15-08-26. Day 137. Day of Rest – Mark Trail CDT
Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015
Even though it was technically my day off. We left at 5:45 am to drive to Two Medicine Campground to get our permit to hike the park. We were second in line when the office opened at 7:00 am. I heard of Sam Thornton from hikers headed south. Usually the Rangers will not issue permits with campsites farther than ten miles apart and for good reasons. We aren’t normal hikers in many ways and Sam knows that. He said we had a lot of trails closed in the south of the park and suggested we hike the north end and then come back and see if anything has opened up in two days. Sounds like the CDT to me.
I wanted to see the East Glacier Lodge so me and Bean went for breakfast. It was like the Old Faithful Inn, all logs, but bigger columns and lots of straight lines….
Back to East Glacier we packed our food for two days. I have never left town with two days of food so I am looking forward to hike this section with a light pack.
I wrote some post cards and ate, napped, and ate again. As we were walking to dinner, Lint, Patches, and Grape Nuts walked into town, Just finishing a complete through Hike. They passed me in Lincoln, ten days earlier. Wow is that fast. We had dinner and Lint left on the 7:45 train. Patches and Grape nuts took showers and hung out while waiting for travel plans home. Grape Nut’s friend picked him up while I was sleeping. Bean slept in her car and let Patches sleep in her bed….. What a nice gesture….
East Glacier Park. 0 Miles
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At 4:00 pm the wheels rolled up and it was just like we left off in Dubois. Jellybean was going to hike Glacier and then hike south back to Dubois, Wy. I am finishing from Rawlins, Wy to Waterton, Canada. I will then Train, Airplane, and Bus back to hike south from Rawlins, Wy to Salida, Co. Hopefully I will be able to finish before October first.
Waking up in the Silver Dome dome was great. There was a strange glow all night. I had two cups of coffee since there was no hurry. East Glacier Park was thirty one miles away and there was no way I was going to hike that after hiking the wild Bob.
My thoughts drifted to “After the hike plans”. Here, there, everywhere. I think a plan of no plans might work out for the best. Focus on East Glacier Park tomorrow. ….
The bright side is that all Outposts have privys….and I was ready for a privy. Sure enough I found the privy and it was a nice one. Someone was at the door so I finished reading the morning paper and said “Good Morning, where can I get some water for coffee?”. Christa said she would be right up for some coffee. “Come on in”. The “Office” looked like a kitchen with a stove for cooking and a wood burning stove for heat…It was still freezing outside and Christa served COFFEE….”Would you like a piece of pie?” REAL HOMEMADE APPLE PIE. One minute my feet are fording and freezing, the next minute I am sitting next to a stove having coffee and HOMEMADE APPLE PIE!!!! WOW. I had to pry myself away and hike on. Thank you Schaffer Outpost…..especially Christa!
I hiked along the Flathead River then switched to the Morrison Creek, and lastly Lodgepole Creek, before turning straight up from 5,200 ft to 6,600 ft. I had to take my shoes off to ford the Morrison and Lodgepole. Gosh, I am determined to keep me feet dry today….for a change….
When I finally got to the top of a no named pass I looked at where I might camp. Badger Outpost was to far away. I hiked mostly downhill and made great time. By the time I got back on the CDT, it was time to get off and hike directly to the Outpost. Maybe I could make it. As I came around the corner to the outpost, a scene from outer space appeared. The whole camp had been wrapped in aluminum foil….. Really… And sprinklers set up all around it…… Fire…..Did they leave me a fire suit? .Nope……. Because I hiked late, I am set up for thirty miles to East Glacier. ..Yea. Home baked COOKIES waiting for me the post office…
Badger Guard Station. 24 Miles
The Zpacks Heximid tent was covered with ice and snow and it was cold so I packed up everything and hiked to Spotted Bear Pass.
As I descended, the bear scat got bigger and more frequent sightings on the trail. Logs and rocks were overturned.
I carried my bear spray in my hand with the safety off. It was a little nerve wracking. I almost made it to Schafer Backcountry out post complete with a runway… But I didn’t, so I found a campsite with a great tree to hang all the smelly things.
We had a snack together and then I ran into, Cody, Justin, and Zane, from Lincoln, who stopped yesterday and gave me a beer. It was just like old home week.
It was after noon when I reached the wall. Unfortunately the sun was past the wall and it was shaded so the pictures I took weren’t the best.
