August 1st
I was eager to get going. Only 1 liter to get me the 12 miles to my official Yellowstone campsite at Summit Lake.
I entered the park boundary fairly early. For some reason I was expecting a national park trail to be top notch. It was not. Lots of blowdowns and few markers. Perhaps because CDT hikers are the primary users of this portion, the park service can skip maintenance knowing the main users can find their way.
I upped my “Hey bear” call outs. I saw very little wildlife. Eventually, I started getting whiffs of sulfur and I knew I was getting closer to my camp.
By noon, I reached Summit Lake. The designated campsite was not where the maps said it would be. However, I eventually found it, drank lots of water, and set up camp. I enjoyed the luxury of a nap.
I met the other camper at the site, Qtip, and eventually went to bed early.
The still night was interrupted by some strange calls from the nearby woods. It was like a dog’s bark, but much deeper and less sharp. I got out of my tent but could not see anything. Whatever made the sound was moving and eventually it stopped.
backpacking over the hill 