Wyoming!Yosemite is pretty where it’s not burned.Thermal features. Calderas are cool!Old Faithful geyser. Seems to go off every 90 minutes or so.Yellowstone Inn, a very cool old wooden lodge.
Day 55: (August 23rd)
Aquacam and geysers. We were looking for a hot spring all morning, didn’t find one though.Yellowstone lake in the distance. Photo taken from shin-deep muck.Indy crossing a stream. That log was really not very helpful!
Day 56: (August 24th)
Still in Yellowstone, and it’s still cold every morning.We found a hot spring!Indy lunchin’ it up.
Day 57: (August 25th)
Indy is always happy to be hikingA creek that splits (rare!) and each fork flows (ultimately) into a different ocean. COOL.Lots of pack trains in this section.Yes, this is a real photo.
Day 58: (August 26th)
Our last lunch before town. Usually we are running out of food by this point!There’s a tree on that cabin!Indy asks everyone he meets on the trail to sign his hat. Great idea. Especially for remembering names!The bar in Dubois was…interesting. There is definitely a theme!
Day 59: (August 27th)
A zero day in the down of Dubois. We walk down to the local gear store for various items. I get a warmer hat, but cannot find a long-sleeve hiking shirt there. (I ultimately find one, at the dollar store, but not in my preferred color or style). Indy & I try tubing on the river behind the motel, which is a spectacular failure, mostly because we tried using kids’ tubes…haha. The rest of the group (Anchor, Bard, Toppie, Smokey) get into town, and catch up to the 3 of us (AquaCam, Indy, and I). Reunion at the bar! I don’t stay late, as I’m getting out early tomorrow morning, to hike…the Winds!! So excited.
The landscape has changed dramatically in the last few days.AC & I climbing an 11,000ft peak on the divide, on an alternate route.The summit marker. And state boundary.
Day 47: (August 15th)
Cows! Beef on the move.They call ’em lakes. I think they’re more like large ponds. But still refreshing!The map says there’s a cave on this exact spot. I think that’s no longer the case. Sad.Shepherd! We met on the PCT last year, he is hiking NOBO on the CDT this year. Also, epic photobomb LT & AC…
Day 48: (August 16th)
LT in the lead, as usual.AquaCam, need a new profile pic?Full moon!
Day 49: (August 17th)
On the roadwalk into town (Lima MT), we were really fascinated by these completely normal horses.Breakfast..look at the size of that hamsteak! And another nice photobomb
Day 50: (August 18th)
Can Smokey eat 2lbs of rice krispy treats? I bet he could…This is the first on-trail CDT register I’ve seen, and it’s been almost 900 miles!1000’s of cows. Block the path. Embrace the moo-tality!Sunset from a camp spot on a high ridge. Turned out it was also an exposed, windy, stormy ridge…
Day 51: (August 19th)
Foggy, windy COLD morningHours later, still cold enough to hike with a windshell onThe trail feeds us!Hundreds of sheep. They were not unexpected, as this is the “Sheep Experimental Zone”The sign to explain the Sheep Zone.
Day 52: (August 20th)
Playing with my camera’s filters.Limey! We met last year on the PCT, he is also hiking NOBO on the CDT this year. He will be in Canada in no time!We find a large cairn, with a register box. Inside……is the register for the Brower’s Spring start to the canoe descent of the Missouri/Mississippi River system! 3,800 miles! Crazy folks.
Day 53: (August 21st)
We hiked down the dirt road into the town of Macks Inn, ID where we picked up some groceries, and had lunch at a mexican restaurant. We hiked back out a few hours later, continuing on towards Yellowstone & Wyoming…
This was one of the water sources listed on the map. Needless to say, we did NOT drink the rat-water..We camped at the border of Yellowstone, and going to enter the park tomorrow!
It feels good to be done with Montana & Idaho! Finally, onto a new state, and the first National Park, Yellowstone!
This week we started seeing a bunch of NOBO hikers (north-bound), who had started at the Mexican border back in April. It was fun crossing paths and meeting them, even if only for a few minutes!
