Embedded Files
Aug 14, 2018. Mile 2458, 15 miles, 8970 ft.
Camping in an actual campsite (not official, just used by others), I believe the first time yet.
Again, ups and downs, each several miles long, through timber, most of it untouched by fire. But every mile the same, every lake alike, the vistas green, grey, and monotonous. Still, I’m getting noticeably stronger and able to last longer.
33 miles to Anaconda
496 miles to Canada
Aug 15, 2018. Mile 6.7, Anaconda Alternate, 13 miles, 7904 ft.
0.8 miles south of Twin Lakes, next to stream, 7:30 AM to 7:15 PM. Slower today, passes (3?) seemed harder, more wobbly towards end of day, got lost about 4-5 times (trail would just peter out at times). Still, blue skies and no need for tent for almost entire hike this year - certainly so in Montana. Unfortunately NO animals to speak of.
Fell 2-3 times (catch a foot, dive forward), once cutting my left leg (band-aid time). A few days ago I fell and ripped a hole in my down pants. Repaired tonight with Tenacious tape.
6 days so far with same small canister.
20 miles to Anaconda
483 miles to Canada
2018 CDT Anaconda mountains.MOVAug 16, 2018. Mile 21.7 Anaconda Alternate, 15 miles, 5602 ft., 7:30 AM to 6 PM
Marty McFly, Slobber
Slobber says The Barclay II (filet steaks) had best steak he ever had (reservations required).
Crashing in grass by lovely river - in fact, many water sources today, despite Guthook. App showing none. I carried 3 liters...
And 3 Verizon bars! Think I’ll look at the 94 emails I received since Friday.
Decided not to try to walk all the way to town. Better to arrive in the morning, breakfast at Safeway, buy supplies there as well, then check in to a hotel. Evening at the brewery, then steak. Woo woo!
Night beside road in high grass. Actually not too bad (low elevation helped). Last Knorr meal: left with two Top Ramen, two instant potatoes, and one tuna foil.
Anaconda: Washoe Park - code on door (0317)
5 miles to Anaconda
468 miles to Canada
Aug 17, 2018. Mile 26, Anaconda Alternate, 5 miles, 5360 ft. 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM.
Sitting at Stokes Market at west end of town: half gallon chocolate milk with cream, 24 oz Greek yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes.
Checked into free bunkhouse next to free pool and showers in Anaconda (shorter walk , all motels but one booked, that one is around $70). Headed for pool soon!
Shopping list (for 6 days):
canister: Grizzly Bear Tack & Feed Giddy Up Mercantile
wet wipes
Granola
Instant cream of wheat
Powdered milk
Swiss Miss (have 6)
Hard candies
Jam (mixed in with peanut butter)
Cheese (2 lb sharp cheddar)
Gatorade
Dinners have: Top Ramen (3), 2 Knorr, 1 MacNCheese
Snacks have (need 12): M&Ms (2), nuts (1), salami (1), chewy cookies (2), Pringles (2), sour strings (1), goldfish (1), jelly beans (1)
Beer at Smelter City Brewery - best yet (one 8% with peach flavor).
Plan for tomorrow: breakfast at Classic Cafe: canister at Giddy Up; more at Subway (water). Stay at farm: 12 miles.
On the walk to town, a deer walked up to me and sniffed my hand.
Aug 18, 2018. Zero day, Anaconda
Z, Topnotch.
I asked Z about his mileage: over 30 / day on average (!)
Java Stack ‘N’ Snacks: 901 W Park Ave - 406-563-0352 (not very good)
Copper Village Museum and Art Center, 401 E Commercial.
The Owl Bar, 819 E 3rd
Washoe Theater, 7 PM
La Casa Toscana: 406-299-9350 (booked!)
Went to see latest Mission Impossible movie - walked out halfway through. Not enough cool action - just lots of cars and motorcycles chasing each other - and all the male extras looked the same (beards).
Aug 19, 2018. Mile 37.7, Anaconda Alternate, 12 miles, 4802 ft. From ~11 AM to 6:30 PM.
Road walk all the way, mostly on a highway with 70 mph speed limit and not much shoulder. Glad it’s over.
