The trail climbed steeply, then followed ridge lines for much of the day before plummeting once again toward Deerborn Creek.</p><p>Once I filled up with water, I felt pretty unmotivated to keep hiking the rest of the day. I just wasn't having much fun anymore. I felt lonely and bored, and questioned my life decisions. By 4:00 in the afternoon, I seriously thought about stopping for the day, but pushed on a couple of more hours and finally stopped at around 6:00pm. But even then, I could have kept hiking--if I had really wanted to. I just felt lazy and unmotivated. Nothing was wrong, per se, but sitting around at a nice viewpoint reading a book sounded like a lot more fun to me than hiking.</p><p>Rain was in the forecast for tonight, so I did set up my tarp. But otherwise, a largely uneventful day!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP01gDKFHFKiUfaJb5_itEIbDM0LknfsCZH395CxYoiZuxEmWK949Pf8DD0iPaB0UiyDkfQ0KPPnioTMxsz2ZqOkEetPJkXK5hx_wOszIzp27wiPyk9_twNjkk5bNzxAzFP4_mOCRL34fd6NFHGRaCwxTdbXdILdt7gXNTFf05bJaYFNSuuzdN9MGKvw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP01gDKFHFKiUfaJb5_itEIbDM0LknfsCZH395CxYoiZuxEmWK949Pf8DD0iPaB0UiyDkfQ0KPPnioTMxsz2ZqOkEetPJkXK5hx_wOszIzp27wiPyk9_twNjkk5bNzxAzFP4_mOCRL34fd6NFHGRaCwxTdbXdILdt7gXNTFf05bJaYFNSuuzdN9MGKvw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDFG3keIVJ2W1Cj4mncCbAbgX-WXa0I5sGzopRYpcGaAOKXhlfovifXYDFRUfOH4UVVs6fRIPnVjvkNLtKh1jrOhRxFyUPaSc2Ndh4Az7yW-gsigpxpn5petebba9HTzWkOQWF5d9VrziQKmaG_3RXJby4xNy4QJCT7SSYmggr-bKiARRX4yfv2yIv6w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDFG3keIVJ2W1Cj4mncCbAbgX-WXa0I5sGzopRYpcGaAOKXhlfovifXYDFRUfOH4UVVs6fRIPnVjvkNLtKh1jrOhRxFyUPaSc2Ndh4Az7yW-gsigpxpn5petebba9HTzWkOQWF5d9VrziQKmaG_3RXJby4xNy4QJCT7SSYmggr-bKiARRX4yfv2yIv6w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this trail gear stashed by the trail, but never did see anyone actually doing trail work. Presumably, they'd be coming back at some point!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge7_vZy6Ob1QcpjOFV0WH-6OSPRPGofkdDUUNONin8B1qgalgelc_izjopj7sI89UeVmUE51sSpDcuK8xOnObV7RJi6jN4nhTHhsNjOLziiXVmMZKm8QZ24gd5OqCsGRBw9TJfrLMzPI3Kd3k6c75_kn9gNx8WYnpoqSgINJF17tYdsf9XagYSu1u3Sw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge7_vZy6Ob1QcpjOFV0WH-6OSPRPGofkdDUUNONin8B1qgalgelc_izjopj7sI89UeVmUE51sSpDcuK8xOnObV7RJi6jN4nhTHhsNjOLziiXVmMZKm8QZ24gd5OqCsGRBw9TJfrLMzPI3Kd3k6c75_kn9gNx8WYnpoqSgINJF17tYdsf9XagYSu1u3Sw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMk2rPHcT-V4wS_Xy3ARbUhPy0Q5f0LGebqt1jITuswhl8CarWjXmlVFrJ8BJyx6vuar6Atpj1n2UIBx-XK3Y3yj9wp2PxtOOIiSXfmjqHeSU6prCYadJ2b7Ro2PQ0Q6fle4PKyoVsklAT8gv1-pwHAv9KTJ4zATqrrF_BYQ1N02dKz-lu2-XgSSQi2g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMk2rPHcT-V4wS_Xy3ARbUhPy0Q5f0LGebqt1jITuswhl8CarWjXmlVFrJ8BJyx6vuar6Atpj1n2UIBx-XK3Y3yj9wp2PxtOOIiSXfmjqHeSU6prCYadJ2b7Ro2PQ0Q6fle4PKyoVsklAT8gv1-pwHAv9KTJ4zATqrrF_BYQ1N02dKz-lu2-XgSSQi2g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOBKaYhW2TiKwwh7NYHshJHAZRjRiYNTtZowcKJRvuzsgJCa5gtp7rcICLS50v0-UqhJLdy2vD1WlRQWlHSx0SVMfwkTPmsYBAO_eZd8t3ulfv4HI9EJAo-v3oULNYFYmMinu8BD_5S-5Z0a2w341ljqPgeWJEktlFRLamYAB7LJgzXi7KkA8u5r628w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOBKaYhW2TiKwwh7NYHshJHAZRjRiYNTtZowcKJRvuzsgJCa5gtp7rcICLS50v0-UqhJLdy2vD1WlRQWlHSx0SVMfwkTPmsYBAO_eZd8t3ulfv4HI9EJAo-v3oULNYFYmMinu8BD_5S-5Z0a2w341ljqPgeWJEktlFRLamYAB7LJgzXi7KkA8u5r628w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That lake in the distance was my Plan B in the event that I couldn't find water at the first location I tried. Fortunately, I found the water fine and didn't have to hike off-trial to get <i>this</i> water!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNGyL1FF61A1g4sL9BrLJ2UWfpIto1kJAIKVe7RMDVKFVKq9zw6wESjmHyWSk73AdCq1-cVCTAw2s1P3XZespPxKCcaImGhH4zNGJRsFcHzYe_eEHevCXY_z2XUhwWIo8DlJRsHJmYm_bfOgIXOK7LzgSOcLxcZoJSgDudQ6vHoCaRTTctHvrraDHjFw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNGyL1FF61A1g4sL9BrLJ2UWfpIto1kJAIKVe7RMDVKFVKq9zw6wESjmHyWSk73AdCq1-cVCTAw2s1P3XZespPxKCcaImGhH4zNGJRsFcHzYe_eEHevCXY_z2XUhwWIo8DlJRsHJmYm_bfOgIXOK7LzgSOcLxcZoJSgDudQ6vHoCaRTTctHvrraDHjFw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRDfj2iOJEt8Olsqihyhzi9iME8bahQl8HEMsJXt00FdHHGQIXCA7QPlQC2xXbc3ZRdzNel55hNkqjr6yzLC7oQmLbrOC1X2vuiBxliBvUmkepqz-Ih8dVGLEOkfo3Z7Wn9zXgHpXnP9wsYK5HXVaEUzW06Xv-Pq0QfUsnCKZFYNu-MYr_BX7ajslpHw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRDfj2iOJEt8Olsqihyhzi9iME8bahQl8HEMsJXt00FdHHGQIXCA7QPlQC2xXbc3ZRdzNel55hNkqjr6yzLC7oQmLbrOC1X2vuiBxliBvUmkepqz-Ih8dVGLEOkfo3Z7Wn9zXgHpXnP9wsYK5HXVaEUzW06Xv-Pq0QfUsnCKZFYNu-MYr_BX7ajslpHw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdxz3W0kZQUknofExC4E2TyP3BAD0jO0_Hk1oRkNqbU7zEa8znSOMVigs27ldv-APSutATfSN0nFf1oFVfZt4Ns4YKAoe8fEIhIqKuDdNMDhkUpPiZcQqrmvLPYZB7yTF7Jd83DBOAYK0C0jp2zQ8MAMQN2PDzTtdpwqGomoFoi_8YcmvrtMGUBfxGew" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdxz3W0kZQUknofExC4E2TyP3BAD0jO0_Hk1oRkNqbU7zEa8znSOMVigs27ldv-APSutATfSN0nFf1oFVfZt4Ns4YKAoe8fEIhIqKuDdNMDhkUpPiZcQqrmvLPYZB7yTF7Jd83DBOAYK0C0jp2zQ8MAMQN2PDzTtdpwqGomoFoi_8YcmvrtMGUBfxGew=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg10bzYP9MMh5L_DKPhqkwAvnT75oL5sTvnG7req30O7k6Hp7utFME5VtGfK4o4TmYpcCbmyou3xJ4bGuFV7IwkUBiiNFOMBkMcwleZqBT5ymE18SL2if5hzkJgj74AdZzpkvRemb8RitZ3MLqQW0mc2cuUVFEkpzjAdTfX8WnHorkkwbrAqcgNbgQI-A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg10bzYP9MMh5L_DKPhqkwAvnT75oL5sTvnG7req30O7k6Hp7utFME5VtGfK4o4TmYpcCbmyou3xJ4bGuFV7IwkUBiiNFOMBkMcwleZqBT5ymE18SL2if5hzkJgj74AdZzpkvRemb8RitZ3MLqQW0mc2cuUVFEkpzjAdTfX8WnHorkkwbrAqcgNbgQI-A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5fu6LGvc_smNWE3PXaRJzHNFCycFr9aWlg_cbGsTcG15HRHIZP5zWnG6el3cYjWl2opG6KyL5FnnRlXCkC97BRTAmh-YscyKnuZ60qfb7dDFNZ7slATpsiMy8Sl7iYeq0UbHcN3N2ekcOmaGAdKpTm791n7u7h0E4RVqXhQDI6oNBwPWfYFjzUuGWbw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5fu6LGvc_smNWE3PXaRJzHNFCycFr9aWlg_cbGsTcG15HRHIZP5zWnG6el3cYjWl2opG6KyL5FnnRlXCkC97BRTAmh-YscyKnuZ60qfb7dDFNZ7slATpsiMy8Sl7iYeq0UbHcN3N2ekcOmaGAdKpTm791n7u7h0E4RVqXhQDI6oNBwPWfYFjzUuGWbw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs of autumn! The red is thick in the underbrush!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm5MIHvLQ1h46bARb8qyKK7-yF-NcvzbCmyf5-L9W9aKXHI13z-UiWUOuNooEeOae4R-4TNN8BCzznTP9NVBAWQycfbx8WEAB2u6qLZh_zweN7sfvPO9xML7teLgkLQyvfDqYFB_s27fXRfx6B1imcnhdW3FD3DBC_TFrBqngH6QZK8FAoRUw24tmkbA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm5MIHvLQ1h46bARb8qyKK7-yF-NcvzbCmyf5-L9W9aKXHI13z-UiWUOuNooEeOae4R-4TNN8BCzznTP9NVBAWQycfbx8WEAB2u6qLZh_zweN7sfvPO9xML7teLgkLQyvfDqYFB_s27fXRfx6B1imcnhdW3FD3DBC_TFrBqngH6QZK8FAoRUw24tmkbA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdBIcoSD0k07idLSGg1mpaop7lM3chS0eelaXuBMqYjb8zJXrwH_pQQggyUOKnWmutMv12-m_dGc1__wcYxvmEQXi35BehkcXy3bebQ7sxVCvHlYOVrtJylpTF3Y7zsARF9YKfdnhZU3xi3_FJkimAFjm4PXy7THoHV-zDoJ65fA6KzizoTKYCziU23w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdBIcoSD0k07idLSGg1mpaop7lM3chS0eelaXuBMqYjb8zJXrwH_pQQggyUOKnWmutMv12-m_dGc1__wcYxvmEQXi35BehkcXy3bebQ7sxVCvHlYOVrtJylpTF3Y7zsARF9YKfdnhZU3xi3_FJkimAFjm4PXy7THoHV-zDoJ65fA6KzizoTKYCziU23w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Dearborn River, Montana, USA47.180455462816766 -112.081600098180118.870221626637921 -147.2378500981801 75.490689298995619 -76.9253500981801tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-74731321536411809732022-09-07T05:00:00.195-07:002022-09-07T05:00:00.181-07:00Day 142: The Yurt Above Rogers Pass<p><i>September 9</i>: The morning was beautiful and I slept well during the night. I slept in late, mostly so I could hike back down with Addie and Sean to Rogers Pass where they had parked their vehicle. I was accustomed to waking up earlier than they were, however, so I read my Kindle to kill the time until they were ready to get up and moving.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA7JKWkmUfGb_uhnI9vlFjlH3tUkHqRHbe9VzpcrOB4zs3gf3vdkCgk_B9x0U3Y_u8KpN_QEO7DC-P--7V75gEDGQFFphLg6634VlZR-vQP8CQCCocJ4yjWCa2E2BWRQ6ccNaT5yZeVuTcvspprc3eWcLmnI4kqBnn0NKcp6FyqGU9_1Tku9ZaSzLqqA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA7JKWkmUfGb_uhnI9vlFjlH3tUkHqRHbe9VzpcrOB4zs3gf3vdkCgk_B9x0U3Y_u8KpN_QEO7DC-P--7V75gEDGQFFphLg6634VlZR-vQP8CQCCocJ4yjWCa2E2BWRQ6ccNaT5yZeVuTcvspprc3eWcLmnI4kqBnn0NKcp6FyqGU9_1Tku9ZaSzLqqA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twas a beautiful sunrise!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As soon as we left the protective cover of the trees, the brutal wind showed itself once again. It had not died down during the night and continued to pull at us as strongly as ever, and it would continue to do so throughout the rest of the day.<p></p><p>The trail dropped a long 1,300' (400 m) to Rogers Pass, which we reached after less than 3 miles according to my GPS. The group of us sat around for about two more hours just chatting and having a good old time. Not that I needed a two-hour break after hiking less than 3 miles, but this was where we would part ways. So we took a long break and sat around for the next two hours just chatting and having a good old time.</p><p>A sign in a parking lot told the story about the coldest temperature ever recorded in the contiguous United States. On January 20, 1954, a low temperature of -70 °F (-57 °C) was recorded. I couldn't even imagine temperatures that low, and I was glad I didn't have to camp in such extreme conditions! Of course, it was still summer rather than the depths of January. That would make a big difference, and I definitely wouldn't have been hiking through in the middle of January.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfN3VH7-AbzU13nto-Pe1K0oD-jLQ7zLJ1gIeRcr5PqRyV-zJJNzHheE-RC1J6ghU9TYSuwUFR3OEHNt18Lbff3P3vvMiB2n7bHNyhRMxCRANTfQvsqGxzf1qaikPgw_Jhd2P2ZI6MDI8HCzf5poNl8Lb4OV8NsishJB78velAJpbuAaHv60h6eAGA_g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfN3VH7-AbzU13nto-Pe1K0oD-jLQ7zLJ1gIeRcr5PqRyV-zJJNzHheE-RC1J6ghU9TYSuwUFR3OEHNt18Lbff3P3vvMiB2n7bHNyhRMxCRANTfQvsqGxzf1qaikPgw_Jhd2P2ZI6MDI8HCzf5poNl8Lb4OV8NsishJB78velAJpbuAaHv60h6eAGA_g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coldest temperature ever recorded in the contiguous United States was recorded at this pass. A whopping -70 °F! Isn't Antarctica usually warmer than that?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>A little before noon, we finally went our separate ways. Addie and Sean filled me up with more trail magic out of their car, including fresh water that I didn't have to pull from the creek leading up to the parking lot. I was a little sad to be parting ways, though. I really enjoyed their company.</p><p>Out of Roger Pass, the trail climbed steeply up the next mountain. It was going to be another day of very rough and rugged terrain. In all, my GPS would once again record over 10,000 feet of elevation gain and loss--all in less than 18 miles. This trail is rougher than Colorado was!<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpFSCTD5k_vIY9zC6fuwtg2Nk5WEVngvXkJv4Ep2URUaBm6uz6OMbcridAInhHFft5_KZ_w-BP2P_fuNoL2jU8McuZrXDk_RZhridBMB-af4K-xU8m81QBJKjhU2YAh87XZPasdH8NXj7x892iPjpMFh4VxvIv-_ErbA1VfnEfuoGvaIsinH7-eRNoCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpFSCTD5k_vIY9zC6fuwtg2Nk5WEVngvXkJv4Ep2URUaBm6uz6OMbcridAInhHFft5_KZ_w-BP2P_fuNoL2jU8McuZrXDk_RZhridBMB-af4K-xU8m81QBJKjhU2YAh87XZPasdH8NXj7x892iPjpMFh4VxvIv-_ErbA1VfnEfuoGvaIsinH7-eRNoCg=s16000" /></a></div><p></p><p>A couple of hours into my hike, I reached a yurt on the trail that was open to hikers. I went in for a quick break and it was absolutely wonderful. It make a terrific place for a quick snack out of the powerful winds. I wished I could have slept there, but since I had arrived at 1:00 in the afternoon, it was much too early for me to stop for the day. Anyhow, I hadn't even covered 10 miles yet. It was definitely way too early for me to stop for the day, but what a comfortable setup!</p><p>I found a headlamp in a portable chair. It was in the cup that was meant to hold drinks. I had little doubt it was left by a thru-hiker who probably camped here during the night and forgot to pick it up on his way out, but I had no idea who it might have been or how long ago it had been left. I thought about grabbing it, but I really didn't need the extra weight and with little chance of catching up to the owner, it seemed pointless, so I left it behind.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdd5J3gG1CgLVCuK7pNyFccQ1Hi2B8zJClNxCpQr5pUEiApvJ4f021plsPY_HxBMYmhQDhvoiYC88wBpgGlJiDDIqljc4tXtcGrzHjq7na3PaSuN5YPKuecZkbloXJvz6dfkljprKRY5jBpGGBMn7Rh6WxnKNPiyHg5kedBffcKGE8FAcqayopIhGb_w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdd5J3gG1CgLVCuK7pNyFccQ1Hi2B8zJClNxCpQr5pUEiApvJ4f021plsPY_HxBMYmhQDhvoiYC88wBpgGlJiDDIqljc4tXtcGrzHjq7na3PaSuN5YPKuecZkbloXJvz6dfkljprKRY5jBpGGBMn7Rh6WxnKNPiyHg5kedBffcKGE8FAcqayopIhGb_w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yurt on the trail!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A couple of days later, I would catch up with Jazz Hands who then asked me if I happened to notice the headlamp in the yurt. "Yes! That was yours?!" It was indeed. Then I felt bad for not grabbing it. I really could have returned it to its owner! It seemed like such a long shot that I'd ever have found the owner, and I certainly didn't think it had been left there just that morning. For all I knew, it could have been there for a week or more. Oh, well.... He told me that he didn't realize it was missing until it starting getting late that night and was a bit panicked about having lost it. He often hiked at night and needed the headlamp for that. Oh... well.... Just make me feel even more guilty for not picking it up, why don't you? =)</p><p>Anyhow, I pushed onward, passing a second structure not far away, although it was decidedly less cozy than the yurt. The other structure had no windows to let in light and was barren of amenities like chairs and tables. I poked my head in to see what it looked like, but I didn't stop.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdaf3FeXPSVKByt3GJAlviNu-e0rK_G_oTXgLD0Lykahb62O0aClw9PxABowwweQIKHuVT8zBqsD9NBvHd7lHfc_Gjq08MBcDOmRVFMTLVsET5nNRchcbwYjo0wOSGubixTYpdk_mB7JGCDt8JEDSTT2dod3aVrQdZsxV8jRWmiJwq1TRM98USL2trxg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdaf3FeXPSVKByt3GJAlviNu-e0rK_G_oTXgLD0Lykahb62O0aClw9PxABowwweQIKHuVT8zBqsD9NBvHd7lHfc_Gjq08MBcDOmRVFMTLVsET5nNRchcbwYjo0wOSGubixTYpdk_mB7JGCDt8JEDSTT2dod3aVrQdZsxV8jRWmiJwq1TRM98USL2trxg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A non-yurt on the trail! This was much less cozy than the yurt, though.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Onward and onward! At Lewis and Clark Pass, I decided to skip the water source located about 1/4-mile off trail. It sounded like somewhat of a pain to get to, and I figured I could reach the next water source without stopping here. I had been undecided about whether I'd stop for water here until the moment I reached the pass. The next reliable water was another 10 miles down the trail--a distance that I knew I would not reach today. But the idea of spending a half hour or more off trail picking up water was discouraging, and I figured if I rationed my water, I could make it to the next water source just fine.