What to do with a death horse on trail?

Day 136

Date: 14.09.2022

CDT Mile: Mile 2'821.6

Miles hiked: 31.0 miles / 49.6 km

Elevation: 4'918 feet ascent (1'500 m Aufstieg) / 4'734 feet descent (Abstieg 1'445 m)

Camping at: 5'748 feet / 1'753 m

In order to reach town by friday and also hike as many miles as possible in the daylight we have to get up early. It is hard though, especially if it is still cold and wet in the morning, as it is today. We definitely have to dry out our gear today. It is pitch dark now anyways when getting up till shortly before 7am.

We started hiking at 7.10am and it looks like it is gonna be a nice day. The first few miles the trail meanders along the valley, again through deep bushes and high wet grass. We have several wet feet crossings to master. And apparently there is a death horse ahead, so we shall be more careful in that area because of bears. But we didn't see or smell anything. Later in the day hikers told us that apparently they blow up the horse with dynamite! It is the cleanest and fastest way to 'clean' a death horse. That's the way to do it and so I got to know that if you are out in the woods with horses, you always carry dynamite with you! We did see the big whole but didn't knew then what it was. So the horse is gone now, well at least most of it!

We have a huge climb ahead of us, over 3'000 feet. I was worried all morning, because my pack is still super heavy and carrying it over a pass won't be much fun. But again the pass was long, but a gentle climb with many switchbacks. The top offered some nice views, however it is still smoky. Once on top, a long downhill followed. We stopped for lunch after having hiked 17 miles already at a lake on the downhill. As the sun was about to come out every now and then, we also took this opportunity to dry out our gear as good as we can. The rest of the downhill is never ending. First, we can enjoy some beautiful views to the mountains around us, hiking through burned area though. But with all the fall colors of the flowers in red, green and yellow the scenery is stunning. I love the fall colors! Once we finally reach the bottom of that valley we hike through a thick and creepy forest, where we encounter many big bear poop on trail, we assume from grizzly. I am tired and don't really like hiking through that forest. So I am glad when we finally leave the forest, cross a big river (this time we took our shoes off as they are nearly dry) and reach a ranger hut. A big group of elk hunters on horses are just about to leave. Someone is calling my name and there is 'Baby Grant' and 'Rex', sitting on the porch of the ranger hut eating dinner. We have met both of them the first time in Augusta. What a good idea, we join them and cook an early dinner on the covered porch. Turns out to be a great idea, as it started to thunder, lightening and rain shortly later. We left the porch once we finished our dinner and by that time also the thunderstorm has passed. It doesn't even rain anymore. Perfect timing!

We hiked on 5 more miles but then decided to keep on hiking another 3.5 miles to next campsite, so we can make it to East Glacier by Friday late afternoon. It's 8pm already and hence getting late. We night hiked till 9pm and set up camp next to Cheetah, Captain and Mouse, who have left Augusta the same day we did, but early in the morning. The last stretch was very wet again due to the rain earlier and we had to put on our raingear. My shoes are soaked again, but the trail was nice and gentle and super easy to hike fast. I first didn't wanted to hike out another 3.5 miles in the dark and was grumpy, but in order to reach East Glacier on Friday it was a good decision. It has been another big and long day. By the time we got to bed it was 10pm. However, I felt good and even the night hiking wasn't as bad.

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