Friday, August 06, 2004
Berries, Snakes, and the Elusive Divide
08/06/04
I ate a not-yet-ripe black raspberry, some blueberries, and some red huckleberries today. Oh, and a woody gooseberry. All but the last were yummy.
I saw my first snake of the hike today. It was about 12" long and about as big around as a pencil. I don't like snakes, even when they are just sunning themselves, so when its first reaction was to slither toward me, it didn't go over well. I managed not to kill it defending myself. I didn't even scream.
For most of the day the trail was difficult to find and follow. Between burn areas, lush meadows, and criss-crossing paths, I had to be on my toes to stay on the CDT.
Once we hit a certain spot, the trail was a former road that was solid wildflowers, and the road was wide enough for a moving van to use and had a grade to match. It was a bit, flat route right at the top of the mountain. Very strange, but the flowers were great. It's like it was an evacuation route for a city. I just pictured somebody thinking that all kinds of vehicles needed to get over these mountains. The problem is that we appear to be in the middle of nowhere.
Water's scarce up here, but I have enough to make it. At one point, I dropped down to find water, but came up dry. Returning to the CDT, I rejoined Apple Pie and Spur, with whom I'd become separated at some point during the day.
We have a great spot to night just of off the former road. It's in a spot cleared for mining, but it's reasonably level and the mountain cut is keeping some of the wind off of us.
