Journey Day 400 | CDT Day 63

There was a layer cake effect on Squaretop Mountain.

8/16/87

Up slow in frozen morning. Tent, also boots, frozen, so wait for sun to break over the ridge. It does, and I take care of gear in order according to its dryness. Granola breakfast, then up the South Fork of Fish Creek again, this time with no trail. Luckily I find cow trails easily and follow the valley past grazing cattle up to a road crossing. Sunny for a change, but still cool, especially at the road break, as I cook more noodles, plus granola bar, for a late breakfast. Great views of the peaks ahead, including Triple Divide and Union Peak.

After a nice break, follow the road up Fish Creek Park, past a work station and more cattle grazing. Cut down to Wolf's jeep road and follow it up a far as I can, once sidetracked by a clearcut.

End up following blazes, cairns, but find myself on a cow trail that ends at timberline. Wander about, into the woods, decide I'm too far west, come upon trail, decide its Wolf's description, follow it back to a tributary, then back up into the woods. Realize a bull moose is looking at me up ahead in the woods near the trail. Photo, study, get other lens, approach, he runs off. More obscure trail brings me to a meadow. Lose the trail on the meadow's edge, but spot jeep road. Folllow against Wolf's words. Seems right, definitely easier. Good views of the Tetons, Soda, Breccia mountains, as well as the Absarokas back in Yellowstone. But realize I've gone too far, cut back over to the basin. From a high ridge in snow, decide on the pass. Through snow, up to the pass. Amazed at the amount, but not really. More exhilarated.

Think I climbed to the pass. Great views to the next basin and Roaring Creek. Layer cake effect on Squaretop Mountain. Down with a vague idea where I'm at. Find animal trail, but seems to be going too far down the valley. Mistake Roaring Fork for the Green River. Buck brush, hop talus slopes, deadfall down to a trail along the Roaring Fork. A bit unsure, but decide all's well. Hike west downstream til the sun's low post, opportunity for close water convince me to camp. Pitch, cook dinner, noodles again, finishing off those sent by Jack (Mallory, who hiked Appalachian Trail with me), plus hot Tang. Clean up into tent's vestibule as night falls. Gurgling background for update by flashlight. Cora tomorrow