MONDAY, AUGUST 19 - DAY 19- MacDonald Pass to Telegraph Creek at Jericho Creek. With John Cargill, Outfitter, and Kurt Cuneo, Assistant District Ranger, Helena Ranger District.

Currently I am sitting on a large flat rock in the middle of Telegraph Creek with my legs dangling in the crisp water. In front of me is a small island anchored by a boulder surrounded by purple daisy-like flowers with tuffed yellow centers, violet trumpets with golden throats and white umbrella wildflowers. The sun is warm and before it sinks low enough to hide behind the pines surrounding camp I intend to take a quick dip.

Rode out this morning directly from camp at 9:30 a.m. and reached camp at Jericho Creek by 2:30 p.m. A short, very pleasant relaxing day. Horses and equipment are topnotch. For the next five days I am on Mickey, an eight year old bay quarter horse. Had a little trouble bonding in the a.m., as Mickey wanted to just loll-gag in the rear and then periodically jog to catch up. Just before noon John let me ride his mule, Molly, while he rode Mickey beside us. Molly is a very pretty and spirited mid-sided mule - what fun. But, Mickey, sure perked up when he was also in the lead. After lunch got back on Mickey and with little reminders we walked right along. Think that we will get along just fine for the rest of the week.

We talked more today about timber harvest in National Forests today as we rode. Kurt directly asked the group if they approved of it. Charlotte is not sure. Mike and Rob’s reply were, “Well, I like wood products” and “I live in a wood house.” Personally, I also support it. I believe that with the present level of forestry knowledge, public process, and legislative constraints that necessary timber resources can be responsibly harvested from National Forests. What we passed today were small irregular harvest areas surrounded by mature stands to provide seed for regrowth. And healthy regrowth was certainly occurring. According to Kurt ALL of their proposed timber harvests today, regardless of size and requirements, are appealed.

Yeeks, just went in the creek up to my neck - very cold - but refreshing and sun is already warming me back up. We have been so fortunate to have such god weather for our travels.

I continue to enjoy our trails in lodgepole pines. Today, as usual, as many pines down and criss-crossed all over the forest floor as those standing. New were huge outcroppings of gray rock like frozen giants watching the trail. On one of the clover slopes we passed a dead cow with two black bears feeding on it. Apparently as soon as the bears smelled or heard us they were off. All got to see them except me as Mickey and I were still in the process of getting to an understanding of what keeping up meant. All I saw were three big vultures that with no great concern flapped noisily up into the nearest tree.

To date we have seen; mountain goats, bighorn sheep, a mama moose and calf, marmot, ptarmigan, grouse, a boreal toad, mama grizzly with two cubs, elk, two distant bears (one maybe a grizzly), white-tailed deer, mule deer, a few hawks, a badger, one snake, a few coyote, two black bears, and vultures.

Will be going to bed early tonight as we have a long day of over 20 miles tomorrow. From the Journey, dana