Journal Aug 21 – How Windy Was It?
We waited all night and the cows never went home, so indeed how long cows are out is truly the mark of a long period of time.
The trail continued to follow the crest, often along very open broad ridges. Rugged ranges of mountains in Idaho contrasting with gentler terrain and wide open basins in Montana. We had dramatic and constantly changing light, which is the optimist’s way of saying mostly cloudy with heavy winds.
How windy was it? Well, it was so windy that cows where swirling around funnel shaped clouds, like something out of the opening scene from the Wizard of Oz. It was windy enough to have to lean into the breeze for balance, which caused problems when the gusts stopped momentarily.
The wind and clouds kept the temps cooler and we kept a steady pace going. Occasionally the trail tacked into the lee side of the divide or into trees offering relief. We made the long rollercoaster descent into Bannock Pass in good time.
Chief Joseph lead his surviving tribe across Bannock Pass after the battle of the Big Hole. One of their several passages across the Continental divide on their way through Yellowstone and towards Canada.
At the pass we met a northbound thru-hiker, Sunsetter, who’s camping out for the night to resupply in the morning from Leadore.
Friends of our from home, Sandy, Kerry and Ken, drove in to meet us at the pass, bringing our resupply box. We drove up a side road to some sheltering trees to camp. Fresh salad, stir fried ahi pasta and veggies went down nicely with some beer and wine, for a delightful evening repast.
Miles 15.4
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