Day 39: (August 7th)
TopShelf really wanted a photo in front of our cabin.Just 5 miles out of town, and we find trail magic! Thank you Avo & Gabs!!I love the name of this beer. “Montucky”We had a campfire! They rarely happen on the trail, which makes them extra special occasions. And Bard has brought music!
Day 40: (August 8th)
Hee hee.I packed out a beer, and I got it cold in a creek that we stopped at for lunch. And the beer has the perfect name!Chossy mountains.
Day 41: (August 9th)
These state boundary markers are everywhere. Want to make Montana smaller? Move one!
I wish I could get Sean Connery to hike this section, just to say the name of this lake.Bridge, you’re doing it wrong. Go over the creek!Toppie seems too happy to be going uphill.
Day 42: (August 10th)
That’s one way to dry a tent fly in the morning. Run LT!!700 miles, the miles they keep a-rollin’I love the long ridgewalks. More views than you can shake a stick at!
Day 43: (August 11th)
We find a Teepee in the woods, kinda creepy. Who built it?At Lemhi Pass, we meet Michael & Elliot, two super-friendly guys share some conversation & beverages! Both are much appreciated!!LT joins the group, I think the 5 of us ended up chillin for an hour at the pass!Oh, that’s what that smell was. A rotting cow carcass!
Day 44: (August 12th)
We woke up stupid-early to hike 10 miles to Bannock Pass by 9am, to catch a ride.Who needs fenceposts when you have regularly spaced trees?Trash heap.I love getting mail! Food from Katie, and shoes from parents.Old shoes definitely were in need of replacement. Hello, green!
Leadore, ID was a very interesting town to stop in. It’s basically a half-dozen buildings, so very walk-able, and everyone was very friendly. I was tired, so we grabbed some ice cream, and headed back to the motel to watch more of the Olympics. (We also watched in Darby). A nice relaxing stop!
This section was much more mountainous, and colder, than the previous one. We climbed up into the higher elevations, and even had frost on our tents a couple mornings. And with all the alpine lakes, there is a much better water situation (and swimming situation too).
Day 33: (August 1st)
My new, electric yellow, shirt from Walmart. My old one finally died.Someone’s home!Nice perspective of the upcoming country
Day 34: (August 2nd)
Just a really cool picture.I think all Michiganders love fly fishing. Is it a residency requirement?Top of the pass. Despite the snow, it’s warm up here!
Day 35: (August 3rd)
A cold & windy start to the morning.So many amazing lakes in this section. Makes me feel like swimming!I get it, Rainbow Lake is to the left. 3x!LaughTrack, AquaCam & I hike an “alternate” route on the divide. It was slow & rocky, but super fun.
Day 36: (August 4th)
These milemarkers are getting to be a regular thing!And we finally catch Smokey! He was super stoked to see his first on-trail human in ….weeks?The mountains are coming.
Day 37: (August 5th)
Apparently LT has been to this remote cabin a few years ago during college. Deja vu!Apparently we had hiked into Idaho (this state border is the Divide), and we re-entered Montana on the road.Gettin a ride to town. I think every ride we got in Montana was in a pickup truck.
Day 38: (August 6th)
We took a zero day in Darby, MT and saw a rodeo. Impressive work cowboys, those cattle were wrapped up fast! It’s hard to believe that Montana is almost done! We have hiked 650 miles so far, and only 2 more towns until we arrive in Wyoming. It’s a surprisingly huge state, and much more diverse than I imagined.
Another dry week! Both from the sky and the ground. We spent most of the week encircling Butte on the trail, and had plenty of views of the city. It was so tempting to hitch into town early at one of the many freeway crossings, but we resisted. And it was such a nice new trail, thanks CDT Montana trail crews!
Day 24: (July 23rd)
AquaCam enjoying the Saturday marketWe met a couple (with toddler) who had turned an old school bus into a home. Pretty cozy for 3 people!Cool sunset from camp that night
Day 25: (July 24th)
Oh, so THATS where we’re hiking! Looks far…Cool dense forest. It would be very hard to lose the trail.
Day 26: (July 25th)
Morning break on a summitWe’ve hiked 400 miles!My shirt has hiked 3500 miles, its almost time to replace it – holes from the pack straps!Storm’s a-comin, hike fasterIt passed over, time to dinner & camp.
