Alternatives and altruism in the CDT in Montana

Less water, more could

In the middle of the section of the path between the cities of Augusta and Elliston, the abundant water sources we had enjoyed (read: giving for granted) throughout the glacier and the bob mysteriously disappeared. The sources were suddenly scarce, returning less and more.

Water became a merchandise in which we had to think and plan our days. I did not expect this until the «desert» sections of the path. When investigating the areas with small water and, therefore, the long water carries the CDT, it will probably meet places in New Mexico and the Wyoming basin. I don’t remember reading anything about Montana.

Maybe 2025 is just a particularly dry year in this state. Even the bodies of water marked with the symbol of the reference point of water drops in Farout (indicating a reliable source) have been dry this year. The locals have told us that it is currently in a state of drought. This is probably due, at least in part, the snowfall lower than the average during the past winter.

Regardless of the cause, the reality was that we were facing more than 15-20 miles between reliable water sources. And we were just walking the same range of miles per day. That potentially meant transporting water from a camp from one night to the next. To make things worse, the elevation profile through this section was far from being easy and full of podes (meaningless ups and downs). More could = more effort = more necessary hydration.

How do we fight these obstacles?

Flights pass the cache

First we were lucky with a magic of impeccably timed paths. Two locals for backpackers in the Lincoln area, Crusty Phil and Tinkerbell, have a cache of water and other sweets in the bears box in Flescher Pass. You will never want to trust 100%, since you have no way of knowing with certainty if they are currently stored. We had an backup plan to collect in a water source outside the path, but we hope we save the legs of the additional mile and we could fill the cache.

Luckily, just when we get to the pass, we find nothing less than crispy Phil and Tinkerbell in the flesh. They told us that they had not only resumed the water cache, but also left exactly three soft drinks there. This was incredible news for three hot and sweaty hikers about to enter a dry spell.

When we arrive at the pass and open the bears box, we found two olipops and a spine lid, still cold, an additional gift from the small honey buns and a water reward. Much to take us to our dry camp, through dinner, breakfast and the reliable source of the next day. We were very grateful that these paths of trails strive to keep the cache that made our day much easier and more pleasant.

The flame alt

Another way we deal with the lack of water on the path was not to follow the road. The CDT is a trip of many alternative routes and is widely accepted and encouraged to take them as necessary or desired. It’s about choosing your own adventure. The area in which we were has an unofficial alternative commonly referred to by hikers such as the «flame alt». As the name implies, the route passes through a ranch that has flames, among other farm animals.

The ranch is a property owned by a husband and a wife and is mainly a shelter oriented to bicycle packers that are bicycle along the Great divide mountain bicycle route. The GDMB is essentially the CDT bicycle equivalent. It crosses about 2700 miles from Banff, Canada to the border of New Mexico-Mexico along the continental division, and is supposedly the longest-paving bicycle route in the world.

Our main intention taking the Alt flame was not visiting the ranch, but the road was parallel to more streams than the red line (the official CDT route) and there was a much softer rating and much less could. We had heard rumors about the magic of the path of an un specified variety in the Llama ranch, which was just an additional advantage for our purposes.

I insecure whether camping or was not possible there, we thought we would stop, we would see what the place was about, then be on the way to the stealth camp somewhere on the road. In a manifestation then unknown, the program said: «Maybe we can ask and will know from a place more or less on the path we can camp.»

After a long gravel and hidden dirt walk under our umbrellas from the beating sun, we arrived at the call ranch. The magic of the path included a mini fridge on the porch full of soft drinks, beer and cold cut sandwiches. I chose a turkey that also had cheese, mustard and sweet sweets in the bread of Muigra. He gave the place after 18 miles of hiking.

This umbrella has been one of my favorite pieces during this walk. It makes sunny roadwalling much more bearable.

Pay it forward

Shortly after arriving, we met one of the owners of the property, John. He gave us a brief spiel on the place, saying that they operate completely for free and with a philosophy of «paying forward.» They don’t even accept donations, believing that they are better to use in the world. For example, paying for someone’s groceries on the line behind you would be a way to pay it. The ultimate goal, John explained, was to make the world a better place.

We asked about a place to camp a little distance, and mentioned that he has a friend 5 miles on the road with a property in which he allows the hikers. The program, free samples, and I looked at me with kismatic disbelief when remembering what the show had said before. It was totally manifested.

The not so romantic cabin

However, we do not walk those five additional miles, but we decided to stay in the ranch. Just after the flame hut there were a lot of small cabins and bunk beds. Free samples slept in a rose -covered car. John offered the show and the cabin, said he reserved for romantic couples, a small cabin with double bed and front porch. We gladly accept, but unfortunately it was more capricious than practical.

You call! And some of the bunk beds/cabins in the background.

The «romantic couples» cabin, outside.

The «romantic couples» cabin, inside.

Planning to get up at 4 in the morning to overcome heat on our walk the next day, we settled in the LOFT bed to sleep at 9 pm was still light and the thermostat in the cabin said 86 degrees. After 20 minutes of attempt, we concluded that it was too hot to fall asleep there, and we decided to camp on the porch. Heat problems solved, we accommodate again, just to see a mouse cross the porch through our pillows.

That was the beginning of a restless night of paranoia that mice crawled over us. Real or imagined, it prevented me from sleeping well. Around 3 in the morning, I’m sure I felt a mouse running at the foot of my quilt and wake up. Both awake, we decided shortly after packing and exit. It was the worst sleep night on the road so far.

Cowboying on the porch, taken a few minutes before Mousenoia began.

The Elliston Direttissima, or, the Dog Creek Alt

At 5 in the morning, we were walking again, this time an alternative of our own creation. When we realize that the city of Elliston was only 27 miles on the way, we decided to follow the roads instead of joining the path and getting there much faster. We had been out for seven days at this time and we were more than ready for the city time as soon as possible. In addition, the red line was still looking dry and being able to in the area. We called the «Elliston direttissima» route, as well as the «Dog Creek Alt» because it took the most direct path to the city and followed a stream with that name for a part of it.

Sunrise from our Roadwalk outside the Rancho calls. This lion tooth was the size of my palm. They do not make them so great in the east.

Throughout our Alt we went through many land cultivation lands and saw more black cows and brown we could count. Some were shy and escaped from us in the trees. Others were unhappy, we were in their fields and we moved repeatedly.

Disgusting water

The water situation on the road turned out to be less abundant than we expected. The streams that generally flow were dry, or ran directly through cows fields with cow cakes on their banks. A spring that we passed had a cow drinking actively from the channel, so we did not bother to compete.

In a moment, our best option was what seemed like a kind of irrigation line, a pipe that emerges horizontally from the ground with a muddy crater that surrounds it. It was certainly disgusting, but it was clear, cold and knew well after filtering him. I am sure we will experience much worse in New Mexico.

When we arrived at our planned stealth camp next to the train tracks in Elliston Eve, we were euphoric to discover that the nearby stream was flowing. We had not been positive that it would be. There was not only running water, but enough to bathe. We must have been a show for the drivers of the multiple load trains that passed to witness.

Each and every one, I will admit that this leg was hard and not one of my favorites. But the selfless kindness of strangers and the freedom to create our own path helped to make it a little easier.

My point of view on most walks, looking from under my umbrella in the show and free samples walking ahead of me.