Journey Day 359 | CDT Day 22

High in Montana in 1987.

7/3/87

Today was quite a day.

I sit barefoot at a grassy pass, my tent tightly pitched and 18 miles under my belt for the day. An expedition record!

The day began early, as I awoke and began packing up. I emerged to find the others cooking. As I had little water to spare, I finished packing and started out from our site a half-mile off the road at Flesher Pass.

It was easy forest walking. I padded along, not too vigorously, but made good progress, stopping only for a forest dump in a nice pine forest.

The others caught and passed me, but I came upon them soon after, breaking in a cut in the forest. We missed the ranger's water, but of little consequence as the trail was quick.

I was lost temporarily where I followed a contour down, missing a trail veer to the southwest through a meadow back into the forest. After two futile hikes along a blazed tread, I was headed back when I heard Laurie, then saw her at the spot with aspens where the trail reentered the woods. From there I walked with her up to a road crossing, which we followed down to Stemple Pass.

Took a munch break, but separated from the group upon commencement as they took the road (got beer and Cokes) while I reveled in the excellent views in three directions as I followed the trail up over a high meadow, before a descent to the road near Granite Butte and Lookout. They showed up and we walked down to a dry culvert, but water in the ravine below seemed good enough to drink.

We were contemplating this when a truck with a redneck family from Helena stopped. Drunk daddy gave us beer, Coke, and we talked awhile. They took off, we ate (I a double shrimp creole) got more water and resumed the hike.

Laurie sick, slow moving, so progress diminished, giving us time to doubt the route. Landmarks don't match, but few options to continuing southwest. So we follow a road up and down through the woods until it cuts abruptly right, downhill, emerging from trees to excellent, clear pass and meadow, where we pitched our tents in the wind, admiring their design and our abilities.

Updating, but cold wind, tiredness may drive me to bed. I hope to catch sunrise, which should glare at us en la manana.