Great Divide Day 6: Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Got started at 8:15 a.m. today after a hot meal of oatmeal. The trail was a roller coaster for the first 10 miles. At 18 miles, we went off-route to Holland Lake Lodge at 10:30 a.m. and had a terrific breakfast. It fortified us for the 12-mile uphill from the Lodge. Tough, but scenic. Grizzly bear scat all along the the trial (2" diameter). We whistled up the trail to forewarn the Bears. They all ran away -- didn't see any, though our cans of bear spray are carried on bike handle bars like scepters. Scary though. Did about 4 miles of single track on our 15 mile downhill to Sealy, MT where we got a motel room, "real food," and washed clothes in the shower.  Anna, who has spent many days in these here mountains, said, "it may have been her best."  I didn't see as much -- a lynx or bobcat and remote mountains and forests. My eyes stuck on the trail. But that 15-mile downhill at 15-20 mph was glorious!

Great Divide Day 5: Monday, July 4, 2016

We left Ferdale at 8:15 a.m. The first 4 miles were flat, but then we had an 8-mile uphill. Tough. Some good views though, and the downhill was longer -- a sour 10 miles. Anna disappears from me on downhills, often making videos as she rides. Tough for me to make movies with both hands on the breakers. The rest of today's route was a roller coaster. We ended with about 55 miles. Weather was perfect. Met another northbound rider from North Carolina who has been out for 37 days. We are tenting tonight. Hung out food in a tree to challenge the Bears. Bikes are working well, and the weather has been delightful.

Great Divide Day 4: Sunday, July 3, 2016

A map of our route

We left Bryce's apartment just before 8:00 a.m. Bicycled to the Buffalo Cafe in downtown Whitefish. There was a line at the door when it opened at 8:00 a.m. After a delicious breakfast, I continued my journey south. Anna took a zero to visit with Montana friends. The ride was mostly "flat" through the Flathead Valley. Lots of beautiful acreages and horse farms. The valley is surrounded by mountains. I saw deer and wild turkey with their pullets. We stayed with another friend of Anna's, Sam and her husband Mark, who live on an acreage just outside Ferndale, MT. Mark has a dog sled and river rafting business. Saw his 17 sled dogs -- quite an operation. We tented in their yard. It was another beautiful day. 

43 miles 

Great Divide Day 3: Saturday, July 2, 2016

Another bluebird day.

We left Polebridge at 7:45. A good start. Did 17 miles uphill in the morning. Had to walk the bike in a few places. Crossing the Divide at Red Meadow Lake. We went screaming down the other side, Anna leading the way and me on my brakes. Did about 23 miles into Whitefish, MT. We were able to get the bike shop to lube and adjust the bikes, then met Anna B. and her friend, Bryce, at his apartment. Had ice cream downtown and slept on the floor of Bryce's apartment for our third night on the trail. Felt good to take a shower. My t-shirt had all sorts of dried salt designs from a day of uphill sweating and downhill drying out. The Great Divide Trail to Whitefish is spectacular!

Great Divide Day 2: Friday, July 1, 2016

Beautiful weather.

Crawled out of the tent around 7:30 a.m. Anna was up and ready for breakfast. Cooked oatmeal and coffee on the camp stove. Our fellow bikers had packed and hit the trail without a sound. Traveling early morning in Grizzly areas is not advised, but the trail calls. We started the day with a mile downhill. Beautiful mountain vistas. Another 16 miles of gravel got us to the tiny village of Polebridge, MT by noon. The Polebridge General Store makes fantastic pastries. People were lined up to purchase. We stayed at a hostel in Polebridge. Had a nice clean up in the river and did a little writing and relaxing. Met a foursome thru-hiking the Pacific North Trail. Had a nice visit. All had hiked the AT and CDT. The hostel a Polebridge was absolutely charming. It was run by Oliver, a 60s generation guy. The whole community is off-grid. Anna and I listened to a two-piece band: guy on guitar/banjo accompanied by a guy playing a one-string wash tub. Anna's friends, Sam and Pete, drove up for the evening.

Great Divide Day 1: Thursday, June 30, 2016

Beautiful weather.

Matt and Kathy Valen, along with grandson Croix, dropped Anna V. and me off at the Roosville, MT point of entry into Canada. We headed back south to Eureka, MT, 10 miles away. The initial 25 miles of the Great Divide trail in Montana is hard surface road. Traveling was easy and mostly flat.  Somewhere around 30 miles, we started our ascent through Whitefish Pass. Constant uphill for about 7 miles, and the road/trail turned to gravel. Eventually the road morphed into rocks, a good test for our "rock shock" front bicycle forks. I am riding a Salsa Fargo and Anna V. is on a Specialized. The final four miles of the day was a blessed downhill. I was shot; Anna buoyant. We stayed at Yumchuk campground. Two other GD bikers were camping as well. They were worried about the recent Grizzly attack in the area that killed a biker. We all have bear spray just in case. We had a hot meal of Chicken Alfredo with tuna, took a cold clean up in the mountain stream, and called it a day. 

42 miles.

New Adventures: Great Divide Bicycle Trip

My daughter-in-law, Anna V., and I are riding the Montana section of the Great Divide Bicycle trail. The Montana section is about 550 miles; the entire trail is about 2,700 miles. It starts in Banff, Canada and ends on the Mexican border. The Montana section I one of the more difficult sections, crossing the Continental Divide six times.