Pacific Northwest Trail; mile 239.9

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.

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