Journey Day 385 | CDT Day 48

Admiring the Italian Peaks from the trail in 1987.

7/31/87

Nice, but hot night ends and we're moving to go in the early morning. Carl leads us over the pass, where we cut back to the right to follow the Divide as it cuts east. Take the chance to admire the Italian Peaks, also those gone by.

Then it's a jeep road along the fence time again. Good views back, plus increasing vista of Garfield. Take a break at Buffalo Spring, after the fence hike, then begin road bushwhack that leaves us at Sheep Creek after some cow trail walking. Lunch long and filling, but cows appear at its end. We hike upstream to the junction where Laurie kills alternative route idea I'd have walked by. I hike ahead, climb up river canyon, then up to Basin below Garfield, Red Conglomerates.

Through the basin, I climb past pass, but slide over. Buck elk lounging on a ridge past the top, so I watch until they move on. Contour on vague, ankle twister of path, eventually making it to next saddle after seeing the same elk on the ridge above and ahead.

The others catch up as I lounge on second saddle, finally figure out which peaks are which, solo photo with Red Conglomerates in the background.

Shadowed along the Divide in Idaho in 1987.

We hike down, pass spring, try to follow overgrown trail also featuring deadfall, which follows Sheep Spring Creek downstream. Overgrown and cattle tromped.

Pass junction, down to where spring pops up again, refill water. Carl thinks we're camping, but rolls groundcloth back up. Down trail worsens, Wolf's suggested route in meadow with grass almost shoulder high. I leave the others still deciding. Trail lost, found in high grass, etc. Have to go over barbed wire fence, last sign of the others. Follow trail to road to Deep Cow Creek Camp, where I pitch and eat at deserted yard. Only horses for company. This may be it...