CDT mile 1813.3 ,miles hiked 20.1
I drank from its’ source, and it was delicious
I woke up late I needed some extra sleep plus our campsite was next to the highway so it took awhile to get to sleep the night before. I heard Polar Bear grab the towel from the clothesline and head for the shower, I got out of bed and started to pack up to go.
I called my parents to let them know what was up and where I was, my father and mother are both very worried about me being out here alone. My father said he woke up at 3 am worried about me laying in my tent somewhere and being eaten by bears. I assured them I was fine and would be safe, I hate that they worry so but I’ll always be their baby boy.
Polar Bear returned, she still felt sick so she went up to see if she could get a room for the night, they had room so she decided to stay and get better. I think both of us were a bit bummed, we get along well and we had planned to camp with each other this next stretch.
Since it was nuking I figured I would hunker down
The two of us headed to breakfast at Subway before I headed out. We had a good talk and she told me she would catch back up with me in Lima so we could hike to Leadore together. I also heard from my good friend Tatu_Jo he was headed to Sawtelle today and we agreed to meet up in Lima, so really I would only be alone for a few days.
I have never been much of a solo camper, at minimum I have always had my dogs with me, so going all alone would be a bit out of my own comfort level, with my mind and also facing any fears of camping alone in bear country, hey at least there aren’t Sasquatch here in Montana, or is there… So I said goodbye to Polar Bear, grabbed a few snacks at the gas station and headed up Sawtelle Peak road.
The road was a grinder of an uphill hike and took what seemed like forever. I had a late start so by the time I was going it was already hot. I walked a few hours being passed by ATV’s and razor cars. Not one person stopped to say hi, oh well. I ate my Subway sandwich and then kept going it was so hot I was blowing through my water so I flagged down a truck to see if they could help, they gave me a liter of water and can of sparkling mango flavored water, ah La Croix…
I eventually left the road and stated on the cross-country bushwhack that would rejoin the CDT. For the most part is was straight forward through open meadows of flowers. I saw an ammo can on a carin and went to explore it. Inside was a CDT register explains that I was at the headwaters of the Missouri River the longest watershed in the US. I signed the register and then a short distance away found the spring which makes the headwaters and drank from the rich water that came up from the ground, only moments before finding this in my thirst and desperation I drank from a stagnant puddle full of mosquito larva about 150′ above it before realizing my folly.
I kept chugging along finding my way when the footprints stopped. Luckily enough CDT hikers have been through this year that you could kind of tell where to go. I took a real break and when I started back I heard “hey there” it was my friend Tic-Toc who is hiking the CDT this year to get her triple crown, she had flipped when she hit Colorado. I dropped my pack and took an extra break with her and her hiking partner Orbit. It was so nice to see a familiar face and catch up, that visit really raised my spirits and I felt re-energized for the rest of my day.
The bushwhack ended with me getting turned around in willows and walking through a creek before finding the trail and then the CDT. I looked at the map and figured I’d cook in 3.5 miles at the creek and then hike another hour or so. I wasn’t going to get in my 25 miles but at least I’d get in 22-23. As I walked the sky darkened and in the distance thunder started to rumble. It drizzled but not much so I kept hiking. A mile later and Mother Nature decided to lay out a slapping. Marble sized hail started to pelt me, I found a tree, stashed my electronics in ziplock and put on my rain gear and kept going.
The hail turned to rain and then hail and rain, it was not letting up and all I could do was walk to the creek. When I reached the creek it was full on nuking on me, the trail ahead was an exposed open meadow and I knew I had to climb higher so it was decision time, camp where I am or try to push on?
I took the safe route I loaded up water and found a place to set up my tent. I got it up just in time for the wind to pick up and the hail started again, I crawled inside shivering and decided to forgo cooking and just eat snacks for dinner. After loading up what I could I took a small break in the weather to go secure my ursack for the night. It was only 7:30 but if figured an early night of rest and an early wake up will allow me to make some extra miles and push for a 30 or so tomorrow.
So day one going alone went ok, I got to test a few skills: bushwhacking, dookie weather, and my decision-making skills. Hopefully tomorrow will be easier and I can make up some ground, bonus I’ll get to have hot lunch and dinner.
