Truly One Foot In Front of the Other – CDT Edition

59 2732.6 8/12/2021 sunny, no clouds. Woke around 5 and on trail about 6. My tent was wet with moisture because I camped near a creek. The immediate trail was covered with undergrowth. Then in time it opened up and I was in a river valley. I was making good progress of 5 miles every two hours. Then as I approached Justin and likewise he approached me I slowed down. The trail was rocky and I worried about tripping and falling. I stopped for lunch and checked my location. Somehow it showed me that I was off trail. This worried me because Justin could pass me without us seeing each other. We were sending InReach messages but the delay was maddening. To get back on trail I bushwhacked to where the trail should have been, but I could not find it. So I made my way back to where I had been. I ate some lunch and continued on my way hoping it would work out. Suddenly I saw another hiker, named “Cache-22” and I asked if he had seen my son. He had. Which meant the trail was ok and I was on trail. We chatted for a few minutes and bid each safe journey. I was only a mile from Justin, but it seemed to take forever. Finally I heard him and forded a stream to get to him. Whew! After doing chores we sat and chatted about the trail, this great campsite, and the upcoming 115 mile “The Bob” section. Dinner was dumplings – yum, one of my favorites. We tied our Ursacks to a tree and prepared for bed. Two other tents were pitched here without anyone around. At about 6:30 two trail worker arrived who had been doing trail maintenance south of here. Time for nightly chores and bed. Night night.

58 2714.9 8/11/2021 sunny, cool breeze. I got up later at 5 am and was on trail a little later at 6 am. I made good progress with my climbs. I was still huffing and puffing, but I kept at it until they were done. I got to the “Lake” and took the side trail towards water. On the way I met two horsemen who said the water was there and also an outfitter packing up. They said to go further for better water. Indeed when I got to the outfitter and his crowd they directed me to a great water source. I chatted with the men there, ate my late snack and guzzled water. I decided to go on and climb the remaining two peaks. It was 12 more miles but I had nothing better to do. It was a long long descent to the plain and water. The first two had no camping sites so I went on to Dearborn Creek. Unfortunately I had to ford it and my wound’s ace bandage got wet. I’ve decided to only change it twice a day – morning and evening. It’s just easier. Well I’m ready for bed, but it’s hot and steamy. A typical problem at lower altitudes. Tomorrow Justin and I meet on trail, but now that I hiked extra we’ll just meet and camp wherever we want to. Night night.

57 2694.6 8/10/2021 clearer skies, sunny, very windy. Woke at 5 am in Lincoln MT. Justin drove me 15-20 minutes to Rogers Pass and took my picture to post to the family. I had two climbs immediately. The wind was blowing hard. I wore my puffy with the hood up and glovers. Then the two big climbs for the day. The CDT added an alternative that did not make the high point climb on the first one. Instead it went around the mountain. Yippee! Unfortunately I tripped and fell on a cut-off tree stub. Things went flying including my phone. All was ok. Nothing broken. My wound was OK. Downhill falls can be harsh. The second climb went to the top and the back side descent was treacherous. It was steep with loose rock and the wind didn’t help. Sidewards one step at a time. I reached Lewis and Clark Pass. I had to walk about 1/4 mile down to get water. While there I ate lunch and guzzled a bottle of water. I filled all my containers – 4.7L of water. It was very heavy to trudge back up to the pass. I looked for a tent site with a wind block and found some bushes. After setting up I laid down but didn’t nap. I was in the sun so I opened my umbrella in my tent to get some shade. At 5:30 I made dinner and did the rest of my chores. Including changing my wound dressing, which had barely leaked. Now it’s about 7 pm and although it’s light out I’m probably going to try to sleep. Note at 10:30 pm after peeing I saw two headlamps go by my tent towards the creek. Tomorrow I have 10 miles and 6-7 climbs – some bigger, some smaller. I might go on over one more peak if I can find water at the Guthooks “Lake” marker. Night night.

56 2686.4 8/9/2021 misty, foggy, very cold, very windy, exposed. I had put on my puffy and gloves to stay warm while sleeping. I kept them on. Woke and packed up my wet tent. I could see my breath. It was COLD! I was slack packing with minimal things. There were two immediate climbs. I ascended into fog (clouds). The trail was easy to follow and without the fog the views would have been great. But the wind, cold and fog was miserable. I had two more smaller climbs. Then a long descent to Rogers Pass. Justin was there waiting. We talked and agreed that we’d go to Lincoln MT for the rest of today. Previously we had discussed me going on, but the weather killed that. So we got a burger, and found a spot at an RV park. I dried out my tent and set it out. I changed my wound dressing. Then I took at nap from 3-5 pm. I didn’t sleep much with the previous night’s cold. We had pancakes for dinner. Yum! Tomorrow I plan on going 8 miles which is short but there is water there. Then 10 miles to a lake for water. Then 12 to 20 more to get down out of the mountain for more water. 