Day 27: (July 26th)
Love my morning breaks, 2nd breakfast is the best. Bard & BrightEyes left us for a week to take the Anaconda route.There are cows coming to our campsite. Perhaps because we are parked on some tasty green grass?
Day 28: (July 27th)
We can hitch to Vegas from here! Or maybe the Cajon Pass McDonalds? Anyone..?I have to axe a question of whomever dropped this.Finding water is fun!Blasting? Sounds safe.Cool monumentShe’s 90ft tall!View down into the city of Butte, including the deep copper mine.
Day 29: (July 28th)
Very nice trail in this sectionWe got trail magic!
Day 30: (July 29th)
AquaCam finds water up inside those roots.There was a MTB race scheduled on our section of trail in a couple days. Signs were everywhere! “Hardest bike race in the country” it claims.Big sky country500 miles!
Day 31: (July 30th)
Zero day in Butte. Too tired to take photos! We stayed at a KOA cabin downtown, and walked to a few restaurants, stopping off for ice cream first, of course.
Day 32: (July 31st)
We stayed at a motel, and made the requisite stop at the Freeway Tavern for lunch. They serve the “wop chop”, locally famous, and then nationally famous because of a “Travel Channel” TV special. Then back to the trail!
Another good week! Beautiful trail, no rain, but dry for water sources. And an entertaining group of 6 hikers to hike with!
Day 15: (July 14th)
Walking thru a burn areaWe found another cabin!
Day 16: (July 15th)
Having lunch by a streamEpic ridgewalk!You can see the trail switchbacking up the ridge
Day 17: (July 16th)
Our “lake” water source. Almost dry!
A MONSTER cairn!
Day 18: (July 17th)
Enjoying a huge meal in Missoula!Another huge meal. Sushi!
Day 19: (July 18th)
Some of us rode the wave on the river in downtown Missoula
Day 20: (July 19th)
Hitchin a ride back to the trailCool moon from our campsite that night
Day 21: (July 20th)
Having 2nd breakfastSadie relaxing. She is thru-hiking with her human, BrightEyesInside a cool old restored firetower. A couple of local ladies gave us a ride to it.Wildlife! Of the tasty variety
Day 22: (July 21st)
Getting waterView from my tent.
Day 23: (July 22nd)
Got distracted halfway thru cutting?Old frontier town. Restored for tourists!No caption can capture the awesomeness of this photo.Checking into our hotel in Helena. Very hiker- and biker-friendly!
The miles are going by more quickly, and I’ve kinda gotten into a rhythm of sleeping, eating, hiking, and eating. 🙂
The Montana towns are all super friendly, and everyone has been so welcoming and helpful. The treasure state!
This week was long and wet. The Bob Marshall wilderness is HUGE! Like, Fuccillo-sized. 1.1 million acres!
Day 9: (July 8th)
I stayed at the Summit Campground at Marias Pass, and met Harpo & Groucho, also SOBOs (and PCT 2015 sobos, Wrong-Way gang).
Day 10: (July 9th)
Day 11: (July 10th)
I met a group of SOBOs where I camped last night. There are 5 of them! It must be the SoBo bubble..
Day 12: (July 11th)
Day 13: (July 12th)
Day 14: (July 13th)
We hiked into Benchmark ranch, got our food boxes, and met some very nice folks who invited us to stay at their cabin. There was a campfire, warm food, and some tasty beverages. Montana people are so friendly!
Next week…leaving the Bob Marshall wilderness and visiting Missoula and Helena!
The first week of the CDT was full of changes, adjustments, and meeting people. Glacier NP is full of people. Unfortunately not as many glaciers, bears or other wildlife. Its such an amazing place though, and a must-do for anyone who is a hiker (or just likes the wild outdoors).
My permit was issued for an alternate route, as the “high route” was still snow-covered, and the NPS hadn’t yet cleared a path thru the Ahern drift.
Day 1: (June 30th)
Walking over the border to Canada to catch my shuttleI saw the sign…Waterton Lake from the CDTThe monument that marks the northern terminus of the trail!What does a standard hiker weigh?
