next section was 47 miles from the beginning of the Idaho Centennial Trail south terminus heading east on Three Creek Road. it was pavement all the way. The attached map shows my route.
Darwin Clampitt helped with shuttle duties. I parked my car in Rogerson, and Darwin dropped me off at the western end of the hike. Sunday afternoon I hiked 16 miles, the first 10 of which were without my pack and gallon water jug. I camped beside the road Sunday night. It was very windy and rained some near dawn.
Monday was a 24 mile day. The wind blew hard all day. Thankfully, it was at my back for the entire route. Waves of snow showers came through about every hour, each one progressively stronger. After 6 hours of walking, I stopped for a break. I put my tarp against a barbed wire corner post to hunker down against the wind. As soon as I stopped moving I began to get cold. However, I needed the rest and the lunch break. After an hour rest, I moved on. I walked another 4 hours to get to Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir and the Lud Drexler campground.
Once again, as soon as I stopped moving, I stopped generating warmth. It was getting cold and I was concerned about staying warm. For the first time ever in my hiking career, I camped for the night in a bathroom. It was a pit toilet, but it was one of the handicapped sized versions. The floor was clean. I was a bit on the desperate side. I knew I was in the beginning stages of hypothermia. It was a matter of survival. Getting inside immediately got me out of the wind. Wearing just about every article of clothing, with my new down booties and my snow cap, and my hood, and Underarmor gloves, with the sleeping quilt made by my wife and my Thermarest mattress beneath me, I was able to get warmed up and stay warm (mostly) all night.
It was a much needed rest after a 24 mile day. In the middle of the night, I though there were bears in the garbage dumpsters, because they kept banging around. When I got up and looked out in the morning, I saw that it had been raining and it was still very windy. The wind must have been rattling the dumpsters.
I walked the remaining 7 miles into Rogerson, still with a strong wind at my back.
I learned some very interesting history about the area and the Jarbidge Canyon area from a very knowledgeable lady at the cafe'. The cheeseburger was to die for, by the way!
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