Journey Day 381 | CDT Day 44
Camped along the trail in Idaho in 1987.
7/27/87
From the laundry room of Wiegand's Apartments in down-but-not-out Leadore, ID...
An amazing break in the form of a saving ride got us down from Bannock Pass just as a threatening thunderstorm bore down on our exposed spot. It was the first vehicle that had passed. It came down the road we had hiked. As I came to the pass, I spotted a car coming up. It seemed to be stopping twice, but went on, possibly discouraged after seeing the size of our band. Another beat pick-up...
But it started from our spot on the Divide, where a spring had drawn us to end our day. it was a warm morning, no dew, so packing was easy and left over pancakes made a fine meal with peanut butter.
So we climbed back to the Divide, leaving a good road for an open ridge with grazing cattle. This led us back to the road, which climbed steeply to a rocky formation east of Goat Mountain, where we rested and looked to the trail ahead.
After a break, we headed down to a ravine, past a nice spring through forest to ascending ridges with occasional excellent views to the valley cut by Ten Mile Creek, Elk Mountain, and other vistas.
Another break at the highest knob, then down to a hot, rolling meadow following a fence line until the road veers, we stay with the fence. Dry and hot with rugged, steep descents on loose gravel.
After lunch at its base, we climb forested Grizzly Hill, using deteriorated pole fencing as our guide to the ridge, then bearing uphill to the summit. I lose the others on the descent, they wind up ahead at a microwave station. After a break, I again fall behind and push out to road quickly. Down to a meadow to the road out. No good water at poor Wagonbox Spring, which we had counted on. With a quart in case no ride's forthcoming, we push out down the road. I push ahead. After about an hour wait, the pick-up appears just ahead of the rain and we pile in and bounce down to Leadore, where the post office shares a building with the town store.
Find three boxes, five letters, two from mom, one each from Grama, Elwood Blues and the Packards. Down to Barbara, Norma's sister-in-law's place, the Sagebrush Cafe for a burger and fries. Then get room. Owners of White's Motel gone, but the waitress is their daughter, who accommodates us.
Settle, organize, drink a big Foster's. Munch, enjoy excellent shower before exiting to do laundry. Stop at the restaurant for quick chat with Barbara, drop keys for the TVs. At the general store, a man shows me his elk rack, his wife gives me detergent as "a gift from God." A few Praise the Lords get me out the door with a ride with Holly, an old miner with a claim on Grizzly Hill. He lives in the apartments. I settle in, have to wash sleeping bag twice due to soap excess, drying bag for the first time as I write.
Letters, finally I'm nearly dry when Holly, 79, comes in and surprises me with his mental dexterity. We talk til I'm, then he's, ready. Drive back, into room where Carl's sleeping with the lights on. We talk, I write some, read before lights out. Sleep comes hard on soft bed in a cove.
