Journal Aug 25 – How Many Elk Are Hiding in The Woods?
We walked out from the woods which surrounded our campsite to a barren sagebrush land dominated by rolling ridges and cattle.
Walking beneath 18 Mile Peak, a glaciated beauty, we passed Harkness lakes, really just a bunch of treeless cattle ponds. Private lands with a swarm of cattle lie at the head of a couple creeks creating a cow cesspool. We continued along the rolling ridges descending to Bear Creek, where Sandy and the Carrot went in search of a spring in an aspen grove, and found cold fresh water. We crossed Tendoy Creek and then at Nicholia Creek we started back in a general upwards direction.
In the Nicholia creek drainage, near where we cross it, a large herd of Elk are grazing just upstream, and upwind of us. There are perhaps 75 to 100 of them, mostly cow elk and calves and they are maybe 200 – 300 yards away. Partially hidden by hills, we are able to watch them for a good while. As we cross the creek and start up the hill we come into their view and they first circle up into a big herd. Then, in a flash of sudden and fast movement, they take off, flowing like water, converging into one or two trails and move uphill into the cover of trees. A few short whistles from cow to calf and then silence. They have disappeared and it is as if they were never there. If another hiker came along behind us they would have no idea how mnay elk the woods were hiding. It makes me wonder how may places we have passed with hidden elk herds.
Clouds rolled in making the climb up the next hill less grueling. Smoke from a forest fire somewhere upwind in Idaho started rolling in, filling up Deadman valley.
Deadman creek and lake are absolute gems – deep, cold and clear. Fish rising to flies, oh for a rod and reel. We make camp near its shores, enjoying the cool waters.
Miles – 14.1
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