Journey Day 386 | CDT Day 49

The route into Dubois followed apparently endless jeep roads

8/1/87

Up and quickly packed after rough night with sick stomach and burning shins. At road, finishing note when others show up. We follow Wolf's old, unused route along jeep roads. Hot, dry, seeming to have no end or object. Some deep brush, etc., makes the going annoying. We come to Sawmill Road, a new public access and begin walking down.

Break at a mine shaft.

After a break at a mine shaft, hiking again when we spy vehicles coming from the highway, then pick up our direction, which we thumb successfully.

Ride to Lima, where we hit the cafe before heading out to hitch back to Dubois along I-15. Three hours net no ride, so we're back at the cafe eating, drinking, cooling fried brain cells. We're scamming rides when the waitress directs Fred Kovacs, a geologist with time to kill, our way.

We talk awhile, gorge again before piling into his Wagoneer, which loses some serious tread quickly. But a tire change and we're back on the road, riding down off the Divide into the Snake River Valley, past ghost towns and Sheep Experiment Station.

Layers of ridges along the Continental Divide Trail near Dubois, Idaho.

In Dubois, we get packages left by the postmaster at the Conoco station-store and head for the first of three meals at the Legion Cafe. At crossroads motel after dinner, we bid Fred goodbye, bathe and organize. Rest, watch Saturday Night Live, before nighty night.