Trail Day 2 - July 26

Waited for the morning frost to burn off, before leaving my warm tent and sleeping quilt.  This time of year as soon as the sun hits, it warms up fast!  
Had the Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy for breakfast, with a couple cups of coffee!  Delicious!!!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16UfOdMwsYaQHtZjz9A-MvakrP80yffOb

Packed-up, and filled up all my water storage before leaving this beautiful spot.  Now with just under 12 miles to the Canadian Border I was happy with my progress so far.  As I got higher in elevation  there were still a lot of snow patches covering the trail in some areas, yet it was about 80 degrees!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AgVUcJONR6Y3PG7h1tCbAice7OkIRGO2

It had been since mid day yesterday since I had seen anyone on the trail, and I wouldn’t see a sole all day today!  It was nice, but it made me wonder, and for good reason!!!

It was beautiful!!!  But as I got closer to Canada the trail got much tougher, with downed trees, rock slides, washouts, and trail overgrowth where you could barely see your footing.  

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1i7unfslfGLar9ut0W_lLCpwaBBMHK4Io

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12U8ApnpNpygYlcnp8G4V8FhrAD1-WE5T

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1_m6260dshH7IVljs6qbm2gKbvvZyixEB

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1mQW7xwceG7LI0qwZSVV4RB2D-ESI7s28
Yup...  that’s the trail!!!

It was getting very difficult to manage the pac when you couldn’t see your footing!  
Thankfully with still 4.5 miles to go I came across a nice camping spot, so I decided to set up camp, leaving most of my stuff in camp, and slack-pack the remaining 4.5 miles in and 4.5 miles back.  

I was REALLY glad I did, because the remaining 4.5 miles was REALLY BAD with downed trees everywhere, and overgrowth so bad I was relying on my GPS to let me know I was on trail.  

And then, all of a sudden in a nice little clearing there it was!!!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1aw20x90uukhOUpFW6TWEvCaRfZ3hQ9Lh

I signed the book, put my camera on a post and took the pic, and relished in the moment for a while, but knew that I couldn’t enjoy it for long, since I had 4.5 miles of hell to get through back to camp!

Even with all the trail hazards, I was happy with the day!  Making just under my goal of 17.1 miles per day.  Calves and thighs were only slightly sore, feet were in good shape, and other than multiple scratches on my legs from bushwhacking all day everything was good!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jDF5hQ8YjqOLb3pWSMBzkR3erVNb-1Wd

In camp that night while having  my MH Spaghetti dinner, I heard footsteps coming down the hill, I turned to see a Mountain Goat walking into my camp, he stopped about 20 feet from me, and just looked at me for about a minute, and then just laid down!  We had a good chatt during dinner which he seemed to enjoy, before I hit the tent for the night.  I slept well knowing my Buddy was out there watching over things.  It was the coolest thing I’ve ever had happen on a wilderness adventure!  

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1IA0uKCnBjtY6b7mlGgK7A-gVt5CrKOHG

He slept there all night, and was there in the morning when I got up, leaving when I started my coffee.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RaLTHO8duYBc62vS6SG9r4WVwhQPMCl3


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