Journey Day 356 | CDT Day 19

Carl Ownby camped in a Montana meadow.

6/30/87

Up before the group in cold morning to have a go at pancakes. Successful breakfast, but end up lagging in packing as a result and follow others as we walk away from the Valley of the Moon and its depleted pond. Nice spring our last water, as we'll be on the Divide, probably to the road.

Leonard and Laurie Adkins purifying water.

Hot climb to the ridge, cross country down from the crest to a saddle in woods, then back up the other side. At break, we decide Laurie's tooth woes warrant detour, so decide to descend along Alice Creek to road and out to highway to Lincoln. Hike more up and down, bidding hot, muggy goodbye to the Divide and its constant ups and downs. Final hot break at five miles, looking for alleged road and trail. Then down through the forest, find road and descend steeply along Alice Creek.

Break part way down, then out to road, where we meet trail crew, secure ride to Lincoln, which turns into ride to Helena. We wait for them to finish build loading ramp. They leave, then come back and carry us to forest service center, where Indianans give us a ride to Helena.

Super 8 Motel a good deal, savored shower, organize, pig out at Wendy's. Back to the room, we watch Richard Pryor autobiographical flick, "Jo Jo Dancer," crash when TV fare fails us.