Hamilton, MT to Wisdom, MT (72 miles) Total to date= 1,142
As the sun was up with very few clouds, the morning ride was
nice for the first 35 miles. After passing through the very quaint little town
of Darby, the elevation started to increase. After another 8 miles of gradual
increase, the road really started to rise to include a number of switchbacks.
Thankfully there was a wide berm, but the sun was really starting to bake the cyclist. So,
I started to sing hymns in my head and pray for a breeze or a cloud of shade.
As has happened on other climbs, I received both blessings, that is, an
occasional breeze and an occasional cloud of shade. I spent the next 2 hours
climbing 9 miles to Chief Joseph Pass at 7,241 feet which was also the
Continental Divide. Although I did stop a couple times, there was no walking of
the bike. As you climb, one can entertain themselves by waiving at cars,
campers, and motorcycles as they speed down the mountain. The best waive back
percentage goes to the motorcycle riders. Next would be campers, and last are
cars. I kind of gave up on waiver at cars. I did get a couple thumbs up today
from a motorcycle and a camper, which is encouraging as you climb. The reward
for getting to the top, other than a picture of the Continental Divide sign, is
the downhill run. It is so refreshing and exhilarating to cruise down the
mountain that you just climbed, especially when there was no traffic to speak
of on the descent. I try to keep it below 30 MPH but it might have crept above
that today. There were a lot of evergreen trees today and I love the smell of
pine! Before arriving at the destination for the day, I stopped at the Big Hole
Battlefield National Monument and took in the displays. I spoke to Park Ranger
Besse Blackeagle about the history of the battle. She was very educated on
the battle and she showed me a picture on the wall of her Great Great
Grandmother who was actually present at the battle at Big Hole. She was
fascinating! I have believed for a long time and still believe the Native
American Indians got a bum rap all the way around.
The last 10 miles to Wisdom, Montana (population 114)
included an extremely strong cross wind.
The elevation is 6,100 feet and flat for miles, so the wind can really
whip through the area. By the time I made it to the camper, I was spent!
So, there is only one RV park in Wisdom, MT, which is run by
Carl. He is a good ole boy who is very friendly and likes to talk. The sites
are in the dead brown grass and it backs up to a field of abandoned fenced in vehicles,
which one old truck has a tree growing where the engine is suppose to be. We
are not complaining, as it has a nice restroom to include showers. Plus there
is electric, water, and sewer at each spot. One last note about the area, the
farmers literally flood their fields with water to get the hay to grow for
their cattle. In flooding the fields, there is an enormous quantity of
mosquitoes. They are so bad we could not sit outside very long. Carl says their
seasons includes 10 months of winter and 2 months of mosquitoes. Not my idea of
an ideal place to live. Glad we are moving on tomorrow morning to Dillon, MT
(population 3,752).
Some additional notes include the fact that Kim continues to
gain confidence in pulling, backing and unhooking the camper. She has become a
pro at pulling the camper up and down these big mountains. I am very proud of
her!
This fellow was fly fishing and he caught a fish while I was watching him...cool!
I stopped in Sula at the only store in town for a refreshing beverage...not a beer, but an iced coffee.
Now if there was snow we could be skiing.
We crossed the Continental Divide for the first time...with more to come in the future.
Neat meadows with mountain background. The State must have put up this split rail fence as it went on for miles and miles.
Park Ranger Besse Blackeagle at the Big Hole National Monument and she was very informative about the Nez Perce Indians.
Here is the neat "playground" behind out campsite in Wisdom, MT
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