Day NinetySix, September 21, 21 Miles
At Mile 1925, Poptart 708/1000
Followed the divide back up above treeline. Got out ahead on my own and came across the Elk I'd heard bugling for a while. It was incredible, the obvious, huge, alpha male, two smaller males and two females. Too busy bugling and being all sex-crazed and competitive to notice me about five metres away. Until they did, and just like that, one of the most incredible wildlife encounters of my life was over as they scattered up the hill. Another day of high, treeless divide walking, small ups and downs. Hit a narrow knife ridge which was incredible and still holding yesterday's hail. Kick steps? Just before lunch the trail rose to a gravelly succession of peaks that was a pure joy to hike. I didn't even care about the wind.
Dropping down to between eleven and twelve thousand feet trees were more frequent but many of them dead. Plenty of climbable rock around makin' ma fingers itch. Wind stopped and clouds disappeared in time for camp. Finally finished the butter I got in Target Silverthorne 325 miles ago. Yeah, that's right. It was still fine.
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