</p><p>I had a few things working in my favor. For one, I still had leftover pizza from yesterday for dinner, so I didn't need water to cook a meal. And second, temperatures had been quite mild--at least after considering the wind chill--so I hadn't really been drinking very much. So with a bit of rationing, I should have no trouble skipping this source. Although in hindsight, I wished I had carried more water from Rogers Pass so I didn't have to ration the water at all. I'd definitely be a little thirsty when I did reach the next water source 10 miles away.</p><p>As the day went on, the smoke in the skies got thicker and thicker. By sunset, visibility had dropped significantly. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdEen4f4SOEc5jPDEZwBEqMi8Es4OA1W5y43Pvyb_V-ixLOz9RXOgdCKqVYEYrg4V4fFThjAf6NUNpgpQIx0hPJY3LJX06ooFlYRtoGKfm5U-n19cpP5ic-h6OGM7P3F3WRmoT2l4YNcdZnAgZ_VekGYSYrmaQeAef_XTjfZPnMM6ybWhBl_IjsyWj3g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdEen4f4SOEc5jPDEZwBEqMi8Es4OA1W5y43Pvyb_V-ixLOz9RXOgdCKqVYEYrg4V4fFThjAf6NUNpgpQIx0hPJY3LJX06ooFlYRtoGKfm5U-n19cpP5ic-h6OGM7P3F3WRmoT2l4YNcdZnAgZ_VekGYSYrmaQeAef_XTjfZPnMM6ybWhBl_IjsyWj3g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoke in the sky was often so thick, it almost looked like fog in my photos!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Then, just before sunset, I finally stopped and set up camp on a ridgetop among some small trees that helped break the wind. If it wasn't for all the smoke, the views might have actually been quite nice!</p><p>And thus ended another day of adventuring. Despite my slow and late start in the morning, I still managed to push out about 18 miles for the day--the vast majority of it coming after noon. I did hike much later into the evening than I usually did to help compensate for my lack of hiking in the morning, but it all turned out pretty well over all. =)</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibs1_AFTSIPGvuJXEM2V3rKMyu7Zc9eER0qYqCz2OJ3wAkWcikZW80M44U3inF9CHNiUpDXmg3ll5IAxUQN-4hkki5UTlHpPy8npbqsW_kpPAukjzX0G-9LnYm7EkGKWL-gQNovJKOk2SQdF_sMVcAgOh8F7Gq6-5AveMzsdtUjTdiBnQKcISlYA3UDw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibs1_AFTSIPGvuJXEM2V3rKMyu7Zc9eER0qYqCz2OJ3wAkWcikZW80M44U3inF9CHNiUpDXmg3ll5IAxUQN-4hkki5UTlHpPy8npbqsW_kpPAukjzX0G-9LnYm7EkGKWL-gQNovJKOk2SQdF_sMVcAgOh8F7Gq6-5AveMzsdtUjTdiBnQKcISlYA3UDw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Addie's dogs seemed to prefer hiking with me than her! =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQVDughPwQnxnbKFCBORf_DufFTcsPPjak2ZNRA55HkmrCN0vHxkQ4ni7xki44_dGZbVj2vT0ZGnKR-j69lTZajSLi48UHydvQOL8m2OBbYJbEGbhlcKX0pFZZEImA-6EtZ6qdYuZDpZipsjdwlx8pF5-XSBmPSLv8tEodiCVlbNcaPcD9QBr-dImDrw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQVDughPwQnxnbKFCBORf_DufFTcsPPjak2ZNRA55HkmrCN0vHxkQ4ni7xki44_dGZbVj2vT0ZGnKR-j69lTZajSLi48UHydvQOL8m2OBbYJbEGbhlcKX0pFZZEImA-6EtZ6qdYuZDpZipsjdwlx8pF5-XSBmPSLv8tEodiCVlbNcaPcD9QBr-dImDrw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJqK2f_FmKgDYD98ERJX3FJD0LIKrNpDDeWY78gI7p3qz16I_skzsfbjtRlH427rwYV9KFb3rcSyRc930RARWglfmwjmrhelHV9sOG70xOINWVC2iTeivyjsxHETEI3626MWo_W3CXNMACJWl6nRL17z6P1oj-sPkVVoMufSYLbNCeI8YnQRyBTGC_2Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJqK2f_FmKgDYD98ERJX3FJD0LIKrNpDDeWY78gI7p3qz16I_skzsfbjtRlH427rwYV9KFb3rcSyRc930RARWglfmwjmrhelHV9sOG70xOINWVC2iTeivyjsxHETEI3626MWo_W3CXNMACJWl6nRL17z6P1oj-sPkVVoMufSYLbNCeI8YnQRyBTGC_2Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger Pass<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihWaX_bw_u2eNjEsk948ohcYoMszfDfQ3FNUwa_vOAX1DAaQ8HQiGFZmN0F1h05ECf1mI3JcX97DsNjv7hbDFFWXxUREtpWyFeJ2fQBfAiPrg-PrvSA7H8uy-eCYW2iN0bsVlmGDyq4THFBAlWPDfj5mIAV1_mxJTyEPk5r4YPK-goM_S7X_JhgeRB1Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihWaX_bw_u2eNjEsk948ohcYoMszfDfQ3FNUwa_vOAX1DAaQ8HQiGFZmN0F1h05ECf1mI3JcX97DsNjv7hbDFFWXxUREtpWyFeJ2fQBfAiPrg-PrvSA7H8uy-eCYW2iN0bsVlmGDyq4THFBAlWPDfj5mIAV1_mxJTyEPk5r4YPK-goM_S7X_JhgeRB1Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFLDssEtfQYdcjBpDf3MS1f4KJ5ivVJXwvmPs5CaECUppYgPMIbHpW7KH_GXRRvhYv2PxlHNDMh3B2plHU6H5K44-CNFwk7WMTWRubNIPE6FmjSxfPPFgOeVjUEV9cQGznoHafjTgonw45-famAJlrN7XfhQHd2eh1yo6ZreT4W_yIWiFW879cK7c09Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFLDssEtfQYdcjBpDf3MS1f4KJ5ivVJXwvmPs5CaECUppYgPMIbHpW7KH_GXRRvhYv2PxlHNDMh3B2plHU6H5K44-CNFwk7WMTWRubNIPE6FmjSxfPPFgOeVjUEV9cQGznoHafjTgonw45-famAJlrN7XfhQHd2eh1yo6ZreT4W_yIWiFW879cK7c09Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the yurt<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjboRNWPpyY8VhT9NjBZDYeGbKklQTcCXLvP5RERBYM7yyYvWP7Cpkyj2pcTODkpVIGLgj77_xd5fJ0485axjSLErB4RlVboUSs6XjBKC7c5HtNb2b6LVlNzyT_FHIU1Z5wi1DoRKGiUSWLQQ-kfKdPifnex5BTBwtP6yNjoXtVLj7zt-u7H4sZIljQcg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjboRNWPpyY8VhT9NjBZDYeGbKklQTcCXLvP5RERBYM7yyYvWP7Cpkyj2pcTODkpVIGLgj77_xd5fJ0485axjSLErB4RlVboUSs6XjBKC7c5HtNb2b6LVlNzyT_FHIU1Z5wi1DoRKGiUSWLQQ-kfKdPifnex5BTBwtP6yNjoXtVLj7zt-u7H4sZIljQcg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJDioA7O4uNqbtYTeF90g0IwR2i5z-_-yFvuntplEEIijSifNkkULw1SDJ041r8Tq9Iw1jx4h1Wj-0bmw80WP-gLvFOdH089qlE3YFLqtx3TVm_tHa2MHDXMX0tw9MKArBwjVaGiKEn5I3mgYCY9DKyVmp7spBXT6cd0UIpXoRa5qeeNee-1QfsN-rBg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJDioA7O4uNqbtYTeF90g0IwR2i5z-_-yFvuntplEEIijSifNkkULw1SDJ041r8Tq9Iw1jx4h1Wj-0bmw80WP-gLvFOdH089qlE3YFLqtx3TVm_tHa2MHDXMX0tw9MKArBwjVaGiKEn5I3mgYCY9DKyVmp7spBXT6cd0UIpXoRa5qeeNee-1QfsN-rBg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smoke was so thick, I could get this photo of the sun in the middle of the day!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdFIikJrZr3VkhT3g7vC6uOH59GaBBmKX_RG-pBwVx-ht_99YQrqKKyjRmeysv7_EPgqMW65KuufrngENRvd_nh5jw0nmEqXAK5MISZhwfkZh-plamQHhXpYsB-d41QD5gySCzIfNu4KRwOjjJUWv_2roWkXdmeoZ9cwdO1qTqIwiGU9dEUlgjB7n9fg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdFIikJrZr3VkhT3g7vC6uOH59GaBBmKX_RG-pBwVx-ht_99YQrqKKyjRmeysv7_EPgqMW65KuufrngENRvd_nh5jw0nmEqXAK5MISZhwfkZh-plamQHhXpYsB-d41QD5gySCzIfNu4KRwOjjJUWv_2roWkXdmeoZ9cwdO1qTqIwiGU9dEUlgjB7n9fg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFoFYeNsSox0CfvfnuGUb1JI4lBzh4_0kVim5tbCk6_8jxJCA7mMol_UcZq4fDWFAghIlllJnV6SNMheVADgYwvJJDvr1s91octJqZWqdy-YvF7xPqGJiKrnNakLxuAZmwKbYXiT5oB1vr0nckgvvCNCriG0Lg9EdctHiEqPD8sq8xkGUn5Nk35KvxMQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFoFYeNsSox0CfvfnuGUb1JI4lBzh4_0kVim5tbCk6_8jxJCA7mMol_UcZq4fDWFAghIlllJnV6SNMheVADgYwvJJDvr1s91octJqZWqdy-YvF7xPqGJiKrnNakLxuAZmwKbYXiT5oB1vr0nckgvvCNCriG0Lg9EdctHiEqPD8sq8xkGUn5Nk35KvxMQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com1Rogers Pass, Montana 59639, USA47.0763322 -112.37057718.766098363821158 -147.526827 75.386566036178849 -77.214327tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-6233339143252094942022-09-05T05:00:00.238-07:002022-09-05T05:00:00.181-07:00Day 141: A Trail Reunion! Addie Returns!<p><i>September 8</i>: I slept well during the night, woke up early, and hit the trail running by 6:50am. The only annoying part for me was that it was still before sunrise! Why is the sun rising so late?! Argh!</p><p>I passed the campsite where Jazz Hands stopped for the night about an hour later. He was awake, but didn't seem in any particular rush to get moving quite yet. =)<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvNy-bkrj2QAfIvwJBId2mMvCARyseUDI-wuEOw6M5b3Pi0Vz9DREH4-gqoNtKXt2i6x-B36r9hE2a3e76pw3flYh-70PIZcDIAzKE4lkMQ7_roCVN3hg-bzClCLl9KuK62-KIRRb3uajzlBO6-reJnKIsTcfaTFsiFnnNTRQjjMSJiTY8oJgrzmL2Pg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvNy-bkrj2QAfIvwJBId2mMvCARyseUDI-wuEOw6M5b3Pi0Vz9DREH4-gqoNtKXt2i6x-B36r9hE2a3e76pw3flYh-70PIZcDIAzKE4lkMQ7_roCVN3hg-bzClCLl9KuK62-KIRRb3uajzlBO6-reJnKIsTcfaTFsiFnnNTRQjjMSJiTY8oJgrzmL2Pg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started hiking before sunrise once again. Why?! Why won't the sun come up sooner anymore?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />At Fletcher Pass, I needed to pick up some water. There was a water cache at the pass by the trail, but it only had about a half-liter of water left and I didn't expect to find anymore water for the rest of the day. I definitely needed more than that, so I trudged off-trail, down a steep slope about 20 minutes to a small creek where I could fill up with water.<p></p><p>Being the last known water source on the trail for the day, I also decided to cook my dinner there. Use and abuse the water while I could! Otherwise, I'd have to carry water for cooking a meal later, and who needs the extra weight?</p><p>And that's when I realized... an absolutely vital piece of equipment was missing from my pack: my groundsheet! I use it to sleep on, but I'll often use it during the day while taking a break to give me something to sit or lay on rather than directly on the ground itself which is often dirty, has bugs, mud, thorns or other issues. I went to pull out my groundsheet which I planned to sit on while cooking dinner, but I couldn't find it!</p><p>The thought that I left it behind in camp seemed ludicrous. I'd <i>notice</i> if I left something that big behind. I did, however, stop for a short snack break by a log, and I suspected that the ground sheet was sitting next to that log, and the log hid it from me as I left so I didn't realize it was no longer in my pack. Normally I stuffed it near the top of my pack, but I had taken it out just to get it out of the way, and I feared it simply never made it back in.</p><p>But that had happened hours earlier. The idea of backtracking in the <i>hopes</i> of finding it.... no! I couldn't do it!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVPro8rVGnNooI6A9uYtz_icygIRnKNnZRwCNoblEB_CWQ9bS1hPbd9n_U8gwuiIZias88tlbg6PI-B-WwppJyGTIhmh5LlrDHuvORv89lmbCiGBGK2-hiMm7DCvFrgsyxcWHePkf432VKOpvrix7W4T243s9VzMcCkK_fEczbWfDBgndVULGfAcsD3Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVPro8rVGnNooI6A9uYtz_icygIRnKNnZRwCNoblEB_CWQ9bS1hPbd9n_U8gwuiIZias88tlbg6PI-B-WwppJyGTIhmh5LlrDHuvORv89lmbCiGBGK2-hiMm7DCvFrgsyxcWHePkf432VKOpvrix7W4T243s9VzMcCkK_fEczbWfDBgndVULGfAcsD3Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water cache at Fletcher Pass just didn't have enough water for me, so I trekked a mile down a steep slope, off-trail, to get water at a creek. Ugh!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />But I had a thought. Although still hiking the trail, I kept in touch with my trail family, occasionally dropping a line to Addie, Pez and Evenstar. Addie had gotten off the trail way back in New Mexico, but she lived in Montana so I'd send her a message whenever I reached or passed a trail town just to let her know where I was, and she had texted me back a few days ago that she had time off of work and could come out to meet me on the trail--today! Well, this evening!<p></p><p>So we were planning to meet up this evening. She had asked me if there was anything I needed, but at the time, I didn't. Now, suddenly, I was in desperate need of a new groundsheet. And, as it happened, at Fletcher Pass, I got a cell phone signal. I gave Addie a call.</p><p>I told her about my predicament and asked if she could pick up a new groundsheet for me. Basically, I just wanted some Tyvek. It was relatively cheap, lightweight and durable and could probably be found in just about any hardware store. She said no problem. Awesome!</p><p>I gave her an update about my progress and my current location at Fletcher Pass. I also said that the easiest way to find me would likely be to park at Rogers Pass and start hiking southbound on the CDT until we crossed paths. I couldn't be certain precisely where I would get a signal throughout the day, but I'd keep her updated as best I could. I did give her the URL where she could track me with my SPOT device, but I'd try to text when I could as well.<br /></p><p>With all that settled, I went ahead with cooking a dinner--although I sat directly on the grass on the ground rather than on a groundsheet.</p><p>After finishing lunch, I hiked back up to the actual pass--a rather steep and exhausting climb which took another half-hour just to get back to where I left the trail. And finally, I was on my way again.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWh-3TWH9Q5epO2ZSU53p5AT-v7tL8DDKKTycEmhP11DxX8cszxdYZCrUIAl0-uEWklbBxmgsRi7ZR4EFqCkYHPBohwSXIitrDKk4dHYByjqf6RAt5Sd6nwUTdUvXhoWqoe_eKdxEH6PDJEwDyMh67uHhMaETF92vNKhaQFLZya3fjuLECQZZzxrSfrw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWh-3TWH9Q5epO2ZSU53p5AT-v7tL8DDKKTycEmhP11DxX8cszxdYZCrUIAl0-uEWklbBxmgsRi7ZR4EFqCkYHPBohwSXIitrDKk4dHYByjqf6RAt5Sd6nwUTdUvXhoWqoe_eKdxEH6PDJEwDyMh67uHhMaETF92vNKhaQFLZya3fjuLECQZZzxrSfrw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was water, but it was located nearly a mile off-trail down this slope. *sigh*<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>The trail continued climbing quite steeply after the pass, high into the mountains.</p><p>To the west, a wall of smoke was quickly blowing in. I could see it marching toward me, and the winds on the exposed ridges practically blew me off the trail. Holy cow! I didn't know where the wildfire was burning, but there was definitely a lot of smoke blowing toward me. It was a little odd watching it approach closer with each passing minute.</p><p>Along the high-mountain ridges, I occasionally checked my phone and when I had a signal, texted Addie with my current position. I didn't hear back immediately, though, but it could very well have been that she was out of range on the drive to the trailhead.</p><p>Late in the day, about 2.5 miles before descending to Rogers Pass, I spotted a couple of hikers with dogs heading in my direction and I immediately recognized Addie.</p><p>"Addie!" I shouted over the punishing winds. She was with Sean, her significant other, and her dogs. I was expecting them as well, but it was the first time I met any of them.</p><p>It was late in the day and time to set up camp. Addie and Sean reported that there were no good campsites in the direction they had come from, and on this exposed ridge, the wind was a real problem. A few minutes earlier, however, I passed a small grove of trees that seemed to work well as a wind break and suggested backtracking a few minutes to that location which I pointed out in the distance.</p><p>Addie seemed a bit skeptical that such a small grouping of trees could really provide much wind cover, but I had literally just hiked right through it a few minutes earlier and could definitely tell it worked well. It didn't eliminate all of the wind, but at least it was tolerable, and there were some relatively flat spots for campsites. It could work. Frankly, it was the best place for camping I had seen in miles, and if there was nothing good ahead, it was really the only option we had.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqPnAXjDkMskdk20dgA_wpmghOBnGvlBefoaZp-MChvnOhJfb7qFlLqVEUkQeekssbbRIyKWhlOrHZPIGBlqOOrUwKFF2SUZMSsFxybhk38hXaMGsgzP5fQYMEOgeuPrmOQRWizdmaDBTBZNt5U58XjNPhQM1Ovg3xaVtInNXJ5KCRJsMfq_uf2PrWmQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqPnAXjDkMskdk20dgA_wpmghOBnGvlBefoaZp-MChvnOhJfb7qFlLqVEUkQeekssbbRIyKWhlOrHZPIGBlqOOrUwKFF2SUZMSsFxybhk38hXaMGsgzP5fQYMEOgeuPrmOQRWizdmaDBTBZNt5U58XjNPhQM1Ovg3xaVtInNXJ5KCRJsMfq_uf2PrWmQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a lot of good places to camp on these exposed ridges in such strong winds!