I wake up and both Salty Dog and Chaney are gone. Someone left a tent stake. I pocket it and I start to pack up. I time myself. It takes me about an hour to get going. Sheesh! I need to look for some efficiencies.

The trail starts off with a climb up a pass. Hiking in the morning light is just gorgeous.

The tiny waterfalls sing, glistening white and black. A boulder field looks like it’s tumbled down the side of the ridge. I can hear a stream underneath the massive stones. I come to a bend in the trail in a field.

It must have gotten very cold here last night, the grass is still frozen.

I slowly climb the twin lakes pass, enjoying my morning coffee and the multitude of wild flowers. The top of the pass is just covered with purple flowers.

The sunlight breaches the ridge just as I descend to the other side.

I’m looking at a very old tree when I hear a loud crash. I look up just in time to see a very large squat, light brown hairy animal rush away through the bushes. A bear! It pants heavily in its efforts to escape! I must have scared it! Poor thing! I’m glad it ran away. It definitely saw me before I saw it.

I should be more present and trying to make more noise. This area has good visibility through the trees though, and the bear must have been 150-200 yards away when it saw me.

I cautiously continue hiking down towards storm lake.

I had originally planned on camping here last night but I’m glad I camped where I did. It seems pretty windy and exposed around Storm Lake. Plus I was under some trees and had no condensation. Yessss

The trail goes around Storm Lake. I catch up to 4 other CDT hikers. 3 of them hike super fast and are immediately way ahead. The 4th is more my pace. His trail name is Steak.

He’s living in Colorado and is hoping to make it to West Yellowstone in time to meet his girl friend. We start to climb another pass, Storm Lake Pass.

This will be my second pass this morning. I check my maps and see a water gap. I pause to filter water and Streak continues on.

There are so many wild flowers going up this pass! Reds and whites. It’s beautiful.

Near the top there’s a big patch of snow just off trail and a gentleman very quietly stalking up the trail. He must be bird watching, he has the telltale gear, binoculars and pack.

I slow way down and stalk too. I don’t want to scare what he’s watching but I accidentally end up scaring him! Ooops! Sorry! He mumbles that he lost it, I apologize and hurry over the top of the pass in embarrassment. Right as I crest the ridge, two CDT hikers are coming down from summiting one of the near by peaks. Past-tense and Josh.

It’s the same couple Professor and I ran into when the trail veered strangely off a dirt road into some logs and someone had marked the turn with a stick arrow.

I leap frog with them a bit.

Before I know it were back on the official CDT trail. The Anaconda alternate has now been completed.

The trail goes down again. Down down down. There are some really tight switchbacks. It’s really fun looking down when they’re stacked like this and seeing people zigzagging below you.

The other couple admire the stone work the trail crews put into the switch back structure. The trail is very well maintained.

We run into Salty Dog taking a break! I return the tent stake. He isn’t sure it’s his but he takes it just incase. Chaney is way ahead reports.

I take a long lunch break at the banks of Page lake. It’s peaceful and relaxing. The others push ahead.

I love small mountain lakes. I notice some moths hopping across the surface, a spiderweb catching the light.

I pack up and start my 3rd big climb of the day, Rainbow Mountain.

Big flat slabs of stone stick out from the top. I make my way up the switch backs and am rewarded with a great view.

Then I plunge back down again. Lots of up and down today! At least the switchbacks are nice and gradual (unlike in the Lewis and Clark area lol)

I get water at the bottom and start climbing again, Cutaway Pass.

I break out the SanDisc and listen to an audio book Doug got me, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I marvel at some of the old trees. I thought this one in particular had a lot of character.

I crest the pass and hike down. Again.

My shoulders are starting to hurt but my legs feel strong. Down at the bottom, the forest feels dense and dark.

I pause the audio book so I can hear better. There are huge piles of what I assume must be moose droppings all over the trail. I wonder if I’ll see anything.

It must be getting late in the day. The shadows are getting long. I start to count out loud to let the locals know of my presence. I get to 100 several times.

The trail starts to climb again. My 5th climb!

I’m planning on camping at the top of this one. I get some energy but the last few switchbacks really have me panting. Phew! Almost there! Less than a mile!

I crest the top and walk through some trees and am rewarded with a view of Warren Lake.

It must be a popular spot. Some normal backpackers are set up in the spot I wanted. They say there’s more camping up the trail. I head that way and find Steak!

We set up near the water.

He jumps in while I eat dinner. It’s a really beautiful spot!

I bet the sun rise will be gorgeous.

I’m glad I have tent. There are a lot of big flies here.