Day 58 - Smoke and Shortcuts

August 15th

22.1 Miles

8ish Miles to Togwotee Lodge

Woke up this morning and I thought about opening my tent but I lied back down instead and about two minutes later a bird flew right into my side entrance. No damage to my tent and the bird was nowhere to be seen so must not of hurt him either. 

As we hiked through the meadow before our climb for the day I caught glimpse of a black bear cub running uphill away from us but did not see any sign of the mother which at first was a bit unnerving but then it wasn't because it meant mama bear wasn't coming down to check things out. Along the trail this morning and yesterday afternoon/evening there was to a of trees scratched and bear poop so I figured it was a matter of time before I saw something. 

The climb out of the meadow was steep but not terribly taxing and we made it up to over ten thousand feet with 360 degree views....of smoke. There's an active fire somewhere near the Yellowstone border because we passed a closed trail due to fire there and the nice jagged and rugged mountains of the Teton wilderness were now covered by smoke. I was a little pissed but the parting of the waters was just down the hill so that excitement kept my day alright.

The parting of the waters is a mountain pass that has a spring which becomes a river headwater and down the mountain, the river parts and one drainage leads to the Atlantic Ocean and the other to the Pacific Ocean. The creeks are partly named Atlantic and Pacific Creek. The wind picked up as we flew down the mountain and into Two Ocean Meadow and the smoke cleared somewhat and the mountains were in full show. There was also a seemingly close and active for smoke plume at the end of the mountains ridge. The CDT goes away from where the fire smoke was into another meadow but curves back and turns into the next valley towards the potential fire. That was not a problem for us though because at that turn the Ley maps showed a shorter alternate strait ahead on a quote 'horse superhighway' which is basically a huge wide horse trail which in some places has around six parallel trails forming said highway. In addition, we have been hiking through what looks to be burn area from last year so idon't  think to much more can catch on fire. The alternate will get us into Dubois earlier and there is a lodge at the highway which has a five dollar soak as long as you want in the hot tub and get a shower deal so the alternate looks like a win-win situation compared to the official route. Tomorrow town and maybe some hot tub soaking!!