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>So we hoofed it over there and immediately upon getting into the trees, the wind died down dramatically. "Wow!" Addie seemed amazed at the difference.</p><p>We quickly set up our camps in the area. I decided to cowboy camp since the weather overnight was expected to be fine, so it didn't take me long. Addie pulled out a long sheet of Tyvek, which I laid out as my new groundsheet. Perfect! It was so perfect that we had planned to meet up just as I needed this essential piece of equipment replaced! Somewhat ironically, if I had lost it a day earlier, I could have also easily replaced it at Dave the outfitters--although I suspect he only sold "real" groundsheets rather than the cheap Tyvek I wanted. Still, in a pinch, I definitely would have bought one.<br /></p><p>But Addie and Sean had also brought some additional trail magic: pizza (veggie), salad, Cokes, cookies and oranges. It was a <i>feast!</i> I pigged out and enjoyed every minute of it. What a treat!</p><p>We camped near a nice overlook and wound up chatting until <i>midnight</i>, laughing all night long. I filled Addie in on all my stories since I'd seen her last, and she filled me in on her stories after we last saw each other in Silver City. Silver City seemed like a lifetime ago at this point, but it felt like we'd only been apart for a couple of days rather than several months! Sean and the dogs were nice company too, although Sean might have felt a bit left out not knowing all of the other hikers we talked about. Well, he might have known <i>about</i> them since I'm sure he heard stories from Addie, but he didn't <i>know</i> them--not on a personal level like Addie did.</p><p>But it was so much fun catching up with Addie and sharing our stories. Even at midnight, I didn't really want to stop chatting, but we did have to wake up again in the morning sometime!</p><p>The trail had been a pretty rough day for me as well. My GPS once again recorded over 10,000 feet of elevation change, but all-in-all, I absolutely loved the day. The views were great, and the company at the end of the day really helped filled my loneliness. =)</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnOSI9L-LvtEASpgmX0l2jbqfqA9Qvskr8CmA2Wpk6xBYjjw6XRrLdqWx4taQiYCXOywOxP8AxloKRcYDgMFsh-ovdVeMAQnN1hlB6w7iTouNmO1Xr4x1Qq8EbIBiPfHFhO24N3Fc9k5Z1o3i7u-eFfXp5mK995xqygAxeYAht1wff86OwmWyRuDBAvg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnOSI9L-LvtEASpgmX0l2jbqfqA9Qvskr8CmA2Wpk6xBYjjw6XRrLdqWx4taQiYCXOywOxP8AxloKRcYDgMFsh-ovdVeMAQnN1hlB6w7iTouNmO1Xr4x1Qq8EbIBiPfHFhO24N3Fc9k5Z1o3i7u-eFfXp5mK995xqygAxeYAht1wff86OwmWyRuDBAvg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I last saw Addie about 2000 miles back in Silver City, NM! She looked pretty much the same, but apparently my beard was a shock for her. Basically, I only had a week of stubble the last time she had seen me. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Shortly after meeting up with Addie, I texted a photo of us to Pez--who I knew was several days ahead of me on the trail--with the caption of "look who I bumped into on the trail!" Of course, it was pre-planned in advance, but I didn't tell Pez that. Seemed funnier to let him think that we just happened to cross paths by accident. (I didn't actually <i>say</i> this, however--I just let him assume it.)<p></p><p>But anyhow, it was an awesome evening and a very satisfying day on the trail.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKgDuxJcgxDiWXe8EKdQU49LgqGpwtwd9JhJcqSdoW86ykr2OMsPjAJd2ob0_IFKY0sueKJfWp3S-KVclauUOL37OBr0RQ0FclVPfJobOCkPEOqCT0DdoO7i54Ar9IXYLJ1Z-5UCMhmpZLL5KGNky2rxwoEpmYNaXRcRcc-mfiWfFYWB_JycLhsrekkw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKgDuxJcgxDiWXe8EKdQU49LgqGpwtwd9JhJcqSdoW86ykr2OMsPjAJd2ob0_IFKY0sueKJfWp3S-KVclauUOL37OBr0RQ0FclVPfJobOCkPEOqCT0DdoO7i54Ar9IXYLJ1Z-5UCMhmpZLL5KGNky2rxwoEpmYNaXRcRcc-mfiWfFYWB_JycLhsrekkw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunset was really quite nice! I thought the clouds looked like they came out of a painting!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKFXXlHvD7aeEyVIRyOFPfsYwJtDS-IDTb4mwhtksMMex59h2K-PR5B92Ue9jKDtXzME7wWpe3CKLZ4lOaa--_0KU43StNoh4MuLy2xim46rqBm4BAUcYG7UXAsghjcjTqGicJz_Augzgq6EMCnNRoN5bDUV-tc6R97EuSxM7xAE-LXEL7uyRl3uHKow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKFXXlHvD7aeEyVIRyOFPfsYwJtDS-IDTb4mwhtksMMex59h2K-PR5B92Ue9jKDtXzME7wWpe3CKLZ4lOaa--_0KU43StNoh4MuLy2xim46rqBm4BAUcYG7UXAsghjcjTqGicJz_Augzgq6EMCnNRoN5bDUV-tc6R97EuSxM7xAE-LXEL7uyRl3uHKow=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn7Y5ulDaQq6ViDbj18NotXSgyHTg5UekXgAd3-TmfLE1OeEx0_8kmE2DL9DUw53dR08RC9mhU3LXSGGpoHlQXk5nup64m-7iJqa_Zji7aHvZr6IN-UMBrtTmjBo94rZ9pmfHDXE8QRFXMdsgYdmq1kEqojEundSVqe6ED7WHCnfwWC35PSGeUvnp3_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhn7Y5ulDaQq6ViDbj18NotXSgyHTg5UekXgAd3-TmfLE1OeEx0_8kmE2DL9DUw53dR08RC9mhU3LXSGGpoHlQXk5nup64m-7iJqa_Zji7aHvZr6IN-UMBrtTmjBo94rZ9pmfHDXE8QRFXMdsgYdmq1kEqojEundSVqe6ED7WHCnfwWC35PSGeUvnp3_Q=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOkjD1TZgbkxHRaBi7RAs-0pSEyR-AHOXK6Fa9DjcagrDRHKxs5m9KynLHAhg3MDjWO1TDw4xOL3jg9bu-TuWcyFdwOEP6ziN5VeGTjokbpY0Edq6wjbEVvlgvMgQbsjQlDQaI0NH-ucntuAVJJD5VQBqRgJKg5CYyhQ386IZH4T7Tma0Ok2Ho-poFOg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOkjD1TZgbkxHRaBi7RAs-0pSEyR-AHOXK6Fa9DjcagrDRHKxs5m9KynLHAhg3MDjWO1TDw4xOL3jg9bu-TuWcyFdwOEP6ziN5VeGTjokbpY0Edq6wjbEVvlgvMgQbsjQlDQaI0NH-ucntuAVJJD5VQBqRgJKg5CYyhQ386IZH4T7Tma0Ok2Ho-poFOg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKvr0cN_gnC8loxpKMF-6xshxT1uAC-uxzYwXah0PiyUvdofJakYfUeIPkwpaOB_kgAVPOwUX3KBIVeGDY_FwjD0fiz1m4Qj-RqFvC_qaECe5H6u82zQJ-B61aCBRvqBUuUD82gbeNJAvH8HW89E9miN77RwHjsEqFM4Aytm5MetX0vkScw0Y-CYZ0yw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKvr0cN_gnC8loxpKMF-6xshxT1uAC-uxzYwXah0PiyUvdofJakYfUeIPkwpaOB_kgAVPOwUX3KBIVeGDY_FwjD0fiz1m4Qj-RqFvC_qaECe5H6u82zQJ-B61aCBRvqBUuUD82gbeNJAvH8HW89E9miN77RwHjsEqFM4Aytm5MetX0vkScw0Y-CYZ0yw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Fletcher Pass far below. The trail climbed quite steeply to this viewpoint!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi49RORXq1_3JjXIJkPfBaxh6uPyd4BcwpLT7ZPcI0rE9PkojsfXqw1HUXd8sTKsoi3w0DqRP0wL0uPC0B6QxUZgLpUOM6k72w836NhwQwLjYygdQBFfc2lEmdARSeBg3A43pETzDyEn-60IGRQuhPcFNma1POX79hCfbG8XhwG-2h__evYwmJIeKEytA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi49RORXq1_3JjXIJkPfBaxh6uPyd4BcwpLT7ZPcI0rE9PkojsfXqw1HUXd8sTKsoi3w0DqRP0wL0uPC0B6QxUZgLpUOM6k72w836NhwQwLjYygdQBFfc2lEmdARSeBg3A43pETzDyEn-60IGRQuhPcFNma1POX79hCfbG8XhwG-2h__evYwmJIeKEytA=s16000" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8PMrVZdxZd6t0s-bpfO3GfU7ybsHSFW8VGB9ePu9l3nTndGq2CvxcinmqDXzyupv96fZeOAp7SgYzCYk4YM5e0mnvEDl9qVbvsoPslnX4gJj9jqgnqWNKHHtlOt5En--GqjuBZFXfMeIYUzLWtnv4Nbpo1EdVwBq4iSOoRUqZYdBzB6HRUwm9Td1Apw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8PMrVZdxZd6t0s-bpfO3GfU7ybsHSFW8VGB9ePu9l3nTndGq2CvxcinmqDXzyupv96fZeOAp7SgYzCYk4YM5e0mnvEDl9qVbvsoPslnX4gJj9jqgnqWNKHHtlOt5En--GqjuBZFXfMeIYUzLWtnv4Nbpo1EdVwBq4iSOoRUqZYdBzB6HRUwm9Td1Apw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEszbUn0f7_6-BmqiH01xKWFQ3z3ZiGuVljrt6rlqk5_YZa5hA2FSIJjWtu543drfAxK5A3CckZ4BhuavM-gXsJLg_0q3fNacivGSsfH0EArI0p0Zt96OsNKRENCAAq1s413nOqSE_4oyfJrhr2mjfIdD31UnIUopDB2aOwLlBwIRJwB4JqDz5v0Kf2g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEszbUn0f7_6-BmqiH01xKWFQ3z3ZiGuVljrt6rlqk5_YZa5hA2FSIJjWtu543drfAxK5A3CckZ4BhuavM-gXsJLg_0q3fNacivGSsfH0EArI0p0Zt96OsNKRENCAAq1s413nOqSE_4oyfJrhr2mjfIdD31UnIUopDB2aOwLlBwIRJwB4JqDz5v0Kf2g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigVEDMVUxfgz5abVCMVIAj6VSOMI3uFnhLNEFH5EAeV722gKoJ5ZWeAldypmmjyaqBWWwP-aTAZ9RiFLITxGy94bKYIQugntuGt8d7c2G04L9cu2Lf7ttobz8Y5lc2dFit0H1l8WP8VDuP9RoDrJ1iKL5T5E9i91RC8nY7PTFTFh8mc7aEgjqEQjmzIQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigVEDMVUxfgz5abVCMVIAj6VSOMI3uFnhLNEFH5EAeV722gKoJ5ZWeAldypmmjyaqBWWwP-aTAZ9RiFLITxGy94bKYIQugntuGt8d7c2G04L9cu2Lf7ttobz8Y5lc2dFit0H1l8WP8VDuP9RoDrJ1iKL5T5E9i91RC8nY7PTFTFh8mc7aEgjqEQjmzIQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This small cluster of trees was the only decent place to get out of the strong winds for miles in either direction! It would became our campsite for the night.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Rogers Pass, Montana 59639, USA47.0763322 -112.37057718.766098363821158 -147.526827 75.386566036178849 -77.214327tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-20213122097214339722022-09-02T05:00:00.195-07:002022-09-02T05:00:00.192-07:00Day 140: Dead animals in the water... again!<p><i>September 7</i>: I woke up and hit the trail at about 6:50am. It only took a few minutes for me to walk over to the water source that I skipped the evening before hoping the cattle would move away by morning, but alas, that plan didn't work. The cattle were still lingering in the area.</p><p>I really needed water, however, so now it was time to scare them off. Which I did easily enough.</p><p>But when I reached the water tank, I saw that it was almost completely dry with nothing more than an incredibly slow drip from the spring. Watching the drip, I realized it would likely take me an hour or more to collect enough water to get me to the next water source. I really didn't want to wait around for an hour or more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilf67LoROQ9A6aQHB-lFtPz3mjkK-xLhdOA4so5fiEXOVAGgNxAepDJYj-bTuZRJNheofxGkeW522qTz2uJTjqlQsLbYNC_MnExAYdTM2hOw0E6ykcKlj6ttXaZhoBxbE11UskZMKdOMQ-laSRpmiVRzL4iXXVKXqs8F2dumdu9fPMEau6CAlOUmLAqA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilf67LoROQ9A6aQHB-lFtPz3mjkK-xLhdOA4so5fiEXOVAGgNxAepDJYj-bTuZRJNheofxGkeW522qTz2uJTjqlQsLbYNC_MnExAYdTM2hOw0E6ykcKlj6ttXaZhoBxbE11UskZMKdOMQ-laSRpmiVRzL4iXXVKXqs8F2dumdu9fPMEau6CAlOUmLAqA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's water... but how to reach it?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <br />The last Guthook comments about the water source--less than a week old--said it was flowing well, so this turn of events was definitely unexpected. I scratched my head a bit, then noticed a small, fenced-off area nearby. I bet that was the spring that fed this water tank.<p>So I climbed over the fence where I found a large cap covering a hole in the ground filled with that precious liquid called water.</p><p>Well, to say it was "filled" with water might be a bit of an exaggeration. There were a couple of feet of standing water in the hole. The problem, however, was that the surface of the water was about 5 or 6 feet down the tube--well outside of my arm's reach! I also happened to noticed a dead squirrel at the bottom of the water. That had to be a terrible way to die. I imagined the squirrel got a little curious, poked its head into the tube, fell to the bottom, then eventually drowned unable to climb back out. Poor little guy.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn6zwt4COhuVc54lxZC6T--lIm6KmqolMtpIvzd7exEezj1yAXyEeMcf-TFv978Jsww0QhjX5Fbfg8odFuLFu2AzLin-dEXWuF8V_kBS_bF2hQVDfK45O7siABwiVCxdHwQllLoDlaSxWh6rWSLGY6Vjba2xZxwSZTEYCS2PDI-rzowHJ9jjqQVO3L2A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn6zwt4COhuVc54lxZC6T--lIm6KmqolMtpIvzd7exEezj1yAXyEeMcf-TFv978Jsww0QhjX5Fbfg8odFuLFu2AzLin-dEXWuF8V_kBS_bF2hQVDfK45O7siABwiVCxdHwQllLoDlaSxWh6rWSLGY6Vjba2xZxwSZTEYCS2PDI-rzowHJ9jjqQVO3L2A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the dead animal at the bottom of the water? Yum!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>But now he was decomposing in my water source. If I could just somehow reach the water.</p><p>Theoretically, I could just jump into the water. The hole wasn't so deep that I was afraid I'd end up like the squirrel. I could (probably) climb back out. But jumping into the water didn't really appeal to me either.</p><p>Then I hit on an idea. What if I tied a water bottle to my trekking pole and lowered it into the water? Could I fill up with water that way? I actually wasn't sure if it would work, but I figured it was worth a shot.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoomW0QBkgo45Ky7urtAs-ZdBb1sEqroFD3NyWt1cezYnt4qHHWnIBSrptj6Zwyd-tKkdbJmgk8u9UeHnNVGUSJQVjlmcyqW7-BdfF4gh47FrcMntEYENigLYy2Sw7ftqVdfNWgwbGI1pXPOODb9RXa2vRCanLm0yvdehS7XdSHt2msHq7eolglJ7-lA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoomW0QBkgo45Ky7urtAs-ZdBb1sEqroFD3NyWt1cezYnt4qHHWnIBSrptj6Zwyd-tKkdbJmgk8u9UeHnNVGUSJQVjlmcyqW7-BdfF4gh47FrcMntEYENigLYy2Sw7ftqVdfNWgwbGI1pXPOODb9RXa2vRCanLm0yvdehS7XdSHt2msHq7eolglJ7-lA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my plan for getting water out of the hole!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>And it turned out to work flawlessly! When the bottle hit the water, the bottle tried to float up higher on my trekking pole, but it caught on the knobs that locked the length of the trekking pole in place which allowed me to force to the bottle under the water's surface. And when I tried to pull the bottle out, the weight of the water-filled bottle tried to slide off the end of the trekking pole, but the cups at the bottom of the pole prevented it from sliding off.</p><p>So I filled up the water bottle and pulled it out quite easily. I repeated the process a couple of times to get more water, and after I finished, I re-covered the hole with the cover and left a comment on Guthook to let people after me know that the water tank was dry but that there was still water in the spring at the source--if you didn't mind the dead squirrel in it nor the fact that it was well outside of a normal person's reach.</p><p>I didn't get a cell phone connection here, but when I did get a connection, the comment would post and everyone behind me would have that updated information. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvzndThfT9Y5oRGz7qKP8fx3PutSTUUt6YAtPpsUr--ZSCvKvevEwcokv5RBcbR-Zu-X21MozVxzr9RQFWoaqNOTUBqvxTf7x35L85Bdnl7GxAV2fOJ5JuWDKpTrhnXD0BvV8enlrg97aUCDLFoOh5pKIMj8zeeWvYKF4ePrS6YtW4a0JUoePYW5BoQg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvzndThfT9Y5oRGz7qKP8fx3PutSTUUt6YAtPpsUr--ZSCvKvevEwcokv5RBcbR-Zu-X21MozVxzr9RQFWoaqNOTUBqvxTf7x35L85Bdnl7GxAV2fOJ5JuWDKpTrhnXD0BvV8enlrg97aUCDLFoOh5pKIMj8zeeWvYKF4ePrS6YtW4a0JUoePYW5BoQg=s16000" /></a></div><br />Later, I went back and read the Guthook comments about the water source and found someone the day after me who posted that the "chipmunk" was removed from the spring. (I guess it could have been a chipmunk. I didn't see it up close!) TwoSpeed also wrote that "There is a nice cover for the box laying beside it. Please use it to prevent more water flavoring from falling in." I'm a little curious how they got the chipmunk out, though. It seemed like the only way to get it out would be to jump into the hole, but he (she?) wrote they creatively used a trekking pole and some rope to get the water out. Perhaps they were able to lasso the chipmunk with the rope? I may never find out....