Continental Divide Trail: Hitting Stride to Yellowstone
A hiker's journey on the Continental Divide Trail, from Bannack Pass to Lima, with stunning mountain views and encounters with wildlife.
The Continental Divide Trail stretches across the United States, offering breathtaking views and challenging terrain for hikers. One hiker's journey took them from Bannack Pass to Lima, with a mix of easy and difficult trails, stunning mountain views, and encounters with wildlife.
## Elk Mountain and Hazy Ridge The trail began with a gentle climb up Elk Mountain, followed by a descent down to Bannack Pass. The hiker noted that the dirt road crossing the trail was rarely used, with only a couple of cars passing by each day. After crossing the pass, the trail climbed back up to a flat path on the open hillside, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
## Red Peaks and Lima As the hiker continued on the trail, they stopped for lunch near a spring and collected water for the afternoon. The trail then descended down into the tree line, with rolling hills and open meadows between sections of woodland. The hiker caught a glimpse of the Red Conglomerate Peaks, a impressive mountain with unique rock formations. They decided to take an alternate route to Monida Pass, which cut off a bit of mileage and a long water carry.
## Gunslinger and the Trail Ahead After arriving in Lima, the hiker met up with other hikers, including Letters, a triple crowner who had hiked the CDT twice. They resupplied and spent the evening soaking in a bathtub and enjoying a beer. The next day, they set off on the trail again, with a new trail name - Gunslinger - after firing a pistol with a rancher named James. The trail took them through open sagebrush and woodland, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
## A Berry Good Day As the hiker continued on the trail, they encountered a variety of wildlife, including moose and sheep. They also stumbled upon a bounty of wild berries, including huckleberries, wild strawberries, and thimbleberries. The trail took them through woodland and meadows, with stunning views of Mount Taylor and the surrounding mountains. The hiker eventually lost their hiking companions, but found a beautiful campsite sheltered from the wind, with a fantastic sunset view.
