Tuesday August 6, 2019 day 17
I woke to a wet sleeping bag and the buzzing of mosquitoes.
I ate breakfast, drank coffee, and prepared lunch.
I shook my sleeping bag, feeling a bit sad as its wet feathers clung to its surface and gathered in limp clumps.
Every morning when I put on my boots I tell myself aloud “you can do it, you can do it, you can do it”.
Trail 35 was like a breath of fresh air. So clear and clean with easy tread. I could relax and enjoy the view.
I stopped to gather delicious huckleberries.
Then the trail hit the road. I turned southeast in search of a nearby spring. Though it was a bit hidden, and did not make much sound, it was clear that it was nearby when the foliage turned so green and lush. The spring was such a light trickle that I had to use my Nalgene bottle to collect little bits at a time and transfer it to my Smart Water bottle. I was able to collect an additional liter doing this.
The descent from the road was steep and hurt my feet. I stopped for lunch at the bottom. I am unsure of what bit or stung me yesterday, but my body certainly did not like it. A swollen red circle has formed around the bite.
Soon my shade refuge was overtaken by sunlight, and I carried on.
Further on, I followed a jeep road off trail to access Kreist Creek. I drank a liter and took an additional two and a half to go, then continued towards Moyie River Road.
They were paving the bridge over Moyie River as I passed . It smelled awful.
I was already hungry and thirsty. It was time to climb Bussard Mountain. Fearful of a strenuous ascent without water, I climbed up a dry creek bed to where water still flowed. I gathered water and had another meal.
I knew I must hurry, however, if I wanted to make the descent before dark.
The climb was pleasant. How I adore those moments when you can gaze down upon from where you have come!
As I continued the ascent, a large deer kept me company, grabbing huge mouthfuls of leaves, scurrying up the trail, then stopping again to eat until I got within 20 ft or so.
Some of the trail was lined with concrete. I had never seen this before.
The views were stunning, causing me to laugh with joy.
As I descended, and neared a road, I saw headlamps and heard tires screech in the distance. I was growing tired of camping roadside. The trail I was following was large (quite wide enough to sleep on), but covered in tire tracks. The signs of vehicles made me uncomfortable.
I was very pleased to come upon a sliver of clear level space, within the woods, just big enough to star-camp.
I fell asleep beneath a canopy of leaves.