CDT Montana 2016
Day 25, July 30, Saturday.
Start 20-040WT first spring pass MacDonald Pass
Stop 21-070M along majestic ridge, about 13 miles bofore Stemple Pass
Miles walked: 27.0
Train whistles sounded clearly in the night, making me think of home.
Even early in the morning the scenery is showing more variety than recent hiking.
I met southbounder Brazil Nut early in the day, and no other hikers later on. She reported on how rare the water sources are ahead of me.
The trail passes by the ruin of a trestle. Fallen trees seem to help support the structure.
Was the trestle for a full railroad or for mining operations. Several old mines are nearby, and I am standing almost directly over the Mullan Train Tunnel, which could have replaced the trestle route. You can see a train exiting the tunnel in the distance.
I enjoy the patterns of forest and grasslands in the views today.
After 20 miles since the last water source, Dana Spring appears, a protected and improved spring almost right on the trail, with good flow.
Right after the spring the path makes a forced march up ridges with large elevation gain, but these are narrow exposed ridges with very fine views.
I pause halfway up the climb and sit on a log and enjoy the view while eating first dinner.
As darkness nears, I am still on narrow exposed ridgeline with strong winds, and the trail will not descend to more favorable camping elevation for some miles. Just down from the ridge a few trees provide good shelter from winds, so I camp high tonight. Here is a view of the mountain near where I camped.
