Journal July 31 – Trudge, Trudge, Trudge
Mostly a roadwalk day – on roads all morning and afternoon.
Trudge, Trudge, Trudge past cows and more cows, power lines, forest service campsites, and private cabins. Between barbed wire fences for much of the route, keeping us out or keeping cows in. Across Interstate 15, frontage roads and power lines. Civilization is creeping closer.
The feet and legs really take a beating with so much road walking and mine are sore and tired, especially the soles of my feet and my calves.
We finally hit a trail in early evening, after about 16 miles of the road walking. Fairly new trail, just a few years old. Much different than most CDT trail, this section uses many switchbacks and a low grade to climb the mountain. It was nice to be back in the forest. Unfortunately there were no views, except an occasional pocket of high elevation marsh or meadow, which should have held moose, but only turned out mosquitoes.
We pushed on late to get up and over the mountain and to get some miles down. Dropping slightly from the top we found a creek, the water was only slightly yellow-brown, the color of water in many creeks the last few days. We filled our bottles and hoisted the sweaty packs to press on as the sun set. A cool breeze sent a chill through me as the damp pack hit the sweaty back. Hustling down the trail, on a steady side slope, we found a small flat “bench” area above the trail and made camp. An occassional breeze, and a dab of deet kept the mosquitos at bay. We cooked into the darkness and watched the stars come out. Through a screen of lower hills, the distant lights of Butte also came out.
The night breeze is warm, much warmer than last night at the same hour. Nonetheless we head for the tent. Some of life’s most pleasurable moments are the simple ones – after a long, tiring day, it’s a real pleasure to lie horizontal, on flat ground, with a cushion of pine needles and sleeping pad, stetching out the legs, wigglng the toes, inside a tent beyond the buzzing of mosquitoes outside, on a warm summer’s night.
Miles for the day – 21.7
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