Huge breakfast at Classic Cafe - ate with two NOBOs, one of whom talked as much as Angela. Packing 6 days’ food, and feeling the weight. And the damn sun found a whole in the clouds and beamed me all day. Plus carrying a bunch of water. Plus rumor has it the river water has got heavy metals and is toxic. I’ll take my chances.
Acquired a large gas canister (7.75 oz versus 3.9 oz): should last about 10 days.
Started raining during the night, and didn’t have my tent up. Camping in high grass near river.
To Canada via Spotted Bear: 15 + (2809.5 - 2603.8) + 27.5 + (3014 - 2853) = 409
65 miles to Helena
409 miles to Canada (with Spotted Bear Pass Alternate)
Aug 20, 2018. Mile 52.7, Anaconda Alternate, 15 miles, 6783 ft, just a mile from the north end of the Anaconda Alternate. From 7:45 AM to 6 PM.
Another NOBO hiker passed me and remarked that I was veering to the left, and asked if I was ok. Was this the third time another hiker has mentioned my peculiar gate? I hope it isn’t something permanent.
Wet morning, overcast all day, cold with occasional sprinkles- at least it was an easy to hike road. Wore rain pants and rain jacket over down vest - pretty comfortable.
Today was the first day with my new “lots of snacks” approach: a big plastic bag full of about 15 snacks. So far, a big success.
Tomorrow begins with a steady ascent to 7450. Yippee.
50 miles to Helena.
394 miles to Canada
2018 CDT Walking thru trees.MOV
Aug 21, 2018. Mile 2623, 20 miles (new record!), 7330 ft., from 7:45 AM to 7:15 PM. Near Cottonwood Lake.
Walked all day on nice trails through woods and across clearings, never too steep, never too rocky. No aches or pains, no swerving to the left. My best day by far.
Still: Overcast and cold all day, after a wet night and completely deflated air cushion. Hands cold almost the entire day - walked with them in my down parka pockets (which I wore all day), poles dragging. Saw a very tame deer and a moose just yards from my campsite.
Will be sleeping without a pad, in my light sleeping bag with a broken zipper that is soaking wet at the bottom. Thank goodness I asked Rachael to mail to Helena my warm bag and new air mattress. Took a full Ambien to fight the discomfort: knocked me out nicely, slept “late” for first time. Yay for modern pharmaceuticals!
30 miles to Helena.
374 miles to Canada.
Aug 22, 2018. Mile 2637, 14 miles, 6736 ft., from 8:15 AM to 8:15 PM.
Moose still in Lake this morning, just munching away.
Tougher today than yesterday: no cold weather to move me on, much more up and down stoney trail, have to carry two liters of water.
Hiking through knocked-down slender trees, they look like pickup sticks. Sometimes hiking through an avenue of tall trees on each side. Sunny, but a little overcast, no views to speak of. Frankly some of the most boring stretches on the CDT. Saw several hikers, almost all NOBO: we’re all going to end up in Canada mid September.
Another .6 miles for water, but it’s uphill, I have some water, and I’m too pooped to go any further. Soft grass beside road, no rain, I’ll forget the tent. 1/2 liter flavored water, 1 liter water - should be enough for a Top Ramen tonite, granola and hot chocolate for breakfast, maybe more food when I get to the water.
Not sure what tomorrow brings. Best bet is I sleep close to the road, then get an early ride into town. Here’s hoping Barbara the Trail Angel comes through!
Rachael texted: sleeping bag & pad arrive tomorrow. What a great daughter I have.
Oh oh: lightning in the distance - put up the tent nearby just in case. PLEASE don’t rain!
17 miles to Helena.
360 miles to Canada
Aug 23, 2018. Mile 2653, 16 miles, 6347 ft, from 8:00 AM to 7:15 PM.
Camped near hiway to Helena.
hikeaholic, 509-737-7289. From Coeur D’Alene, near Spokane. Raises chickens.
Called Trail angel Jeff (thanks to angel Barbara, who had emergency and had to go to SLC with mom), who will pick me up tomorrow morning at 10 AM. Woo-woo!
1 mile to Helena
344 miles to Canada
Aug 24, 2018. Zero day, Helena (Budget Inn Express).
