Tag: Montana / Idaho

• [Day 108] Scapegoat Wilderness

  

  The yurt was toasty last night, so my sleep wasn’t immediate nor long. I remember lightly sleeping until 1:30am, when I promptly awoke, gave my legs a good scratch session, ate a Milky Way bar, then crashed again. My next conscious moment was 8am, and I desperately wanted more sleep. But, I was well aware…

  jarodlyles

  August 15, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 107] Huckleberries & Hermit Huts

  

  Walking through a grassy clearing this morning, I startled a brown animal about 50 feet away into a dead charge to forest. The shoulder-high grass hid the face. But, the large humps of the shoulder and rear, the blonde-tipped brown hairy butt, and the branch-snapping, blunt footsteps of the forest dweller’s barreling sprint gave it…

  jarodlyles

  August 14, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 106] High Divide Outfitter

  

  As per my town exit procedure, I slept in this morning and wasn’t hiking until 9am. Will I have another reasonable morning start? I figure when I get imminently close to the border there will be greater urgency to awake. 🗓️ Date August 13th ⇢ Mileage 28.3 📍 Trip Mileage 2488.0 ⛅️ Weather Sunny 80°F…

  jarodlyles

  August 13, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 105] USFS 571

  

  I awoke in antiquated room 216 of the Budget Inn Express in downtown Helena at 7am, falling asleep sometime after 4am. Three hours was not going to cut it. I decided to push it to 10am, giving an hour before check out. 🗓️ Date August 12th ⇢ Mileage 11.8 📍 Trip Mileage 2459.7 ⛅️ Weather…

  jarodlyles

  August 12, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 104] Helena

  

  My Ursack bear bag was undisturbed this morning. I’m supposedly back to dense bear country, but the signs have been minimal. My rock bag for bear hanging was lodged snug in the notch of the tree I attempted to hang in last night. I did not try for it; I’m headed for Helena. 🗓️ Date…

  jarodlyles

  August 11, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 103] Deerlodge National Forest

  

  I was late to wake up, started hiking by 9am, and made the three quick dirt road miles back to the CDT to end the alternate route through Anaconda. I made my first ten miles sweating quite a bit and there was a very strong wind. It left me cold, but a second layer made…

  jarodlyles

  August 10, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 102] Highway Exit

  

  You might expect — with nearly 2,400 miles of this trail and 5,100 accumulated miles of American long-distance trails on my legs — that my methods of resupply would be fleshed out in execution. No. I walk into the store with the knowledge that I have 75 miles to Helena. The candy aisle is first:…

  jarodlyles

  August 9, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 101] Anaconda

  

  Before I get into the events, ramblings, and uninsightful insights of the mind of the wandering Freak on a Leash, I must acknowledge my last state — Montana! I’ve switchbacked in and out of the Treasure State for maybe a week and a half — as long as I was walking the borderline. However, I…

  jarodlyles

  August 8, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 100] To the Smelter City

  

  It may be with a tinge of regret that I write about my decision today. I am cheating a bit. 🗓️ Date August 7th ⇢ Mileage 26.6 📍 Trip Mileage 2361.4 ⛅️ Weather Gloomy from day star; brief two hours of rain; cold 45°F camp 🏞️ Trail Conditions Clean trail to dirt roads, a few…

  jarodlyles

  August 7, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho

• [Day 99] The Pintlers

  

  I had some clear skies with distant clouds this morning after the rainy night. No doubt, the rain was on its way. From the my ridge line camp, I head into the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, a jewel of the Northern Rockies featured glacially carved tarn-pocked cirques and the likes. 🗓️ Date August 6th ⇢ Mileage 26.2…

  jarodlyles

  August 6, 2023

  CDT

  Montana / Idaho