Bekah and I left Bozeman and drove to Redlodge (3 hours??) and got to the trail parking lot, where her parent's vehicle was. However, Bekah doesn't do things like check her phone for important information that her dad left for her. But somehow she still managed to find the key and open up her dad's suburban, and we got out her pack and some gear. Now mind you, this is after 6pm in the evening, and we are STARTING a 6-7 mile hike...My friend/landlord was concerned for our safety (and probably sanity. She has a knowledgeable background in wilderness safety and such). So she let us borrow flash lights and bear spray and bedrolls. Our main concern was that it could rain and we wouldn't have a way to dry off. But it didn't rain! Lots of prayers ;) We also did not run into or see any wildlife (dusk is when everything comes out) maybe because we were trying to make so much noise. At any rate, it wasn't too long before we had to RELY on our flashlights to get anywhere. Then we were scared. Bekah had been on the trail once before, but it had been at least a few weeks I think, and we had no map and didn't have a way to contact her parents (they hiked up the day before). So we were relying on Bekah's memory (sketchy) and both of our judgement (no comment) to find a campsite 7 miles into the wilderness in the evening. We were probably 4 or 5 miles in when we were really freaked out. It was super dark, and we were trying to find a bridge that would mean the correct direction. We were relying on footprints in the mud that we assumed were her family's (younger brother, older brother, his wife, and mom and dad). Plus we were mostly looking for dog tracks, because she assumed they brought Duke. We discussed going back quite a bit, but I kept convincing her that we were probably close and that walking in the dark takes and seems longer. We were elated whenever we found more dog tracks! Picture two girls freaking out in the woods haaa. FINALLY we found the bridge!!! We thought we were close then. But it was probably close to another mile before we found the site. And boy was that a scary mile. The edges of the trail were quite steep, and pitch black. Do you know how dark the woods are at night? I do. Bekah had the dumbest pack in the world, so it was hurting her back. I had rented mine from the rec center and it was fabulous (I want to buy one someday) although later I found out it bruised my hips (that's where the weight sits to take it off your back). There was a fork in the trail, and I really had to trust Bekah to go on the one she wanted. It was the correct one!!! After a bit, we heard barking, and we were SOOOO happy! I think we woke her parents up, haha... I told Duke (the dog) that I loved him (we relied on his tracks). Now, this is significant because I do NOT like most dogs. I only tolerate the clean, behaved ones. Duke is neither. But he sure did help Bekah and I that night!! Of course Bekah's dad had something to say about our craziness, but we were so happy and relieved that we didn't really care. So we put up our tent and in the night it was rainy. In the morning it wasn't very rainy, but everything was wet and by the lake it was very windy. But I got rainbow pictures! Bekah's mom made some great pancakes. Her family had been there two nights, so we packed up and left pretty quick. I wanted to stay longer :( oh well. On the way back down we stopped at another lake. By the time we got to the cars, I was exhausted and my legs hurt. Then I think we all went to Bekah's parent's house. Wow! What a time we had.
Bekah!
Me :)
Rainbow
Feel that cold :/
Me again :P
Finally! A great shot
See them beartooths?
..You can see that's in Eastern MT.
That would be really scary and exciting. The first time you do anything, is the time you never forget. Glad you worked through the problem and didn't give up half way through the lesson at hand.
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