Journal Aug 2 – In the Pipestone
Up early to get our 5 miles in as quick as we can to get to Pipestone Pass, to get to town. With trail tread so new the surveyors stakes are still showing, the walking was easy. The views were nice and a cool morning made for a very pleasant hike.
Unsure how long it might take to get a ride we hustled to the pass. Pipestone pass is only about 8 miles from the edge of town, but Butte is the largest town near the CDT, very spread out and potentially one of the most challanging for getting in, out and around about for chores. Getting to town is the first half of the challenge, the other will be getting to the post office which is off the beaten track, a mile from pretty much aything else of interest. And it is Saturday, so their hours are limited 10am to 1pm. We wanted to make sure had plenty of time and arrived at the Pass shortly after 10am
We had not even had time to really get organized (put on a clean-ish shirt) and walk the couple hundred yards from where the trail comes out to the actual top of the pass, when the second car stopped, gave us a ride into town and detoured to drop us at the post office’s front door! You just never know how things like this will turn out.
But Butte is a large town, so the post office is large and not accustomed to dealing with hiker general delivery type mail. After 4 requests and two personnel we managed to find all the boxes and letters we expected. We walked the mile through the residential section to the “center of everything not in uptown” aka Exit 127 (of interstate 90) and Harrison ave) and found a room at the Butte War Bonnet hotel, checked in, showered up and ready to get some lunch by a little after noon.
We managed to get chores done (including laundry at the “Suds and Fun” a Laundromat/Casino) between downbursts of some serious rain showers. It’s nice to be in town and not on the trail when it rains. We’ll relax tonight, enjoy the hot tub and take a zero day tommorrow for more rest and to sort out groceries and the rest of our resupply.
Trail Miles – 5.0
August 4th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Glad you are both doing well. I lived for awhile in Whitehall, MT working for the Forest Service, so am kind of familiar with the country you just passed through. Look forward to more updates. Craig