Blog

Augusta to East Glacier

Posted on: Tuesday August 29, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

Our hitch into Augusta told us he gave a solo woman a ride out to the trailhead just before we showed up. We are confused: there are so few woman on trail that I tend to follow them closely and I haven’t seen another female hiker since Leadore. In Augusta, we learn the hiker is Glimmer, and I suddenly want to catch her so badly. She’ll have an 8 hour head start on us though- hard miles to make up even in a 140 mile section.

Lincoln to Augusta

Posted on: Monday August 21, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

The first person we bump into in Lincoln is Wild Land, who has roadwalked to beat us there. We eat… or at least I try to. I manage half a bowl of soup and a few bites of salad before calling it quits. We find a spot at the RV park. I’m asleep at 6:30 - early even by hiker standards.

Helena to Lincoln

Posted on: Thursday August 17, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

Wild Land’s parents drive us into Helena. The first stop is a Chinese buffet, where I match Wild Land’s dad plate for plate, except my plates have twice as much food. I can barely move on the way back to the hotel. I feel ok, but by 9pm, I’m nauseated, dizzy, and I go puke my guts up in the bathroom.

Anaconda to Helena

Posted on: Thursday August 17, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

We leave Anaconda later than we mean to. I’m antsy, sitting in the motel room bouncing my legs, waiting for everyone to do their last minute stuff. The closer I get to the border, the more I want to just fly.

Lima to Anaconda

Posted on: Sunday August 13, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

We lounge around Lima, eating healthy food for a change. Wild Land has come up with a roadwalk out of town that will make the upcoming fire detours easier and put him back on schedule. I dream of finishing on my 30th birthday (which is logistically very difficult!) Thatch books a train ticket for after the hike. We plan on hiking together, at least for a while. Finally, I have a little trail family.

Macks Inn to Lima

Posted on: Thursday August 3, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

In Macks Inn, I say goodbye to Wild Land. He’s been one of my favourite hiking buddies, but he’s continuing on the Great Divide trail and needs to do 35s to finish before it snows. Yellowstone has convinced me I can do similar mileage, but I have no desire to. I like crushing miles, but I also like eating thimble berries on the side of the road and resting my sore ankle. Plus, hiking to a schedule, with the pressure of making miles, doesn’t meet my criteria for fun. Wyoming has been my favourite state so far, in no small part thanks to Wild Land, and I know I’ll miss him a lot.

Dubois to Macks Inn (Yellowstone!)

Posted on: Thursday August 3, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

There are so many hikers in Dubois. Seven of us and a southbounder roll in. I am the only woman, but I’m still happy to be with so many others. We go to the bar- someone has bought shots for hikers and Wild land, who doesn’t drink, hands me his. The Brits keep buying beers and soon I am the drunkest I’ve been so far on the trail. We stay up late chatting and in the morning, I feel like death.

Pinedale to Dubois

Posted on: Friday July 28, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

We zero in Pinedale. My body heals almost instantly from a long section, but my mind still struggles. We get ready to leave and I feel my anxiety building with the thunderclouds over the mountains. The CDT makes me scared in a way I’ve never been before. But quitting scares me too. I know I’ll regret it too much. This was never a fun hike, but I can’t back down from the challenge. And as the CDT gives me new fears, it breaks down old ones.

Into the Winds- South Pass to Pinedale

Posted on: Sunday July 23, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

Lightning flashes all night, but I sleep well despite it. In the morning, neither Wild Land nor I feel like hiking. There’s water and shade everywhere: a luxury after the basin. We’ve been pushing big miles too and our bodies are telling us to slow down.

Rawlins to South Pass.

Posted on: Sunday July 23, 2017 Continental Divide Trail

We zero in Rawlins, eating food, bumping into other hikers, and watching bad movies. I ice my feet, stretch and eat kale- all the things I should do on trail but never do. In the morning, we get a late start. It’s 8am by the time we leave and it’s already roasting. Right out of town, Wild Land asks to borrow one of my trekking poles. He’s talked about eating rattlesnake, since he normally supplements his diet on trail with fish, and I’m curious to try it.