[Cdt-l] CDT route around Butte

[Jeff Braun]

I sent out an update on the route around Butte Thursday evening in 
response to Scott's earlier email to let everyone know  ~16 miles of 
trail was completed last fall. I happened to talk to the forest 
service recreational specialist yesterday and I have some more 
information from her for those who want to follow the Divide around Butte.

She has calculated there is now less road walking hiking around Butte 
than taking the Anaconda cutoff.

There is now a more convenient resupply from Homestake Pass. A new 
grocery store, Three Bears, opened last spring at the I-90 
Continental Drive exit (4 miles from the pass). I was going to 
mention this store on Thursday as a convenient resupply - in a few 
years a SOBO will be able to leave the CDT at the top of Maude S 
canyon, hike to the Maude S trailhead, which is located 1/2 mile from 
the store. You can return to the CDT from the trailhead via the same 
Maude S trail or follow the old railroad grade up to Homestake Pass 
(probably around 3 extra miles total to hike to the store). The 
railroad grade is currently used by walkers, runners and a few 
mountain bikers. The forest service plans to complete the Maude S to 
Homestake CDT segment this summer, but they still need to work out a 
route and right-away issues north of Maude S.

The Northern Rockies Outdoor Center (NROC) would like to help CDT 
hikers. They will hold packages and provide shuttles to the trail. I 
have not verified this directly, but you can contact them at (406) 
782-2337. They are located at 829 S. Montana St., Butte, MT 59701.

I am also willing to take hikers back to the trail. Please email me 
directly for contact information.

SOBO hikers might be interested in the National Folk Festival, which 
will be held in Butte the next three summers. This summer it will be 
held July 11-13. This is a free festival. For more info, see:
http://www.nationalfolkfestivalbutte.com/

Note in the picture of the Highlands at the top of this web page you 
can pick out the Divide where some of the newest CDT trail was 
completed. The second ridge located pretty much in the middle of the 
picture from left to right is the Divide.

Jeff