Will hold packages 15 days.

Subject: 9/1, day 128, 22 mi.,
The divide circles 270* around Butte, crossing I15 twice and I90 once so we feel like we're hiking in a settled area. We're below the divide. A proposed route is on the divide but hasn't been built because of survivalist issues. We have been advised to be alert.

Today was breezy and we saw every kind of cloud formation possible followed by blue sky. Twice we saw Butte in the distance and both times the city was in cloud shadow and the Berkeley Pit glowed golden in sunlight.

Today is the first day of hunting, birds with guns and everything with bows. We saw no wildlife today.

Our big climb to the divide came this evening. Then we went down to Homestake Lake Campground which is now a picnic only area. It was after sunset so nobody saw us camp there. We slept well.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 9/2, day 129, 8120', 25.1 mi.
This was a perfect Labor Day with beautiful weather, my favorite trees, rocks and trail. We shared it with every dirt bike, ATV, jeep and pickup in the county. It was nice to have company.

Three dirt bikes chased cows up the trail. Cows blindly run up the road or trail and they get the trots when agitated. Thus I hiked with a new trail experience that I hope I won't have to repeat. The trail was churned by hooves and tires and liberally laced with fresh splats. Ugh.

This area has lots of mineshafts and the quad is covered with claim and prospect symbols.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 9/3, day 130, 25 mi.
Today is our 35th anniversary. I proposed that we celebrate it by hiking 35 miles and Ken countered with 35 km (21.7 mi.). We compromised.

A beautiful pink sunrise woke us and we started walking 45 min. later with a blue sky. By 9:00 we were getting sprinkles so we tried out our new REI ponchos, much faster coverage than a jacket and garbage bag pack cover. Still the sprinkles didn't last much longer than it took to cover up.

We had the woods to ourselves after Labor Day. Packing the tent woke a squirrel who scolded us until we left his turf. Our first mile led us to marshy Bison Creek, prime moose habitat. Ken heard and saw one as it crashed away in the water. A hawk with wingtips curled up flew low overhead with repeated hoarse cries. Right before Champion Pass we had the best sighting and photo when I saw a dark brown cub running parallel to us about 20' through the trees. He sat down to watch as I took his picture. Ken frantically looked for the mother who came up the hill. She chased the cub back into the woods. It was a great day on the trail.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 9/4, day 131, 24.5 mi., 8550'
Today was excruciatingly frustrating interspersed with moments of pure joy when the trail was there in the woods. Our emotions went up and down wildly like our hiking... and we climbed a 40% grade today.

Our quad had the trail printed 1/2" too far north on the map. That caused anxiety until we figured it out. At the same time trail had been closed by dragging trees and brush onto it. We still hiked it (tough going) until we figured that we were supposed to hike where the trees were cut, the first time we've followed stumps as trail because there was no tread, also tough going. This was trail rerouting in addition to proposed but unbuilt trail. All of this made us so slow that we didn't reach water before dark so dinner was Chex Party Mix and we were celebrating that it was bedtime.

The joyful highs were beautiful forest, a great sunset, and 2 backpackers taking notes and waypoints for Jim Wolf's guide. I was also very happy every time a trail reroute ended and we were someplace as opposed to lost. I guess it's a good thing that every day is different.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 9/5, day 132, 20 mi., 6970'
Another challenging day where we hiked with 2 maps, 2 guides and the GPS in our hands. It was a maze of backcountry roads. Most were not on the map and unsigned. We made it to McDonald Pass, the county line for Lewis & Clark County. The hitch into town was a long, cold wait. We re-supply in Helena from here.

Breakfast was hot and reviving at Ontario Creek.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 9/6, day 133, zero day
We intended to go back onto the trail today. But we decided we needed better maps for the next section. After buying the maps the rain was pouring down and the fog covered the treetops in town. We decided that with a late start it just wasn't worth getting drenched and cold. We declared it a zero day. Both of us had reservations because we need to get to Canada before the snow flies.

Helena was a great town stop. While walking down the street we decided to stop and get Ken's hair and beard trimmed. Turned out the barber is within weeks of retiring after 45 years in Helena. We got started on the CDT. One customer wanted to call a newspaper reporter. Another offered us a ride back to the pass. The haircut and beard trim look good too. Next stop was a coffee shop to warm up. We sat and talked to Annie Mac and Lacey. Lunch at Bert & Ernies was so good that we went back for dinner. We walked off the excess calories on our way to the grocery store then back to the motel. We also stopped to give Tim the good news that he had a ride back to the pass where he would head south from the same point where we would start north again.

... Gottawalk