Daily Miles: 6
Total Miles: 543
We had a relaxing morning sleeping in and slowly packing up. We figured there was no rush to get down to the trailhead…as long as we were there by lunchtime we would be happy.
The trail continued to be very well-maintained and the number of hikers coming up the trail just kept increasing as we walked down the trail. By the time we had gotten to the trailhead, the trail was about as wide and smooth as a road.
It seemed that overnight the smoke had blown back into the area. The views of the mountains were basically just dark silhouettes in the smokey haze. We were glad to have done most of the Berg Lake Trail yesterday when we still had good views.
As we got closer to the trailhead, we started to see informational signs along the trail. We stopped and read them all, learning bits about the geology, animals and plants of the area. We had to chuckle at one of the signs describing a bird in the area (the American Dipper) as being a “wilderness-loving bird”. What does that even mean?
We got down to the trailhead a bit after 11am and walked just over a mile to the Visitor Center and got something to eat at the nearby cafe. Finishing a trail always feels a bit anti-climactic and this one was no different.
The campground across the road has openings, so we are staying there. There are showers, so we were able to get ourselves cleaned up and hand washed our clothes in preparation for our 19 hour bus ride to Seattle tomorrow (the bus comes through at 4:40am).
Really enjoy reading your trail posts–have read them all now. Hope someday you will take on the Idaho Centennial Trail–900 miles thru the state. I’d be on the lookout for you!
Hi Dave – Thanks for following the journey. We will have to do more reading about the ICT. Be well!