Daily Miles: 8.3, Total Miles: 2,627.3 Had a brief thunderstorm last night with more wind than rain – nature’s air conditioning. A bit more relaxed this morning after the long haul from Lincoln – even had two cups of coffee. I used the last of my toilet paper this morning – just love it when a plan comes together. Take no more than you need. Much of the trail into East Glacier Park was spent wading through chest-high thimbleberry bushes….
Daily Miles: 31.9, Total Miles: 2,619.0 Not as much ups and downs today so make good time. I followed the South Fork Medicine River for several miles and really enjoyed the mix of burn and forest. So much, in fact, that I missed a turn on the CDT. Rather than backtrack, I kept going and tied back into the CDT near Mariah Pass. The only downside was having to ford the river several times. A lynx crossed the trail in…
Daily Miles: 23.9, Total Miles: 2,587.1 Despite a beautiful spot on the cabin porch, I didn’t sleep well. Firstly, my NeoAir mattress sprang a leak for the first time in 5,000 miles, I’m sure a sliver from the floorboards. Secondly, that resident mouse stayed up late as well. I quickly left the Spotted Bear trail this morning and rejoined the CDT at Strawberry Creek which I followed for 12 miles mostly through an old burn to Badger Pass. Another fire…
Daily Miles: 27.7, Total Miles: 2,561.2 Very early this morning, I was awoken by something walking very close to my tent. I yelled and smacked the side of the tent and heard what I thought may be two deer run away. They came right back and clopped around the tent, chewing on trees and bushes and making a lot of noise. My fear was that they get caught up in the tent guy lines and send the stakes flying. I…
Daily Miles: 28.0, Total Miles: 2,533.5 I fell asleep within minutes of getting in my tent last night – before 8pm. Another cold one – maybe fall in the air? I quickly entered the Bob Marshall Wilderness (the Bob) this morning. A day of following the meandering South Fork Sun River and tributaries upstream until I got to the Chinese Wall, a prominent 1,000 ft high limestone escarpment. The Chinese Wall, on what was a beautifully clear day, was spectacular…
Daily Miles: 29.5, Total Miles: 2,505.5 I woke up shivering last night and had to put on my down jacket. Another freeze, this time in the headwaters of the Dearborn. I followed the Dearborn and then Welcome Creek up over Straight Creek Pass. Straight Creek was true to it’s name and I followed it for several miles down a long valley all the way to Benchmark. Looks to be recent burns in much of this area, a stark contrast to…
Daily Miles: 30.6, Total Miles: 2,476.0 Gary, a nice trail angel in Lincoln, gave us a ride to the Indian Meadows TH, the starting point for the reroute around the fire closure. It was a pretty hike today, entering the Scapegoat Wilderness with plenty of water, trees and a gradual, upward gradient. I only missed one turn and had to backtrack to get back on the right trail. The higher I climbed, the more the hillsides and mountain tops were…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 2,445.4 I checked on fire closures while having a big breakfast at Bushwhackers and got bad news. The Alice Creek fire closure was posted last night and closes the CDT from Rogers Pass for about 23 miles north. Navi, a fellow NOBO, walked down to the Forest Service Office and came back with a reroute plan. Looks to add a few miles but we can reconnect with the CDT hopefully by the end of the…
Daily Miles: 19.1, Total Miles: 2,445.4 I had an early start on another rollercoaster today on top of the Divide. Flesher Pass also had a small water cache – nice and well-timed – this is dry country. Despite the smoky haze, great views and very gusty winds for the rest of the day. The winds keep the pesky, little, black flies at bay. Saw quite a bit of bear scat on the trail. I switchbacked down to Rogers Pass and…
Daily Miles: 25.9, Total Miles: 2,426.3 A lot of elevation gain/loss today as the trail stayed true to the rocking and rolling Divide. I hiked on ridges all day starting with Black Mountain. From the top, the smoke looked like an incoming fog. I saw a van at the Granite Butte Lookout and stopped and chatted with the camper for awhile. He restocked my nearly empty water bottles. It was also nice to top off at a water cache at…
