CDT 2319.6, miles hiked 33
A dry Dana Springs
Who the hell designed this trail and put the route up here? It was a question we asked ourselves over and over as we walked the divide desperately needing water. We had a couple liters each to start the day and it was cool so that helped but we still needed to hydrate so we rationed best we could.
We were on a road walk and heard a few ATV’s, being Saturday we were not surprised so when the first one showed up we yogied a liter each. 5 minutes later a couple in a side by side came rolling up on a drive with their 3 pit bulls. They gave each of us a liter so we each had what we thought would be enough. We arrived at Dana Springs and Slap Shots comment in the app was correct both troughs were dry and the well box had standing water with two dead chipmunks at the bottom, I figured I had 2 1/2 liters so I didn’t need the death water.
Tatu-Jo walks a ridge towards what we hope will be water
We looked at our data and discovered the next spring laid 15 miles away (we had already hiked 17) and it was reported dry a month ago….now what? We pulled out my J Ley maps and discovered a spring/creek at s fork Poorman Creek road. We tried to figure out the distance on Guthook but couldn’t make sense. Hours later we figured out why.
You see I believe there is this guy somewhere in Washington, D.C. Who works of the forest service and he never gets a chance to hike. So when he lays out the trail he decides to punish the thru-hiker by putting it up on the ridge with no consideration of water. All day we questioned why the new trail goes over Granite Butte to see a fire tower when the old trail followed the dirt road to water.
Well, long story short at 8 pm we rolled up to the spring along the dirt road and filled our bellies with its delicious water and then all of our bottles. We are back in grizzly bear territory so we trudged another 1/2 mile up the road away from the water and tucked into the trees for the night. Tatu-Jo decided since I have a stove he wanted hot food for the end of the trip so he carries extra fuel and I heat him up water. Not sure what he likes more, the Backpacker’s Pantry beef pho I give him of the warm cup of coffee when we wake up. For dinner, I had a new Backpackers Pantry dinner chicken Picatta and it was the bomb. Man, they even have capers in the meal so it’s one of the best things I have eaten after a long day.
The Unabomber lived here
Besides questioning trail design and longing for water we had a pretty cool day. The sky was overcast and the temps were cool so we enjoyed some nice early fall hiking. We wound up and down along the divide and had sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. We met some great people along our hike and had to run off two different Bulls along our route.
On a historical note, I am camping above the valley where Ted Kandinsky, aka the Unabomber, lived. In fact, if I was to walk down the road a few miles I could see where his cabin was. The town of Lincoln is where he mailed his deadly packages and is also a stop along the CDT. Tatu-Jo and I are bypassing Lincoln and heading all the way to East Glacier with only 1 resupply at a remote ranch in the Bob Marshall Wilderness where we sent boxes weeks ago.
Tomorrow begins a new routine of sleeping in a bit longer, since we are entering grizzly territory we decided hiking the couple of hours each morning in the dark might not be our wisest plan so we are going to start a bit later and make a hell of a lot of noise, if you know me and Tatu-Jo you know that is pretty standard for us.
Alright time to get some rest and get ready for another day of northbound travel.
