Yesterday, December 1, 2018, the approximate date I was to begin traveling along Montana and Idaho’s portion of the Continental Divide, I sort of did begin. Throughout the last several years, in the Sawmill Creek area I have lost four resupplies to the “Finders keepers, losers weepers” crowd who frequent the area during the autumn. So this year I did a couple things different.
First, in October I located the resupply a much greater distance from the trailhead, and then placed it on a steep forested North face slope. What I did second, yesterday, was make it back up there and ascertain the resupply was still in the tree. Moreover, just in case it was not, I brought a replacement. As it turned out, the cache was still there.
Last night on the phone, my wife questioned the logic of what I did next. I left the second resupply at the location, giving me a total of 12 days of food and 20 days of fuel. Here is where foolish makes itself known. When I arrive there today with the rest of my load, and then load up what is already there, I will be pushing through the powder snow with a load that weighs 125 pounds. Again, from my previous post, I am clear that that amount of weight is ridiculous in the mountainous terrain I am attempting to get through.
On the other hand, I have known for quite some time that I would be ferrying the load during the beginning of the trip. There is no way that I can pull a singular load with that amount of weight through powder snow up a mountain.
In addition to toting the resupply up the ridge yesterday, I also brought my tent and the entire kitchen. While today’s load getting up to the cached materials will be 80 pounds, that is still a whole lot better than the original 105 pounds I was doomed to bring.
Finally, I will not be leaving Lima Montana until after noon. That is when my ride will become available. In short, it is unlikely that I will make it beyond where my gear and food is presently located. I will lose daylight by 5 PM. Not only is darkness tough to work with getting things done, but it also brings colder temperatures into the mix.
Well, I suppose I won’t be going hungry anytime soon.
