CDT Montana 2016
Day 16, July 21, Thursday.
Start 11-182XX near a small mountain lake
Stop 12-090M, 8 miles from Chief Joseph Pass.
Miles: 26.4
In the morning I see a good lake reflection.
Trail for much of the morning is along rocky ledges hanging on the side of the mountain.
The trail descends way down in altitude to Sheep Creek, where I meet a section hiker.
Rambler thought we might have met before, and asked when I hiked New Mexico. “Ah,” says I, “the long road-walk south of Silver City!” It is so fun seeing a long distance hiker you have already met in previous years! I feel almost famous again. [Scroll to April 12 of this earlier post.]
Ripe berries along the trail look like blueberries, but I am reluctant to pick in case of mistaken identity of plant variety.
Near Bradley Gulch is an old cabin, with intact glass windows.
I find the spring at Nez Perce Trail, the last water on trail for 29 miles. I did not bring enough water for all the up-and-down trail action getting here, so gratefully rehydrate and carry extra water to last the next morning.
A tipi, fallen down, is visible from the trail.
I wait a half-hour at the junction of the Nez Perce and CDT, to see if DNA would appear. He was ready to wait for me to catch up on previous days. I walk a few more miles, slowly, just to get a little closer for an early exit in the morning to hitch into Sula. I have a long to-do list to complete while in “town”, currently at 20 action items, so need an early start to get everything done.
In the final hour of hiking I see a doe bound down the slope at my approach, followed by a fawn exactly irritating its mother leap for leap. How pretty the fawn’s spots appeared in forest shadow. I know it is not some major game sighting like a moose or bear, but sometimes you need to appreciate the magic of what appears.