Day 126 - Continental Divide Trail - Champion Pass to Bison Blackfoot Trail Jct

Day: 126

Date: Monday, 09 September 2024

Start:  Champion Pass

Finish:  Bison Blackfoot Trail Jct

Daily Kilometres:  40.3

GPX Track:  Click here for Julie’s Strava & Photos

Total Kilometres:  3680.6

Weather:  Cool early, then mild with hazy sunshine.

Accommodation:  Tent

Nutrition:

  Breakfast:  Pop tarts/Muesli

  Lunch:  Snacks/Trail mix 

  Dinner:  Rehydrated meals

Aches:  Dave - the usual niggles; Julie - nothing reported.

Highlight:  Nothing in particular.

Lowlight:  The wildfire smoke haze came back overnight.  It wasn't as bad as a week ago, but it spoiled what views we had today, though made for a spectacular orange sunrise and sunset.

Pictures: Click here

Map and Position: Click here for Google Map

Journal:

There had been a strong wind overnight and with that came the unwelcome return of wildfire smoke which spoiled our day a little (see above).

Conscious that we needed to record a high mileage today if we were to reach Helena tomorrow night, we were hiking by 6:30am in good conditions apart from the smoke haze, and trying to maintain a good pace.

We were following the crest of the Continental Divide and initially hiked through attractive partly forested country where small groups of cattle were grazing.  After a couple of hours, we left the cattle behind and the trail spent more time in the pine forest.  Generally the trail was good walking, but there were sections that were rocky and technical that slowed us down, as did the sporadic blowdowns.

Apart from the climb up onto the shoulder (8400’) of Thunderbolt Mountain, the hiking was more undulating than mountainous and we maintained an altitude of between 7500’ and 8500’ for most of the day.

Around 2pm, while we were stopped for lunch, we were caught by two northbound CDT thruhikers, one of whom we had met a couple of times in New Mexico, which seems a very long time ago.  We didn't see anyone else all day.

Some blowdowns in the last 5km of the day slowed us down and we didn't quite get as far as hoped before deciding to camp around 8pm, as it got dark.  But, we are within striking distance of Highway 12 and a hitch into Helena tomorrow.  To give us the best chance of doing it on daylight, we will make a very early start tomorrow.