C/O Benchmark Wilderness Ranch

PO Box 255

Augusta, MT 59410

CDT through hiker

Estimated Pick-up Date 9/16/2002

Subject: 9/10, day 137, 7453', mi.
Hiking north from 5710' Rogers Pass was the mirror image of yesterday's hike: switchback up the hill then up & down along the divide alternating between x-country and trail. The difference was that today was more moderate. The wind was less fierce, temp warmer, drops less extreme. The views were as exciting and the rocks even better.

Lincoln was a good town stop, easy to get in & out and all the necessities close by. At the PO we met 3 SoBo Brown Univ girls. We tried to hook up with them at Macks Inn before they flipped to Glacier NP.

We had just finished lunch and were walking to look for a ride to the pass when Bruce stopped to talk. He just moved to Lincoln and wanted to know hiking areas. He offered a ride and on the way up told us about his tent. It's a WalMart kids' 4'x6' 3.5 pound that needs to be seam sealed. Sounds like a deal at $30. He used it on the AT.

We're at Lewis & Clark Pass where Lewis left the Pacific waters for the last time on 7/7/1806. I'm sitting with the packs while Ken goes down to Alice Creek for dinner water. We both have our bear spray out and ready as we are entering Scapegoat Wilderness and then Bob Marshall Wilderness. Both are grizzly haunts, but the bears are not habituated, a big difference from park bears. Still... For dessert we have rice crispy treats from Sara.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 9/11, day 138, 23.6 mi., 6750'
We woke before sunrise right on the divide sheltered in short trees. Soon we saw the pink sunrise out the tent window. The morning was so balmy that we weren't sure we needed jackets and we wore shorts for the first time in a long while.

Hiking was as perfect as the weather: trails with wonderful views or forest. We entered the 1988 Scapegoat burn area that burned more acres than the Yellowstone fire. The burn came up the Atlantic side to the trail on the divide and stopped. The trees on the Pacific side didn't burn so on the right were silver snags and on the left a full forest with the trees a couple of feet taller than the snags.

We hiked an elegant Jim Wolf Guide variation this afternoon. We walked from a junction .6 mi., went up a creek to a meadow, climbed due north out of the meadow to the divide, and walked the divide until we hit a trail. What a great adventure, right on the divide with a view of beautiful, multi-faceted Scapegoat Mtn. And we saved 8 miles and over 2000 feet of climbing. That's what the CDT is all about. And we saved 8 miles and over 2000 feet of climbing.

Tonight as Ken filtered water from a deep hole in the Dearborn River. He saw 2 fish jump just a few feet away. If only we had the time, we might have had fresh fish!

... Gottawalk

Subject: 9/12, day 139, 24.8 mi.
I try not to take this personally, but disasters happen every time a pack train or horse & rider pass us on the trail. We quietly step off as required and...today one pack horse bolted and the pack horse behind him refused to pass us and broke the line. We were left standing beside an upset horse while the train rode on.

... Gottawalk