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- - - - DAY 17 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008 - - - -

  Today's Distance: 24 Miles
  Today's Route: Helena to Elliston, MT
  Today's Weather: Cloudy, 20 to 30mph winds, lots of rain
  Current Elevation: 5,059 Feet (1,001' More Than Yesterday)
  Total Distance Traveled: 471 Miles
  Total Distance Remaining: 149 Miles

Paul's Thoughts For Today:

Since today was slated to only be 24 miles from Helena to Elliston, I decided to sleep in a little and didn't actually get on the road until around 9:00 a.m. - and it felt great to get a little more sleep than usual. I awoke to clouds, wind and I just knew that rain showers were not far off. On my way out of Helena I stopped at the state capital to take a few pictures. As I got west of Helena, the winds picked up a lot and of course were blowing right into my face from the west. When I got to the base of MacDonald Pass (which is the Continental Divide) the rain started to fall. It was a 6 mile push up to the top of the Continental Divide and throughout the trek today the rain would fall and then stop... and then fall again. The off and on rain showers made it rather difficult because I would get very wet and then the sun would peek through the clouds and it would get humid for a short time... and then another band of rain would soak me again.

About halfway up the Continental Divide I got a nice surprise. Charles Hansberry, a friend from Missoula, was traveling back to Missoula after conducting business in Helena and brought me some food. I took a break for about 20 minutes while he and I chatted as we sat on a guardrail along the road. Thanks Chuck! For the 20 minutes we chatted, the rain had stopped and the sun was showing itself. However, about 3 minutes after Chuck got into his car and drove away, the sky opened up with more rain! I made it to the top of the Divide (6,325 feet) and the wind was really blowing on top... and it was cold. I took some pictures, made a short video, and then got rolling in order to stay warm. As I went down the west side of the Divide the winds were more intense and the rain fell even harder. By the time I got to Elliston I was ready to get out of the wind and rain.

I truly appreciate the Pennington family for taking me in for an evening. They're terrific and I enjoyed staying with them in 2006 when I ran across America. I was treated to a wonderful spaghetti dinner and got to get my laundry done. The rain continued through the evening, but the forecast calls for the rains to stop and the weather to warm up... a lot! I've heard that Missoula will be up to 90 degrees on Saturday when I run into my hometown. I better keep my shorts handy! Although today was only 24 miles, the combination of the rain, wind and Continental Divide made it a rather challenging day. Rest and ice are needed... and that's what I'll do before going to bed. Only 149 miles left to go! 

Today's Montana "Did You Know?"...
Montana contains 15 wilderness areas that have been protected from commercial development. Cars and bikes are not allowed in these areas. If you want to get around these wilderness areas, you will have to go horse back riding through the trails. The wilderness areas include: Absaroka-Beartooth, Anaconda-Pinter, Bob Marshall, Cabinet Mountains, Gates of the Mountains, Great Bear, Lee Metcalf, Medicine Lake, Mission Mountains, Rattlesnake, Red Rock Lakes, Scapegoat, Selway-Bitterroot, UL Bend and finally, Welcome Creek.

Today's Native Americans "Did You Know?"...
Montana Indians had no immunity to the diseases that white explorers, colonists and settlers brought to their lands. These diseases included smallpox, measles, tuberculosis and others, which ravaged the tribes in great epidemics that killed many, and sometimes all, members of a tribe.

Today's Fitness "Did You Know?"...
Most teens need about 8½ to more than 9 hours of sleep each night. The right amount of sleep is essential for anyone who wants to do well in school or sports. Research shows that more than 20% of high school students fall asleep in class, and experts have been able to tie lost sleep to poorer grades. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration estimates that 1,500 people are killed every year in crashes caused by drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 who are simply tired. Try these to get better sleep: set a regular bedtime; exercise regularly; avoid stimulants; relax your mind; unwind by keeping the lights low; don't nap too much; avoid all-nighters; create the right sleeping environment; and, wake up with bright light.

Your Turn! Share Your Thoughts With Paul...
Click here to sign the official P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 guestbook!

Thanks for stopping by this milepost update. Run back here tomorrow!

Keeping on PACE,

Along The Way...

Today I went up and over the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE at MacDonald Pass - which is between Helena and Elliston. The road topped out at 6,325 feet. This is one of the windiest places in Montana. Even during high pressure systems the pass gets constant thermal winds from the west/ north west. MacDonald Pass joins two other Continental Divide crossings as vital links between east and west in Montana. In 1870, E.M. "Lige" Dunphy built a toll road over this portion of the Divide making extensive use of log "corduroying" in muddy spots. He hired Alexander "Red" MacDonald to manage the toll gate with charges for all types of transportation - except pedestrians and those traveling after dark. During the early 1880s a half dozen six-horse stages a day passed over MacDonald Pass to and from Helena and western Montana. In September of 1911, Cromwell Dixon earned a $10,000 prize when he became the first aviator in America to fly over the Continental Divide... not too far from where Highway 12 crosses at MacDonald Pass. Today a four-lane highway and an air beacon replace buckboards and biplanes of the earlier eras. The Continental Divide in Montana has a marked influence on the climate of adjacent areas. West of the Divide winters are milder, precipitation is more evenly distributed throughout the year, summers are cooler in general, and winds are lighter than on the eastern side. There is more cloudiness in the west in all seasons, humidity runs a bit higher, and the growing season is shorter than in the eastern plains.

Paul's Current Position In Montana