Part 4/9:
Rising before dawn, I ventured forth into the cold morning air. The temperature was a brisk 28 degrees, yet the excitement propelled me onward. My aim was to reach the continental divide, which marks the boundary between the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds.
The Anticipation Builds
As I hiked along a ridge, I could feel my anticipation mounting. Observations from my preliminary research indicated that humans had occupied this area for thousands of years, and I was eager to uncover the evidence. I recalled three estimates I had encountered online, all suggesting usage over 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Given these reports, I hoped to find signs of human activity that would align with my findings.