Telegraph Creek at Jericho Creek to White House Campground, Deerlodge National Forest, MT.

Well, we planned to leave Telegraph Creek via horseback at 7:30 a.m. sharp this morning for a 20 mile plus day in the saddle. Option B was proposed late Monday night around the fire - Leave camp at 8:30 by 4WD and horses in trailer to top of grade to reduce ride to about 14 miles and have all of us in early as showers were forcast for the p.m. Found out early this morning that the road we were to use (all on public land) had a bridge out. SO, option C - leave camp at 8:00 in our two Honda 4WD Pilots and bushwhack around four private property sections while the horses were trailered. By-the-way, bushwhacking is traveling cross-country. And by cross-country I mean through anything you can imagine .... thickets, downed trees, across creeks & marshes, thigh-high wet bear grass, thick (I mean THICK) forest, uphill (like major UP)and downhill. Always an interesting experience!

Our bushwhacks today weren't too difficult but took two hours so we didn't get on the horses until 10:45. Beautiful forest country today - firs and lodgepole - some what you would call "old growth". Late in p.m. climbed to the top of Thunderbolt Mountain, 8,632 feet, and had a 360 degree view of Montana - absolutely gorgeous. Weather had started to change as we climbed so as a precaution I put on my rainsuit (more about the rainsuit later). We had about another hour and a half into camp and within one-half hour from the top we started to hear thunder. And this was thunder - deep loud rumbling that seemed to boil out of the mountain. Then drops started. Scott, son of John Cargill (our outfitter) pulled us up so that the rest of the Team could put on their rainsuits. No sooner were they on and the Team remounted then rain and HAIL hit. The hail only lasted a minute but the rain followed us down the mountain. To complete our adventure a mama black bear and cub were spotted. The cub tried to climb a tree but fell and quickly scampered after it's mama. I only got to see the cub as Mickey (my horse) and I continue to disagree on what "keeping up with the group" means. WE were a tad late for seeing mama bear. Met at the bottom of the hill by the horse trailer and trailered the horses the final 6 miles into camp. Arrived by 6:00 cold but satisfied with about 20 miles completed on foot and horse.

Now about rainsuits...We have been asked several times what gear we use most or like most. I'm torn between my black American Frontiers vest and my rainsuit. My vest goes on each morning before I leave my tent and doesn't get taken off until I go to bed. The saying in Montana is that if you don't like the weather just wait five minutes and it will change. Couldn't be more true. So my trusty vest stays on (but unzipped) even when it is fairly warm - and it's big pockets are always stuffed with essentials. While I don't wear my rainsuit daily I have worn it at least 50% of the time and have NEVER gotten wet or cold when I have it on. Also found it good for many early mornings when skys are clear but grass wet - getting a tent down and tramping around for breakfast and facility visits can be pretty wet business.

Have just been notified that we leave camp at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. Have over 20 miles of rough country to cover. from the Journey, dana