Journey Day 404 | CDT Day 67

Oct 23

Although the trail was largely unmarked, the trail’s central feature was occasionally marked.

8/20/87

Up early, I put it all on my back and hike away around Island Lake. Bad weather and vibes keep me from scaling Fremont Peak. Hike more lakes and bouldered high country in cold morning, climb Lester Pass sluggishly, sun coming out to make the climb hot. Descend to junction, where I munch granola and bars and drink Tang. Revitalized I choose and lose, finding myself at Cook Lakes. Realize my mistake, follow obscure start of Fremont Trail up a ridge and run into young bull moose near a creek after finding Pole Creek and solving another sign incongruity. Hike into beautiful Bald Mountain Basin, climb out to a high pass, climb again away from the junction to Baldy Lake after a short miscue. Follow rock cairns up narrow canyon with creek running through it. Keep climbing, following cairns, rocky high country with light evergreen cover. Weather good, then cloudy.

Come to junction after descent, stumble around, finally find the trail at the other side of the meadow. Down to confusing junction signed as Timico Lake Trail. Guess right that it'll veer off and does after convenient, long boulder hop of a wide creek. Take lunch between boulders as wind blows, skies darkening. No rain as I munch freeze-dried chili, among other things. Push on, climb on vague trail to Hat Pass, then down past two lakes not on my maps. The Divide Basin is visible ahead.

My day without humans is ruined by a horsepack group who marvel at my mileage today, long trip.

I leave them and pass second lake not on the map to a junction. Walk around North Fork Lake, choose cool spot on the edge in a cove-rocky point. Stakes easily in, pitch as it sprinkles. All cooked when a quick storm hits, soon passes. Nice rainbows.