Day 2: (July 1st)
I camped at Goat Haunt shelters, a very nice spot. Bathrooms with electricity & running water! Only one other hiker was camped here, Coyote. She was starting the PNT, and we talked about the usual hiker stuff. Plus her singing skills put mine to shame…good thing I’ll have thousands of miles to practice!
Don’t slip! It’s a deep, cold glacial lake
View coming down the west side of Stoney Indian Pass!Lots of alpine flowers. I need a book to know all the names
Day 3: (July 2nd)
View from my campsite on Glenns LakeWho doesn’t love a nice Bergschrund?A flock of bighorn sheep, on my way up Redgap PassSo many switchbacks!
Day 4: (July 3rd)
Cow Parsnip! Its everywhere. And it makes me itchy. And grizzlies love to eat it.A nice lake on my into Many GlacierAn Emu burger! And it was yummyLook who I found on the trail in Many Glacier! Stummy & Masshole!
Day 5: (July 4th)
Cool meadows on the way up Piegan PassMarmots are everywhere! I love marmotsA sign on the Going-to-the-sun road. Very sad and disturbing. Visit the park before climate change claims all the glaciers!!
Day 6: (July 5th)
A nice swimA moose at our campsite!
Day 7: (July 6th)
My cairn poseComing up Triple Divide Pass. It separates the 3 drainages (Atlantic, Pacific, Hudson)
Day 8: (July 7th)
Another moose! At No-Name Lake campsite.
Leaving Glacier NP… 🙁In East Glacier, MT. The mexican restaurant was excellent.
I spent the nightt in East Glacier at a hostel, and showered/laundry. Headed into the Bob Marshall Wilderness next week!
(6/30/16)
After driving to Denver with my friend Katie, I took a day off in Boulder before continuing my drive:
The drive from Boulder to East Glacier MT was very scenic (and not boring like the drive thru Iowa & Nebraska).
After arriving in East Glacier on the 30th, I picked up my camping permit, the rangers were a little jealous of my trip. 🙂 The view from the ranger station:
Then I dropped off the rental car, the clerk seemed surprised I had put 1000mi on it in 24 hours! Then a nice breakfast at Two Medicine Grill, and an entertaining crowd…the young waitress described herself as “a cougar in training”!
The shuttle bus ride was relaxing, lots of scenery!
Now its time to explore Glacier for a week! Weeeee!
-Recon
We ended up driving back up to Bishop today, as Bonus Miles needed to buy some shoes. Her shoes from REI were delivered to the wrong address (again!), so we went to the outdoor store in Bishop. Afterwards, we had second breakfast/early lunch, and it was great! We ordered a whole pie as an appetizer, because….I’m not sure.
It took some effort to eat all the pie AND the meal that was served a few minutes later. I’ve never had so much trouble finishing a plate of french toast, eggs, and bacon.
Errands and meals complete, we drove back down to Lone Pine, picking up a couple other PCT Sobo hikers along the way. Mantis and Nut were hitching to Independence, to get back to the trail at Kearsarge Pass. It was quite a crowded car!
PC: BonusMiles
After dropping them off, I continued south to Lone Pine and the three of us made a quick visit to Alabama Hills. I always love seeing the “happy rock”!
We continued the drive up the hill to Horseshoe Meadows trailhead, arriving at 1pm. I said goodbye to Cheshire Cat and Bonus Miles, and gave them a hug (and that metal spoon! ha!).
Bonus Miles has a PCT blog, you can follow along here.
So, with hiking season in the High Sierra effectively over, I starting making my way north to spend some time in the frontcountry visiting friends. The JMT was a beautiful trail, and I was glad to be introduced to it this summer while hiking the PCT. I’m doubly glad I had the opportunity to hike it in late September, when there were few other people and no bugs. This trail was never on my bucket list, but it seemed like a fun thing to do while I was here in California, and in physical shape to hike it. And I got to make some new friends (Cheshire Cat & Tiger) and get to know Bonus Miles better.
Also, the universe works in mysterious ways! The PCT introduced me to the JMT, which introduced me to Tiger, who loved explaining his High Sierra traverse. Maybe in a few years I will do the 200-mile Sierra High Route? I think my bucket list just got longer….
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