WalkingCarrot

By morning the storms had spent themsevles completely, leaving us with a sunny, but cool, ridgewalk. Throughout the day we would see evidence of gullywashers from last night’s storm, areas of the trail where loose debris including small rocks had been pushed aside by rushing water.

Between delayed rides and storm delays we did not make very many miles yesterday – so we will have to turn in big days today and tommorow to get to McDonald pass by Saturday afternoon.

After a couple of miles with expansive views, we entered the “lodgepole tunnel”. Still on the crest, but heavily timbered for most of the rest of the day, punctuated by the occasional patch of lupine, or a rabbit, deer or grouse.

We crossed Flescher Pass, and took a long lunch break. Our first source of water since leaving Rogers pass yesterday was off trail, .4 mile down the east side of the pass.

Trying to make up for lost time from yesterday’s delays, we trudged on throught the Lodgepole Tunnel. The trail picked up and followed an old jeep road which turned into a better gravel road that came out at Stemple Pass.

We paused for a break, then trudged on. The sun was setting and an evening cool was coming on as we got water from the very headwaters of Poorman creek. As there was no place flat nearby, we trudged on. We continued past an old dilapidated miners cabins, past a grazing allotment complete with cattle and finally found a flat, cow free spot to pitch the tent. I’ve nothing against cows mind you, some of my favorite burgers are made from them – I’d just rather not share my campsite with them or their bovine by-product.

And they’re not the only creatures I prefer to camp away from. Not far from here, near Lincoln, an 800 pound grizzly, the largest ever killed in Montata, was hit by a car about a year ago. It’s on display at the forest service office in Lincoln. I’d rather not share my camp with that grizzley either.

Ted Kazinski, aka the Unabomber, lived in a simple cabin near Stemple Pass, not far from our camp and just outside Lincoln. It’s easy to picture him going stir crazy, cooped up in a small cabin surrounded by Lodgpole pines and winter drifts of snow, and cows. The unabomber is another creature I’d rather not share a campsite with, but he’s locked up anyway.

Bear or unabomber – both probably encountered lots of people without creating any problem. But both have that hidden potential danger. They are both fierce creatures, best avoided if possible.

We make dinner in the dark tonight, a result of a long day of hiking. Covered 23.2 trail miles, our longest day on this trip, so far.