From Mexico to Canada on the Continental Divide Trail

 Wow, we've crossed the Tobacco Root range, about 60 miles, then resupplied in Ennis and crossed the Spanish Peaks range, another 60 miles. Cory and I came down to Big Sky, and my old friend Robert came and scooped us up and whisked us away to his home in Bozeman. What a gift! It's been an amazing day, sharing stories, learning about Montana and the Rockies. Robert has done many first ascents in these ranges, and by now all the classic ice and rock climbs. Mark Pratt lives here too, and it's been twenty years since one of my favorite trips ever with Robert and Mark into the Bugaboos range... The Tobacco Root mountains were quite rugged. Robert described them as a "Redneck Riviera," meaning that a lot of folks on motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles use and love the range. It was true! On the first day we only saw one person, a guy on a motorcycle in the evening. He was surprised to see hikers. We got a ride into Ennis from a couple with a kayak, people more from ...

Mister Z and I said goodbye to Lost And Found, when he headed up to sleep near the statue of the Virgin Mary that guards Butte. We slept in a nice camp by the Delmoe Lake Road, and even went bouldering in the morning. Yesterday was a long and hot road walk to Whitehall. We decided to spend the night and had a restful afternoon in town. I want to see the film Sound of Freedom but I probably missed my chance... Can't imagine any movie theaters between here and maybe Rawlins, Wyoming! I was saddened to learn that in addition to the USA being the greatest buyer of illegal drugs in the world, it is the greatest consumer, and sometimes producer of child pornography.  My nation is several things at once. One of those things is completely fallen. It makes my heart feel sick. Here is the podcast I heard:  The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast: 372. The Fight Against Worldwide Child Slavery & the Sex Trade | Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard Episode webpage: https://www.jordanbpeterson.com Medi...

Mister Z and a new friend LostAndFound and I popped out on Interstate 15 North of Butte after a seventy mile stretch from MacDonald Pass above Helena. LostAndFound, a fierce and energetic debating partner from the Netherlands immediately stuck out his thumb as a car came by. She stopped! We had our ride into town... It was already a great morning, because someone left a cooler of drinks for us CDT hikers on the trail a few miles back. Now it was even better. The only downside was that the Ramada in wouldn't let us check in until four, so we had to kill time. First, a huge breakfast. Then a gear shop and supermarket. Then some cash and conversations with people of our tribe about the best way to get to Big Sky. Finally, LostAndFound and I decided to see a movie in the afternoon: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Aside from overlong fight and chase scenes, it was pretty good! I expected to be taught a bunch of simplistic narratives about the old stale and...

Hi everyone! I'm now in Helena to rest, and for the first time have decent internet. I'm hoping I can use a computer at the public library tomorrow to write... Here are photos from the last section in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Scapegoat Wilderness areas. I saw bear sign many times a day... Once I stumbled over the partly eaten bones of an elk in the middle of the trail...I stopped to say "good gracious!" And my buddy Cory said "keep moving!" I forgot that a grizzly guards his kill, and we were probably being watched from the thick forest all around. I'm learning that they don't see us as prey, just possible competitors. As long as I follow the rules to prevent an association between people and food, I protect both myself and the bear. Here is a picture dump...

Here is a video of the rest of the journey to East Glacier. What a great time! Now, Mister Z and I are buying food and doing laundry for the 6 days to the Benchmark Ranch where I'll get a resupply box my sister Cathy sent in. Cory (Mister Z) will not stop there, but continue to Helena directly, so he needs 10 days of food. https://youtu.be/OnL8GQPNowk