GDT Day 4 - Butte to Beaver Dam CG

Start elv 5760'
High pt 7300'
Lo pt 5700'
End pt 6500'
Climbing approx 2700'

Miles 39
Total time 7;10
Riding time 5:16
Riding days 4, 3 in a row
BOB days. 4
Divide crossing today, #5

Real nice country today, hard to believe this is only a dozen miles from the blasted and the blighted hillsides surrounding Butte.

I get the feeling that Butte (called the Gibraltar of Unionism in the early 20th century) is a liberal town. I ran into road construction  today on my way out of town, and the friendly flag lady directed me to an alternative route that went down Elizabeth Warren Rd.  When I asked if it was a liberal town, she said that "that's just the beginning,  let me tell ya".

I crossed the divide and the CDT Trail again today. As I crossed I left heavy timber and entered into open parkland, with great view of mountains too.
The mountains are getting a bit steeper and more craggy in this country.

Glenda had a good day, found a good spot at Beaver Dam CG, backing in the trailer all by her lonesome to boot.
The CG has some very nice outcrops as well.

GDT Day 5 - Beaver Dam to Little Joe CG

Start elv 6500'
Highpoint 7850'
Low pt. Wise river
End pt 6800'
Climbing approx 2800'

Miles 38.5
Total time 7:15
Ride time 4:40
Divide crossing - none

FREEDOM!!!

Ahh, today started with the much ballyhooed and dreaded Fleecer Ridge climb and descent.
I freed myself from the BOB for the day hoping I could do the ridge with out walking and I am.glad I did. I did ride up the ridge,  but would have certainly would have pushed the bike an BOB up that section. Great views from up there, lonely country on this seldom used ranch 2 track road.
I was hoping that w/o the BOB, that I could ride the descent. It was not to be the case. Perhaps with tires not pumped up to max for touring, but perhaps not.

Stopped at Wise River, hoping to have a cafe lunch with Glenda, and ran into a couple of other bikers. One young solo fellow from Madison, WI was getting ready to stop and head back home due to loneliness  hoping  to pick it up again on a trip with his girlfriend.  Another fellow (named Shrek) was on about a 6000 mile bike trip from WA state, though BC, the divide tour, grand Canyon and the West coast. We had alot in common. Between them, it shows a lot of the range of scenarios.
After Wise River, it was paved on a very pretty scenic byway, the Pioneer Mountains. Again very nice country indeed. Many stops along the way to take in the views and history.  Glenda and I hiked out to an old ghost town of Coolridge as well.
At the campground, we were met by a friendly kiwi/aussie couple, Bruce and Marguerite, which we visited with after dinner and exchange stories and information. He is about 10 years older than us, and had been walking the equator until foot issues sidelined him a few.years ago ( 11000km). They are spending 6 months in the states,  bought an
RV and are living in it, and are planning on doing it again next year. This does spur the imagination for possibilities.....

GDT Day 2 - Moose creek CG to Mormon Gulch CG

GTheme for today is .... cross training, as in hike yer bike to cross a pass

Days riding  2
Days pulling BOB 2
Divide crossings today 0

Start Elv approx 4800'
High point 7250'
Lo point  approx 5700'
End Elv 5760'
Climbing approx 2800'
Days pulling trailer

Miles 37+
Total time 7:15 hrs
Ride time 5:19
Push time - Eternal!

The roads today were all eminently rideable with the BOB, except for a 2.7 mile stretch of ATV trail, described succinctly as rough 4wd track, steep and rough. Not clear if I could have done it sans the BOB, and it did not look wide enough for a truck. So a wee bit of cross training for me, having to dismount 8 to 10 times to push the bike n BOB up the roots, rocks, and ravines. Made the downhill to Basin all the sweeter!

That down hill followed the lovely Cataract creek, and led to the unique section of route labeled "Non Maintained Cattle Trail", which you just don't see on your every day rides.

Not much wild.life to day, just a couple healthy looking marmots.
The terrain continues to be modest mountains and routes linking drainages coming off of the divide. Lots of dead lodgepoles(?) and associated logging, including in the last two campgrounds.  This does open things up for more vistas, but I wonder what it looked like before the dying and logging.

Lots of flowers blooming,  including a few specimens of beargrass, which only blooms once every several years, if I recall correctly.

Lots of forest country here, though not alot of people out enjoying on a fine Sunday. Did meet a pair of British bikers heading down from banff. Saw another taking a midmorning nap along a shady gurgling stream. Other than 3 small parties of ATVers and a handful of truck's , not many people.