<br /><p></p><p>Another week later, feralhikes reported that the water is "collectible if you have long arms or an assistant to hold your feet" which also gave me a chuckle. They didn't say which method they used, but I'm not sure anyone had arms long enough just to reach the water! <br /></p><p>Anyhow.... once I'd manage to collect enough water to get me through the day--there were no other water sources expected for about 20 miles or so--I finally got started hiking.</p><p>The day's hike was relatively uneventful. Sometimes it followed real trail. Sometimes it followed gravel roads. It was generally an easy hike, although number of ups and downs surprised me. In all, my GPS recorded about 10,000 feet of ups and downs--which was worse than most days in Colorado. What happened?! Where did all these mountains come from?!</p><p>I did run into one other thru-hiker late in the day, named Jazz Hands. Apparently, we had crossed paths on the Appalachian Trail in 2015, but I have to admit I didn't remember meeting him. We hiked the trail in opposite directions, though, and he remembered my stamp from the trail. He asked me about that last water source, and I told him my adventures about retrieving the water. He didn't realize that the spring was nearby, however, and said that he waited around over an hour collecting enough water from the slow drip. And even then, he hadn't really collected as much as he wanted--only as much as felt he really needed, and it really annoyed me how long it took to get the necessary amount of water.</p><p>Late in the day, near Flesher Pass, we passed an outfitters near the trail. It was... an unusual setup, and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. How could there be an outfitters out in the middle of this gravel road in the middle of nowhere?!</p><p>But there it was. It consisted of portable housing, a tiny place the size of a couple of shipping containers, and it had <i>everything</i>. One person on Guthook joked that you could literally walk in completely naked and buy absolutely everything you needed for a thru-hike, and it wasn't an exaggeration. There was a lot of high-quality goods for any thru-hiker's needs!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI6PjDs5cuDOpUsMB6cIPc8rxYjV4uZp7hqfg_WNz9zuEu4k1ASY0TMwGEV3D0-FEqoTXMS4nr9oD4bci-9isJzUAHut1tS7dAGi_7IwbJeuUS18lWK-Mo2Fsf8tmUusXlInz5qXeHv9NUyr_Vj_UVnbkG5zlEOk0xJMyBxPXz3YCp2d6qyZ182_V7Cw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI6PjDs5cuDOpUsMB6cIPc8rxYjV4uZp7hqfg_WNz9zuEu4k1ASY0TMwGEV3D0-FEqoTXMS4nr9oD4bci-9isJzUAHut1tS7dAGi_7IwbJeuUS18lWK-Mo2Fsf8tmUusXlInz5qXeHv9NUyr_Vj_UVnbkG5zlEOk0xJMyBxPXz3YCp2d6qyZ182_V7Cw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave's outfitters didn't look like much on the outside, but wow! It's a full-fledged REI on the inside!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>The building was off-the-grid. Electricity was supplied from solar panels. I didn't really need any gear, but I did buy three cold drinks and a fig bar and charged my devices. I also cooked dinner at the picnic table in front and threw out my trash. It was a really sweet setup.</p><p>The owner of the establishment was named Dave, and Jazz Hands, him and I chatted for the better part of an hour. It was a wondering little stop.</p><p>Dave said we were more than welcome to camp there, but I wanted to get in a few more miles and pushed onward a bit more.</p><p>A couple of miles later, around 7:00pm, I found a nice, flat spot to camp on a bit of cushy grass. I would have liked to have gone a couple of more miles, but looking at the topo maps ahead, the trail only headed upward and I worried it would soon go above treeline and make it difficult to find a good place to camp out of the wind. And I was <i>sure</i> I wouldn't find a better place to camp than this one. So I decided, somewhat reluctantly, to finally stop for the day. All-in-all, a fine day of hiking!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuMB0jj4NSRvXqRxXZC3fDofs8yxs_wZFlFC4D0BfQ0JjqLb1f2Sh7A-ePfFJ7DvQho766aqeweXzBGHmZnM8FV0ohKx_Hj8-uwLc01G92mkmba5EQ9UOJs9gF2Wtcv82T_WUP26pj1X1ncLtwZV08F0n2lAEDKAAfPaL6p0mEhjbRqA_bs4wse3p5_A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuMB0jj4NSRvXqRxXZC3fDofs8yxs_wZFlFC4D0BfQ0JjqLb1f2Sh7A-ePfFJ7DvQho766aqeweXzBGHmZnM8FV0ohKx_Hj8-uwLc01G92mkmba5EQ9UOJs9gF2Wtcv82T_WUP26pj1X1ncLtwZV08F0n2lAEDKAAfPaL6p0mEhjbRqA_bs4wse3p5_A=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The views from the high points were pretty darned nice!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVKkdnCjppcjp5FZTF6nBxL7QELDVYPol22lxA1JekNDNfCw0ayYjm5MiE56WyMRCyLHUwAtXVMF_DKHMhqriiJBlUVoFEzbLjlFG1pyKkfRqV9e7g_UcvupQ0zE0HOOmDsrZneZrIPm4FSz47Y_tw0eY0CQ-pxN8PLs5FiZK3xfy93LPgLIyO4d-dVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVKkdnCjppcjp5FZTF6nBxL7QELDVYPol22lxA1JekNDNfCw0ayYjm5MiE56WyMRCyLHUwAtXVMF_DKHMhqriiJBlUVoFEzbLjlFG1pyKkfRqV9e7g_UcvupQ0zE0HOOmDsrZneZrIPm4FSz47Y_tw0eY0CQ-pxN8PLs5FiZK3xfy93LPgLIyO4d-dVA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQFPWSpsTRgmCu-i7_Hyr_upcURjMfgxU_roqkz_CNN7axkXcOtttsdHMnslibD2K9bpiwMvKotFl41MYns3mY6KoWAck601WjlMaXhOjNQ5HQRmrxLsPHz6pc-uNqx2PwPkbMRg35YnBMDZcrxC8HFmZ7l5D6FsrUEsRY3i-Rjze29xKGSKLcMkfW_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQFPWSpsTRgmCu-i7_Hyr_upcURjMfgxU_roqkz_CNN7axkXcOtttsdHMnslibD2K9bpiwMvKotFl41MYns3mY6KoWAck601WjlMaXhOjNQ5HQRmrxLsPHz6pc-uNqx2PwPkbMRg35YnBMDZcrxC8HFmZ7l5D6FsrUEsRY3i-Rjze29xKGSKLcMkfW_g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkddwn94Tmn_QRw7vV_u3IPaFQXrI6n9WNziLJ1lqLEsYWgiEIBbNEIijS2TlMteslpiyA26QdTkh0mM8VoeIzLB_7RZO7m_SogohftrBmAkHKTKHGx-ArYTEHNIkXeZhC6Y498ww9nJFU-nno8FVN8p7z6Wg6jTcYiLkT16dx4Lwe0TtF_fENsk1HDA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkddwn94Tmn_QRw7vV_u3IPaFQXrI6n9WNziLJ1lqLEsYWgiEIBbNEIijS2TlMteslpiyA26QdTkh0mM8VoeIzLB_7RZO7m_SogohftrBmAkHKTKHGx-ArYTEHNIkXeZhC6Y498ww9nJFU-nno8FVN8p7z6Wg6jTcYiLkT16dx4Lwe0TtF_fENsk1HDA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg3ROUPbSHOpePC1SxhmfvTlHaBDdMWOHUUkig0O7hPRdJsbAlDkn0Y0kxQGddkSughz8Du3ucv7A0AC863wmMbN2rJyRfbkOPWsdLAbpqNGQ-2r3-TmJwpVm1iu1m_fgJU-oWPuIB1J3uYIL-YvNfydHvT-0NJppXLDNvUQlzO4wUPIUst2zA-3RU9Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg3ROUPbSHOpePC1SxhmfvTlHaBDdMWOHUUkig0O7hPRdJsbAlDkn0Y0kxQGddkSughz8Du3ucv7A0AC863wmMbN2rJyRfbkOPWsdLAbpqNGQ-2r3-TmJwpVm1iu1m_fgJU-oWPuIB1J3uYIL-YvNfydHvT-0NJppXLDNvUQlzO4wUPIUst2zA-3RU9Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old cabin...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxa6-gmn2kIYOOtJJoAU6mYjulT_PulRbc2d7ReiF73REyvvjTccRGCulNTvi6ogI-fUufSDp18TnVwLPOADcY7_NQ_wqmf67GA9CeNwFLGeyXnIdXBCE5QaAYSG8ogg-u1MQzMQQCRjpQp7iJy4TGuN_YDTjQpdiv2_k06dk_cRN04ioXvh9KsWRlVw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxa6-gmn2kIYOOtJJoAU6mYjulT_PulRbc2d7ReiF73REyvvjTccRGCulNTvi6ogI-fUufSDp18TnVwLPOADcY7_NQ_wqmf67GA9CeNwFLGeyXnIdXBCE5QaAYSG8ogg-u1MQzMQQCRjpQp7iJy4TGuN_YDTjQpdiv2_k06dk_cRN04ioXvh9KsWRlVw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlh4wdzNTRCUGcW8ftHAQTsUyHRbdVvkO7xw6vM1xryvNfOG9Z6Y9RPalMsTWPpGq4EW1unzZ31FhnV3n8XKwVGENoCM48Kn7cHzwoke62rhjiICVuILuX_iWc5wbsTmJETBUtZ-hu0GLTSN5bKzo65llgoUeQU0kvFoRdPhbiJDtTEYMDmB4pCov0wg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlh4wdzNTRCUGcW8ftHAQTsUyHRbdVvkO7xw6vM1xryvNfOG9Z6Y9RPalMsTWPpGq4EW1unzZ31FhnV3n8XKwVGENoCM48Kn7cHzwoke62rhjiICVuILuX_iWc5wbsTmJETBUtZ-hu0GLTSN5bKzo65llgoUeQU0kvFoRdPhbiJDtTEYMDmB4pCov0wg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-GShxlWqOkjZR_zBn9mgmglZx03YdYjfp_89KtWDuA9n8uEj4ZYEqpbG2-802KKnHMGkJxXbqs6w3BgQQQG87As0b7WqV4kBjbgrYA1VT8JvhrEUMAKHZeAWwU06wUnTKYU659s5-x5z74l1jW-1VajzE_ZlR8S-Klzr4vjBlxKSJ9pyCiMs8RMuGhg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-GShxlWqOkjZR_zBn9mgmglZx03YdYjfp_89KtWDuA9n8uEj4ZYEqpbG2-802KKnHMGkJxXbqs6w3BgQQQG87As0b7WqV4kBjbgrYA1VT8JvhrEUMAKHZeAWwU06wUnTKYU659s5-x5z74l1jW-1VajzE_ZlR8S-Klzr4vjBlxKSJ9pyCiMs8RMuGhg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I ever share a photo of my official CDT socks? I bought them at the outfitters way back in Leadville, but they still look nice! =) <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com2Flesher Pass Rd, Montana, USA46.9883176 -112.398928745.4748594778162 -114.596194325 48.5017757221838 -110.201663075tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-40920748165253337382022-08-31T05:00:00.002-07:002022-08-31T05:00:00.185-07:00Day 139: Labor Day Laborings<p><i>September 6</i>: I woke and spent much of the morning repacking my food into Ziplocks before packing up my backpack. Afterward, I headed to the front desk where I picked up a voucher for a meal across the street at a restaurant called 1889 where I picked up a sausage burrito and cinnamon roll. Normally, the hotel would offer a complementary breakfast at their restaurant, but their own restaurant was closed since it was Labor Day, so vouchers for the restaurant across the street were being handed out instead.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEmBXmMGvFrRrY_WqJUfDkJJv-F4rTnZ30cpk7svXwpXYHsuY4pvtOS67-ktZjLEjGfDUQU-qIu9S7TBTu8lnQ41s5LjRROn_E1lJXRN5JIJXwoenNV446uC4NOMqOC3HebRWmX32OPNLX1X-RaTEPp_6iffxQFdTBns3tmTVT6YuBxW4xpbJq0IQ6Uw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEmBXmMGvFrRrY_WqJUfDkJJv-F4rTnZ30cpk7svXwpXYHsuY4pvtOS67-ktZjLEjGfDUQU-qIu9S7TBTu8lnQ41s5LjRROn_E1lJXRN5JIJXwoenNV446uC4NOMqOC3HebRWmX32OPNLX1X-RaTEPp_6iffxQFdTBns3tmTVT6YuBxW4xpbJq0IQ6Uw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veering off the highway near MacDonald Pass onto this gravel road.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After that, I gave Barb a call about a ride back to the trail. She's the trail angel I met yesterday who was dropping Just Awesome off back on the trail. I got her voice mail and left a message, but after about an hour of waiting for a callback, I finally gave up and checked out of the motel, preparing the hitchhike the old-fashioned way.<p></p><p>The street in front of the 1889 restaurant was pretty busy and heading in the correct direction, so that was my destination. But as I was walking out to it, Barb called me back and said there was a guy named Bob who could pick me up in about 15 minutes and give me a ride to the trail. Awesome!</p><p>I had already checked out of my motel room and with nowhere else better to go, I said I'd wait for him at a table outside the 1889 restaurant where he picked me up.</p><p>He dropped me off back on MacDonald Pass, and I started hiking by around 9:30am. It was a bit later than I had initially hoped, however, so I decided I would hike rather late. The morning started off with super smoky skies and a stiff wind. I followed the route a short distance downhill along the highway before veering off onto a gravel road where the trail picked up a lot of elevation.</p><p>The rest of the day, the trail varied between gravel roads and real trail. Neither of them were busy with people or vehicles, and I only passed a couple of ATVs once early in the afternoon. Other than that, I had the trail entirely to myself.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-x2QVJ-2qFUg-PFayHu4sVneAMgKF3ukv3sSq9D4jr4oTY5go4B0vgigr6VW_IDS6ZlL04CwZkmzET-fnmstt59JKtfyPd4POuUCStmRdPlfF0o2BklwoM2Z-eDYRZ3t6W6_CzrZiAnxTeZ7p8A_x_jW5pCGYe_qM30qx5WwhoGwhkrfiAC7Z6xNpcQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-x2QVJ-2qFUg-PFayHu4sVneAMgKF3ukv3sSq9D4jr4oTY5go4B0vgigr6VW_IDS6ZlL04CwZkmzET-fnmstt59JKtfyPd4POuUCStmRdPlfF0o2BklwoM2Z-eDYRZ3t6W6_CzrZiAnxTeZ7p8A_x_jW5pCGYe_qM30qx5WwhoGwhkrfiAC7Z6xNpcQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the tops of exposed hills, the winds were especially strong!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br />In the afternoon, the strong winds blew the smoke away which was nice, leaving me with relatively clear, blue skies. The wind stayed annoying strong, however, especially at the highest and most exposed elevations.<p></p><p>My goal for the day was to reach a water source about 20 miles away, but when I got near it, I saw it surrounded with cattle. It was about 7:30pm, however, and although I had hoped to hike another half hour (at a minimum), I figured I may as well stop here. I set up camp nearby among some trees to help break the wind, far enough away from the cattle hoping that they wouldn't bother me during the night. And, if I were lucky, they'd have moved somewhere else to eat greener grass and wouldn't get in my way when I picked up water in the morning. I just didn't want to deal with them if I didn't have to. *fingers crossed* =)</p><p>Thus ended my day of laboring on Labor Day. There are no holidays on the trail. Every day is a work day!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtxbGpXpV2hb6LImTEKZcteHMO2C9XIwsLeBHok4Rh-troGBeXzndqZRg8o75K3DVG1ZLNQH-QVuLpj_KYh8mqB7uknAlJ6WK-iaK_KrCnj537BA901YhmgaFICRHTDYfpMtdNa2VyVkXHuD5tH5GwQcKibuwmSZ9g7tkPTGdGIOCHmRnMQNgquOcq4w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtxbGpXpV2hb6LImTEKZcteHMO2C9XIwsLeBHok4Rh-troGBeXzndqZRg8o75K3DVG1ZLNQH-QVuLpj_KYh8mqB7uknAlJ6WK-iaK_KrCnj537BA901YhmgaFICRHTDYfpMtdNa2VyVkXHuD5tH5GwQcKibuwmSZ9g7tkPTGdGIOCHmRnMQNgquOcq4w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9shtVKYW5mk1s_4l3WZnbZTI2fIiXEvjWW3qsQrPY5jkMugd9CHW16lE-KnZU5hdaGIS6yJ6EMtVcYnge5UQTzxhyEnHEUbeSxT-w8ledvC9DXs2bKK-EGoegZW8qe6_bv3lrUwyuiLMmCYOPzcBbkcFrsGuKGT-hcIU_MD6RycbwPAzlZ-gAa3CucQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9shtVKYW5mk1s_4l3WZnbZTI2fIiXEvjWW3qsQrPY5jkMugd9CHW16lE-KnZU5hdaGIS6yJ6EMtVcYnge5UQTzxhyEnHEUbeSxT-w8ledvC9DXs2bKK-EGoegZW8qe6_bv3lrUwyuiLMmCYOPzcBbkcFrsGuKGT-hcIU_MD6RycbwPAzlZ-gAa3CucQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirt6cj6MxpMro_1kIRrDeEDzE0ApqLlqYXD7NYAbF3xHhCLdaorabLCYJqIBqmVUC4gQhhvUyvJ6QzFamjFUvYLQhn0wYTmy-r_5SGtX8ZUnsmDEp2Tf-xulivwLxqpTzHOmfnZvJd1YgGouecVV9cJxs1geWOQ4n3SywTUkQ6H5Sk0Gl_OhuQr3HaHg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirt6cj6MxpMro_1kIRrDeEDzE0ApqLlqYXD7NYAbF3xHhCLdaorabLCYJqIBqmVUC4gQhhvUyvJ6QzFamjFUvYLQhn0wYTmy-r_5SGtX8ZUnsmDEp2Tf-xulivwLxqpTzHOmfnZvJd1YgGouecVV9cJxs1geWOQ4n3SywTUkQ6H5Sk0Gl_OhuQr3HaHg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWSLEOHchSFzpNxtcRWpVwdhxNW2WRYwRp7Mvmw3bFJ33F9pfB6-7LpMbISTp5riEUXbOd3EJ6vJSst5v7TaRQBoN-a9XlJNtR8eL_lnzl6dIxk2M5A_mCBOheGXMIVgVwMIcd6SbY-1syrJVorThlabAkxmwp8TXySCEyfwN2A4lsVEhIzDhkeeAurw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWSLEOHchSFzpNxtcRWpVwdhxNW2WRYwRp7Mvmw3bFJ33F9pfB6-7LpMbISTp5riEUXbOd3EJ6vJSst5v7TaRQBoN-a9XlJNtR8eL_lnzl6dIxk2M5A_mCBOheGXMIVgVwMIcd6SbY-1syrJVorThlabAkxmwp8TXySCEyfwN2A4lsVEhIzDhkeeAurw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVTQD2iA-GiuBlFAJFBC-0Lv0ULFEF5jpBvnvzna8Sjs-siMOUHXBQi0eb5PrNygyuCQZrAamYOGuHvykn6JlUozveJI8hv51hy0GwxJfKeljxZLYiNuyeEQEhmAfBjTrGUiXjuPbZfDqeyrF1hm6pkSxdhUJ0sJ_r27J2ZB8PN6W0R0dMtSEb6Dcu8g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVTQD2iA-GiuBlFAJFBC-0Lv0ULFEF5jpBvnvzna8Sjs-siMOUHXBQi0eb5PrNygyuCQZrAamYOGuHvykn6JlUozveJI8hv51hy0GwxJfKeljxZLYiNuyeEQEhmAfBjTrGUiXjuPbZfDqeyrF1hm6pkSxdhUJ0sJ_r27J2ZB8PN6W0R0dMtSEb6Dcu8g=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_BuRDRlgJyov9J2w-uV54wlmlDbp1goJfyxxvJQ1ZMknXNpHcQb_6QnL3Irbg2exblNTRiSnS3mV6LqAUpPUSe4Ep8c8HlOzjDl7RZyqhKUuKrQvZ9V5CPo4l6-gynYCfu2SNQ38ULQXmvCCdxhRx23mtPV7ixX3UVNTBHG4F1Rzfo_3ul5Wx8LYcew" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_BuRDRlgJyov9J2w-uV54wlmlDbp1goJfyxxvJQ1ZMknXNpHcQb_6QnL3Irbg2exblNTRiSnS3mV6LqAUpPUSe4Ep8c8HlOzjDl7RZyqhKUuKrQvZ9V5CPo4l6-gynYCfu2SNQ38ULQXmvCCdxhRx23mtPV7ixX3UVNTBHG4F1Rzfo_3ul5Wx8LYcew=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This old railroad trestle doesn't look very safe to use anymore! I hadn't even realized I'd been following an old railroad bed for a bit until I saw this dilapidated trestle next to the trail.