CDT # 10 West Yellowstone WY to Lima MT to Leadore ID to Darby MT

The Divide snakes its way between  Idaho and Montana as it curves west.  At first it is dry land with groves of trees, wide open grasslands and the big BIG sky.

So often we felt as if we were walking inside a peaceful landscape painting.

Hell Roaring canyon with its rock accent appeared as a surprise along the way

A thunderhead cloud above the town of West Yellowstone.

We celebrated Jobie’s birthday on trail. The Teton mountains are silhouetted in the distance.

As the season transitions into late summer, the grasshoppers are abundant. At times there is a flurry of them flying in all directions at once. They make a loud “clack-clack-clack” sound and randomly pelt into you. Sunglasses are necessary protection!

A chilly morning walk away from the Ram Valley. Although no rams were home, it was a magical setting.

This so called “Deadman’s Lake” was the richest colour turquoise ever. During the evening we could hear elk in the woods practicing their bugling abilities for the upcoming rut season.

You could just reach out your hand and pet the grass fur covered hills that lay and bend like ribs of the land.

Out of Lima the grassy hill mountains which our trail led us up and down, and up and down along their ridges,  were made of glacially tumbled colourful rocks. I kept my head down as we hiked to shield from the blowing wind but also to hunt and collect rocks! As Jobie says this is a “dangerous habit” to get into while backpacking!

After leaving Leadore ID the trail turned a more northerly direction and we found ourselves in rock. Mountains composed of shoe sized chunks of rock. Rugged with its ups and downs, and less friendly I’d say.

The yellowing of the willow leaves and the seed heads on the flowers speak of the coming fall. Will the snow hold off until we reach the Canadian  border? We now have a plan to finish at the end of September. Five months of hiking is enough don’t you think??!

Then the wildfire smoke set in! For 3 days we climbed through this rocky, smoky, old burn land. Our throats and mouths felt thickened with it. There was no way out but to keep on going. I tried to control the complaining but it was hard.

Altough these photos don’t show the reality of the smoky atmosphere, my body could feel it. My legs weren’t getting enough oxygen when exerting uphill and I would be forced to stop for extra inhalations. Elevation sat between 6000′ and 9000′ – lots lower than Colorado!

On arriving into Darby Jobie (the navigator) quickly investigated the fire situation. There is now another section of the trail further north which has been closed due to fire. The distance that remains for us to finish this trail has been shortened. Reality check…it is all good!