CDT Day 113: The Rollercoaster

Daily Miles: 22.9, Total Miles: 1,979.1

Mike from the Mountain View returned me to the trail by 7:30am on a cool, overcast morning. A nice, easy grade walking with the cows on Modoc Road for about seven miles before reaching the TH.

The Divide in this section is large, steep, rolling hills with few trees and lots of sagebrush and green grass. Hikers call it “the Rollercoaster” because the trail is up, down and twisting on the ridges, mostly following a fenceline.

I got dumped on my two thunderstorms today. The first one left me drenched. The second one hit at my peak elevation of 9,000 ft. I propped my pack on a fencepost, quickly got out my tent and draped it over myself and pack, keeping as low a profile as I could. Very intense 25-minute downpour, gusty winds, and lightning and thunder directly overhead.

Finally was able to proceed and came down to water with just a couple of swallows left late in the day. Cows and fresh cow pies were everywhere along Shineberger Creek. I kept moving for two more miles to much better Little Beaver Creek.

Damn, I lost my earphones during the storms, I think snagged on sagebrush.

Saw six SOBOs today coming down from Leadore ID.