Twig Adventures

August 2nd, 2019 HWY 26 mm 1099.3 to mm 1117.3 Distance in miles: 18 1140-1830 I toss and turn a lot in the night, not as comfortable as I thought I would be on the cot. At least it is pretty quiet, in spite of the highway noise. I have to open a window that is right near my head, as it’s stuffy inside. It rained for a long time overnight and the morning is brisk and fresh. We go to a coffee shop that does breakfast items. I have been dreaming of a lox bagel for some time and they have one on the menu…the most expensive item at $14. But I have to get it, plus a breakfast[…]

August 1st, 2019 Cabin mm 1077.7 to HWY 26 mm 1099.3, then hitch to Dubois Distance in miles: 21.6 0515-1240 We nail our early start, timing it so that we only use headlamps for the first 20 minutes. Grizzlies are heavy in the area, so I don’t want to be hiking in the dark for long. I then have to do my morning business off trail a bit and wouldn’t you know it, Relentless goes around a corner to give me some privacy and promptly spies a grizzly go tearing up the hill. I miss it because I’m off doing what bears do in the woods. I figure we will probably see another one somewhere this day but we never[…]

July 31st, 2019 Crooked Creek Campsite mm 1046.9 to Cabin mm 1077.7 Distance in miles: 30.8 0615-1940 I sleep the best night’s sleep in a long while. I think I have to do over 30 miles to be tired enough these days. We’ve noticed a lot of bear evidence around and talked to numerous people that have recently seen them, so you would think that might make me restless. But no. The bears have to sleep too…don’t they? We continue to follow the watershed up to the headwaters, outside the National Park boundaries, then up and over a 10,000′ saddle. The alpine meadows allow views of the Tetons and back the way we’ve come. We pass 3 NOBOs before 0730[…]

July 30th, 2019 Moose Creek Meadow Campsite mm 1012.6 to Crooked Creek Campsite mm 1046.9 Distance in miles: 34.3 0615-1940 What starts as a pretty bad morning finishes strong and bright in the end. The mosquitoes are just so bad for the first 10 miles, I’m struggling to find any pleasure in the day. The trail winds above Shoshone Lake and there’s not much to see but dense forest, with a few views of the lake. I walk as fast as I can but the bugs chase me down, latch on, and bite through my R1 fleece and shirt, as well as through the buff that I have covering my face and head. They are so fast and can go[…]

July 29th, 2019 Summit Lake, CDT mm 988 to Moose Creek Meadow Campsite mm 1012.6 Distance in miles: 24.6 0500-1820 This post is a guide on how to stuff yourself silly at a buffet and be a tourist for several hours, bookended by a full day’s hike. We are up and on the trail as planned, set to hike 10 miles by 8 am. We use headlamps for about 30 minutes and I am a bit wary of large animals. But we stick close to each other and have faith that there is not much that would bother a gang of 3 hikers. The sun eventually rises but it seems to get even cooler. I have to put on my[…]

July 28th, 2019 Mm 6.5 of Mac’s Inn alternate to Summit Lake, CDT mm 988 Distance in miles: 19 0730-1600 Today is the shortest distance I’ve hiked on the CDT when there isn’t a town involved. It’s also one of the easiest days terrain-wise. I don’t recall one rise where I even have to increase my breathing. We get started super late, by my standards, since we are in no hurry. We can only go so far without getting too close to Old Faithful Village for the night. It’s kind of nice to lounge around, talking and enjoying breakfast. This was the first night that Samson camped with us and we love his company. He’s a fluids engineer and worked[…]

July 27th, 2019 Mm 17 to mm 6.5 of Mac’s Inn alternate Distance in miles: 10.5 1200-1930 I wake up with a pretty bad migraine and am thinking that pushing hard and doing big miles is healthier for me than taking it easy around towns. But we have to slow down these next 2 days because Relentless has a few packages at the PO in Old Faithful Village, Yellowstone, and it doesn’t open until Monday. This is the problem with having to mail stuff to a PO…inevitability your unpredictable schedule will land you there on the 1 or 2 days it’s closed. I try to sleep in but can’t. So I get up to hang out in the fancy hotel[…]

July 26th, 2019 Mm 902 to mm 17 of Mac’s Inn alternate, Island Park, ID Distance in miles: 18.5 0615-1230 Another town day but this one is special. I get to meet up with a group of hiking friends that have come all the way from Florida to see me! Not really, they already had a trip to Idaho planned and just so happen to be in the neighborhood. Still, they’re driving a few hours to meet up and it will be great to see them.  But first we have to get to town. I call my saved route “Day Off” with the hopes that it will be pretty easy…and it is, save for all the miles we still have[…]

July 25th, 2019 Mm 870 to mm 902 Distance in miles: 32 0600-1830 Today is our last full day in Montana. We cross back and forth between the two states all day long and I just call it Montanaho. I haven’t a clue which state I’ve been in for the past few weeks, in fact. But tomorrow we will be in Montana for a few miles and then cross into Idaho for the remainder until Wyoming. I will be so glad to be done with both of them, as it has been a long and tiring hike. But also incredibly scenic, remote, and diverse.Today is more crappy, bumpy, overgrown, buggy, and almost non-existent trail. But it’s still fun! There are[…]

July 24th, 2019 Mm 850 to mm 870.2 Distance in miles: 20.2 1200-1900 I can’t believe that I’ve been walking SOBO for a month already. The time does fly by. For the first time in awhile, I have the luxury of rolling around in bed and sleeping in…until 0630 am. I’m hungry as soon as I wake up and head to the one restaurant again. Good thing the food and service is good. I am not usually into having a big breakfast but today I am. My order comes out on two plates, there is so much food: 2 eggs, 2 pieces of french toast, and a giant slab of ham. I eat every last bit. Yum. Just before taking[…]