There are three ways to get into Butte from the trail. We think we will use the first one - Deer Lodge Pass.

Ken or Marcia Powers

Will hold packages 30 days.

Subject: 8/25, day 121, 19.5 mi., 7960'
Wisdom was a nice tiny town stop. The best part was sitting inside a good restaurant during a downpour. A professional backpack guide took us back to Chief Joseph Pass on his way home to the West Fork of the Bitterroot River (what a great sounding address!). We got lots of mileage for starting at 11 am.

We spent a pleasant day rolling along the divide through open forest and burn areas that are beginning to grow back. We hear birds and got a good deer picture. We spent an hour on a trail that has not been maintained, but was flagged for repairs and signed as the CDT. After climbing over scores of blowdowns we found a parallel road that was faster and easier.

Afternoon break was a Coke I carried up and extra walnut Choc chip cookies from Marta. Lucky us.

Clouds have been forming and breaking up all day so we expected rain that never developed.

We will not hike in Idaho again. As the divide leaves Chief Joseph Pass the state boundaries are west of the divide and Montana encompasses both sides of the divide. We have 610 miles to Canada and all are in Montana.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 8/26, day 122, 21 mi.,
Hiking in a monochromatic day. Most of the day has been in burned out forests and the sky is dark gray accompanied by wind, rain & hail. A burned forest doesn't offer any shelter so we slowly keep on going. In one small green oasis that wasn't burned we immediately see and hear so many birds that it seems that the small area can't support all of them. Then we walk on and see an amazing sight. A hopeful bird built a nest in a burned out tree in an area that has grass just beginning to come back.

Had a tough time finding a campsite so high. We are about 3' off the trail, but haven't seen signs of people or animals.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 8/27, day 123, 9250',
More rain last night and still overcast and wet this morning. We hiked down from Elk Park taking lots of pictures of beautiful Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. It reminds me of WA rainforest. Rocks, logs and trees are wearing mossy jackets. Lots of water is running in picturesque creeks and falls. It seems that we're hiking from lake to pass, big climbs and switchbacks down to another lake.

We saw 10 people. As we were taking pictures we missed our unsigned junction and ended at Oreamnos Lake where 2 couples were breaking camp. Good chat. One worked for MT Fish & Game and gave us a spare map that shows more detail than ours. Nice. Another hiking trio was from Milwaukee and suffering from altitude. We met them near Rainbow Pass that had hail and no rainbow.

Rain & hail off and on all day & lots of altitude change led to slow miles.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 8/28, day 124, 10,250', 24 mi.
We originally planned to hike south and snow levels changed our minds. When we flipped to northbound we must have miscalculated mileage in our itinerary because we have about 27 more miles in this section than we realized until today. We carry an extra day of food but we'll have to hike more miles per day. We also want to get to Butte's PO before Labor Day Weekend so we don't have to wait for Tuesday.

We started after Ken changed the battery in his altimeter and repaired the stove, which fell into 2 pieces. We packed the wet tent and wore our rain pants but we had sun rather than rain today. That and fantastic trails made a wonderful hiking day. We had beautifully arranged switchback down from Cutaway Pass and up to another Rainbow Pass. Coming down from Goat Flat was on a cliff and the trail was exciting. We passed Page, Upper & Lower Seymour Lakes and Flower Lake. We saw Larch trees that look like pines but lose their needles annually.

Today was a great hiking day in a beautiful area.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 8/29, day 125, 8500', 23 mi.
Dramatic storm last night but we were snug in our Bibler. Moisture made lots of fog this morning so we took some interesting pictures of Anaconda-Pintler which we are leaving. We heard a fracas in the forest that sounded like coyotes and Sandhill Cranes, but couldn’t see what was happening.

Lunch was at a picnic table at historic Mule Ranch with other tourists present. I wanted a dumpster to throw 5 days' garbage (a gallon baggie 3/4 full) but no luck.

We had an extraordinary experience in mid-afternoon. The undependable guide said the FS map was incorrect depicting a road and to hike to the top of a mountain on the divide, passing Hungry Hill Mine on the way. Before we left the road a thunderstorm with hail started. We both put on Frogg Toggs. Ken had a pack cover and I had a poncho over my pack and Toggs. We tried to shelter from the hail under trees but were too cold to stand. Hail now completely covered the ground and was flowing down as we were climbing. We got to the divide without seeing our handrail, the mine. I suggested the GPS using the map to find a waypoint. The GPS needed fresh batteries which we carry. Ken's hands were too cold to bend. I changed the batteries and we both wanted to follow the divide. We needed shelter and warm up in this rocky terrain. Less than 500' along the divide we saw what we thought was a building, but was a large Forest Service canvas tent. I untied the entrance and we squeezed in.  I boiled water for mashed potatoes and Ken gradually warmed up. When the hail stopped, I went out to look for reference points and found the mine so we were on our way.

We camped at Jerry Creek and near sunset saw a herd of 40 Elk nearby. They were interested in watching us. I wanted a picture of two with fantastic racks. Maybe next time.

We hiked enough miles to get to Butte tomorrow even with the itinerary miscalculation.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 8/30, day 126, 8300', 15 mi.
We had gorgeous trail of red-brown duff, great huge lichen covered boulders in a green forest. We got to Butte before the daily rainstorm. As we got to the trailhead our ride (a hitch) arrived!

The PO said no mail for us, but I managed to convince them to look some more. I had more faith in Adam's sending packages and we got replacement gear from REI, including a poncho for Ken.

Next stop was McDonald's but we weren't sure where it was so we waved at the first car at a stop sign. It was a spiffy PT Cruiser, candy apple red with subtle flames. The driver said hop in and he and his wife would drive us to McD's. We went in style!

I called Holiday Inn Express and they picked us up. Butte is very easy to get around in. Showers outside while we had hot showers inside.

Internet access here so we can make AMTRAK reservations.

The courtesy van can take us back to the trail.

... Gottawalk