Journey Day 388 | CDT Day 51
Hiking a meadow along the Idaho-Montana border in 1987.
8/3/87
From my frosted spot under the sky's blanket, I rise with the others but make a quicker beginning because of my protracted procedures sans cooking and tent disassembly. Jeep roads steadily up along a fenceline-boundary, nice views back to the Red Conglomerates, Lima Reservoir. Then views ahead go to Yellowstone, ranges before its Gallatin Range. More jeep trail along the fence up to a water spot, which I pass on, while enjoying long kickback and mad munching on my miracle mix featuring butterscotch and coconut.
After a dump, I leave the others behind again for a climb that becomes tricky, lose at the border sign, but pick up on the other side of the pass, climb and check out Centennial Valley until the others come up.
We hike together to a minimal spring. Leonard and Laurie get water, we hike up meadow, somehow lose the route, and begin a time of uncertainty. Leonard and Laurie scout, neither think it's their way. So we walk down bushwhacking to the ridges of least resistance, which take us closer to the route. After a break, we walk to the trail, then begin a climb up Table Mountain. Steep up, vague, sometimes loose trail easy going after what we've just done. Stop to photo sign warning of traps set for "harmful animals". Soon after come upon one sprung. probably by a horse nowhere to be seen.
A sign warned of traps for “harmful animals”.
At break here, decide "pack trail" in Wolf's description is our trail, avoiding bushwhack. So we hike on, lose trail blazed, but not worn, in meadow. Pick it up, follow past a tent camp to worn trail. After a break there, down short ways to puddles-trickle, but Carl correctly calls it too soon. So after he reconnoiters, we go down. At apparent sheepherder's camp, Carl gets a good spot, I find a place for under-the-stars crash, Leonard and Laurie down in the meadow. All to tasks as sun continues to drop. I have double dinner with milk drink. Into bag as chill hits quickly. Hope for clear night. Good night.