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGIb8nVwjN6RFVG5bWbBIxPmha6vfMaScK7POGJ5Oe8Rdd3lARDgEvVxh1utQ2JkosrVViTW8elWiX2oHqfWM69BIoAXPtDncp_VlBsDWFNXJaNEdmqHkDnDIemDh9-yavGd_huEFJDPVVcIhtQb_LCS_cEmRO8nMvt41WdBaI7CZHaqO_yeYq_u37pQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGIb8nVwjN6RFVG5bWbBIxPmha6vfMaScK7POGJ5Oe8Rdd3lARDgEvVxh1utQ2JkosrVViTW8elWiX2oHqfWM69BIoAXPtDncp_VlBsDWFNXJaNEdmqHkDnDIemDh9-yavGd_huEFJDPVVcIhtQb_LCS_cEmRO8nMvt41WdBaI7CZHaqO_yeYq_u37pQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMoBG7MmjkmTGiI0cgMkaEbab2-qs7MI-01nRZmf5i40R27nY72LOre4OCDVRUq4TefAIHikhxS3GOLzeHI3VcVokwD07-CkN44czePLHl5GVscPFyMlTr2pAIrXlCTsOoR3iXlrHKvMG1XJpR4QNd_bYN8gZvTybL0aJn_kjRZJh6KZ9W4jt-Q7q_fw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMoBG7MmjkmTGiI0cgMkaEbab2-qs7MI-01nRZmf5i40R27nY72LOre4OCDVRUq4TefAIHikhxS3GOLzeHI3VcVokwD07-CkN44czePLHl5GVscPFyMlTr2pAIrXlCTsOoR3iXlrHKvMG1XJpR4QNd_bYN8gZvTybL0aJn_kjRZJh6KZ9W4jt-Q7q_fw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBa9J1oRKLY_hq0sgjW99i78O6hPqP7N-ZDC-ZmHC6egihfCxVMydfZGU60gflXkaGZaACf2WNfhCX_I1AUpQTAXa1mbdeemsRo1DDBlPVAIhLGV3pFXcZQcl9swi7HRqLFZ0_-6h3Byowhg2SsUjDQBbapnOt6z5qbI_QdOK0b_4zk0xeMRf6Gw8XZg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBa9J1oRKLY_hq0sgjW99i78O6hPqP7N-ZDC-ZmHC6egihfCxVMydfZGU60gflXkaGZaACf2WNfhCX_I1AUpQTAXa1mbdeemsRo1DDBlPVAIhLGV3pFXcZQcl9swi7HRqLFZ0_-6h3Byowhg2SsUjDQBbapnOt6z5qbI_QdOK0b_4zk0xeMRf6Gw8XZg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijpZ820mDfRFD6w5JgNE2uB8z6DAj7ZdszWPz6wFYrIbdeUJFR9RLdrOTzDi5_Q-68hD_KdKsYNDuq0bsLjPnUpP5F3aRrA8UeL3qji8qqwSeNCuSgiXc1RpiEOu0zAT3B3eopJSHrD94S93ukyv_SPb5OLbTZVrsrswGLX3JLq7ud3xdHhJ3IxIWoLA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijpZ820mDfRFD6w5JgNE2uB8z6DAj7ZdszWPz6wFYrIbdeUJFR9RLdrOTzDi5_Q-68hD_KdKsYNDuq0bsLjPnUpP5F3aRrA8UeL3qji8qqwSeNCuSgiXc1RpiEOu0zAT3B3eopJSHrD94S93ukyv_SPb5OLbTZVrsrswGLX3JLq7ud3xdHhJ3IxIWoLA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDxlcn97-Yuq9UAucoiJ-1EkO25udoQ0NAQvvJQdMqDmhbrmt_ITnHZ4wDuC_dDylkk_Sv-Y08ZR9zI3QQae6c7joHwsVd2TbzYgAjx6Y-kTWTpA9hIAhh9d4qv9EQLv2wxuTA1_7AddAECWN_xgC5k8DtOH3K_MJcojr62kteDBnRB-9lPUwctrpMow"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDxlcn97-Yuq9UAucoiJ-1EkO25udoQ0NAQvvJQdMqDmhbrmt_ITnHZ4wDuC_dDylkk_Sv-Y08ZR9zI3QQae6c7joHwsVd2TbzYgAjx6Y-kTWTpA9hIAhh9d4qv9EQLv2wxuTA1_7AddAECWN_xgC5k8DtOH3K_MJcojr62kteDBnRB-9lPUwctrpMow=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgglxLFGu-quTMXDYUvtJav1O4GFrpVuGgyVChtCsjeDI-r6LRXevelpeeFnoCz3_WoOJNlcwiynz1kTJaIy28W1YJAP2ioiY0HWm4xVDoSTFVxTS7BP-Rv7A_dTCvdlB6kj0QpJA7N2W4fHhBiuCcDdUgkTg96QSdB8Du6E8pLNjFT0ukOOtZ19CitnA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgglxLFGu-quTMXDYUvtJav1O4GFrpVuGgyVChtCsjeDI-r6LRXevelpeeFnoCz3_WoOJNlcwiynz1kTJaIy28W1YJAP2ioiY0HWm4xVDoSTFVxTS7BP-Rv7A_dTCvdlB6kj0QpJA7N2W4fHhBiuCcDdUgkTg96QSdB8Du6E8pLNjFT0ukOOtZ19CitnA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The funny part about this sign.... It seemed like I saw this same sign over again over again for a couple of hours. You get to the end of the 1.5 miles, then there would be an identical sign warning the same thing for the <i>next</i> 1.5 miles. And again, and again....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4-bGjJhnVPtOh2EMOX2TWNdOyU63XSP4QEpKjGF4tCTRMT0j4mridB0USkY5sdCGGbTEhWgJTiUxcfg_9-hU1wP1FrqHnZ2mH-ihm_4aZgVzQzi0wkYwo28zR3qHe85ag7iwQrfJbceC9X-YdukC49sbiW_EKVu_Cg4ummGijm9xMVaFMbODQ9-SmyQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4-bGjJhnVPtOh2EMOX2TWNdOyU63XSP4QEpKjGF4tCTRMT0j4mridB0USkY5sdCGGbTEhWgJTiUxcfg_9-hU1wP1FrqHnZ2mH-ihm_4aZgVzQzi0wkYwo28zR3qHe85ag7iwQrfJbceC9X-YdukC49sbiW_EKVu_Cg4ummGijm9xMVaFMbODQ9-SmyQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old, abandoned mine and some of its leftover equipment.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSeRfv-HhELiuwkd53Z8qgv9Nors_wTs-_TacC5vA8LTJ_cI8d7E_I0m5n91ENjvdkaj81svyUAQ88MZuGZ8srKaIGtTTstfEu10QcIbUNY0ec8JXiLMEJdlyGqjYrcD6eWIGd3l9KSgR8ok8g0LaOHyi3OenX6FGbYcSZWlrI1xECeda3SuT7GE4zHg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSeRfv-HhELiuwkd53Z8qgv9Nors_wTs-_TacC5vA8LTJ_cI8d7E_I0m5n91ENjvdkaj81svyUAQ88MZuGZ8srKaIGtTTstfEu10QcIbUNY0ec8JXiLMEJdlyGqjYrcD6eWIGd3l9KSgR8ok8g0LaOHyi3OenX6FGbYcSZWlrI1xECeda3SuT7GE4zHg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Helena, MT, USA46.5891452 -112.039105718.278911363821152 -147.1953557 74.899379036178843 -76.8828557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-13184546268187071502022-08-29T05:00:00.167-07:002022-08-29T05:00:00.206-07:00Day 138: Helena! Oh, Helena!<p><i>September 5</i>: My morning started off a little rough. It was still fairly dark when I had woken, and I poured myself a bowl of granola cereal for breakfast--or so I thought. As it turns out, dehydrated ground beef looks and feels a lot like granola in the dark, and I wound up pouring milk all over it, kind of wasting the ground beef. Oops! That was an annoyance! Beef. It's what's for breakfast. Beef and milk.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjumNAwA8ZOc6L7qTgvoLHQZWpFy95yR89zIO1QXNlmRSW1Rl6UpcO1IDwMjLiCrUXnUv1TGCfb0GQL8GqhOY3Jy3meY-NaWhLUA6QBJi1piGiVpQexqYYFyB55V0sFrCwMQxP0rt-ExK4CII1e6LtNTo8tXYjs94oOz1w6ARRHuXYwMBKlgLVBFKSH_Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjumNAwA8ZOc6L7qTgvoLHQZWpFy95yR89zIO1QXNlmRSW1Rl6UpcO1IDwMjLiCrUXnUv1TGCfb0GQL8GqhOY3Jy3meY-NaWhLUA6QBJi1piGiVpQexqYYFyB55V0sFrCwMQxP0rt-ExK4CII1e6LtNTo8tXYjs94oOz1w6ARRHuXYwMBKlgLVBFKSH_Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking before sunrise!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Despite that hiccup, I finished getting ready and hit the trail at at 6:50am. I was a little surprised when I noticed that sunrise wasn't scheduled until 6:54am. When did that happen?! Sunrise wasn't for another four minutes! I rarely started hiking before sunrise, but it was already so late!</p><p>Today I had a short day of hiking since I planned to hitch into the capital of Montana to resupply: Helena. The weather was still great and I really didn't want to go into town. In fact, I was a little worried about going into town today. It was Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Would I even be able to find a hotel room on Labor Day weekend?</p><p>Most of the time, I'd think that was a pie-in-the-sky idea, but as it turns out, Helena isn't much of a tourist attraction, and being the capital of the state, tends to be busiest on workdays. And Labor Day weekend was anything but a workday. Looking around online, not only were there hotel rooms available, but they were actually priced quite nicely. I made a reservation for one for about $50/night.</p><p>So I had less than 10 miles of hiking before I'd reach MacDonald Pass, then I'd hitch a half-hour or so ride into town.That was the plan!<br /></p><p>The route mostly followed gravel roads, although some short sections followed real trails. As I approached the pass, I actually passed several day hikers heading in the opposite direction, two of whom asked how far the trail led.</p><p>"Well...." I said, thinking about how to answer that. "Technically, it goes all the way to Mexico." Of course, there were some road walks along the way. I wasn't actually sure how far the actual trail portion of this section could be followed since I joined it midway along the route and anything off the CDT was completely foreign terrain for me. So I wasn't particularly helpful!</p><p>About a half-hour into my day's hike, I reached the long-coveted trail magic that I had heard about the day before. It was nice, although I definitely would have enjoyed it more yesterday afternoon when I was hot and sweaty. Early in the morning, I was still cool and a cold Coke didn't hit the spot like it otherwise would have. (I drank one anyhow, but they're definitely much better when one is hot and sweaty and tired!)</p><p>A note in the register in the cooler explained that the people who put it out had a daughter currently thru-hiking the PCT and asked that they do this for hikers in her neck of the woods doing the CDT. I gave a mental thanks for the PCT hiker that made this possible and hoped she'd find some trail magic herself that day, wherever she was. =) <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnGy43hIxvxDAXa2V9nGWcLyugY3K-ln5u0vEwMKTZ8oFBtAIMCRo2H1OSeQxjo4v4O5S52tMF_JM14Knh71Nzg2y4EDj2fLx6o_HvWtNsPKW1paYHhm-ETVzjmZU9gYBuiNtfdiPMScOYmMwpLjy4p5DdjFFzGcUA7hyF9UWgbzRZ2XYANwBH5MGi7g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnGy43hIxvxDAXa2V9nGWcLyugY3K-ln5u0vEwMKTZ8oFBtAIMCRo2H1OSeQxjo4v4O5S52tMF_JM14Knh71Nzg2y4EDj2fLx6o_HvWtNsPKW1paYHhm-ETVzjmZU9gYBuiNtfdiPMScOYmMwpLjy4p5DdjFFzGcUA7hyF9UWgbzRZ2XYANwBH5MGi7g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail magic!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I finally reached MacDonald Pass, just as Just Awesome was being dropped off. I got the phone number of the trail angel who had dropped him off, and I had hoped to get a ride back with the trail angel, but alas, she was going out for a day hike and not returning to Helena immediately. Still, she gave me a number to call in case I wanted a ride back tomorrow and said if I was still there in another hour or two, she'd pick me up on her way back into town.</p><p>At least there would be a time limit to how long I would have to try hitching. That's always nice. =) She assured me that it was usually pretty easy to get a ride into town.</p><p>Just Awesome started hiking northward, the trail angel drove into the woods along the gravel roads, and I set up at the edge of the road with my thumb sticking out for a ride into town.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgwZXkTSitTIz8yPbDy5qbJkRWJJQMVVy77vTDoQAhJWp_C3Zdzr_gKCzzId3vgjvSdMmo-TeMGMOGlAud0LsYcesTV71a6Qa5evj53WJuZsGgrvLx8M-g0rk66wm9U95qBI6NtLCTIZgantcgXcrEgEs6CiEv2Rfeb3d5xz-N1dqM8TDj93stXLNjgQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgwZXkTSitTIz8yPbDy5qbJkRWJJQMVVy77vTDoQAhJWp_C3Zdzr_gKCzzId3vgjvSdMmo-TeMGMOGlAud0LsYcesTV71a6Qa5evj53WJuZsGgrvLx8M-g0rk66wm9U95qBI6NtLCTIZgantcgXcrEgEs6CiEv2Rfeb3d5xz-N1dqM8TDj93stXLNjgQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was another ice chest with trail magic at MacDonald Pass, but since I was going into town already anyhow, it wasn't as exciting for me. Plus, it only included water, which I already had!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>In all, it took me nearly an hour before Lauren and Susan stopped to give me a ride into town. They dropped me off at my hotel for the night, the Jorgenson's which they told me was a "fancy" hotel. They seemed astonished that I could get a room there for just $50, but figured it must be their Labor Day "please come visit us" sale.</p><p>The hotel I found a bit disappointing, though. Although I had a non-smoking room, I could smell smoke from neighboring rooms that weren't non-smoking. Plus, the Internet connection was slow and unreliable.</p><p>Being a Sunday--on a Labor Day weekend, no less--there wasn't any hope of picking up my laptop at the post office. I knew this when planning my trek from Whitehall, however, which is why I never tried calling the Butte post office to forward my laptop to Helena. I'd never be able to pick it up until Tuesday, and I'd have to take a double zero to make use of it. That wasn't going to happen! Anyhow, the weather forecast continued to be favorable for the next week. I didn't really want to take any zero days with such favorable weather in the forecast. I needed every good day of weather I could get to finish this trail.</p><p>So I'd just stay a single night, and a laptop wasn't necessary. But I still wanted to get online with my phone and do what I could with it while I could, and the poor Internet connection was frustrating.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPWECrmRn1iyByVL0xq_bUcWfsFVI_rDefyTVAM6QCWKWcgf6yJxGaqpkXVGCAq_hB8A4SwOV7ELOJqgrAjGECdybeM5w33FtbcHD0xJnp3Va9wArMU_4gKj89j61N5jcHAkauxMmOh03TKmFs6ijVIpIqOU_9BAhaRapmSObUPMhVYFyi-0nlfMos_g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPWECrmRn1iyByVL0xq_bUcWfsFVI_rDefyTVAM6QCWKWcgf6yJxGaqpkXVGCAq_hB8A4SwOV7ELOJqgrAjGECdybeM5w33FtbcHD0xJnp3Va9wArMU_4gKj89j61N5jcHAkauxMmOh03TKmFs6ijVIpIqOU_9BAhaRapmSObUPMhVYFyi-0nlfMos_g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home, sweet home, for the night!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>For lunch, I headed around the block and went to Wendy's, then hung out there for nearly two hours using their Internet. It ran a lot faster and more reliably than the Internet at the hotel!</p><p>Then I headed to Alberton's where I resupplied for the next section of trail, then back to the hotel where I started a load of laundry washing in one of their self-help washing machines.</p><p>I decided that my next resupply point would be Augusta, and it would be nice if my laptop was there when I arrived. Being Sunday today and a holiday tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to call them until Tuesday to forward the package ahead. I'd be somewhere deep in the backcountry and likely without cell phone service come Tuesday. Unsure of when I'd be able to call to forward my package, I asked my mom to try calling them on Tuesday after they opened and see if she could get it forwarded. I warned that they might not listen to her since the package wasn't for her, but perhaps they'd be familiar with thru-hikers and their lack of a cell phone signal and holiday issues and be willing to work with her on my behalf. In fact, given my past experience, I wasn't particularly optimistic it would work, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances.</p><p>And with that, I finally went to sleep late in the night. I really wished I could have taken a zero day--it had been about 2 1/2 weeks since my last one in Dubois, WY! I could have enjoyed a day off, but the weather forecast was just too darned favorable for hiking. Nope, I'd get back on the trail again tomorrow. I was going to finish this trail this year!