Posted by 33.7 miles
Given the confusion with the land tenure I had camped on last night I was up and away well before the sun was up, hitting the roads towards Butte. My plan was for the day was to get as much of the road walking through farmland completed, reconnect with the CDT and camp for the night, arriving in Butte the following for a two day rest.
As the sun rose it revealed another day of thick fire smoke clinging to the hills.
Water was going to be main issue today. There was a river 6 miles in for the day that I hit quite early and topped up all my bottles. Beyond that, water sources were few and fair between. The next source would be a water cache at the CDT trail head right at the end if the day that may or may not be stocked. The 2.5 litres I had with me would have to last right through the day and be conserved. This would be tricky as the day was set to be a warm one.
After filling my water at the Jefferson River I headed out onto the highway 55 to dodge more crazy drivers. Silly me, I was hiking fast and looking out for a road junction that never seemed to appear. Opening my maps I realised why. I’d walked close to a mile in the wrong direction. Frustrated with myself there was nothing to do but turn around backtracking the distance just covered and continuing on.
Reaching the correct road junctionI stopped for a break as my shoulders were aching under the weight of my pack. I was sitting on the side of the dirt road when local rancher, Otero, drove past on his quad bike and pulled over to see if I was ok. We ended up chatting for 15 minutes and continued on separate paths.
Another mile or so I reached Hwy 41, a much quieter highway with only the odd car passing by. Highway walking is boring at best and damn hard work when the sun is up high. I distracted myself listening to various podcasts for the next 5 miles.
Turning off onto another dirt road I was starting to worry about the water situation if I continued to drink the amount I was drinking. I’m sure I could knock on the door of a private residence and ask for some water but none of the properties past looked too inviting. Many, many no trespassing signs displayed along fences of most. A couple of bike tourers passed in the opposite direction coming from Butte following the bike equivalent of the CDT. They pulled up to chat briefly.
Shade was also in demand through this section. It seemed that all the big trees casting the most shade were behind fences. I plodded along the dirt until I found a suitable spot on the side of the road to stop for lunch. It was damn hot.
A few more mile on and I hit highway MT2 and was back to dodging crazy drivers. There wasn’t much of a verge and I found myself constantly stepping well if the road onto sloping ground, sometimes well into the gutter, particularly on fast sweeping corners.
Water was running low, now down to a litre until that would potentially have to last through the night if the cache was empty. I would know in another 5 miles.
On reaching the trail head and reconnecting with the CDT I could not find a water cache at all and there were no steams to collect from. My water was getting desperate and I had a decision to make: stay put for the night surviving on less than a litre (would not be able to have a cooked dinner) or press on 11 miles direct into Butte. Hot, tired and already exhausted from the sapping sun I pressed on direct to Butte getting off the highway and hiking a route through back roads where the chance of houses was greater should I really need to beg at someones door.
They were the most miserable 11 miles into town. My umbrella came out to provide some shade, my shirt lined with salt crystals from the constant pattern of sweating and drying.
I made it to town in the early evening heading for the nearest gas station to grab a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water that I threw down so fast they were practically inhaled. What a massive day!
Now in town a day earlier than expected I would be able to enjoy 3 full days of rest off the trail and reset for the final sections ahead. After Butte there would be only two more resupplies, Lincoln and East Glacier.
Very few photos today are testament to this being a tough day.
Mick Beckers 