Easy hitch at 9 - canceled Jeff. Spent day washing, doing laundry, reprovisioning. Great town. Next stop: Lincoln- where the Unabomber used to hang out. Terrible fires in Glacier Park, but that’s 3 weeks away.
Caren is thinking of joining a rally to the Caribbean in October, and eventually doing the Panama Canal some months later. She mentioned Mexico and the Galapagos next. Yep, she’s serious about crossing the Pacific. What a woman!
Jeff just called: got a ride to the trail tomorrow!
Grizzly attacked a kid in Yellowstone yesterday- first in a year or so.
Aug 25, 2018. Mile 2661, 8 miles, 5697 feet, 10:45 AM to 6 PM.
One Gallon, Iowa, 817-542-9861. Canoed The Great Loop.
Picked up warm sleeping bag and full size mattress at Post Office. Carrying two liters water (not much on trail), Pack seems really heavy. But I’ve got a lot of food, especially snacks.
Ride from Trail Angel Jeff to the trail.
If I take Chief Mountain (19.7 Miles) instead of Waterton (34.6 miles) I hike 15 fewer miles.
Pack really full, can barely close it on top. And forgot Tillamook cheddar cheese in fridge - damn! But maybe with no cheese it won’t be as difficult to push out the poop? A silver lining in every cloud...
Trying out new “Static V” air mattress and my warm sleeping bag tonight - oboy oboy. Trouble is, it isn’t cold at all. But nice flat camping spot by the trail with a view and blue skies - and no haze for a change.
61 miles to Lincoln
336 miles to Canada
Aug 26, 2018. Mile 2672, 11 miles, 6613 feet, 8:15 to 3:00, then 4:30 to 7.
Cold all day. Ended up wearing everything except my down pants.
Stopped at mile 2670 at 3; hitched to Marysville with Brady & wife Debbie (Brady’s Tree service, 406-202-4293) from Helena.
Lost my Outdoor Research hat - it blew off during the day without my noticing (I was wearing Gary’s hat underneath). But maybe this isn’t so awful: Gary’s hat covers the skin boo-boos near my right eyebrow.
Forest: met (with wife) at Marysville House (scampi, mushrooms, burger, Bozone amber beer); Surveyor; recommends in Lincoln: Leeper’s Motel, Scapegoat for pizza.
Bought long-sleeved t-shirt at Marysville Museum.
Got a ride back from a guy at the bar - everybody is Really friendly in this old gold mining town.
Snow forecast for tonight, rain tomorrow. But right now, in my my nice warm sleeping bag on top of my new full-length air mattress, I am as snug as a bug.
49 miles to Lincoln
325 miles to Canada
Aug 27, 2018. Mile 2686, 14 miles, 7015 ft. From 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM.
Light rain the previous night continuing through today, snow at higher elevations. Wore everything except down pants, and never got cold. Left fingerless gloves at Marysville House, wore Black Diamond gloves, much better in rain. Don’t think I’ll miss the fingerless gloves - my hands are now pretty tough.
More tough hill climbs - like yesterday. I stopped an hour early because I was too tired to tackle the next hill. Still, 14 miles isn’t so bad. If I do the same the next two days, I’ll be able to hitch into Lincoln Thursday midday and enjoy a full day at the motel.
Not raining now - hope it clears up by morning.
36 miles to Lincoln
311 miles to Canada
Aug 28, 2018. Mile 2703, 17 miles, 7024 feet, from 7:45 AM to 7:00 PM.
Another up-and-down day (I think there were 3 passes), and water issues again. But no rain! It stopped last night, and it’s been dry since then. Cold, windy, cloudy, but dry. And 17 miles? My second best day yet.
Water: No springs or streams near the trail, but trail angels left bottled water at two caches I discovered, and there were others I missed. Even a gallon sitting on the trail. Hey, this is part of the CDT challenge. I’ve discovered I’m less anxious about running out of water, now that I have a few times, just like my fear of getting lost (which happens several times a week), and of encountering bears (none so far) has dissipated. Now I mainly fear snow and forest fires.
19 miles to Lincoln
294 miles to Canada’s
Google Sites
Report abuse