Welcome Pass was probably my favorite campsites in the Bob. There is a monolithic rock that was outside my tent door. As the sun came up, it was showcased in pink and red. And just because God is the creator of heaven and earth, He added in the color from the wildflowers in the meadow and the babbling creek behind me. It truly was magical.

After talking with many hikers, I decided to take, yes, another alternate. Montanas weather has been getting increasingly hotter everyday and the red-line is totally exposed. The Deerborn Creek Trail, even being longer in distance, is much less exposed. So that is my route today.

I spent the first half of the day on the CDT. It was climbing and had a spectacular view of the river below. I was in and out of forests, mostly out with only a few trees to hop over. The waters were all glaciated and crystal clear. Not the typical murky glacier like, but so clear that you couldn’t tell how deep they were. I had many a creek to walk through this morning and I have finally managed to accept the fact, that my shoes, socks and feet will be wet all day long. I’m lucky that I don’t get blisters because this is the perfect storm for messed up feet. But my feet are just one huge callous that seems to protect and insulate me from any annoyance of blistering. Lucky me!

Caught up with the girls at my five mile breakfast break. There’s Double Tap (DP) because she likes to tap all the trail signs, not once-but twice. Tumbleweed is named for the sheer fact that she falls daily. In the desert she somersaulted like a Tumbleweed and the name stuck. And Ferrari, who was almost run over by a Ferrari as she was crossing the road at Neels Gap on the AT. She is attempting her Triple Crown and the other two gals are keeping her company. They all met on the PCT a couple of years ago.

And so my day went on, from one break to the next. Soaking my feet as often as possible, jumping in the pools of water to try to cool myself down, and wetting my shirt every chance I got. It was very very HOT!

For some reason, all I could think about was an icy cold soda or any kind of fizzy drink. Lord, can I be blessed with a sparkling water? I’ve seen no Trail Magic on the CDT, which is fine. There’s just not that many of us. As my day was coming to an end, Dave stopped to check on me. He owns a cabin in the Welcome Creek area and was headed back to his primary house in Helena. I’m sure I looked like a pitiful sight, tired from my long day. He asked if I needed anything? Well if you’re asking, I’d love something cold to drink! He promptly pulls out a LaCroix , one of my favorite things. I immediately thanked Dave and the Lord for listening to my heart. Oh my goodness, that was the best fizzy water I’ve ever had!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