I think we saw more thru-hikers today than any other. It was fun to bounce around with them, chat, see the different paces, stop times and other habits/styles.
A bunch of us were all camped within a couples miles of Lemhi Pass habits styles last night. Birdie, Tony and Cassi (who biked the CDT in NM, now section hiking), us, Pepper Flake, and Stumbling Beef were all before the pass. Soulshine, Marmot and Gabriel plus maybe two others were at the pass proper.
We were the last to get moving in the morning, but our bikes served us well dropping down to the pass. Cassi had blisters to deal with. The rest were at the pass watering up.
We saw a HUGE owl just below the piped spring at the Sacejewa Camp. It was the biggest owl I have ever seen! 3 feet tall, easily. So cool to watch his head turn back and look at us. We pointed Birdie towards it when she arrived, and found out where her trail name comes from — birdwatcher!
25 miles from the pass to the next on-trail water. We filled up big, knowing it could take us all day. The trail hugs the divide the entire time, so that means mega climbing.
We spied a graded road at the beginning and took it in lieu of the fall-line, super steep and non-trail route that was signed CDT. We were never more than a mile from the ‘trail’ and looking at the same awesome views. Seemed like a no brainer to us for the first few miles.
Soulshine appeared out of the woods where we were thinking about jumping back in. It was a good call to get back on the trail. We were over 1000 feet up and the terrain was gentle. Nice trail breezed through the woods…. modulo a few steep and ridiculous sections.
Energy was not high and unfortunately we were still worried about food and how far we’d make it. The mileage seemed doable, but it’s the CDT, and on the divide. There are no guarantees.
Our lunch break provided much needed recharge. Meeting up with Marmot and Gabriel for a break and chat was even better. There was a bit of phone service, so we called into Jackson to see about a room. All full tonight. Well, that settles it — we’ll camp and Nearo into town tomorrow. No reason to push into a town where there is nowhere to stay.
That put a nice relaxed vibe into the rest of the day, which was good since the terrain got more difficult from there. Unfortunately we were running thin on food, so having plenty of time meant plenty of time to deal with hunger.
The gentle forested terrain gave way to scree and talus. Fall line trail, or no trail at all. We scrambled over the top of a craggy peak as the three hikers below nearly overtook us.
The downhill was silly steep and a total gas to ride. Thank you, dropper post!
At Goldstone Pass the trail was new and very well done. It was still challenging singletrack through tough terrain. When the grade and surface wasn’t good you could tell there was a good reason for it. They had quite the trail building challenge to get something passable along those ridges and over craggy passes. It was a wonder to ride it and enjoy some fine trailsmanship.
Sections reminded me of Gila Canyons on the AZT — wide benched trail with super steep cross slope. Steep pitches required to hit natural control points. All very, very cool to see.
They sandwiched in a number of switchbacks in a tiny space, coming over the pass from Jankhe Lake. Most were rideable — if barely. Definitely some of the best trail eye candy of the entire trip.
We rode down to the bottom of Janhke Creek, where there are a number of choices for exiting towards Jackson. In theory we’ll have a relatively short and easy ride into town tomorrow, with only a couple miles of CDT and some graded road.
Four other thru-hikers made it this far, too. I think we covered just over 30 miles, which isn’t a bad day in the CDT office, by any means. I suppose we could have made it further or into Jackson (if there were a room), but I’m quite happy with the day, and it’s fun to see how far people got and get to chat a little again.
We need some real food, big time! And our bodies could use a soak or two in the hot springs!
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