Trip Journal – Page 149 – Sagebrush Trails

On the Border

CDT Montana 2016

Day 2, July 7, Thursday

Start near 03-075WT where Mack’s Inn route merges back with main CDT route, just inside Montana border

Stop 03-270M somewhere in the Centennial Mountains and Targhee National Forest

Miles 4.5 + 7.2 + 4.9 = 16.6

After breaking camp, I found real built trail to walk on near the campsite that was not visible yesterday.

A sign describes the Experimental Sheep Station, active in July and August. No sheep were seen all day.

The trail heads westward all day long along the border between Idaho and Montana. The states use the actual Divide to determine their borders here.

Four people out day-hiking were surprised to see me coming the other way.

The trail climbs up high, near almost-10k-peaks, and I need to put back on gloves and windbreaker.

The trail merges onto an old road bed, wide and level, which follows along the top of a ridge for miles of great views.

The trail turns south into lower grassy rolling hills, still marked on the map as Sheep Station.

I make camp in a stand of trees. Skeeters lay siege to my tent.

[finished audiobook Dark Currents, book 2 in the Emperor’s Edge series, by Lindsay Buroker]

Mack’s Again

CDT Montana 2016

Day 1, July 6, Wednesday

Start Mack’s Inn on Mack’s Inn alternative route, waypoint MI-152RR.

Stop near 03-075WT where Mack’s Inn route merges back with main CDT route, just inside Montana border

Miles 7.5 + 5.4 + 5 = 17.9

The bus let me off at Mack’s Inn around 8:30AM, where I finished the trail last year.

After a convenience store visit, I begin walking up a graveled forest road.

The road leads up to Sawtell Peak, a couple hundred feet shy of a 10K peak. Many ATV, 4wd, dirt bikes, and a few regular cars pass by.

The sky threatens rain. If this were Colorado, we would have thunderstorms with these clouds.

Just before the peak we divert onto a trail, and then do some cross-country route-finding.

Rain showers start and stop again all the rest of the day, maybe fifty times.

The route follows a creek for miles, with no visible path. You must constantly switch to the other side when your side gets too steep to follow. With the showers and summer growth, one must give up and do wet foot crossings.

Finally leaving the stream, wildflowers are in their glory.

I stop where the Mack’s Inn alternate route joins back up with the regular CDT. Hope to find visible foot path tomorrow, just over the border into Montana.

Scissors

Saturday, May 28, 2016
Grand Enchantment Trail section hike Polvadera NM to Tijeras NM, starting here
Day 7
Start waypoint 37019 Segment 36 mile 33.0 on Turkey Trot Trails south of Tijeras
Stop waypoint 37170 Segment 37 mile 12.8 Sandia Forest Service Ranger Station and transport back to civilization
Miles walked 12.8

The trail goes right along Department of Energy land set-aside with dire warnings.

Soon the forest looks much better than yesterday, more balanced somehow, with less discard limbs from recent thinning and better plant diversity.

I had made arrangements yesterday with family to meet at the Ranger Station today at 11AM, but am embarrassed to see that I mis-read the map and have a lot more hiking to do this morning than expected.

The road and network of trails south of Tijeras (scissors in Spanish) is heavily used by mountain bikers, road cyclists, rock climbers, and day hikers this fine weekend morning.

I skip the winding Tunnel Canyon Trail and stay on NM 337 for a fast road-walk to make up for my mistake…

and arrive nearly on time, within 10 minutes or so.

Now to get ready for CDT Montana!

[no audiobook on this short day]