Day 77 Sandpoint Lake

20.9 miles

The cool change that brought rain over night most importantly brought in a cooler air mass. This is great first thing in the morning with several climbs to done. 

It is still weird to store food away from camp. Whenever I go to collect it I never know what to expect – will it be completely undisturbed or will there be signs that a large animal had been prowling about close to my camp? This morning my food was completely undisturbed.

First thing first today I needed some water. While camped near a lake my preference is always to collect from streams rather than standing water sources. Probably completely wrong but my thinking is that flowing water is cleaner. I picture lakes and ponds concentrating things like mud, animal waste and detritus. I would grab water from a lake if desperate as I’m sure my filter would do just the same job but didn’t have to. North Creek was less than a mile away, just a short climb ahead straight out of camp. But like anything that requires sitting still for a moment the mozzies pounced as I filtered.

From North Creek the trail lead through a series of granite rock slabs to North Lake and Arrowhead Lake and then onto Jackass Pass. It was early morning and still in the shade and with a breeze, the sun not yet clearing the tops of the peaks on the east side.

Clearing Jackass Pass the trail then lead steeply down to Lonesome Lake where I passed dozens of weekend warriors out for a their short jaunts into this beautiful part of the world.

Next was an incredibly steep climb easily 45 degrees towards Texas Pass. By now the sun was out in full force and I found myself struggling. It took close to an hour to hike the one mile uphill, topping out at 10:30. It was time for a break.

On top of the pass a father and his two boys had climbed up the other side and the father was keen to hear all about the trail. We must have chatted for 20 minutes talking gear, food, animal encounters, the lot.

Back on the valley floor the terrain was much gentler and flat as the Cirque of the Towers alternate lead back towards the CDT proper.

Leading out towards the last big lake in the valley, Shadow Lake, I realised just how popular this place was, passing at least 60 people, often in groups of 5 to 10, pack horses and scout and church groups.

Reconnecting with the CDT the terrain remained flattish following open plains with multiple lakes. The mosquitoes were out in full force.

By 6:30pm the skies were darkening with clouds and I called it quits at Sandpoint Lake just in time to set my tent up before the heavens unleashed. This seems to be a recurring theme.