10/15/2015
I descended in elevation but I was not feeling any warmer. The day started with a little nip in the air. I believe a tiny cloud of frost formed in front of my face when I exhaled. The rays of the sun were out but they weren’t functioning at full capacity. I thanked Pauline for a moment before left her hotel. She was a sweet lady and you could tell she was very active in her community. I would miss the beds of the Super 8 in St. Regis. They had cradled my body and protected me from the chilly evening.
My road took me through the town and up a hill. The cold air tasted clean. My legs had a few incentives to keep moving. First, I needed to generate heat because I was running in the shadows of trees and hillside. My second incentive was to reach the Idaho/Montana border. Life seemed like a fantasy. I was on the verge of finishing my trek through Montana and less than two weeks from completing the northern part of my journey. As I pushed forward on the Hiawatha trail, I recalled my reservations about running through the Rockies. In hindsight I wondered, what had made my heart pound so hard? As will every part of this expedition, all was conquered by tiny steps. I had begun to believe that I could accomplish the impossible.
The sounds of the dried pine needles cracked under my feet. There were still obstacles to overcome. I had to find a way over fallen trees, across a rickety bridge, and through a stream. Each drop of sweat added to the weight of my clothes. The cold cloth clung to my torso. We stopped after thirty-one miles. For Crystal it was an open area where she could park the trailer. For me it was five miles from the border. Crystal suggested we stop there in order to get a good picture of the state sign the following day. The mountains and breeze spoke the sound silence. Nature convinced me to stay put.
Crystal filled the trailer with warmth from the heat of our dinner. She made us some noodle soup in a clear broth. Each sip warmed our bodies from the inside and kept the chill out of the trailer. I faded into oblivion early. Through the night, my body stayed curled in a ball for maximum heat retention.
The next day, the scent of accomplishment shook me awake. It was cool air mixed with pine. The human will to succeed won in a battle against the cold elements and tough terrain. It took me a moment to reach Crystal at the state line but once I got there, my legs were reinvigorated. I ran downhill along the freeway till I reached the town of Mullan. There I found a trail that were once lined with the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Suddenly mines sprouted every few miles. The trail had many enthusiasts. The paved trail was kind to my feet and I was able to pick up speed mile after mile. The scenery of Idaho changed ever so slightly. Deciduous trees sprouted and began to mingle with the firs and pines of Montana. Little towns sporadically popped up every few miles and led me straight to the town of Kellogg.
We were treated with such kindness when we reached the Trail Inn. The proprietors, Don and Melinda, inquired about our journey and shared stories with us. They were more than happy to provide a cozy place for us to clean ourselves and rest. Of course the first order of business was to fuel the machine. We walked to Casa De Oro Mexican Restaurant a few doors down. We entered to the sound of festive Latin music and a colorful décor. They prepared a full on veggie combination meal that had several different items for my pallet. The two enchiladas had a flavorful sauce and the chili relleno was surrounded with plenty of egg for the replenishment of protein. I couldn’t believe I was in my 31st state. A couple more states and I would set foot back in the state where I began. My mind was blown as I started to compile a checklist of things we needed to try and accomplish on our final stage of the journey. 
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