STUNNING Downhill

Day 26—Saturday, Aug 27—south of Butte, MT to Beaverdam Campground

25 miles; cool breeze, warm sun

Climbing way up above and beyond Butte in the far distance

Day began with a long climb (of course!). I was nearly out of water but found an abundant source in a mountain stream (which I filtered). With my bike laying down along this gravel road, a couple of folks came by dragging four wheel drive carts and stopped to ask if everything was OK. After assuring them I was just collecting water I continued up to the summit where they were conducting a training on search and rescue. I spoke with Frank Finnegan who was one of the trainers and we chatted about mining, and search and rescue. The target of the rescue training today was a fictitious mountain biker—and that’s why I got all the questions.

Fresh water in the nick of time!

Search and rescue training; had my chance to play a wounded mountain biker. Oh well

The summit was lovely with the Pioneer Mountains ahead and the trail leading me through grassy highlands with cows on and about the road. The path was up and down until reaching another summit from which I sharply descended into a broad valley. It was perhaps the most stunning downhill I have ever experienced since I could see so much (even topping out at 25 mph and trying to keep the bike upright). That thrill was replaced with a four mile grind into a headwind to get across the valley floor before starting to climb again.

Pioneer Mountains beyond

Would love to know where these cows get their spray paint; can’t disagree with their perspective; life for them is proscribed and short.

Starting descent into valley

Straight down

Steeper than it looks

I came upon Beaverdam Campground, which Linda from Helena had recommended. Decided to have a hot lunch in lieu of the usual and to make this a shorter day of 25 hilly miles. Fleecer Ridge lies up yonder and I’ll tackle that climb when I am fresh tomorrow.

Gorgeous afternoon: cool breeze, warm sun; probably in the low 70s. The knee I injured last winter after a biking crash on black ice is twinging for the first time…another reason for keeping today's miles down. The schedule I blocked out back in the spring—knowing nothing about the terrain or my capabilities—shows me about 3 days “behind” after almost 4 weeks of travel. We’ll see what that means down the road.

I didn't see any other bikers today or yesterday—not sure if the herd is in front or behind but guessing the former. Plugging along.

Small world department: shared dinner with a young couple from Washington, Robert and Amanda Swindler (and Daisy!) moving to Missouri to start a co-housing community. Their mom knows my friend and colleague Kitty Ryan from Notre Dame days!