12: The Road to Wisdom (is a winding and circuitous path)
Enjoyed a languorous morning in Butte including two breakfast and a trip to the Berkeley pit. Climbed lazily up Maud S to the East Ridge, where I had cached my camping gear. It started to rain a bit from a passing storm cell just as I reached the top, and I hastily repacked my gear.
With confidence born of fresh muscles and fresh break pads, I soon found myself swooping and whooping on the delightful decomposing granite trails along the East Ridge, overlooking Butte. Only some 10 miles later did I have the sinking realization that I left my stove amidst my hasty repacking, which I had set aside to keep out of the rain and dirt. Aye!
So, I dropped what I could of my gear and … back I went. Candidly, it all worked out just fine. It was a sheer delight to ride the East Ridge trail without 20 lbs of gear and to enjoy a vivid reminder of just how much fun mountain biking is! I had hoped to make more than 10 miles of progress today en route to Wisdom, MT— but it may ultimately work out for the best given that I can’t get my next resupply box in Wisdom until 8:30 AM on Monday.
