Butte, MT to Lima, MT

Photos - click here

CALIFORNIA CUT-OFF

OK- this stretch was abysmal- and we’re not writing much about it. While we are still strictly adhering to our goal of connecting our footprints from Mexico to Canada, this route was a significant deviation from the Continental Divide Trail, and a painful compromise. We had spent a total of 9 days without hiking in Helena due to Dave’s flu (forgot to mention that it came back the second time we were in Helena and he finally kicked it with antibiotics- the doctor and I are convinced that it was a tick disease (not Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme disease, thank goodness), David’s salmonella, David going home, and our ride abandoning us. As a result we had essentially killed our chances of hitting the seasonal window in southern Colorado. With a new estimation of finishing the hike in early October, we were fairly confident that we would be snowed out of some of the most amazing parts of the trail, and snowed out of being able to complete the trail as well. So instead of following the arcing direction of the trail, we hiked a straight shot from Butte to Lima along the I-15 corridor via frontage roads for well over 100 miles.

During this stretch we were obsessed with getting out of Montana and getting to Colorado. Unfortunately, it was so hot and I was so dehydrated that I consistently misspoke, calling Colorado, California. Hence the name “California cut-off”. It was all the humor we had in this miserable walk. All told we were able to make up our lost time, and are now back on track traveling through the glorious wonders of the country.

Highlights of this stretch include:
Dave’s side effects of his antibiotics (he was supposed to stay out of the sun- yeah, right!) causing severe burns on his hands and legs, despite lathering on sunscreen, and resulting in 2nd degree burns and blisters on his thumbs and index fingers
Stopping to get water at the “Divide Saloon” in the town of Divide. This saloon was historic, and burned completely to the ground just 2 days after we were there- the owners had no insurance.
The cactus barb that debilitated Dave at the end of our New Mexico section FINALLY worked its way out. The picture may not do it justice- it was ½ inch long and in his leg for 6 weeks of hiking!!
We met a farmer who had lived a hard life and was grateful for still being here.
The Daqueri Catastrophe- where we hit a bar and I asked for a virgin strawberry daqueri (all I wanted was a fruity wet drink, and that’s the closest they had) and the bar owner flipped out because he didn’t know what it was, and when he found out was incensed that I would order a blended drink in a back-country bar. Hmm. Sorry guy.
The water snakes at Brown’s Bridge. All we wanted was to cool off. All they wanted was to share the water with us. Freaked me out.
Free hot dogs from the lady at the truck stop. She had seen a lot, and thought of the truckers as her children. She had seen many come and go in life, and it was always sad to hear that one of her truckers had parted this world.
Reaching Lima and seeing Mike and Connie. We spent so much time there the first time waiting out the snow, that we had gotten to know them and it was like a family reunion.
Meeting new hikers in Lima: Mark, Tommy, Razzu, Brian, and Lisa
Reuniting with Buddha and Zack.
Eating another great steak dinner at the Peats.
The lovely good-luck necklace that Connie made me. It was a brutal hot week, but we are blessed

~Leslie