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQt216-lsfxEyrjAM5vNp19Vy7rqsHV7VkLkGzcWtjnHY5ZL04z3pAx4WRScv7F2j9dbrp8hwvC0TUyLT-W3bjBvaL4MjEhY3PK_GLVVXrFfpvS55eZfF9NzuljCBInu01bfnDWb8AFw9n2iV_2uQRp4v_NcVDAIVtHUABwd8ilszkLWy4eWR45jFbqQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQt216-lsfxEyrjAM5vNp19Vy7rqsHV7VkLkGzcWtjnHY5ZL04z3pAx4WRScv7F2j9dbrp8hwvC0TUyLT-W3bjBvaL4MjEhY3PK_GLVVXrFfpvS55eZfF9NzuljCBInu01bfnDWb8AFw9n2iV_2uQRp4v_NcVDAIVtHUABwd8ilszkLWy4eWR45jFbqQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGBOytac1QkwAN2hHtcnk60I97cNjQkobVatSBIBHNQyetY86UtI1MefuuE05jDVcaqeHZNVRmBTIn7kpraoX95AbeOgLn2qtvzG8l_zlrYTzL1walji8Eca1S3o_dea6PFUkF5umE1CQOwe55O1TU0RuJJL_LHEv5yHdimLr832LXEIbOtegpN3PjmA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGBOytac1QkwAN2hHtcnk60I97cNjQkobVatSBIBHNQyetY86UtI1MefuuE05jDVcaqeHZNVRmBTIn7kpraoX95AbeOgLn2qtvzG8l_zlrYTzL1walji8Eca1S3o_dea6PFUkF5umE1CQOwe55O1TU0RuJJL_LHEv5yHdimLr832LXEIbOtegpN3PjmA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tailings from an old mine the trail went by<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9UD1vd9ywuATwMEmAlpp0f6Yj6X5A6eUdcoWvN8qzT7XN8muQegpptAW-fWUBpReX3b0r2e8oJ43dy9JeFfsw6KU6z4WSmY3-_2cG7heXNfH0FBToOlbEqsjw78I0iKeyPZYYYtqjswC_NTBLKHGq6GJDlIBBfV5L1Rm-5hcWYq17vhgLQPV0YoiVLA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9UD1vd9ywuATwMEmAlpp0f6Yj6X5A6eUdcoWvN8qzT7XN8muQegpptAW-fWUBpReX3b0r2e8oJ43dy9JeFfsw6KU6z4WSmY3-_2cG7heXNfH0FBToOlbEqsjw78I0iKeyPZYYYtqjswC_NTBLKHGq6GJDlIBBfV5L1Rm-5hcWYq17vhgLQPV0YoiVLA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbqpXZ7s9gDJVPeOHRsh4nFV7VzLMznSB1yr6I_fDYp5zhk9w6-OJ8jdlhlSMu7M03YQGGoDDDV1jhuv-cAgZKphckWMYeuz4JCndHsCfi8MeeLqAflEeY85J-H1-ZMbc8Y8Cin2LZi1QZP4hA7fWs72uy-iRe_r7hHXJ-hKmW90X8QwEvW-zJAkdetw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbqpXZ7s9gDJVPeOHRsh4nFV7VzLMznSB1yr6I_fDYp5zhk9w6-OJ8jdlhlSMu7M03YQGGoDDDV1jhuv-cAgZKphckWMYeuz4JCndHsCfi8MeeLqAflEeY85J-H1-ZMbc8Y8Cin2LZi1QZP4hA7fWs72uy-iRe_r7hHXJ-hKmW90X8QwEvW-zJAkdetw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg_ra47CjIv0stfIMA7OBivCBUCZqw67XVuS42raOIc9ZhdkhBM8APJhVILRA4UEshP_YONwKEFYzTS7Z9UIZen8V6MUDgX0u7UTT64rAQXEeP9k2djVGRoIWNnC9K0bVOGuv78fGX28sgnFZhSYTztbvDqOUK-TVII92EPJumD7aI2ImFyxWQHrhqqw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg_ra47CjIv0stfIMA7OBivCBUCZqw67XVuS42raOIc9ZhdkhBM8APJhVILRA4UEshP_YONwKEFYzTS7Z9UIZen8V6MUDgX0u7UTT64rAQXEeP9k2djVGRoIWNnC9K0bVOGuv78fGX28sgnFZhSYTztbvDqOUK-TVII92EPJumD7aI2ImFyxWQHrhqqw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM-vmaFff6_j2Xec8D_iDzuQsdG8RD3KfNOq1H2ljC5DoCFHCCmEJpJp76BFTwxAZOZDnS2JbGocI5ycoB_YJmQqnmDXBCZ3i2V01WDzWWVYGk7-WfcEpsbAEQQY4EwuAYHDhikSb5wa82KKD5pIF4HlYOvNNoLtdG_TUJNCfSa0d5YRLYuRcBGmOYCg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM-vmaFff6_j2Xec8D_iDzuQsdG8RD3KfNOq1H2ljC5DoCFHCCmEJpJp76BFTwxAZOZDnS2JbGocI5ycoB_YJmQqnmDXBCZ3i2V01WDzWWVYGk7-WfcEpsbAEQQY4EwuAYHDhikSb5wa82KKD5pIF4HlYOvNNoLtdG_TUJNCfSa0d5YRLYuRcBGmOYCg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitching a ride into Helena from MacDonald Pass<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsB-I2KF7Odiib-i4xHZjBnqHnW3S7QHXyKeJodIBAAS_X53bvKsn_S_p50T1awklFFq5ZokWWKN_-7FvGSC67uatJ4VQVySTZ9O06VST03AKa-Xxtx86MUq8W5dZiJVY648rwuYSpb9C5aniXiWtvQpezo85dzblH-8su1bCFRZhMXzROiAprTZcWVA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsB-I2KF7Odiib-i4xHZjBnqHnW3S7QHXyKeJodIBAAS_X53bvKsn_S_p50T1awklFFq5ZokWWKN_-7FvGSC67uatJ4VQVySTZ9O06VST03AKa-Xxtx86MUq8W5dZiJVY648rwuYSpb9C5aniXiWtvQpezo85dzblH-8su1bCFRZhMXzROiAprTZcWVA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the strangest-looking vehicle that went by as I was trying to hitch a ride. What the heck is it?! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com2Helena, MT, USA46.5891452 -112.039105722.42630369649984 -147.1953557 70.751986703500151 -76.8828557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-32239734387521501352022-08-26T05:00:00.126-07:002022-08-26T05:00:00.187-07:00Day 137: The Great Western Loop<p><i>September 4</i>: I woke up and hit the trail at around 7:00am--a pretty normal time for this time of year. Even this early in the morning, however, I could smell the scent of smoke in the air and see it on the horizon. Wildfires were still burning... somewhere....</p><p>The trail was largely uneventful once again. The trail went up and down and around.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-Wlffupr8-3U6re_-8aLXHiaGYYl7DHbZqMb4VfKCHBaNaOQBdj_sq_iCY8jJ4FYLUCycWuXkjq5Rh1S2wz9mPhwTDeW4YgpRzUdby9lwQuHuZc8T4ZTIwyJAcJSfv6nTJhDmx8r4nr8uWzpAIo8hygTBAvs451mcKR17TB5sOq0pLfZGSR6-_AEAog" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-Wlffupr8-3U6re_-8aLXHiaGYYl7DHbZqMb4VfKCHBaNaOQBdj_sq_iCY8jJ4FYLUCycWuXkjq5Rh1S2wz9mPhwTDeW4YgpRzUdby9lwQuHuZc8T4ZTIwyJAcJSfv6nTJhDmx8r4nr8uWzpAIo8hygTBAvs451mcKR17TB5sOq0pLfZGSR6-_AEAog=s16000" /></a></div><br />The most interesting thing I came across was actually a person, a hiker heading southbound named Phish. He told me that he was hiking the Great Western Loop. He had started hiking in Arizona, traveled west to the Pacific Crest Trail, then north to the Pacific Northwest Trail, then east to the Continental Divide Trail and was now heading south to eventually reconnect with where he started in Arizona. He still had a couple of thousand miles of hiking before he'd finish. To say that the route was ambitious is more than an understatement. I'd never actually met anyone who had tried anything quite so ambitious.<p></p><p>We wound up chatting for about an hour or so, which surprised me, really--he still had a lot of hiking to do before he'd be finished. I think he had been pretty lonely on his hike, though, and I was happy to stop and chat for awhile. He might have even been lonelier than myself! I was also one of the few people who he had likely met that was familiar with most of the route he was hiking having done the PCT, PNT and AZT. The only pieces I won't have completed are the connecting routes from the AZT to the PCT and the AZT to the CDT. But I'd probably done about 95% of the route--over four different years, though, rather than one crazy year!</p><p>He was hoping to reach Silverton before the winter snows started but could bail from the red-line CDT as early as Steamboat Springs and head westward out of the high mountains if necessary. He seemed determined that he'd definitely finish this year--just that the precise route he would take would depend on when the snow started to fall.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL4X8fbLtxm_h1S3yqTdX1hMyDqGJe11SKIi2RBhl-jG6zxl3C4bB92RXQ4pwGPVpub9jt7fAT-_pgt5vRu-YsXfqkgmn2HzzsX7LZDJ94P5VyEUGPbuzsrsIQCFj0x6fd5lmPTS-RTMNl9dmbDWkmK2ii73hfAwELMvWnUZ7W6b_Sz0RDBjmKVnpcGg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL4X8fbLtxm_h1S3yqTdX1hMyDqGJe11SKIi2RBhl-jG6zxl3C4bB92RXQ4pwGPVpub9jt7fAT-_pgt5vRu-YsXfqkgmn2HzzsX7LZDJ94P5VyEUGPbuzsrsIQCFj0x6fd5lmPTS-RTMNl9dmbDWkmK2ii73hfAwELMvWnUZ7W6b_Sz0RDBjmKVnpcGg=s16000" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I gave him some suggestions about the route south--including the fact that it was entirely possible to skip Butte and resupply in Whitehall if he was trying to speed things up. The free place to stay in Whitehall was a nice perk as well. He was really excited to hear about that, wanting to reach town for some sort of sports event that he wanted to watch live. I think I sold him on the idea. He asked a couple of times about the Internet--there <i>had</i> to be Internet for him to watch the event with his friends. Yes, there was Internet, I assured him.</p><p>It was a nice conversation, but eventually we continued on our own way. We both had miles we wanted to get done. Him more than I, but I had miles to do before the snow started flying as well!</p><p>Phish told me that there was trail magic not far ahead on the trail, so I was looking forward to that but I never did find any. Was it further up the trail? It didn't sound like it was particularly far away. Or maybe it had run its course and was no longer there? In any case, I wound up disappointed without any trail magic. =(</p><p>Near the end of the day, the route started following gravel roads again, which were remarkably busy with people, so I walked a few hundred feet off the route to find a more private place to camp away from the passing ATVs. Another day done!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglkDPvGqK1gdOl5ednPbUs4nfO1Zm8IJylV186sgq3OlsZc8zUqE4BFp4dXP0GS19ZIqgAkmsV9_Nf1fqIqNe3y3M-TKMGTBplHI_PZfKlkQR9ZzESPJOYcnKvOop_IWzKbCjNtKvKFtG_SUt_v_Er_zkyZMxjSPVRlI1QJqzQQSzrrloKeMd0BMsPiQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglkDPvGqK1gdOl5ednPbUs4nfO1Zm8IJylV186sgq3OlsZc8zUqE4BFp4dXP0GS19ZIqgAkmsV9_Nf1fqIqNe3y3M-TKMGTBplHI_PZfKlkQR9ZzESPJOYcnKvOop_IWzKbCjNtKvKFtG_SUt_v_Er_zkyZMxjSPVRlI1QJqzQQSzrrloKeMd0BMsPiQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7qqQBH5EF3W_4FhSYXJ5wn7Ok7TvI0jgHkSgZBlkUVUMxxqVWrVowBh4s8VE2DxdBQjCorHINhkXvbFp5dnyERuTr7nf_DDVMRSJ7EywH1GM7KDwiLCbl6nrMqMqjEhTpBxY6kvpH-JKalmsPWF-Kr42q7e_TKxjg_9HxhsbO0VeHI9VDxB1pXle1ww" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7qqQBH5EF3W_4FhSYXJ5wn7Ok7TvI0jgHkSgZBlkUVUMxxqVWrVowBh4s8VE2DxdBQjCorHINhkXvbFp5dnyERuTr7nf_DDVMRSJ7EywH1GM7KDwiLCbl6nrMqMqjEhTpBxY6kvpH-JKalmsPWF-Kr42q7e_TKxjg_9HxhsbO0VeHI9VDxB1pXle1ww=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtM-aLDMIeLCKkGTA-1s85T7Kw_8NtFjFuF6WvTeWuVmxWHTDaFugxUq-CttjwETsjELJsrf__dgisvuxzlbWUCqT7f1Dp4XmcRPGOSLSO1_op1wdiHU8V6YXPg0x-sodTYNzaSacQlBCgoYFmNWHRUNC59aDvhbh545odzD5E7zszI20hqnZ7x7XwOw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtM-aLDMIeLCKkGTA-1s85T7Kw_8NtFjFuF6WvTeWuVmxWHTDaFugxUq-CttjwETsjELJsrf__dgisvuxzlbWUCqT7f1Dp4XmcRPGOSLSO1_op1wdiHU8V6YXPg0x-sodTYNzaSacQlBCgoYFmNWHRUNC59aDvhbh545odzD5E7zszI20hqnZ7x7XwOw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0Ks5niyq3I1EF8qalyKvztG8xlJLEZJt1ow7Zuh04lUrFrfEfTiVMIITKo1Xw8C8oDz0R1vnN5xL2mmKevPgqAbsLmeEmXIxq33NRlpDwyqXUmfPEUvhjeQSpeS2uqKHOsC_OhEio9uaXlbF_Is3lepZqOxSfqlv2ALaDZFwFaJjWdMUcDaC_QzjXag" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0Ks5niyq3I1EF8qalyKvztG8xlJLEZJt1ow7Zuh04lUrFrfEfTiVMIITKo1Xw8C8oDz0R1vnN5xL2mmKevPgqAbsLmeEmXIxq33NRlpDwyqXUmfPEUvhjeQSpeS2uqKHOsC_OhEio9uaXlbF_Is3lepZqOxSfqlv2ALaDZFwFaJjWdMUcDaC_QzjXag=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirSZN_U5F1zZqwAZRFTQVJqdY4yP6TtrT8-dtZCyyd4sSu3h04nHnrFG3XphuHzkJKYHH2GlfR0KMgbjIJn-0KUF3X9UXdUTDeSeQJtsQqCf64v7MftmkgBZqMytejzb0IP2s0ZXYG0S5pKfA22JZKWd4bZsiOKrc5L9ZIJpqvjf1Q0cYxA7NWWU8aPA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirSZN_U5F1zZqwAZRFTQVJqdY4yP6TtrT8-dtZCyyd4sSu3h04nHnrFG3XphuHzkJKYHH2GlfR0KMgbjIJn-0KUF3X9UXdUTDeSeQJtsQqCf64v7MftmkgBZqMytejzb0IP2s0ZXYG0S5pKfA22JZKWd4bZsiOKrc5L9ZIJpqvjf1Q0cYxA7NWWU8aPA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4LiO_ickhg32fwC5fky3UC4X7QQhWCE5FVrAn04q3Wc3eECnNUuflhobcvR9F0n58vPKBa32Asqnwdb8g1fTRRmhqjQrC6L0lZ2IuXDDMCrAb23VOCoRdaPaM-NXts5hqDFajlW6XVu0kmH1vroTGP3wvOipQoUSy4eA1RSQvqrS-bqewq-O4255O2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4LiO_ickhg32fwC5fky3UC4X7QQhWCE5FVrAn04q3Wc3eECnNUuflhobcvR9F0n58vPKBa32Asqnwdb8g1fTRRmhqjQrC6L0lZ2IuXDDMCrAb23VOCoRdaPaM-NXts5hqDFajlW6XVu0kmH1vroTGP3wvOipQoUSy4eA1RSQvqrS-bqewq-O4255O2A=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY0hlXr8Fdzn-AQIs98VY1rhF0qbWN2Is4s_17MXcQamBoemO7w4mRocQ4VoCKMDD6BYmQEn79z7DFM4GLhEHU1pGCdKzkNto6z2ozdfqDR6ln2-dL0pJk_ABWLIHu9Te_FBUritA5SbFRe7eit24a-hszBMMJPo0bTkQg-xi28gfS3-NOBCOKyA5_5w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY0hlXr8Fdzn-AQIs98VY1rhF0qbWN2Is4s_17MXcQamBoemO7w4mRocQ4VoCKMDD6BYmQEn79z7DFM4GLhEHU1pGCdKzkNto6z2ozdfqDR6ln2-dL0pJk_ABWLIHu9Te_FBUritA5SbFRe7eit24a-hszBMMJPo0bTkQg-xi28gfS3-NOBCOKyA5_5w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me!! I'm foot traffic! =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhVdXRme4ninYE9nm0dPi1MOPVVUGgOZrCgK1aGRiS2uW6doEbjNjUadVRVGkk6Dx-J9wY4hiPlnfxLCtx1ymGGHan_wU3AmqupTG6qSZCi1GMY2bp5C1Ya0cFaggfeIavjGRwoKczngO8cN0N2nADhY44N0flq55PLErIMFQ5T50UOXfGp1Avae0csw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhVdXRme4ninYE9nm0dPi1MOPVVUGgOZrCgK1aGRiS2uW6doEbjNjUadVRVGkk6Dx-J9wY4hiPlnfxLCtx1ymGGHan_wU3AmqupTG6qSZCi1GMY2bp5C1Ya0cFaggfeIavjGRwoKczngO8cN0N2nADhY44N0flq55PLErIMFQ5T50UOXfGp1Avae0csw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYT1e_hdzLexfmerAYsGSYmoRp-3UHXODYZ6nAoF4xSK7P5c29PFTvFvaHnEd30dJSpJo3P-LQV0dHW2Di86GCsXk2VvRDL6vzWqlAax4ADdW_qP78XcwDVGOw4PegTOAB20hZVNeTuHtlAAKGH_cCXxn0ssiNvRXwnTuOeiW57Y0HJT6ODEYFyGKHCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYT1e_hdzLexfmerAYsGSYmoRp-3UHXODYZ6nAoF4xSK7P5c29PFTvFvaHnEd30dJSpJo3P-LQV0dHW2Di86GCsXk2VvRDL6vzWqlAax4ADdW_qP78XcwDVGOw4PegTOAB20hZVNeTuHtlAAKGH_cCXxn0ssiNvRXwnTuOeiW57Y0HJT6ODEYFyGKHCg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8khoi7LRZuzgA-W_eS7weYXi9PEg92qIhRiddAQ9yvadT4bcbJRatwy9Ldj_P0KwLStH4vMa4FP06DtnHeWmcwyFhRPE7yFARMWG6M29E6fqToNTCfH1q2FVkNI5RuvuL7xKh2xMPS2-EzOHqNBUsb2wLhOi7x0IbBrOVymMKCGf9AGhOrypiXUkDzA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8khoi7LRZuzgA-W_eS7weYXi9PEg92qIhRiddAQ9yvadT4bcbJRatwy9Ldj_P0KwLStH4vMa4FP06DtnHeWmcwyFhRPE7yFARMWG6M29E6fqToNTCfH1q2FVkNI5RuvuL7xKh2xMPS2-EzOHqNBUsb2wLhOi7x0IbBrOVymMKCGf9AGhOrypiXUkDzA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk3KkGRqRrShZo5hLzx5Qn1FsDYZlb6T-5-g7lZwii3alUwsNYFvQ9oR_HAONHnUs2jDmGh9wkAjB2Ku6kv2ONcs3tTixYbrq2PjY6aJh1Y-ycPQZbdWOWcF793RQ7RxwvevP9UNRpsU8XQ6ykPQv_cmoDDuxYCWYO_Njnpoy9qUys7pjHD748c-5Vrg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk3KkGRqRrShZo5hLzx5Qn1FsDYZlb6T-5-g7lZwii3alUwsNYFvQ9oR_HAONHnUs2jDmGh9wkAjB2Ku6kv2ONcs3tTixYbrq2PjY6aJh1Y-ycPQZbdWOWcF793RQ7RxwvevP9UNRpsU8XQ6ykPQv_cmoDDuxYCWYO_Njnpoy9qUys7pjHD748c-5Vrg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDmQvmByxuL3-lgbbnwWYUpprOzY59xYiD3i-4_ScKI-eF8GK2uYJ70hMtuOPXnqM1cvR_QoAtf1-nzkThVfugMWLgZ6A_XUT_kwkv0qDeKsLsGbxtUI0M7n729RHloeEhSB_F6YbjI1hdT08KG3keXFzI58IQZ2Bvi8mgYBvXNt3exr6j8R6sD-joNA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDmQvmByxuL3-lgbbnwWYUpprOzY59xYiD3i-4_ScKI-eF8GK2uYJ70hMtuOPXnqM1cvR_QoAtf1-nzkThVfugMWLgZ6A_XUT_kwkv0qDeKsLsGbxtUI0M7n729RHloeEhSB_F6YbjI1hdT08KG3keXFzI58IQZ2Bvi8mgYBvXNt3exr6j8R6sD-joNA=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Q44C+C9 Mannix, MT, USA46.7561188 -112.87904343.70826204535571 -117.27357425 49.803975554644296 -108.48451175tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-24408612625954813992022-08-24T05:00:00.107-07:002022-08-24T05:00:00.183-07:00Day 136: Section Hikers on the Trail!<p><i>September 3</i>: This morning didn't seem as cold as yesterday, and I was up and moving considerably earlier this time around. A few minutes after 7:00am, I was on the trail and hiking!</p><p>A few hours later, while walking across a high ridge, I checked for a cell phone signal and was able to download a new set of Azena-Ley maps. The emptiness in my life that was a lack of topo maps had finally been filled, and I was glad that I only had to hike for a few hours without them.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiCKT46yBTK5ris6zdSVzU_T_ov3casvM2oGc1DowYlm6WoUHqTbX8ZKRyJhSjhzqI2BZCmQ81vvb4TUKzW9Aj7BzPaiEHGxozrc6oGlTkI2H3aTX1zy3XmKAuJhDGNTkfhFfDAYb6T59RGwfllkarHsFSqws7OzKmTaru5C-wyioZWtreyXMDJ0pCTQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiCKT46yBTK5ris6zdSVzU_T_ov3casvM2oGc1DowYlm6WoUHqTbX8ZKRyJhSjhzqI2BZCmQ81vvb4TUKzW9Aj7BzPaiEHGxozrc6oGlTkI2H3aTX1zy3XmKAuJhDGNTkfhFfDAYb6T59RGwfllkarHsFSqws7OzKmTaru5C-wyioZWtreyXMDJ0pCTQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along this ridge, I was able to get a cell phone signal strong enough that let me download topo maps of the area. I was no longer hiking naked and blind! *whew*</td></tr></tbody></table><p> <br />In the afternoon, I ran into my first hiker on the trail in nearly two weeks. He had started as a south-bounder but later turned it into a section hike after a couple of injuries and weather-related issues. We were heading in opposite directions, and he was an older gentleman in his 60s. I'd mention his thick, gray beard, but I was guilty of the same thing so I'm not sure that helps with the description. =)</p><p>We wound up sitting around on the trail and chatting for an hour. I think both of us were starved for company! He was planning to finish this year's hiking in Butte. "Almost done!" I told him, a little envious. Actually, I was almost done myself--just a few more weeks if all went well--but it still seemed like a long way off.