Day 111 (PNT 16)

Day 111 (PNT 16): 21 miles

I woke up around 5 to what sounded like something falling out of the tree. I took it as a sign to get started and try to climb 4,500 feet before it got too hot in the day. I was on pavement for a few miles before veering off on a dirt road, and then picking up a tail trail near the top of Abercrombie Mountain.

When I got outside my tent, I found out what the sound was. There was a gaggle of 6 turkeys hanging out 20 yards from my tent. I chased them up the road for a bit while walking until they dipped off the road.

It was 100 degrees again. I was trying to take kinda frequent breaks to let my sweat soaked clothes air out but any time I stopped moving I got hoarded by flies, horseflies, and bees.

It was the easiest day of hiking I’ve had in a while. The whole day was basically a gradual 4,500 foot climb up to the summit of Abercrombie mountain and then a descent of the same. But I knew it would be a short day because there was an upcoming road walk lined by private property so camping wasn’t really possible along that. So I had to stop before that road walk.

I didn’t have to push hard all day, and I was at camp by 5. It felt weird being done that early, but I enjoyed catching up on sleep and watching a few episodes of Community that I downloaded on my phone. It was so buggy I couldn’t hang out outside my tent, so I had to lay inside it. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was pretty warm.

The summit of Abercrombie Mountain was pretty sweet. I thought about not taking the side trail to reach it cause it was hot and I wanted to get in shade but I’m glad I did. It was the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while. But it was tough to take pictures and videos at the top cause the bugs were insane. It was hard to stand still.

I forgot to mention that on my road walk out of Bonners Ferry a few days ago I passed a piss jug that had been cooking in the 100 degree heat for who knows how long. The range and strength of the smell was honestly impressive. Piss jugs Ricky. Piss jugs

Song of the day: plastic heart-nostalghia