55 2672.6 8/8/2021 sunny, clouds, rain storm, thunder. The weather report showed a storm approaching at 12 noon to 1:00 pm. So we decided that I’d wake early to arrive early at Rogers Pass which is 17 miles away. I was up at 3:30 and on trail at 4:20 am. It was totally dark so I used my headlamp. Overall the trail was easy to follow. I had to climb immediately 2 miles to a fire tower. Along the way there were two spots that the trail disappeared but Guthooks app helped me get back on trail. On the way down to Stemple Pass I met a SOBO thru-hiker “Cheswick”. He said he’s doing a loop and started with the AZT. Wow! We chatted about the Trail Creek fire and he is taking the Suoer Butte cutoff. I told him about my road walk. Afterwards I zoomed along trying to get to Justin before the storm. I got to him in time at Flesher Pass Trailhead. I was able to set up my tent and change my wound dressing before the storm hit. It included hail too. When it arrived we sat in the warm Jeep and both had short naps. At 4 pm I got out and did chores for tomorrow such as setting up my tent. The plan for tomorrow is for me to do a stop-and-go. I’ll switch from slack pack to back pack, get some bacon and pancakes and take off. I am trying to get past these damn mountains and into some smoother areas. But first I have 30 miles of climbing with a very heavy pack. My hope is to go 8 more miles, but otherwise 3 miles. Overall I’ll be out of touch with Justin for 4 days or about 57 miles. The longest separation yet. We shall see. Night night.

54 2655.1 8/7/2021 cool, sunny, windy, some clouds. Woke and packed up and on trail about 5:30. Start with a road walk. Then a steep climb. At the peak I could see for miles. There was less smoke in the air. It was also cool and quite windy. The climbs were steeper today and wore me out. At Dana Spring I found a wallet and posted on FB Class of 2021. Also I met a SOBO thru-hiker “Pop Tart”, nice guy. I got to Justin about 1:15. I wanted to go further, because tomorrow it’s going to rain between noon and 1:00 pm. Tomorrow I should wake up early and hike in the dark to beat the rain. I have 17.5 miles to cover. I’ll wear my rain jacket just in case. Also I have my umbrella if it’s not windy. I will immediately start with a climb to a fire tower. Night night.

53 2637.5 8/6/2021 cool, sunny, windy. Well here goes. How is my wounded ankle going to take to hiking? All I can do is try. Justin drove me from Helena to the CDT mile 2616.8 at 5:30 am. I started hiking at 6:10 am. He drove off back to Helena to grocery shop. I felt no pain and hiked easily. I did my first climb without a problem. At mile 2628.5 we met to eat lunch, change my bandage and see how it looked. The wound is still leaking but much less than yesterday. It was not painful. We jointly climbed the first mile and met SOBO thru-hiker “Delta”. At the summit I told Justin to meet at 2637.5. That’s a 20.8 mile day. Much more than I expected, but I felt good. This would set me up for the next day. We had brats for dinner. We changed my bandage and it looked ok. My scratches are starting to scab. The puncture is still leaking, but no major infection. Whew! Time for bed. Tomorrow I have a number of climbs and it’ll be 18 miles. Wish me good luck!

51 2616.8 8/4/2021 sunny, hot. Woke and packed up and was on trail. I left Justin and the Jeep at 5:30 and got on trail at 5:38. I was slack packing today. There were reflective dots on trees to get from the campsite to the CDT. With MIO I was zooming. In two miles I was climbing the only major climb for the day. It converted to a road walk with massive piles of trees clear cut beside the road. I met “Hobbit”, “One Speed”, “Just Paul” near a pond and chatted with them about the upcoming trail. [Note: Unbeknownst to me at that time I had met both of them them on the PCT in 2014!] They helped “Sheep goat” with his Glacier transit by allowing him to join them on their permit. They also told me about upcoming trail magic – sodas in a cooler. The road walk was about 3 miles and near the end I found it and got a coke. Soon the trail left the road and went through some blowdowns. On the first ones I tripped, fell backwards and ripped a 2” gash in my left inside ankle. It was deep but not bloody. I immediately sent an InReach message to Justin. Then I ripped and wrapped it with my snot rag. Finally I bound it down with my belt. I found I could walk so I continued albeit slowly northbound toward Justin. I got cell signal and phoned him. I explained my injury. He was about 4-5 miles ahead. He grabbed his first aid supplies and headed south while I walked slowly north. We met about midway. He removed my belt and snot rag replacing them with butterfly bandages and an ace bandage. We slowly hiked the 2 miles to the Jeep. We drove into Helena to St. Peter’s Urgent care. Soon nurse Michael and doctor Cassie were working on me. In about two hours I was released with two sutures in my leg, a tetanus shot, a prescription for antibiotics and a bag of bandages. After the pharmacy we went to the Best Western and checked in. Dinner was at the Brewhouse Downstairs. I had meatloaf and Justin had chicken.  We both had beer or ale. Well that was quite a day. Very unexpected but the adventure continues. We might stay two more days based in the doctor suggestion we should delay 48 hours. Although we had planned a zero day tomorrow we never expected that a gash in my leg would require that. Night night.