Yellowstone Just Around the Corner!

I am totally loving this CDT hike!  Yes, there have been a lot of bugs, grueling climbs, lack of water, and did I mention bugs?  Oh yeah, I did.  Anyway, I am very close to the Wyoming border and Yellowstone National Park, and I am looking forward to the change of states.  Montana-Idaho has been adventurous and remote, but I am looking forward to some easier walking - at least I have heard that the hiking there is easier.  I have just updated my trail journal, and I am now about to load some new videos on my You Tube channel.  I will try and thrrow some pictures on my flickr site, but I may run out of time.  I will make additional updates when I arrive in Dubois, Wyoming, but that will be in about 10-11-days.  I might be able to make some updates in Olf Faithful Village, but I am not counting on it. 

Now in Darby, Montana

I arrived in Darby, Montana yesterday, only to hitch another ride up to Hamilton, MT, where I stayed at the home of Will Moss, who is a reporter for the Ravalli Republic, and he will be doing a story on our hike from Canada to Mexico.  This evening, Will came down to Darby to do an official interview with six of us here at the Travellers Rest, and I think we are all excited to read the article that he's going to publish.  When I get to Lima, MT, I promise to publish a  link to the article.

Mynext stop will be in Leadore, Idaho, where I will just re-supply.  Following my stop in Leadore, I will go to Lima, MT, where I will take my next zero day.  I will be eager to publish more pics and journals from my hike.

Montana has been really beautiful, but buggy.  I have never seen more mosquitoes in my life.  I have also been plagued by deer flies, horse flies, and black flies, but it is the mosquitoes that have been really relentless.  I know that the weather will get warmer over the next few days, and I am hoping that the bugs do not get any friskier than they are already.

I got seven packages here in Darby, and I am thankful for all my friends and family who sent items.  Thanks so much!

I will have pics loaded on my flickr page, and I just uploaded my recent journals, so I encourage you to check them out.

Hiked into Butte, MT

Okay, actually I did not literally hike into Butte, Montanta, but I got off the trail at Pipestone Pass, where Wahoo picked me and George up yesterday.  I am taking a much needed rest day here at the Comfort Inn here in Butte, and I am hoping to see a bit of the National Folk Festival this afternoon.  I have uploaded pictures to my Flickr account, and my Trail Journals site is just about updated. 

I am really enjoying the hike on the CDT, despite challenges from climbs, weather, bugs, and road walking.  I just had a foot massage from Lou (PCT 2003), and I hopped into the hot tub here at the hotel.  I think that I will be rested and recharged for my continued hike on the CDT.  I am so thankful for Lou and Wahoo meeting us here in Butte, and providing us with so much trail magic.  In fact, they will be slack packing us for the next 25 miles to the Interstate 15.  Absolutely unbelievable what they are doing for us.  Thanks trail angels!

Re-Supplying in Helena, MT

I am in the most awesome town of Helena, Montana.  This place is great!  I like the vibe here, and people have been very friendly.  I just got back from hearing a harp concert by Deborah Henson Conant at the Myrna Loy Center.  She was brilliant.  The awesome thing was that we got in for free - definite trail magic!

I am heading back on the trail, and I will get back off again on the 12th, when I meet up with Lou and Wahoo (PCT 2003) at Highway 12 near Butte.  I will have more updates and pictures to upload when I take a day off there in Butte.

I am doing well, and feeling strong.  Nonetheless, the trail here in Montana has challenging climbs and descents.  The trail literally goes straight up and down these mountains.  Navigation has not been a huge deal, as I am with a pretty competent group of hikers.  To this point, I have not really been lost on the CDT.

I hope to have some pictures and video uploaded before I leave the hotel tomorrow.  I am not sure how much I will get done, but I hope to at least get pics done on Trail Journals and Flickr.  Check them out.

Freefall

Taking a Day Off in Lincoln, MT

I arrived in Lincoln on July 1st, and I have been resting after a strenuous, yet rewarding hike through the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness areas. The CDT is a lot of work, and my waistline is reflecting the number of calories I have burned in the last week. Yikes!

I am leaving on the 3rd of July, and I will hike into Helena on Monday, and then turn around on Tuesday, and hike to Butte, where I will take another zero day.

I have just updated my trail journal, and I am in the process of uploading pictures to my Flickr account. I am hoping to get a few videos on the blog tomorrow, so please be patient as I try and get some of this stuff done. This whole digital diary thing is a lot of work!

I am feeling great, and my legs are growing stronger every day. I love being in the wilderness, and it has been a real pleasure to be "home" for the last few weeks. The amazing thing is that I get to stay at "home" for another 5-months.

Resting up in East Glacier

I am East Glacier Park after spending an incredible 7-days in Glacier National Park. I encourage anyone and everyone to come up here to see this unique, untouched national treasure - seriously.

I have updated my trail journals and flickr sites, but I may have to wait a while to upload video, since internet is so spotty here, and I have a lot of requests from other hikers to use the computer.

I am having the time of my life... again. I will update things again when I arrive in Lincoln, MT, which will be in about 8-9 days.

New Video on my hike is Here!

I am in Glacier National Park, and it is awesome. I tried loading a video to YouTube, and it did not work out, so I will try it again later on. I will post it on the sidebar. Today, I anticipate writing another journal entry on Trail Journals, so look out for that. I just got my permit to hike Glacier, and now I am waiting for So Far, Luna, and Gazelle to arrive. On the trail tomorrow, and I cannot wait. Yeah!

Peace,

Freefall

Gear Check in Indiana

I threw all my gear on the lawn at Lake Luther, the camp I used to work at out here in Indiana. I went through everything, set up the tent, unfurled my clothes, and laid out all my equipment, like I was going to have a yard sale. The picture on this post shows everything I am taking with me on the CDT, and the other picture is of the pack when it is filled up. Cool, eh?

I am learning that there will be several hikers (maybe 12?) at Serrano's up at East Glacier Park. Because of the numbers, I am thinking about starting the hike on the 16th, because our numbers will exceed the capacity of the back country sites in Glacier National Park. It seems that this CDT hiking thing is catching on in popularity. Anyway, starting on the 16th would also allow me to hike with Gazelle and Marlowe, who will both be starting on that day. The question is: will So Far, Luna, and Chance go along with that date (I need to e-mail them!).

Anyway, I am having a great time out here in Indiana. I have enjoyed reconnecting with friends and family out this way. The weather out here has been perfect the last few days, and the mosquitoes are not fully out yet - I have a feeling though that they will be vicious here in a week. I wonder if they will be bad in Montana?

I cannot wat to get on the trail. Only another week before I will be boarding the train to East Glacier Park! Yipee!