</p><p>Late in the afternoon, I finally reached a water source. The first of three that were relatively close to each other on the trail. I filled up a bit at the first one before topping up a lot at the last one. The one in the middle I skipped. Not just because I didn't need it, but also because a large herd of cattle were guarding it. It wasn't worth the fight.</p><p>I hadn't drank as much water as I figured I would, though, and arrived with plenty of water still on my back. Temperatures were much more moderate than I had been expecting. Perhaps the higher altitudes and plenty of shade had an effect. =) </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQlEpXuCg1cClmyxMHyl1IxomrcZRo0JGk4swQC2kZIQdzFocQX1a8S4H6ZWZhtSkoFy3LkI_3IWIwSc_4sfjK5NqZUGwDF9yiWTrL1vwW59q7wxGOGvA2wGiyWHlV0ku3_4-oQmToFn16oi33xq4dTnuhswbNzMSmO-Yrwng2SlgUoLGF-83bTxT0Iw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQlEpXuCg1cClmyxMHyl1IxomrcZRo0JGk4swQC2kZIQdzFocQX1a8S4H6ZWZhtSkoFy3LkI_3IWIwSc_4sfjK5NqZUGwDF9yiWTrL1vwW59q7wxGOGvA2wGiyWHlV0ku3_4-oQmToFn16oi33xq4dTnuhswbNzMSmO-Yrwng2SlgUoLGF-83bTxT0Iw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, clear water! =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Late in the day, I passed another hiker who had already set up camp. He introduced himself as Hit and Miss and he had started the hiking season with the intention of section hiking the PCT, but wound up bailing on that idea because the Dixie Fire had burned about 70 miles of the trail and the smoke was horrendously bad. So he quit the PCT and moved over to the CDT to use up the food he had already prepared for himself for the PCT. He lived nearby as well, so it was easy for him to access.</p><p>I only stopped to chat with him for about 15 minutes before continuing onward, wanting to get in a bit more mileage before calling it quits for the night. I already lost about an hour of hiking time chatting with the first section hiker on the trail--who was to know I'd run into a second one later?!</p><p>I finally set up camp fairly late in the day, near 7:30pm. 'Twas a good day of hiking!<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3M_Iy_bZTlge3vugg7yRfsFTu7T-Ru8yjGA996aHiiSBEvy9A5kyxorPbQE7GRd7V-GFFynqPufzv5eeE_PDLSx6xfot3A6YMjXrWF8v0PUiS9DTp2jFaFKKN7bKTNbZULs5yK64x3QA7yeHvCo8ZnTD4oYmcxV5iEhU8C3sNTQphO6s6ShqWU1-WxQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3M_Iy_bZTlge3vugg7yRfsFTu7T-Ru8yjGA996aHiiSBEvy9A5kyxorPbQE7GRd7V-GFFynqPufzv5eeE_PDLSx6xfot3A6YMjXrWF8v0PUiS9DTp2jFaFKKN7bKTNbZULs5yK64x3QA7yeHvCo8ZnTD4oYmcxV5iEhU8C3sNTQphO6s6ShqWU1-WxQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi10bpEy9PT-zeCs6jjPWRWjHNOdgbumTmGJZePmnHHnB8c8cZpnG-t28LeHJ_qrZmam4sBD12ZbtJxMsAa0RAXO5T2_SZ2vOCffzZrH9Glo8iuPJqBtdU_WBQiqJ7XgWHCYkbp0qJXm7bW7gFT2QgFZ1K9Zac2wwIjLPCt_JHhqAf-87Pb3JLXzVD4FQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi10bpEy9PT-zeCs6jjPWRWjHNOdgbumTmGJZePmnHHnB8c8cZpnG-t28LeHJ_qrZmam4sBD12ZbtJxMsAa0RAXO5T2_SZ2vOCffzZrH9Glo8iuPJqBtdU_WBQiqJ7XgWHCYkbp0qJXm7bW7gFT2QgFZ1K9Zac2wwIjLPCt_JHhqAf-87Pb3JLXzVD4FQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlKCSeJveKCt3Xe7iCHJ4E8wj5vEWpBSN8wm1CevgIb4GCEpu8WvAoisuy4Xo2liR_ge15YxiJn1n1pO_vedlFphqupCsUjijSVHy8W4YyNHxfmy0R21FRoUVPEf_EA8Y9KHNBAA_8LVUUb19CS3hAEZPdzAucjBwKiBdrxaWRIQ_P6l1okKVVCjFGvw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlKCSeJveKCt3Xe7iCHJ4E8wj5vEWpBSN8wm1CevgIb4GCEpu8WvAoisuy4Xo2liR_ge15YxiJn1n1pO_vedlFphqupCsUjijSVHy8W4YyNHxfmy0R21FRoUVPEf_EA8Y9KHNBAA_8LVUUb19CS3hAEZPdzAucjBwKiBdrxaWRIQ_P6l1okKVVCjFGvw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIsiRom_tgkmthOQPcd58dkmROs29o_UlgPg4ZTnZf7Zg955hRYGZKl5QbVLwfOSJ4Jvv538qdFsXMzAzVvXODl_tFe6p7ufoqD-L_QACMjM6Q5Q6UtFclKeTM0phsuyUsy--2pVtpPRnAcFrMVPEsHivJLNWOSb6T3Zu7UV8ZXHycyQdxPbZG7SCaDA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIsiRom_tgkmthOQPcd58dkmROs29o_UlgPg4ZTnZf7Zg955hRYGZKl5QbVLwfOSJ4Jvv538qdFsXMzAzVvXODl_tFe6p7ufoqD-L_QACMjM6Q5Q6UtFclKeTM0phsuyUsy--2pVtpPRnAcFrMVPEsHivJLNWOSb6T3Zu7UV8ZXHycyQdxPbZG7SCaDA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXF6YDdCHgc9Zq895hRK1QVOskp5Oyl0VvOyT-RlRJMcwryVCPIo-3rAGF5fsMRKHUCN3NbboLaFmc0UDdw8jaLzlMFw8EhCKmihddu3HDI7D06olyk78_SmCK9w38titY8X9CMV9TS-fmc3i1SLUFV6VEb6ioUqFNm6XWu_C5gIvL_gXNoc0SM-ruEg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXF6YDdCHgc9Zq895hRK1QVOskp5Oyl0VvOyT-RlRJMcwryVCPIo-3rAGF5fsMRKHUCN3NbboLaFmc0UDdw8jaLzlMFw8EhCKmihddu3HDI7D06olyk78_SmCK9w38titY8X9CMV9TS-fmc3i1SLUFV6VEb6ioUqFNm6XWu_C5gIvL_gXNoc0SM-ruEg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEVxLA-JEMQA_79HL5FdNCsOXRJrG69CKWfBqjCwhTHmMGBZjgkiM7SuaVr4DWj-VjaaZH5PG_aNNF677eraFI8IRzrvUR38Lih7st0R2Naozd7vSzPbNLZJUcsfytraIkXLJxy6c4-U0WDO8FIUIcwOpiYTVOlSwwsmoadAIz_f7LNqo-wW1TRVQI9w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEVxLA-JEMQA_79HL5FdNCsOXRJrG69CKWfBqjCwhTHmMGBZjgkiM7SuaVr4DWj-VjaaZH5PG_aNNF677eraFI8IRzrvUR38Lih7st0R2Naozd7vSzPbNLZJUcsfytraIkXLJxy6c4-U0WDO8FIUIcwOpiYTVOlSwwsmoadAIz_f7LNqo-wW1TRVQI9w=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO6CjouLg2RFYlLLMeBBm55RRIJo0zjqv2Dz16TIFDU9lo2FefjViEl64sfeCYcd-EERRs6BQUoG_KdJ9EEWGnAdufA4YEzg9EGNkIgElDAhTMXe9HLIxhLcVIflgo4JuuaSSCWW6yOsxdOGD_9VG3XqBIjgwGsFRY8zuew5hDsEGj7E0OSZgOGPqsoQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO6CjouLg2RFYlLLMeBBm55RRIJo0zjqv2Dz16TIFDU9lo2FefjViEl64sfeCYcd-EERRs6BQUoG_KdJ9EEWGnAdufA4YEzg9EGNkIgElDAhTMXe9HLIxhLcVIflgo4JuuaSSCWW6yOsxdOGD_9VG3XqBIjgwGsFRY8zuew5hDsEGj7E0OSZgOGPqsoQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These cattle guarded the second of three water sources late in the day. I decided to skip it!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com185V85XHV+CH47.1785712 -113.006108645.670321049388235 -115.203374225 48.686821350611766 -110.808842975tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-29581853979862542812022-08-22T05:00:00.168-07:002022-08-22T05:00:00.194-07:00Day 135: Back on the Red-Line CDT!<p><i>September 2</i>: During the night, it became surprisingly cold and I laid in my sleeping bag, reluctant to start the day. I wound up not getting on the trail and hiking until about 7:40am. Definitely a lazy start to the day!</p><p>The day's hike was largely uneventful. The biggest excitement for me was that I <i>finally </i>reconnected with the main, red-line CDT! I was back in Guthook territory! It took me 11 days (with no zero days!), but the Super Butte Cutoff was finally over!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbyojhgqskncH8E4-exQS73wLWuze-SbiwPVP7VmTnZey9_HdfFONeSVtshHXxfQoTw1CU8OGMGTSVDnLfy1ReXWnveU_JUtgEeS41Bur0mKOijmQ31flxlNe8z22cj81by9Sfx_g0AvYzjT_hAZfLtDkjiArp1Z8p3gyPkh_7QeB5C1HSexHYZ3XmWg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbyojhgqskncH8E4-exQS73wLWuze-SbiwPVP7VmTnZey9_HdfFONeSVtshHXxfQoTw1CU8OGMGTSVDnLfy1ReXWnveU_JUtgEeS41Bur0mKOijmQ31flxlNe8z22cj81by9Sfx_g0AvYzjT_hAZfLtDkjiArp1Z8p3gyPkh_7QeB5C1HSexHYZ3XmWg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The morning was cold enough to form some frost on this boardwalk.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>Much of the day followed gravel roads. There was some real trail in the morning--a continuation from the trail I had reached last night--but it didn't last long. I reached a trailhead and continued the rest of the day mostly along gravel roads, but fortunately they weren't particularly busy or problematic. <br /></p><p>The route took me under I-15, which if I had still planned to go into Butte, I would have tried to hitch a ride south into town. As the weather was great, however, and I was able to resupply in Whitehall, I pushed onward. My days of good weather were numbered. I couldn't be wasting them by goofing around in town for no good reason.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbaYK6DwRn8zmHnPd8GIsPLRHnrdj2xY41cA41jGkAAKwSM5-zalEP0PrQY6mIt847WK9xky7OxkoZsPnbU1cRzBmGJIFGZ6Sr6PwsayubxmqA9HcEz6eItiTIZv63HBpPCLJF8rmUOv3ggKBbs14xkgNcA62NIKQXQsVGeZIlkP8iQxT3sZUvR19rsQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbaYK6DwRn8zmHnPd8GIsPLRHnrdj2xY41cA41jGkAAKwSM5-zalEP0PrQY6mIt847WK9xky7OxkoZsPnbU1cRzBmGJIFGZ6Sr6PwsayubxmqA9HcEz6eItiTIZv63HBpPCLJF8rmUOv3ggKBbs14xkgNcA62NIKQXQsVGeZIlkP8iQxT3sZUvR19rsQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I passed under Interstate 15, which if I wanted to go into Butte, this would have been a good place to get a ride into town since it headed due south into the city. (Not on the FedEx truck, however, since that was heading north.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sometimes during the day, I noticed smoke drifting through parts of the sky. It wasn't very bad, but it was still there. Late in the day, I noticed what appeared to be a couple of slash piles that had been burned recently, and I wondered if it was connected with the smoke in parts of the sky. Coincidence? On the other hand, I was a little surprised that they'd be burning slash piles at all with wildfires burning out of control not far away. Did they have time for that? Maybe the sites I saw weren't slash piles--just small fires that had been extinguished? I couldn't really know for sure. If it was a slash pile, the evidence had burned!<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmRS-dW5hKowkDk4ElmWuZJ7fK3qPAgWqueEDhRWmPeda8aBnm1DPVFSAbpbiU2uceWg2g2DBzkNfRIIu83kcOa2tfYkbST68ysVXMZpy-HAok-3p50APfCAZiWM99PZRa29I2oXwj5z5prk3fZgdWXZQobTOrag_Tp5pjjiiVINLv9QSk2a1sd8fKWg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmRS-dW5hKowkDk4ElmWuZJ7fK3qPAgWqueEDhRWmPeda8aBnm1DPVFSAbpbiU2uceWg2g2DBzkNfRIIu83kcOa2tfYkbST68ysVXMZpy-HAok-3p50APfCAZiWM99PZRa29I2oXwj5z5prk3fZgdWXZQobTOrag_Tp5pjjiiVINLv9QSk2a1sd8fKWg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I passed a few of these small burned areas, but they were so small and limited in size, it made me think that they burned a slash pile and it wasn't just an out-of-control wildfire.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I wasn't on the red-line for long, however, before I took a small alternate that led toward the Lowland Creek Campground--which, according to Guthook, had toilets and a water pump. It was really the water I wanted, but I was happy to use the toilets while in the area. As an added perk, the route was 1.8 miles shorter than taking the red-line the whole way then walking off trail to the campground.</p><p>The water was definitely a necessity, however, since it was the last reliable water that I knew about for nearly 20 miles. I wouldn't have access to water again for nearly 24 hours! So I definitely needed to fill up.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6rvBGq2Ji46OFk6xxoxCaQiAa5XjviFpLINuBnR13GfOfBK_SpLZP9SsB8p_NjThOpee8yQB69pwaCI9NlT6RoNVEIF8VVZxDoWEiJV1tmYjSo84p9Pkz8PFEuMgUBvy8rCZqDzfAUM3cKvOtITNwNSU5rnZnWPSIsWsRxHknPOjMb-Z5pVWfjAdliQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6rvBGq2Ji46OFk6xxoxCaQiAa5XjviFpLINuBnR13GfOfBK_SpLZP9SsB8p_NjThOpee8yQB69pwaCI9NlT6RoNVEIF8VVZxDoWEiJV1tmYjSo84p9Pkz8PFEuMgUBvy8rCZqDzfAUM3cKvOtITNwNSU5rnZnWPSIsWsRxHknPOjMb-Z5pVWfjAdliQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water at the Lowland CG came from this pump. =)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was tempting to stop at the campground for the night. It was already late in the day when I arrived, and I had already completed over 20 miles when I reached it. The small fee for the night wasn't a hardship, but the weather was still excellent and I was in a good mood and wanted to keep going while the weather was so pleasant. I did stop to cook dinner at a picnic table near the water pump--use and abuse the water while I could!<p></p><p>After dinner, I pushed onward another 40 minutes--about 2 miles--near where the alternate route I was following reconnected with the red-line CDT once again.</p><p>Somewhere along this stretch, I realized that I had no
topo maps to follow! The Azena maps I had downloaded weren't working for
some reason, and since I entered a new state since I last used Guthook, I
had apparently forgotten to update my settings to download the topo maps
for Montana. So I had neither the Azena maps that I had been using for
the Super Butte Cutoff nor the topo maps on Guthook. Hiking a trail
without topo maps is like hiking naked. It made me feel very exposed!</p><p>As
soon as I could find a strong enough cell phone signal, perhaps I could
download a topo map. Until then, however, I'd have to live without it.
=( <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaZj_8CzwzSIBMz9cCD5dP6MO86I8xYAh4zqqsaXkeDCb3GZ5puhAMXchH6Vh7GbmnIH5e0dcQfFri3P3xUQvqMcsUeR7zaQJ-quJJ4t9KMF9Qk7NyvpX4ywM-Iqube6oIqv9j5hVe9PKSfw4YIYPTdXoAaDMVRoisc5wav5OBza59_ivwIC2gPqKXpA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaZj_8CzwzSIBMz9cCD5dP6MO86I8xYAh4zqqsaXkeDCb3GZ5puhAMXchH6Vh7GbmnIH5e0dcQfFri3P3xUQvqMcsUeR7zaQJ-quJJ4t9KMF9Qk7NyvpX4ywM-Iqube6oIqv9j5hVe9PKSfw4YIYPTdXoAaDMVRoisc5wav5OBza59_ivwIC2gPqKXpA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh90r0Y5rlYENObWzT6Brqlf1UwcW6dh5X6oQjzAGGROjllBMloCbvydl6PqbrkpnlJeePtotLfauvzNZUzpeQBPK1YY3BGnnBYNAq5unzilr6EysFw53wmw4MC8xAVSVShBAa97-jFED-pV6TM-u6gydU3QcVlAWyQODaHmPek0woXhkSydT2UFBTqrA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh90r0Y5rlYENObWzT6Brqlf1UwcW6dh5X6oQjzAGGROjllBMloCbvydl6PqbrkpnlJeePtotLfauvzNZUzpeQBPK1YY3BGnnBYNAq5unzilr6EysFw53wmw4MC8xAVSVShBAa97-jFED-pV6TM-u6gydU3QcVlAWyQODaHmPek0woXhkSydT2UFBTqrA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzhpX6pGz-0S3ED6fNAsmKaKrOQfytsY7fOuoVhghZTVGAGgafvvNh_tLeplmtudgqUOt49pX1BeVMw-UDUIcmlVYJK5l2Q01ovXerQhldYCvN7d5cifWThH1JmdFRj9fsnYc7oOA4KzQuUBtRmHnfJBz9WX_hxpbL1eylnZdBbbNx7h2V1psukpJzfQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzhpX6pGz-0S3ED6fNAsmKaKrOQfytsY7fOuoVhghZTVGAGgafvvNh_tLeplmtudgqUOt49pX1BeVMw-UDUIcmlVYJK5l2Q01ovXerQhldYCvN7d5cifWThH1JmdFRj9fsnYc7oOA4KzQuUBtRmHnfJBz9WX_hxpbL1eylnZdBbbNx7h2V1psukpJzfQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsz8TFtnLVDyqRywhCRfveedZZApaEM_Dus1VaFvZwg3NbpppSRfqRTlNkI5Ef3x4s1MiDqDZfwxTEFlFWGMHTGXvtsEmv6YNvzxlqVGfobNZvy7WqOObRBzpCPLuqw-0ENRhUv2cnM9Bdh8FfVn0B-IGxIE2Uxj_vAQbLrPLgp9IgPkfWYQeo-wSi6A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsz8TFtnLVDyqRywhCRfveedZZApaEM_Dus1VaFvZwg3NbpppSRfqRTlNkI5Ef3x4s1MiDqDZfwxTEFlFWGMHTGXvtsEmv6YNvzxlqVGfobNZvy7WqOObRBzpCPLuqw-0ENRhUv2cnM9Bdh8FfVn0B-IGxIE2Uxj_vAQbLrPLgp9IgPkfWYQeo-wSi6A=s16000" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgenFtLbaTBj0v5L8jccgugps_ISLYnf7Fj5pZefzCtF5I3-a5slfAAzEhx1dEC4cI3CljoeT6IEK7cALmgpEP_7WDWjRN3VTbcIfm9hac-1iLdvD7s1wqh2VmRyyuS0aBXy25Z0bx92cHxjvrY-Ci2Rs30h-4u1C32MKYI0dUK-KzGNLSFPhk2gxOygg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvRXWbhr8KKiaC_NbXn31z8Kzmpufq59_e3-2MIxFf-DjQvQTiYdLKRXg6oiy0BknaYE2ycQsF09HN8sxQkTaij11PQOB6GbDWJaQaAm9jYx6l1be9nYz5hFOjWfkg1VKJDcJeDd3XuDGFv2btZf8okPSnSzZWPfzOmBHGsKc34fGX_X3NymgSMzLUGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvRXWbhr8KKiaC_NbXn31z8Kzmpufq59_e3-2MIxFf-DjQvQTiYdLKRXg6oiy0BknaYE2ycQsF09HN8sxQkTaij11PQOB6GbDWJaQaAm9jYx6l1be9nYz5hFOjWfkg1VKJDcJeDd3XuDGFv2btZf8okPSnSzZWPfzOmBHGsKc34fGX_X3NymgSMzLUGQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLiyBi6nDEW6Q3v3isUeLPLePqMT1O3oIo_kYp3lFiSEX3qGib8bMxjACF4AQTJ7R2jOyea3gMpijbJZ4FGjQugWkYisIXQqTI-KS7-JcJ-cP2ERtv3fzRSHJ_OO6Du0vHuw0_ytHvp2QZvR5mDv3TAR4bTXzFpu9NycjZtPuG5xEgcM0yA_LaiUIHDA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLiyBi6nDEW6Q3v3isUeLPLePqMT1O3oIo_kYp3lFiSEX3qGib8bMxjACF4AQTJ7R2jOyea3gMpijbJZ4FGjQugWkYisIXQqTI-KS7-JcJ-cP2ERtv3fzRSHJ_OO6Du0vHuw0_ytHvp2QZvR5mDv3TAR4bTXzFpu9NycjZtPuG5xEgcM0yA_LaiUIHDA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, that's a trail I hadn't heard of before....