We eat breakfast at camp. There is a lot of talk of doing this green alternate route that shows up on the Farout Maps.

I hadn’t planned on doing it but we talk to the backpacking guide in camp. She says that it’s a really gorgeous trail and that it would add about 2 miles to our day, so it sounds like a worthwhile side trip. The group heads out and I spend the morning hiking with The Professor and Sir Poppins.

The day is just beautiful.

The trail starts to lead us up the pass and The Professor and Poppins stop to get some snow to make water. I have a liter so I feel good to keep going.

I get to the top of the pass where the green alternate trail starts, it clings around a very steep scree slope. It looks like a big drop, and the scree slants the trail making it really narrow, like a slidey cliffs edge.

Gulp.

I look back to see if the others are continuing. They are, so I push ahead.

I try not to look down at the trees way below me. I get a little vertigo going around a sharp rock ledge. I manage to make it around the bend to an outcrop of rocks.

I pause there to catch my breath and see where the trail is heading, oh boy, more scree cliff side drops for a long long stretch. The way littered with rocks that have fallen from above. Gulp.

I look back the way I came and everyone is gathered at the pass. They’re just standing there. Are they reconsidering?

I don’t want to hike past the blind turn by myself (I feel safer if someone has a visual on me and I have a visual on them) so I decide to wait and see if they turn back or start hiking towards me.

It feels like ages haha

But they eventually start heading towards me. It helps that Poppins is wearing a bright blue shirt, I can see him from really far away. I almost turned back there for a second. But they’re going for it, so I’ll go for it too.

I put on my ‘blinders’ and just focus on each step, carefully picking my way along the loose rocks.

I eventually make it to a saddle and pause again to see if the others are still coming.

I see them paused at the rock outcrop I waited at. Are they going to keep going or turn back?

I see Poppin’s blue shirt move forward on the trail. Phew! They’re continuing haha

I decided to wait wait for them this time.

The Professor comes bounding down the rocks onto the saddle, just beaming. Scree cliff side? No big deal for this guy!

The others all catch up and we all break for lunch. I feel so much more at ease seeing everyone else so comfortable on the cliff.

It’s really fun! The 360 views are just incredible, mountains and waterfalls and lakes and forests.

We start to head out but then realize there’s Verizon service!

I stop to call Doug and my Mom, I try to send them some pictures but everyone is leaving aaah! I’m last now and trying to keep up along the scree, carful to not get sloppy with my steps.

I manage to get around the last steep turn, what a relief to be off the scary scree cliff! I can breathe again haha

The trail goes down a long gradual grade towards Two Medicine.

It starts to down pour. I put on all my rain gear, the other hikers have umbrellas.

I didn’t bring mine for this stretch, my rain coat and pants do just fine. It was really fun hiking in the rain! I just love the rain, everything smells so good, like that gift shop cedarwood smell. All the plants just glisten and the colors get brighter when it rains. It was awesome because you could still see pretty far. I pass Toast and Poppins and catch up to The Professor.

We cross a bridge to the Two Medicine camp and the sun comes out.

I head over to the ranger station to check where they would like for us to go. Were in the back country sites.

There’s a cute little camp store with a small cafe. I order two bratwursts on pretzel buns and they are soooo delicious.

True Grits and Thin Mint are also there! More CDT hikers!

I buy myself a drink and head to the lake to rinse out my hair. It’s just heaven.

Back at camp The Professor and The Geologists bought the crew some six packs! Another hiker named Gourmet joins us for dinner and we have an awesome night hanging out. What a great group! I feel so lucky!