Very little happened this day. I slept in until 5am to make sure I was fully rested for the huge hill climb ahead. I started hiking about 6.
The climb wasn’t that steep but it did go on for seven miles. There were tons of raspberries on the first part of the climb and again on sun exposed sections throughout the day. Some of them were ripe, but they were very seedy so not as enjoyable as the strawberries. (I found some of those as well.)
The highlights of the day were the breaks next to small creeks, particular the first one I collected water from, which had a nice sandy-bottomed pool I was voted tempted to wade in if taking off boots wasn’t such a hassle.
I didn’t make it to a creek for lunch, which I took on a rock separated from the sun by a single tree and besieged by ants. I did reach another creek a mile later, though, and had a nice break there as well.
Somewhere in this section, I saw the tail of a fleeing bird that may have been an owl. It was gone into the trees before I could see more than that. This is the only interesting wildlife sighting of the day.
The whole time since I finished the day’s first big climb I was working my way westward toward Butte’s East Ridge, which I reached about supper time. I took supper on a rock overlooking the city.
I say “overlooking” very loosely here because the wind had been just right to bring smoke from enormous fires to the west in very great density. Visibility was low enough that the sun was nearly impossible to see even when unobstructed by clouds. It was hot and thick and I could feel it and sometimes make out shadows, but I often felt like my sunglasses and sunscreen were just formalities. More to the point, only the very edges of the valley below were visible.
Climbing up the ridge headed south after supper, I could eventually make out Our Lady of the Rockies standing on the north end of the ridge but in no circumstance could I ever see as far as the infamous Berkeley Pit.
After a stop at a spring on the switchbacks leading up the highest peak on the ridge to get the last water available until the highway, I made camp about 7:30 near the top of this peak, elevation 8163 feet, the highest I think I’ve camped yet.
Trail miles: 19.0
Distance to I-90: 7.9 miles
mining equipment 
old mine 
power lines running to the cell towers? 
I sat somewhere near here to eat 
our lady of the Rockies 
2 replies on “Day 80: East Ridge”
Well, I learned something today. I didn’t know about Our Lady of the Rockies or about the Berkley Pit. Thanks for teaching us.
I pointed the statue out to you when we were there. didn’t know what it was at the time, but I think you looked at it.