A quick update from Missoula, Montana: I leave in 15 minutes to begin the final leg of my driving journey to the Selway River and the Bitterroot mountains.
After much research, thinking, and training, I have prepared a 40-pound pack to spend 9 nights / 10 days on the trail. Roughly 20 pounds of that is food, water, and fuel. I hope to cover at least 10 miles per day.
My planned itinerary is as follows:
June 5, 6: Hike from Selway Falls Campground to Moose Creek ranger station along the Selway River
June 7, 8, 9: Continue to Moose Lake along East Fork Moose Creek
June 10, 11, 12: Back to ranger station
June 13, 14: Back to trailhead
June 15: Drive back to Missoula
For most of the trail, my emergency fallback will be the Moose Creek ranger station. Close to Moose Lake it may be easier to proceed north to Elk Summit guard station - although I will first verify with the local rangers that it is staffed at this time of year!
Not the Bitterroots! Photo courtesy Cori Storb