August 15, Day 145
Bruce Ford whipped up eggs and sausage and I started a pot of strong coffee. Next stop was the grocery store for supplies to last to Wieppe.
On the way out of town we swung into a grocery store where I also bought some bottled water that Steve Baker will cache in dry sections ahead of me.
It was about 9 when I started walking up the gentle slope towards Lolo Pass. All day long Lolo Creek was on my left. That’s good for melting ice off the road in the winter, but made for some hot walking in the sun.
Late in the day I started watching for Bruce coming out of Missoula and Steve coming out of Boise on his motorbike.
I’d just reached Lolo Hot Springs, 20 miles, when Bruce drove up in his pickup. We sat on his tailgate in the shade and ate sub sandwiches he brought. An hour later Steve Baker rolled up on his motorcycle. It was great to see him.
We headed up a logging road and found a good camping spot. Needless to say it was really fun to be hanging out with smokejumper bros and telling stories, old and new. I can confidently state that my IQ is about 40 points lower than either of them. One, for example, is working on mathematically confirming quantum mechanics. The other is a PHD-DVM and musical genius. I walk and paddle. Colter
Bruce Ford, Steve Baker
Clark: September 11th Wednesday 1805 A fair morning wind from the N W we Set out at 3 oClock and proceeded on up the Travelers rest Creek, accompanied by the flat head or Tushapaws Indians about 7 miles below this Creek a large fork comes in from the right and heads up against the waters of the Missouri below the Three forks, this river has extensive Vallies of open leavel land, “and passes in its Whole Course thro a Valie” they call it our Guide tels us a fine large roade passes up this river to the Missouri—The loss of 2 of our horses detained us util. 3 oClock. P.M. our Flathead Indian being restless thought proper to leave us and proceed on alone, Sent out the hunters to hunt in advance as usial. (we have Selected 4 of the best hunters to go in advance to hunt for the party. This arrangement has been made long sinc) we Proceeded on up the Creek on the right Side thro a narrow valie and good road for 7 miles and Encamped at Some old Indian Lodges, nothing killed this evening hills on the right high & ruged, the mountains on the left high & Covered with Snow…
Trip overview and route map with position updates:
https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html
Buck –
Great seeing you! Hope there is someone waiting at Orofino to feed you lots of salmon after your overland trek. By the way, c’mon, I ain’t such a hubristic crank as to think quantum mechanics really needs confirmation by the likes of me!
Talked to Jon Larson in Enterprise, not that far off your route. Wouldn’t be surprised if you saw him.
Thanks Bruce. Glad we could get together and thanks for the hospitality.
It was my understanding that you were “confirming” quantum mechanics as an intersting exercise, not that it literally needed confirmation. I do know I could do neither!
That would be fun to see Jon.
Buck