Friday July 25, 22.6mi/36.4km

Campbell’s Ferry Bridge (450.6/2410ft) to Stonebraker Ranch (428.0/5610ft) (ID)

Yesterday a rafting guide told me that once I crossed the Salmon River, I will officially be in the mountain Time zone, so I changed my watch and phone to match. I never set my alarm but this morning it’s set for 5:30 am, so I can be hiking up the big 4500-ft climb before it gets hot. Across the Campbells Ferry bridge again, I walked through their property and then started the big climb on a very nicely graded trail.

I put on some music as I hiked beautifully maintained and nicely graded trail, it almost felt like hiking the PCT.

There aren’t many trees in the lower half, but I’m in the shade from the hillside, it’s the perfect temperature to be hiking, about 60°F.

Several hours later as I was in the top half of the climb, I noticed the wind had shifted and brought in the wildfire smoke, from the Big Bear fire 20 miles away.

An hour later the smoke had mostly cleared out, but I could see down in the Salmon River canyon it was still lingering.

It took me almost all morning, but after 10 miles I had climbed 4,000 ft. That’s not a complaint as climbing 4,000 ft should take 10 miles, anything much shorter and the trail would be awkwardly steep. Once I was on top of the ridge, I was in a nice shady forest.

Lunch was a splendid affair, since I was now freshly resupplied with my food from Campbells Ferry (thanks Nathan!) and I gorged cheese and tortillas and chocolate and wonderful things.

All day the trail had been wonderfully maintained and I noticed in this section there were many very freshly cut blowdowns.

Just chill hiking all afternoon.

I followed the West Fork Chamberlain Creek the rest of the afternoon.

Much of that valley had been burned years ago with spooky standing dead trees, certainly no place to camp here.

I decided to hike until I got to Stonebraker Ranch, a little property owned by Idaho Fish and Game.

When I got there at 6:30, I met the caretakers who were relaxing on the front porch, Beth & Dave. They were super nice and offered me a cold lemonade right away.

We had a nice evening, just sitting on the front porch and chatting, watching the clouds and talking about the history of this place.

Apparently Friday evening is their leftovers night, so I was offered a huge portion of macaroni salad along with something they called deconstructed egg rolls.

It was a ton of food and for the first time in a couple weeks I actually felt full. Lately I’ve been so hungry that my dinners just make it so I’m not hungry anymore. Life is good.