I slept great with a full stomach thanks to the full hiker box. I decided to get on the Benchmark road as soon as possible so 6:00 am I settled into my spot. Around 7:30 am the first car came by and was headed to the trail head so I waved and hoped if they came back I would have a early ride into Augusta. As they came back I got up to talk and they zoomed by. I decided from now on, I would stop all cars regardless of the direction they were going. I needed a ride and a car every 30 to 45 minutes,,, I needed some help. Cody, Justin, and Zane, were driving to the trail head to hike the Chinese Wall. I asked them if they had any extra food. They didn’t but they did give me a beer… Well it looks like it’s going to be an interesting day. The next truck was Rachel and Rose, Forrest service gals doing research. They said they were going to be a while but if I were still there, I would have a ride.
Ron and Steve were going for a horse packing overnight. Again a ride tomorrow. The gave my two beers to keep me busy till tomorrow. At last Ben, Sal, and Anthony, gave my a ride five miles till they reached phone reception. They needed to update their hiking plans due to trail closures due to fires in the area. A Kia full of hikers come by but no room. The car was packed. Medicare Pastor, Rockstar, and CDT section hikers. Pastor gave me her maps of the Bob since they were done and I needed some help with the fire reroutes. Finally Dave and Lynn gave me a ride all the way into town..
Skip and his two grandsons were waiting for his daughter Christina, (their mom), to go up to Woods Lake for the weekend… Trail Magic Strikes.
Darwin and Shelly shuttle resupply boxes for CDT hikers to their ranch that is one and three quarters miles off the CDT. It is 30 long miles on a dirt road to resupply in Augusta MT. There is a bear box that is on their back porch that is full of resupply boxes. Since I messed up and sent my box from Helena and did not call, my box was not in the box. Well surly they just went into town and will be back with my box. By 8:00 pm I realized that wasn’t going to happen and I needed a new plan.
Normal morning, Coffee, Banana, hike. The clouds were pouring over the peaks. Soon I was in the clouds with cold strong winds. The cold wind would cool my glasses and the moisture coming out of the neck of my rain coat fogged my glasses. Between my foggy glasses and being in the clouds, I couldn’t see a thing. Then I lost the trail ….. I rely on Backcountry Navigator to locate myself time and time again. I have no idea how you could hike this trail without it.
I found a flat spot near Green Fork Guard Station and quickly fell asleep……After I blogged this.
Another long Trail Town night. I just can’t get to sleep. I wasn’t till 1:30 am till I fell into deep deep sleep.
We stopped by the forest service office to check on the local and the Bob Marshal wilderness fires. No worries about trail clothes due to fire till after Benchmark.
I met Swan and Sweet Smelling Mama at Flesher Pass. They were hiking from Leadore to Benchmark…..I think.
I would catch up to the speedsters ( Swan , Sweet), and then they would hike ahead. After lunch we only had a few miles to Rogers Pass and Swan had called Bill at the Sportsman Inn for a ride. “Of Course I will tag along”. Sure enough, at three pm Bill showed up and all three of us were headed to Lincoln, MT. 
I sent a food box to Three Bear Motel so I felt bad not staying at the Sportsman Inn. On top of that, there were not any dorm or bunkhouse rooms. .. at Three Bears …..Humm… I got the last room or that’s what she said. . I would room All by myself.
I walked to the sportsman and then we all went to the Bootleggers for dinner. Justa, Swan, Sweet, Grape Nuts, Patches, Lint and me, all at one table. It was the largest group of hikers I had dinner since forever. Very Very Nice. 
We made plans to have breakfast the next morning at 8:00 am at Lumpkin’s , PO at 9:00 Am, and then leave.
The wind was howling. Flash, Crash, and the rain fell. It was the first lightning storm in a long time. It rained off and on all night and stopped when I got up but the wind was still whipping the tent. 
LINT…..
I looked at the map and planned to refill my water at Gold Creek. It looked like there was a new trail that went right by it… Well there was no trail. I hiked down FS 1827 for a half mile and there was water….. Sorry, not that easy.. it was seeping with no dipping puddles. I put on my creative thinking cap and flipped my spoon over and used the handle as a funnel. Slowly the water ran into my squeeze bottle.