<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioDqJG8Em88FQMUPfLby2k42IQVpsxc5QJHuRPQnYNCCjdQBm_dC1NbogsXLA94Rda62Se8_4yBsq20kGowKeNlemagtrwMhcMbcZbAqmEIGB_bOUOI4XuP1LQX22ciLERroWwrtI1B8x0ydRGE9V8o7WT8KbDml8e703HiRyVyaJwiRwAR5gDZdEUKA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioDqJG8Em88FQMUPfLby2k42IQVpsxc5QJHuRPQnYNCCjdQBm_dC1NbogsXLA94Rda62Se8_4yBsq20kGowKeNlemagtrwMhcMbcZbAqmEIGB_bOUOI4XuP1LQX22ciLERroWwrtI1B8x0ydRGE9V8o7WT8KbDml8e703HiRyVyaJwiRwAR5gDZdEUKA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDFEUAYNxwS6wfOKpHOW9f2Ii5Thk_uBhtb9najN3d7utzKPYd5jUyknvlVwpoeMtRNOboC9SQX6Q1Vi2Hg7a2RL_Mhs-iUAz27lzG9AxIZ_hmUUze4AD9SFAyH2sY-GJj55GUWQ-Uy80DQWP42eqOy2XBzAh_liN1vdnGr7owkwEMc6E5UksO9D6nPw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDFEUAYNxwS6wfOKpHOW9f2Ii5Thk_uBhtb9najN3d7utzKPYd5jUyknvlVwpoeMtRNOboC9SQX6Q1Vi2Hg7a2RL_Mhs-iUAz27lzG9AxIZ_hmUUze4AD9SFAyH2sY-GJj55GUWQ-Uy80DQWP42eqOy2XBzAh_liN1vdnGr7owkwEMc6E5UksO9D6nPw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcfuZysPphB9Ym_v3Iefs5xp-kfglyVVOrNpllxk7ZvbJ0nHJyUXVaBpy6B9J5XGk_8I28eK8pjGziT4lZSsA30Azjqv__4WqC5gmgBfg0DZRSx60VjKATlXI9o7sJVro6MQmBh671H8_l9D9HguOft5sccuz-NMOom0WbhnKpeDWGL4c-SD1Ad7OGVQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcfuZysPphB9Ym_v3Iefs5xp-kfglyVVOrNpllxk7ZvbJ0nHJyUXVaBpy6B9J5XGk_8I28eK8pjGziT4lZSsA30Azjqv__4WqC5gmgBfg0DZRSx60VjKATlXI9o7sJVro6MQmBh671H8_l9D9HguOft5sccuz-NMOom0WbhnKpeDWGL4c-SD1Ad7OGVQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIa8uUY3jegkKq2-ww4vqq5sC9vVz2E0gfL5Wei0VdcevGwjVQIceR2tsVGIzd5RwOrw6Q3KaHEG9BfP1TjcFwcToqVOcjwyr8lNm1Dr_QDMX_3P1oOuho9g6eftcYibGPtLN4w9sa5P82vcHVZJAoqnukWulBZpNisV9W-Eq7N_2c6VpSZku-pwYpMQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIa8uUY3jegkKq2-ww4vqq5sC9vVz2E0gfL5Wei0VdcevGwjVQIceR2tsVGIzd5RwOrw6Q3KaHEG9BfP1TjcFwcToqVOcjwyr8lNm1Dr_QDMX_3P1oOuho9g6eftcYibGPtLN4w9sa5P82vcHVZJAoqnukWulBZpNisV9W-Eq7N_2c6VpSZku-pwYpMQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0eZWEV97sFV8Vyeg1elS9H_rb9ormYES6R3prBOEeUOO0OqX8dwzkUEuWfix8HmG9ZG3DJY21d01YMI4mJ3Y5UhCyt5DRsGucCsvALKjst7ZMRAuMO8zsLWsSxoGJuJt2ytwlW9KTCvVtzCloBGVF4CxmD6Z6wTzlrCFDLAh8v4OAFp6x59TbTI0rCw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0eZWEV97sFV8Vyeg1elS9H_rb9ormYES6R3prBOEeUOO0OqX8dwzkUEuWfix8HmG9ZG3DJY21d01YMI4mJ3Y5UhCyt5DRsGucCsvALKjst7ZMRAuMO8zsLWsSxoGJuJt2ytwlW9KTCvVtzCloBGVF4CxmD6Z6wTzlrCFDLAh8v4OAFp6x59TbTI0rCw=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the clouds looked colored with smoke, but where was it coming from?!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrtgQG4w2YbTS2REhFQrJs2SjUCnls0UGkMa8YEYQ0JTJaU4fo9D852_t0kC9rPcmbE19k-q_JrppgRa3XIzCgeJYwkqtkAZYDbvCks7DCJTiTsG9zOz9itnWOcrFPR9KO9BP7A-JtCDwmWmkPjXyQ5aG6i2aQ3lqAV1klRjVynJ9T8H8u88_61JM6oA"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrtgQG4w2YbTS2REhFQrJs2SjUCnls0UGkMa8YEYQ0JTJaU4fo9D852_t0kC9rPcmbE19k-q_JrppgRa3XIzCgeJYwkqtkAZYDbvCks7DCJTiTsG9zOz9itnWOcrFPR9KO9BP7A-JtCDwmWmkPjXyQ5aG6i2aQ3lqAV1klRjVynJ9T8H8u88_61JM6oA=s16000" /></a></div><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Lowland Campground, Butte, MT 59701, USA46.1389623 -112.504970517.828728463821157 -147.6612205 74.449196136178841 -77.3487205tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-35894172427572484032022-08-19T05:00:00.122-07:002022-08-19T05:00:00.190-07:00Day 134: Leaving Whitehall<p><i>Sept 1</i>: I took my time getting out of town. My spot at the Whitehall Town Hall had been quite cozy so I wasn't especially motivated to leave, but leave I finally did. At around 7:20am.</p><p>The smoke from the day before had largely cleared during the night, and I hoped it would stay away for the rest of the day. (It would.)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQhjmn4eSjZAnm-b2Bo4vJjJjcUMntnq5X190AAN87pxGpPKoXbxip72UHyPsKk6w_QB36buhdl9ao4ynv7YgxvheMLH281xpDItds-9GfhrXLtQPI7W0VSfFb0s5LNDZtcWJM_eXMj-yJZtMN5LeCDoSbR9azHZ4Bj3uyXsoT5XlpwrKKBS_8WTiZdA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQhjmn4eSjZAnm-b2Bo4vJjJjcUMntnq5X190AAN87pxGpPKoXbxip72UHyPsKk6w_QB36buhdl9ao4ynv7YgxvheMLH281xpDItds-9GfhrXLtQPI7W0VSfFb0s5LNDZtcWJM_eXMj-yJZtMN5LeCDoSbR9azHZ4Bj3uyXsoT5XlpwrKKBS_8WTiZdA=s16000" /></a></div><br />On my way out of town, I stopped by the grocery store for a couple of items I had forgotten to purchase yesterday evening, and then I followed the paved road west out of town.<p></p><p>I started by using walking directions provided by Google Maps, but my GPS and maps included a different route that split off several miles away which I estimated cut off about 10 miles of walking--quite a substantial shortcut! Even better, this other route followed little-used gravel roads. Definitely a shortcut worth taking!</p><p>The first few hours, however, were along a moderately busy paved road under the blistering sun. Eventually the route ducked under I-90 once again--the third time I passed under the Interstate. Shortly thereafter, the road became gravel and few vehicles passed me after that. It was a much improved experience!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNaMlDXQou9FJ58QppZlVqiJXFPlsIVluRwh9eobPo9fTKPy00CyADfWRycWY5qJDArEKiws7DvIlPRRc3b_pYwDA27Efeb6dr5wvzh6dwWYAV7JoqUs6k9naFEqhpAjuYVxz-4yY98yl92hENm72EwgEurqL6JgqJJYhi1XcQ9_uCTLoJ55_rVC6gmg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNaMlDXQou9FJ58QppZlVqiJXFPlsIVluRwh9eobPo9fTKPy00CyADfWRycWY5qJDArEKiws7DvIlPRRc3b_pYwDA27Efeb6dr5wvzh6dwWYAV7JoqUs6k9naFEqhpAjuYVxz-4yY98yl92hENm72EwgEurqL6JgqJJYhi1XcQ9_uCTLoJ55_rVC6gmg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The third (and last) time I'd pass under Interstate 90.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The trail, however, started heading uphill, climbing higher and higher. Even this wasn't entirely bad, however, as it meant I got away from the wide-open fields for crops. Now there were small bushes and trees to provide shade when I stopped for a rest. There wasn't a lot, but it was better than nothing which is about how much I had before. And the amount of shade opportunities increased the higher I got in elevation.<br /></p><p>The fully-loaded pack I carried was pretty miserable heading into the mountains, however, so I grumbled about that. There was always <i>something</i> to complain about--one of the things about long-distance hiking is that there's <i>always</i> something to complain about. Which can be a blessing when you feel like complaining about something. =)</p><p>By the end of the day, I covered over 20 miles, and my GPS recorded over 4,000 feet of elevation gain which also meant the ambient air temperature was quite a bit cooler than it would have been had I stayed in Whitehall for the day.</p><p>Near the end of the day, I finally reached a real trail! No more road walking! At least for the time being. I had no doubt there would be more roads in my future, but this gave me a chance to set up camp off a road near Halfway Creek.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6H2L2D7iD2u9W-Sm1rVV6GTzQ4a5r0bFgI6DVxxGYtT8chS6EAsiCSKw8_ymUyZ3WASKXZ7ArZ0T9WqOfPOmTRY0Vf4nEbvWcsc_JpaYfVgNZmCy-2roX5AUO8uDODXlIdoWQIA1BbySqJzs0RQfIbyEEEDLxUnInMuMGyI56TxxyfSXQMZW0gdyuUA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6H2L2D7iD2u9W-Sm1rVV6GTzQ4a5r0bFgI6DVxxGYtT8chS6EAsiCSKw8_ymUyZ3WASKXZ7ArZ0T9WqOfPOmTRY0Vf4nEbvWcsc_JpaYfVgNZmCy-2roX5AUO8uDODXlIdoWQIA1BbySqJzs0RQfIbyEEEDLxUnInMuMGyI56TxxyfSXQMZW0gdyuUA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the end of the day, I finally reached a real trail again!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5Sfe8iB4hnoo6rkCdJjIK4QgZxePVoPO2RqeHbaULgmSxtowdyA07y8e-upQWrZLjDl7weSrddpIlX9RTLnI0wGoTMKuB-L-CMsn8LMvOrBiQJmrRuKIAjGJSKTQ56OXxDCFql5CEaeO6xHPXs3S0TtDfC77gdUNGg4b52AYMA_a_Tb2qsJ6j4MUM3w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5Sfe8iB4hnoo6rkCdJjIK4QgZxePVoPO2RqeHbaULgmSxtowdyA07y8e-upQWrZLjDl7weSrddpIlX9RTLnI0wGoTMKuB-L-CMsn8LMvOrBiQJmrRuKIAjGJSKTQ56OXxDCFql5CEaeO6xHPXs3S0TtDfC77gdUNGg4b52AYMA_a_Tb2qsJ6j4MUM3w=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too bad I wasn't be in town to see the Suicide Squad!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJCzCfT5jYZbvOiqw8zBH3Up-ZqQCzo4Y-hIrYZBeAwiLFwLIrYfHCaO-xTOv7J_r316bJnl-dm-GCgJYh4PMAzxK3rVQlEUKtWmlq2XnUGOyDcXgnVCrc5e-MpBF4WYw4gZ6BNRT-e98T_B6lskDfvxjmEtUZPoNA69wEabYQFpvUTVhYIyWtu1Q-Ng" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJCzCfT5jYZbvOiqw8zBH3Up-ZqQCzo4Y-hIrYZBeAwiLFwLIrYfHCaO-xTOv7J_r316bJnl-dm-GCgJYh4PMAzxK3rVQlEUKtWmlq2XnUGOyDcXgnVCrc5e-MpBF4WYw4gZ6BNRT-e98T_B6lskDfvxjmEtUZPoNA69wEabYQFpvUTVhYIyWtu1Q-Ng=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4p3yIFeXr9H7z7LOkVSZOTcysX4OyDQbJGTF8El4KugKFnmFj-kONcJGqI_qgvQtvkxGHt1ggEKTozRnaYqI5DVUni14kmgttIGM1WnHGA5VOSuzJZaXmnXzcZ2SmSQTvQ6Cj473aKrdsdQe7-kjIjl_umjMgLOlC9MmId0bVodiq1df_n5LBLXk5LA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4p3yIFeXr9H7z7LOkVSZOTcysX4OyDQbJGTF8El4KugKFnmFj-kONcJGqI_qgvQtvkxGHt1ggEKTozRnaYqI5DVUni14kmgttIGM1WnHGA5VOSuzJZaXmnXzcZ2SmSQTvQ6Cj473aKrdsdQe7-kjIjl_umjMgLOlC9MmId0bVodiq1df_n5LBLXk5LA=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These crosses marked a death on the road, but I preferred to think they were people in vehicles who managed to get themselves killed and not pedestrians who were walking along the side of the road and were hit by vehicles! But there was never any information about that, so I could only guess.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRvLUblXyhmHbG7_thxF9Bgk9wJWQE61BoGWQmhbMj820LZL412sLfsmOE5QoYSrTu3p9PUcN_WKJ_FlOZmImadhKANOYuspvsvlLqcfoGuaM_Vr_IWEXpjHjw5or9wNUKAPM8Ht-_b-VAkYCAvs2Gkd-W_0vdmZPtT9rIJ4UBsq6ia9J_XLIGpCF0vQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRvLUblXyhmHbG7_thxF9Bgk9wJWQE61BoGWQmhbMj820LZL412sLfsmOE5QoYSrTu3p9PUcN_WKJ_FlOZmImadhKANOYuspvsvlLqcfoGuaM_Vr_IWEXpjHjw5or9wNUKAPM8Ht-_b-VAkYCAvs2Gkd-W_0vdmZPtT9rIJ4UBsq6ia9J_XLIGpCF0vQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See my shadow walking over the highway bridge over the railroad?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi3EtAnSDCKilPzVp6XMPbnAFlFT-RLZfkgL1tOBxRBl6RrWJ13cE1Z2DA6_WqXQCD5XIpbVlfU8A-TSuDn5H8aVj6_OTL2fDTvdYr8mnE0sjhDPF3XRoIptbram9C2_cSB5Q9U3z-Zj6PAaggZiDTmHpsuVKpxyAP0ci7Wb_hv-3u-Yg8obWAkJDOgg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi3EtAnSDCKilPzVp6XMPbnAFlFT-RLZfkgL1tOBxRBl6RrWJ13cE1Z2DA6_WqXQCD5XIpbVlfU8A-TSuDn5H8aVj6_OTL2fDTvdYr8mnE0sjhDPF3XRoIptbram9C2_cSB5Q9U3z-Zj6PAaggZiDTmHpsuVKpxyAP0ci7Wb_hv-3u-Yg8obWAkJDOgg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh05MlQzMCDk_Ko7LVDA7CcrFrJnbNZrPz0VS66-A7JMELOrucEPTDpgO5hXDx4wb8-RONMZHJr5BN5FnQGrZ_CZoSXlcbwegQUppr618otkCePtlnRC2vWwKu3cf-rDP-gFGSa2LV-YZXFnpt1qrJbQ9xx-nJYNd7s-CkMNR3XhkD5zCmyPxoL1fY7eA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh05MlQzMCDk_Ko7LVDA7CcrFrJnbNZrPz0VS66-A7JMELOrucEPTDpgO5hXDx4wb8-RONMZHJr5BN5FnQGrZ_CZoSXlcbwegQUppr618otkCePtlnRC2vWwKu3cf-rDP-gFGSa2LV-YZXFnpt1qrJbQ9xx-nJYNd7s-CkMNR3XhkD5zCmyPxoL1fY7eA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLX2Oqmq4UOHkpia0uryAhLI1kc-fRwEp3p3SeKry869EnZqHKplWs0r1jsJSqah2eZhd9B-kDE3qgHoQ4yi4Bg4RG8PobKr1dHlG7rEOwG7Kfi-ZmLRAZyD1C1NVzBL_PvzvkbuW0H85xhi3RoBNA27hNS0WaqAw3LENdV5lFexigHNf59fUGxiu-kA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLX2Oqmq4UOHkpia0uryAhLI1kc-fRwEp3p3SeKry869EnZqHKplWs0r1jsJSqah2eZhd9B-kDE3qgHoQ4yi4Bg4RG8PobKr1dHlG7rEOwG7Kfi-ZmLRAZyD1C1NVzBL_PvzvkbuW0H85xhi3RoBNA27hNS0WaqAw3LENdV5lFexigHNf59fUGxiu-kA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4W7NS95fyWvNB9Sca3EYsuF3Zdp7zocDzPD_1UkRuM3C4WYXWQqlGDYPh3L8sP8frmlLe7t9WFBV36SCJQ6JESVjuB2gjJXibAvZHtfqa995eJU5veqvSAWijl0sHNVLaFl3_LnY9U8ICzgusp_G8jCmaODgfwg7zGDvb_svkw84DFb2nfB8p35qfzg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4W7NS95fyWvNB9Sca3EYsuF3Zdp7zocDzPD_1UkRuM3C4WYXWQqlGDYPh3L8sP8frmlLe7t9WFBV36SCJQ6JESVjuB2gjJXibAvZHtfqa995eJU5veqvSAWijl0sHNVLaFl3_LnY9U8ICzgusp_G8jCmaODgfwg7zGDvb_svkw84DFb2nfB8p35qfzg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUOquf3X5SlTEw0tUlkxiV8gLW35UE0G3Oo2irFPSiORsosnunjRHyh8RPOZkUO2Ds7A0TIrZmc6OE9qHJEJ5gk-9S42GlA8_ua7loisP3FdQomFRjmvCxzD3u695JY7XBRIINwhFABhJhXs3yOEGE5dWNu4Da6_TtyFESH1ecc1iKVJ0AhE-SjJl4bg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUOquf3X5SlTEw0tUlkxiV8gLW35UE0G3Oo2irFPSiORsosnunjRHyh8RPOZkUO2Ds7A0TIrZmc6OE9qHJEJ5gk-9S42GlA8_ua7loisP3FdQomFRjmvCxzD3u695JY7XBRIINwhFABhJhXs3yOEGE5dWNu4Da6_TtyFESH1ecc1iKVJ0AhE-SjJl4bg=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaqCG039sTGqGqMi9074BxB6l19AOiI26i05B5LinXgc5OlFFjKZ1XeDf5bzBUEoc3eX6Aalruqhb_BUxzcZvEqaU9IOMBuprELj3gMaDjKb39AXkLrb3Q5U_rqB3kVyA2UWQKik_JlptxKfXxZnx2SSCy6fbBA7UsS08QROevfwaDzzL2tTZ7m1ga8Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaqCG039sTGqGqMi9074BxB6l19AOiI26i05B5LinXgc5OlFFjKZ1XeDf5bzBUEoc3eX6Aalruqhb_BUxzcZvEqaU9IOMBuprELj3gMaDjKb39AXkLrb3Q5U_rqB3kVyA2UWQKik_JlptxKfXxZnx2SSCy6fbBA7UsS08QROevfwaDzzL2tTZ7m1ga8Q=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't have super detailed maps of the area, so it was nice finding this at a trailhead along the gravel road. It wasn't perfect (it was meant for motorbikers, not hikers), but it had a lot of information that I didn't have before.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJGefb3xj0gTWXV8Yl2EkzwbB07GRLBKAlRrmv8hDLca95qxH5C68OfDQMnZzaDGOrOuC5y73LuUNfrv8J0ABeQIDN3qpjpjYt0Up5EbOWFZ6YsPD1zFgtgOqbulzEFpc90idYm-aT_NjZQ_2_ynoJWDPQlY29ph7vEkmbpsDinsQwZkZai4MNbfAdxw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJGefb3xj0gTWXV8Yl2EkzwbB07GRLBKAlRrmv8hDLca95qxH5C68OfDQMnZzaDGOrOuC5y73LuUNfrv8J0ABeQIDN3qpjpjYt0Up5EbOWFZ6YsPD1zFgtgOqbulzEFpc90idYm-aT_NjZQ_2_ynoJWDPQlY29ph7vEkmbpsDinsQwZkZai4MNbfAdxw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWL76MqkxqchIsRUvHiBmzGfyney9RMx3NPh1CvJk73zvs7hVhJk6eIm72U6Q0oSL6UP5Bj4jMRH5m6aTcHzCelC67EfdGfyBPRVuJH1epTaQ7yo7YtRzUf3qRkUQH9nGnG3QttUjrgnZ1ACkAoL__6jh7tPn9k62luGgi0RRJNL6Ewteyf5aW057AZQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWL76MqkxqchIsRUvHiBmzGfyney9RMx3NPh1CvJk73zvs7hVhJk6eIm72U6Q0oSL6UP5Bj4jMRH5m6aTcHzCelC67EfdGfyBPRVuJH1epTaQ7yo7YtRzUf3qRkUQH9nGnG3QttUjrgnZ1ACkAoL__6jh7tPn9k62luGgi0RRJNL6Ewteyf5aW057AZQ=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like a tree bashed in this gate at some point!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.com0Whitehall, MT 59759, USA45.8693709 -112.098605317.559137063821154 -147.2548553 74.179604736178845 -76.9423553