Pat & Dan's Continental Divide Adventure

My tent facing east so I can watch the sunrise without getting out of my sleeping bag. Some of the CDT sketchy and not well marked. I've relied heavily the last couple days on my trail app to find and stay on the trail. The Guthook app has replaced guide books for anyone hiking the CDT. My batteries were running low and I decided not to take a chance, and came to Lima, Mont. to soul search and regroup. I'm not sure what I'll do next.

Bannock Pass goes over the Continental Divide. This is where we got dropped off. Ben is putting tape on his blisters. My brother-in-law Gary dropped me off in Leadore, Idaho on his way back to Boise after a few days in Missoula.   I got a room in Leadore and met a fellow SOBO (southbound) hiker. We had dinner and breakfast together and we hiked a little ways together. He's a much stronger hiker than I am, so I didn't even try to keep up! The Continental Divide is some of the state borders between Idaho and Montana. The CDT follows the border closely. About every quarter mile there's an Idaho/Montana survey marker. Meeting him is just what I needed to rekindle my enthusiasm for through hiking. His enthusiasm was contagious.  

The "before" picture at Gibbons Pass Guest post: Erin here! (Pat's daughter) We just got back from three fabulous days on the Continental Divide Trail. My longtime friend and former college roommate Cassy and I, along with my dog Nelli, joined my Dad over the 4th of July to hike from Gibbons Pass to Big Hole Pass. Cassy among the wildflowers This section of trail follows part of the divide that makes up the Idaho/Montana border, so we were crossing between Idaho and Montana multiple times a day. The hike started out with some confusion on my part. I thought we were going from Big Hole Pass near Wisdom to Gibbons Pass, which is near Lost Trail Ski Area. Turns out there are two Big Hole Passes in Montana -- a fact I didn't know until we were about to leave Missoula and head to the trail. I had a moment of panic at having no idea of where we were going, but then I relaxed and it turned out to be a fabulous trip. On our first day, it started to ra

Looking at the Bitterroot Mountains across the Bitterroot Valley from the Sapphire Mountain Range. I made a real rookie error on my hike from Georgetown Lake to Hamilton,  MT. I planned out a trail that'd take me around the snowy Pintler Mountains. Backcountry campsite at Medicine Lake with heavy-duty stove and table. It must have been quite the effort to get the stove back there. After I started out, I crossed paths with a Forest Service guy driving on a logging road. I asked him about my planned route and he said he would not advise going that way. The trail wasn't maintained and it would be very slow going. He recommended a different complex set of trails, giving me the Forest Service trail numbers. I  continued on, but after getting deep into the forest, I couldn't find the correct trail number on my mapping app.   Only a rookie would go hiking without having the trail all planned out. I couldn't find trials that matched up with the app. After

The point of my hiking pole is pointing to the CDT covered in snow.  I got turned around in the Pintlers due to trail snow. I struggled to the top of Storm Creek Pass, looked over the other side and figured it was not possible without technical equipment. Storm Creek Pass covered in snow. It was a real struggle to get to the pass. I could see big snow in couloirs from ridge tops to valley floor. No sign of anyone. I turned around and am now in Georgetown Lake figuring out an alternative route I'll try tomorrow.

The CDT offers alternative routes, usually for additional sights or cutoffs to shorten mileage. The alternative I'm now on leads through Anaconda, MT.  During my high school and college years in Montana, Anaconda was on a downward spiral. The major employer pulled out along with many supporting companies. Anaconda's glorious years were lost. It's sure nice to see its recovery and charm.  Look closely at the mountains inside the arch and you can see snow! That's where I'll be hiking tomorrow.  After hiking into town, it was sure nice to visit, have dinner with, and do trail planning with my nephew Alex who's doing a nursing school rotation here.