2023 CDT - Day 27 - A Zero Day, Augusta, MT

The Bear went over the Mountain....

Credit: Runningbird from the Bob Marshall Wilderness

Photos to be viewed while humming the tune "The Bear went over the mountain..."

Zero days, as with most all in the past, start out slow and then just stay slow. We had a couple of coffees and then went for another walk into town - one block away and only three blocks long. We stopped at the boutique for lattes and then across the street to the general store. While Beau and I waited out front it was fun to watch a giant eight-wheeled tractor pulling a big combine or something down the middle of downtown. We watched folks come and go and then after Peggy came out a father and son who were hiking the CDT Southbound came up and chatted for a while (they were from Michigan) before they went into the store. We then went to check out the only one of three restaurants in town that looked promising but it turned out to be a no-go.

Beau and the horses at Wagons West RV Park, Augusta, MT.

Back at the campground we did a lot of logistics work and rearranged the itinerary again, cutting out some zero days and shifting a couple of resupply points. Runningbird repacked her backpack taking a few things she didn't need out and adding back in a few things. The weather is expected to get even warmer so she reduced the amount of fuel she would carry and do cold soaks and less cooking. Since she was entering active grizzled bear country she was required to carry her bear can and included her hand held vial of pepper gel. Probably not the same effect as the full-on pepper spray but it was the best I could persuade her to take. She did laundry, wrote some cards, and we did another walk through town and this time included ice cream cones for Beau and I. Beau enjoyed watching the horses, whom totally ignored him, and tried to play with Dolly, the Doberman from the campsite next over. The play date didn't last long.