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We are currently on another long distance hike, and the third leg of our "triple crown", the Continental Divide Trail (the "CDT"). Come along with us if you can - if not in person then by following our grand adventure via our "posts from the trail".  Check out our Flickr Photos, which we'll update periodically, and see it through our eyes!

Our Credo...

"Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!" ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Journal July 25th Moose Don’t Mind

The morning found us walking right on the divide, along a wooded ridge with lots of short ups and downs. Eventually as the ridge got higher we broke out above the trees with views all around.

As the divide turned north it dropped into the first of two “Knife Edges”. The first was really more of a “butter knife”, slighty rounded on top. At the end of this ridge the trail took to a contour on the east side of the divide, going in and out of several high basins. Occasional elk and mule deer were in the basin grazing on the lush green grass and having wildflowers for dessert.

We took an early lunch in the last basin before the “steak knife” edge (this one was seriously serrated). The thunderheads had come on early and it was raining in many places. A big rumbler was organizing itself right on top of the divide, right above us and in close proximity to where the trail topped out the knife’s edge. Not a good place to get caught in a storm. It’s hard to “bail off” downhill when it’s a sheer drop. So we waited, ate lunch, waited some more. Finally the worst of the storm cell moved on taking the thunder and lightning with it, but leavings us some light rain to walk in.

And so would the afternoon go, walk some, wait some, get rained on some. The storms seemed more numerous and the rain more widespread today. We managed to get back up and over a major ridge or two, following the trail as it moved back close to the crest.

Dropping into Squaw pass we saw three moose off in the distance in the willows just above Squaw creek and, later on, we saw another moose in the basin above Squaw Creek. This latter one was about 100 yards away and seemed very intrigued by us, following our moves closely. None of the moose seemed to mind the rainy day which left the willows all wet. Walking along the trail, the willows would keep us soaked even when it wasn’t raining. But, again, the moose don’t mind.

We pushed on late into the evening trying to make up for miles lost, waiting out storms. We managed to get to a high lake basin just before dark and camped on a bench above it.

16 miles

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Clicking on any of these photos will take you to that specific photo on our Flickr Stream, where you can view these and many, many more photos from our latest adventure....or use this shortcut to all photos.....we hope you enjoy them!

People Shots

CDT20101_NMWCWMCDT2010_TheTrailCDT2010_NMWC-1Carrot After a Trail BathCarrot Stream Crossing #3,768Carrot on the Trail stillCarrot takes a Trail BathCarrot Stream Crossing #5.875Carrot on the TrailCliff Dwelling SignCarrot takes a PhotoCarrot Stream Crossing # 2,115

Scenic Shots

CDT2010-valleyCDT2010_yellowflowersCarrot on the Trail 3ScenicPotty BreakScenicCliff Dwelling Stream Vast DesertPrickly Pear 2Prickly PearPlateau at Sunset

Flora & Fauna

CDT2010_treesCDT2010_yellowflowersCDT2010-purpleflowersAngry MarmotFlora 3FloraBeaverButterfly 2FloraButterfly