July 26th, 2024
Mile Marker: 869.8
Miles Hiked: 24
This morning we woke up around 7ish and started getting ready. It was another hot night in the motel and little sleep was had. We went to Jan’z coffee again for breakfast sandwiches and coffee before heading out.
Around 9 AM we got a shuttle ride with Edith who works at the motel. She is an older lady and is from Texas but currently living in Lima, Montana. She was cute as she had us look behind her on the highway before she turned around through the median to make sure she didn’t get pulled over.
She then dropped us off and picked up 4 other hikers waiting to go into Lima. There is a whole train of people behind us we think.
Whatever, Aster, Journey, and I all headed out on the gravel road.
It was smooth cruising for a while up the gravel road. I enjoyed getting to chat with them both and we found ourselves leaping frogging each other all day. When they would stop, we would chat and pass then we would stop and they would chat and pass.
We all planned to go to the lake in 23 miles since that seemed doable with the later start.
The day was cool with overcast and not too much elevation. There were some punchy climbs but nothing we haven’t done before.
Around 4 pm we ran across a herd of sheep again with what appeared to be a different, much younger, Shepard and 6 dogs. 3 of which came bulldozing towards us and were massive. It made Journey and I nervous as one kept getting close with his growl and bark.
Unfortunately the shepherd didn’t do anything to stop it so we were on our own.
The spring we needed water from after a 12 mile carry was also right next to the shepherd and the main alpha dog wouldn’t let us forget he was there. Yipping and growling at us. Once Journey and I faced him and told him no, he seemed to back off a smidge.
Whatever and Aster caught up to us then and it was easy to tell they were close when we could hear the dogs going crazy again.
We didn’t dilly dally too much since a storm was coming through quickly.
Journey and I took off so that we could get off the high ridge before it was over us. Thankfully we made it down in the trees and when the rain and wind got really bad hid under some pine trees for a while to keep from getting drenched and cold.
Whatever and Aster passed us here and continued into the rain and we figured we would see them at camp later.
The storm moved right on top of us with cracking lightning and thunder and after 10 minutes or so, it moved on and we were left with a sprinkle.
We set back out and soaked our feet through the over grown sides of trail.
Eventually the sun came back and warmed us up though.
We made it to our camp location and didn’t see Whatever and Aster. I quickly figured that the two continued on and that it would just be Journey and I for the night. I immediately felt sad, we had stayed behind a day to be around people and here we were camping alone, what a different culture this was I thought.
Journey and I ate and as we hung our bear bags, suddenly Aster appeared. She clarified that they went further down and hid in another tree during the storm to eat dinner and we passed them.
Wow, that didn’t even cross my mind as a possibility. I immediately jumped to them leaving us.
I was thrilled they arrived and now there are 4 of us camped out tonight near each other. It’s been a while since we have camped near anyone.
Hoping for some good sleep since it’s nice and chilly out tonight and warm in my sleeping bag!
Iz and Oz
Izzy + Ozzy 