Cross Country Day 19: Ovando to Wolf Creek Bridge Access Site

Today I'm over the hill.

We left Ovando this morning and continued to head out on everyone's favorite highway Montana 200.

Art had tried a little bit to see about rerouting us. However, there really wasn't an option that would effectively take us over the mountains without completely rerouting our trip entirely. So we trudged on. As we got higher in elevation the shoulders continue to narrow. At times it was just a white line with a guard rail. On the other side of the guard rail a large fall awaited. I had several moments where I would just pull off to try and grab a photo or a drink only to have a semi come blowing by. I view them as guardian angel moments for sure.

Up and up I went until there was no more up. I had reached Roger's Pass and the continental divide! Heck yes! A quick cheer and some photos later I found the rest of the group waiting not far from the pass sign. Now came the hard part. The descent. This was to prove some of the most challenging riding we'd done yet. We finally got to leave Montana 200 (thank goodness) but were now traversing rutted, rocky, backwoods "gravel" perhaps along the lines of an ATV trail. At this point it had started raining as well which only added to the "fun". I am no stranger to hike-a-biking and quickly nope-villed much of the descent. It may have really slowed me down but I knew the alternative would not end well. Eventually it did turn into more of dirt road and I was able to get back on my bike. There were a few creek crossings of various depths. I was able to ride though the first couple. Though I had to ford the last few by foot. It was another wet day. At this rate I'm going to run out of dry socks rather quickly......

Not only were there stream crossings, but this trail was not heavily maintained leading to large pot holes that were now filled with muddy water due to the rain over the last few days. How deep were the puddles? Well it was really hard to tell until you were stuck in the middle having to pedal with more force than you thought to get back out again. At one point I did fall over, but this time onto soft dirt. I had a laugh and got back on the bike. More road. More potholes. More mud. After getting to the bottom of the first valley a mile long steep rocky climb took us upward once again. Though thankfully this time we went towards dryness as well.

I almost made it out of this top rocky section without issue. Almost. Got caught in a rut and ended up crashing. Again. This time it hurt a little more. This time. Well this time I had had enough. I sat by my bike and just yelled. Yelled into the nothing of the rocky mountains. I yelled out my hurt. I yelled out my frustration. I yelled out my pain. I yelled out my tiredness. I yelled out my dampness. I yelled out my aloneness. I yelled and then I sat. I sat and I thought. I thought and I remembered. I remembered all the goodness that has come from the last 3 weeks. I remembered all the stories that I now hold. I remembered that I am not alone. I remembered I am capable. I remembered I am strong, and I CAN DO THIS!

So I picked myself up. I picked my bike up. I picked up and continued on. Down the mountain. Navigating terrain that was slowly becoming more friendly. I meandered down gravel roads that were not covered with a 1/2" of slurry due to the rain. I navigated over creeks that now had bridges. I made it all the way down to pavement, and I was so thankful.

We met for supper in the town of Wolf Creek. We were all battered by the day. Some more than others, but the day was hard to all. The mountains are not to be taken lightly, and they demand our respect.

Camp for the evening was about 5 miles out of town right along the banks of the Missouri River in a primitive camping area that was suggested by a gal back in Wolf Creek. This is the same Missouri that eventually winds its way down to South Dakota. Just like that we were reconnected with a piece of home.

Fearing a hoard of mosquitos, I set up my tent in record time. Jeff was able to patch me up a bit, and then it was time for bed. I was dirty. I was smelly. I was wet. I was scraped and bruised. But I was safe. I had my friends around me. I had the thoughts of all those back home. I am not alone. I am capable. I am strong. I can do this. Tomorrow is another day.

'till next time

-Matt