Mountain Peaks With Snow Can Be Seen Beyond a Ridge That the Narrator and Chris Will Eventually Be On.
“Just up above the top of the ridge the snow can be seen now. On foot it’s many days away though. The rocks below it are too steep for a direct hiking climb, particularly with the heavy loads we are carrying, and Chris is way too young for any kind of ropes-and- pitons stuff. We must cross over the forested ridge we are now approaching, enter another canyon, follow it to its end and then come back at an upward angle along to the ridge. Three days hard to the snow. Four days easy. If we don’t show up in nine, DeWeese will start looking for us.“
Smaller Side Canyon Off Upper Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT Clues, so far, as to where the Narrator and Chris hiked: Start off in a deep narrow canyon which has very steep sides such that you must look up to see the sky. They can not see out the canyon sides, but looking ahead (up canyon) they can see snow, which we learn is 3 to 4 days hiking away. Although not stated, we may infer that the edge of the snow is their intended goal. My study of Gallatin National Forest topo maps shows Mt. Blackmore as one of the better candidates for Summer snow. It is some 12 miles, depending on route, away from the DeWeese home. This calculates as 3 to 4 miles per day. Although this does not sound like much, this is a reasonable speed for mountains with steep slopes, especially considering that the Narrator and Chris are carrying heavy packs, both are out of shape, must stop for rest long time. and will be held to short times on the trail. Another clues: After two days hiking, they will be relatively near a frequently traveled road. They turn into a smaller canyon that turns away from their goal, requiring turning back and upward onto the ridge. All very a important clues, especially the ridge which is up canyon at this point. This Waypoint, N+C 06, as shown on my map does show directly up-canyon, a ridge which would appear, in the fore ground, below some very high mountains which could have snow.
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(Photo = 108-0904+0905sc ...... ZMM Page = 173 ...... Photo Simulate WayPt N+C 06 6140ft)