It is becoming apparent that folks like to express their political opinions publicly here, in their own Montana way. I think I will try capturing some of those along the way.

Today felt good, not too wasted at the end. However, it is the 1st of 9 days of consecutive riding.

Glenda had her first day of solo sagging, and got the camper parked and setup, thank you Glenda

GDT Day 3 - Mormon Gulch CG to Butte

Monday, july 19

Start elv 5760'
High pt 6600'
Lo pt 5460'
End elv. 5460'
Climbing approx 1500'

Miles - 31.1
Total time 5:15
Riding time 3:18
Days riding - 3
Days with BOB - 3
Divide crossing #4

Today was a pretty mellow day, with gentle grades and not alot of elevation.
I appreciated that as it was my first back to back riding day.
It was about half paved, though the unpaved areas were quite pastoral, though I did come across some tailing from dredge mining (I think).
The 4th divide crossing was also a CDT Trail crossing too, but other than that it was rather non descript flat spot in the forest.

This morning we were serenaded by many song birds in our very own private campground. Tonight we will be lulled to sleep by the passing drone of semi's on I90. Already looking forward to the next 5 nights in the backcountry.

I think we heard the honking of a trumpeter swan this morning as well (we'll verify at red rock wildlife refuge in a week)

Butte is an interesting place, once you get past the initial direct impact of mining on the town and area. The old part of town has many charming, impressive, and well preserved buildings from its hey day early last century. One can tell it was very successful at that time from the architecture of the home and business establishments. And of course the Cornish miners local dish, the pasty, which I had to try as well.

GDT Day 1- Fri July 15, 2016

Start - Stemple pass 6376 ft
High pt  approx 6900'
Low pt 4320
End moose creek campground on Rimini Alt 4400

Miles 45.75
Total time 7:45
Ride time 5:40
Climbing 3000' est.

Well I made it on my 1st day. Did have a late start due to road construction delay, misunderestimated shuttle time, and several mis packing adventures of Dans at the put in point ; thus resulted in a crack of 11 start.

The days stats are fairly typical for the GDT, though the riding elevation was convenient entrée to the adventure for this Colorado Springs tourer.
I did cross the divide 3 times today; there is only 1  divide crossing further north that I missed with my Helena starting point.
I will say I was impressed with the ride ability of the route on this day. Bodes well for the future.
I did use the Delorme Earthmate app with the 1 GB of downloaded topo maps to help through some confusing junctions. The maps had the level of detail I needed today.

Rain - had to hide from the rain and lightning 3 times today; twice in the trees and once in an old cabin,  which was both welcome and cool. With rain came the inevitable mud, I will need a thorough cleaning before riding sunday.

Another delay found me waiting for trains to pass on a siding. I was eager to do the last climb and start a 1500 foot descent,  but just have to take it as its dealt.  So I started reading the graffiti on the coal cars, some not friendly to our current green president, one advocated stopping jihad, with mushroom  cloud art. Others were more artistic, should have snapped some shots. Will do that next time.

FUBAR
I did do a fubar with my inReach tracking today; I diligently started the tracking at the start, and then mistaken turn the unit off, instead of turning off the display to conserve the battery.  But rest assured, I did do my 45 miles and am wicked tired to prove it.
The other fubar is really the 1st equipment failure;  I went to retreive my last full water bottle from the back of the BOB, but it was no longer there. Also missing was the cage as it had broken off. I will stop in Helena tomorrow and pick up a new set.

Tomorrow is a tourista day for Glenda and I, and I hope my butt can recover.

Helena Day 1, Ride day 0

TOMORROW  I RIDE!!
We arrived at our designated camp spot for  3 days outside Helena. Transit went smooth. Tomorrow I RIDE! I have to admit I am both nervous and excited to be starting to ride. We will see how my ride training has prepared me for my adventure. I hope I have not been too optimistic. On the morrow, while I will have a base camp destination with Glenda Sue sagging, I plan on pulling the BOB to continue my training. It has been a couple of weeks plus since I pulled the trailer, though I did do a few climbs up Blodgett to for stall the  inevitable atrophy of the legs. Fortunately, the passes in these parts top out around the elevation of Colorado Springs, my training grounds.

Today we gathered Helena  trail area  info for Glendas hike whilst I ride. If things go well, I will beat Glenda to town on Fri.  and text her to meet me at one of 3 brew pubs/taprooms on the old town area😎! (Essentially on route, I might add)
An aside, Helena boasts the largest town park in o an open space mountain park on the SW part of town, loaded with trails, most of which are open to biking. A very nice amenity indeed.