last town stop in montana

After a stunning 800 miles on montana it is finally almost time to hike through Yellowstone National Park!

Feeling good out of Leadore, the weather has been a little finiky and by the time i made it 100 miles to route 15 into Lima i was very much ready for a rest day. Other than almost getting sprayed by a skunk it has been the same awesome trail.

Once i get to Wyoming there may not be many opportunities to update my blog...

Happy trails!

Beads

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Smile Often :-)

Bannock Pass - Leadore, ID

Traveling through the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border has been absolutely incredible.  High mountain meadows, open tree groves, and wildflowers still holding on.   This section of the CDT as we head down to Wyoming has a reputation for what hikers call PUDDING. That is: Pointless Ups and Downs.  Well built trail is something that takes countless volunteer hours to construct and the better a trail is built the less a hiker notices.  In this area the CDT often follows old 4wd roads and for some reason this seems to imply that we go straight up and straight down every little pointy bit along the Great Divide.  Definitely not easy on the feet/knees/legs of any hiker! I also find myself pausing to ponder the thought of HOW exactly someone might actually drive up and down these paths...  they are so steep I can't imagine any outcome other than flipping right over!! 

Other than the extreme fire danger that surrounds us, the weather has be quite agreeable.  I have not been directly effected by any wildfires despite frequent lightning strikes in the area.  After the insane heat wave from 2 weeks ago, the temperatures have settled down.  Recently, however, we have been dealing with daily thunderstorms and rain.  Nothing too disheartening but it sure does keep you on your toes.  Luckily there has been at least a small window every day to dry out my tent, other than that I basically just keep hiking in the rain.  It has its own beauty I think, its own challenges as well. 

Thanks for reading!!!

Happy Trails,

~beads 

half full

Greetings from sula! A small store with rockin breakfast, hot showers, good beer selection, and mini golf. What more could a girl want!?! The recent trail took us through the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness and some of the most gorgeous views yet. After the sweltering heat and road walking through Anaconda, I definitly needed some good high alpine meadows and exciting brisk thunderstorms on top of 9000 foot passes. We got it.

Sometime in the recent past i crossed my personal half way point!!!  It has been a more challenging trail than the AT and the PCT for many reasons. Difficult weather decisions and chronic foot problems are hopefully a thing of the past. I have never had foot pain like this before and walking 25 to 30 miles a day can really wear on you mentally. There were definitly days i wanted to go home. I'd  try not to complain but I'm sure they saw it on my face and my ginger steps down hill. Every time the pain was almost too much Papi or Kramers would offer a foot massage at the end of the day.  I am one lucky girl. The entire time there was no swelling, which means no broken bones, just soft tissue... for now my feet are much better. I really hope they stay this way!

I think every long distance hiker has mixed feelings about halfway. It is a fantastic accomplishment that anyone would be very proud of. 1300 miles. An amazing life of sleeping outside and walking through some of the most spectacular wild and remote places that our awesome country has to offer. There is a small voice in my head that wonders if I'll make it all the way. Wonders how hard it will be. Wonders if i have the mental strength to get up and walk a marathon every day for another 2.5 months. Then i remember why I'm out here. The journey.

Thank you!!! To all who have made it possible for me to be out here! I truely hope to repay the favor one day. All my animals are surely having a grand time without me :-) wishing you all much peace and love this summer.

Happy Trails!

Beads

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Smile Often :-)

Anaconda, MT

Greetings from beautiful Anaconda! I just spent July 4th watching the town parade and enjoying fireworks with a few other hikers and some fabulous locals. I am roughly half way through Montana and have a lot more hiking to do! 

Happy trails! 

Beads

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Smile Often :-)