Helena has some amazing residents. Marc and Cece …. What can I say? Thanks
I ate second dinner and all three hiked up about twenty minutes later. It was like we were old friends. Joking and snacking.. I drank my beer and it started to rain. Or appeared like it was raining…What ever…. Another wonderful day…. Edit…It was raining….
Marc rapped on the bedroom door at 6:00 am. ” Leaving in twenty”. I had a lot of logistics to accomplish. I ordered a small breakfast at Perkins as I waited for the Post Office to open. Dawn met me there and we talked about life and adventure. I needed transportation to get around Helena and what better way than by bicycle… We got all my packages and went back to drop them off at Marc and Cece’s. Then the “Bike”. Dawn is a bike host and my Bike Angel. She let me use her favorite bike. It was awkward at first then adjusted to being on wheels. THANKS Dawn.
I searched for the closest PO and it was a few blocks away……In the Capital Building… Great. There wasn’t a line and I received Prompt, Personal attention… Nice. While I was packing up the food, Ralph stopped and greeted me. “CDT hiker?”. “How could you tell?” jokingly. He showed me where I could ask for a tour and offered to even store my pack….Great.
I arrived in time to be able to tour the state museum. Very well done covering varied aspects to the states history. Another Great day…
As I was hiking the access road I could see the highway below. I raised my thumb just in case someone was looking my way. The pickup truck’s break lights lit up. It can’t be that easy. Marc and Cece said they live in Helena. Do you need a place to stay? Oh boy. It gets even better. Shower, laundry, and Dinner….. Wow. CDT Trail Magic!
I really dislike setting dates. I set dates/appointments for twenty seven years. I think I broke as many dates as I made. It made me feel terrible..No matter how hard I tried, I was always running behind. Finally I stopped setting dates and time. I would call before I came. I would give a estimate as to a day but not a time. It was liberating. I try to avoid it as best as I can. I will need to set a date to get back to Denver to continue the hike. September 6th Amtrak leaves East Glacier and hopefully I will be on it. Now that I’ve set a date we will see what’s happens.
I cut my water a little to tight and had a couple of scares as I walked by a few dry springs but all in all great hiking.
The goal for today is Eat, Rest, and have FUN. The motel had a breakfast at 6:00am. I slept in till 6:30am once again not being able to get to sleep till 1:30 am. The coffee was hot with strawberries, bananas, and a toasted bagel. I sent out texts as to where I was and read my email. At 9:00 I went to McDees for second breakfast. Gary was there who I met yesterday hiking into town. He invited me to join his friends for Sunday morning coffee. Hiking is great and visiting towns are great also. Sharing a conversation about the history of the town is priceless…..
I set my camera to take pictures every 30 seconds it was a beautiful sunrise. I hiked to Twin Lakes..I should have slept there. I would have slept. Soon I was on a wide trail. Then dirt road to the trail head. Mountain bikers and locals were hiking up to the lakes. It was Saturday…
Anaconda reminded me of where I grew up. Small town with a Movie Theater that was still operating. Maybe I will see a movie….
When I arrived to Storm lake it was 4:30 pm. Planning to arrive in Anaconda Sunday morning I was hiking to fast. Bummer hugh..?
It was Friday night and a mistake to camp near road access. The party boys stayed up all night. All night…..At 4:30 am the talking from the other end of the lake ceased…. Really?
At 6:20 am I was off and running. I should have put on plastic shopping bags into my Topo Trail runners. The grass was wet from either dew or yesterday’s rain. My feet were soaked and cold…..again.
It was a day of ups and downs. I’m hiking the Anaconda – Pintler range..so the terrain change was expected. Up to Pintler Pass, 8,700 ft. Down to Johnson Lake, 7,700. Joan and Jim who were day hiking from somewhere five miles away, stopped by while I was eating lunch by the lake. It was nice to talk to a human since it was day three on the trail with no human interaction. Back on the trail I hiked up to Rainbow Pass, 9,000 ft. Then down to Rainbow Lake 8,300 ft and even farther down to 7,400 ft. Then up to some unnamed pass, 8,600 ft and to Warren Lake, 8,400 ft for the night. Whoa…….
Warren Lake, 20 Miles
By 10:00 am it started raining. As time went on it got colder so I shoved food in my mouth and put on the Outdoor Research full rain suit. I tried to stop for lunch but got cold so I put some snacks (Thanks Smurf and Bront) in my hip belt pocket and hiked on. After four hours it let up and the sun tried to come out without success.
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