Mid Afternoon The Narrator and Chris Are Totally Exhausted, and Reach A Knoll Suitable For Camping.

….[ “By about three in the afternoon my legs start to get rubbery and it’s time to stop. I’m not in very good shape. If you go on after that rubbery feeling you start to pull muscles and the next day is agony. “ ]
….“ We come to a flat spot, a large knoll protruding from the side of the mountain. I tell Chris this is it for today. He seems satisfied and cheerful; maybe some progress has been made with him after all.“

A Higher Up Flat Spot, On Side Of A Smaller Canyon Of Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT. After considerable study of the landscape around my Hypothetical Climbing Trail, my WayPt N+C 12 shows a likely place for the Narrator's “flat spot or knoll protruding from the side of the mountain.“ Consistent to the Narrative, this location is not too far away from the water of upper Fox Creek, supposing it does not dry up mid-Summer.
….Mr. Pirsig's 1968 Photo Of Their Camping Location Shows Dense Forest. This would be compatible with a low area with likely extra water at upper Fox Creek. This is in a portion of the forest far away from logging roads, which in turn, fits the Narrator's very important location clues next morning: “It looks as though the pines have never been cut here. All direct light is shut out from the forest floor and there’s no underbrush at all. Just a springy floor of needles that’s open and spacious and easy hiking.“ You will see how => All this fits Mr. Pirsig's own 1968 photo shown at link below: To View Robert Pirsig's 1968 Photo Of Gallatin National Forest Camping Location => Right Click & Open In New Tab.

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(Photo = September2006 0070cb ...... ZMM Page = 201 ...... Photo Simulate WayPt = N+C 12cont1 7080ft = 6.75 mi fm DeWeese.)