A Country Divided: The Continental Divide Trail

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The American politician and writer Horace Greeley famously, and apocryphally, said "Go west, young man." Spiritually, this advice holds true today. Yet in the age of aircraft, highways, and the internet, the westernmost place in the continental United States is no longer the furthest west, geographically. It is rather that most rugged landscape generally arrayed across the continental divide as it marches from Canada to Mexico. Largely spared from extensive human impact in the pre-environmental era, a scintillatingly named series of protected areas form a remarkably contiguous span across the country. The appellations Great Bear, Bob Marshall, Absaroka-Beartooth, Bridger, Eagles Nest, Uncompahgre, Cebolla, Gila, and Aldo Leopold are in their sum almost onomatopoetic.

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# WORDS: 1550
# PHOTOS: 8

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Apr 5, 2011 at 1:29 pm #1271752

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

A Country Divided: The Continental Divide Trail

Apr 5, 2011 at 2:06 pm #1720465

Mary D
BPL Member

@hikinggranny
Locale: Gateway to Columbia River Gorge

More wonderful photos from God's country! Thank you!

Apr 5, 2011 at 2:30 pm #1720482

Nick Gatel
BPL Member

@ngatel
Locale: Southern California

David,

Absolutely one of the best done articles I have read on BPL. Not a trip report someone can duplicate, not a review of gear that can be purchased. Just thoughts, musings, and reflections with fantastic pictures. Sure to inspire others to get out more, and not necessarily the CDT, but it does call out for a trip somewhere on the CDT, destinations to be determined by the hiker.

WELL DONE!!

Apr 5, 2011 at 2:41 pm #1720493

t.darrah
BPL Member

@thomdarrah
Locale: Southern Oregon

WELL DONE +1

Apr 5, 2011 at 2:57 pm #1720504

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

Thank you Nick and Thom, I had quite a fun time putting this one together.

I'd also like to point out those unheralded members of the BPL team; editor Addie and her intern. She did an excellent job formatting the text and photos I sent along, in a way which really enhances and brings the whole thing together. Thanks Addie!

Apr 5, 2011 at 3:28 pm #1720518

Richard Lyon
BPL Member

@richardglyon
Locale: Bridger Mountains

David,

Marvelous photos and musings! More, please.

Apr 5, 2011 at 4:13 pm #1720541

Ryan W
Member

@mwilks

Really really nice! Well done David. Missing some of those familiar places right about now.

Apr 5, 2011 at 4:18 pm #1720544

Jerry Adams
BPL Member

@retiredjerry
Locale: Oregon and Washington

Nice article, thanks

Yeah, Addie is great

Apr 5, 2011 at 4:19 pm #1720547

Philip
BPL Member

@philipd
Locale: Ontario, Canada

As always David I enjoy your writing and the pictures are amazing. Your blog is one of my regular stops.

Apr 5, 2011 at 4:34 pm #1720563

Brian Barnes
BPL Member

@brianjbarnes
Locale: Midwest

Splendid !

Apr 5, 2011 at 4:44 pm #1720571

Daniel Paladino
BPL Member

@dtpaladino
Locale: Northern Rockies

Great article, a pleasure to read. Please write more for us David!

Apr 5, 2011 at 6:35 pm #1720651

Chris Peichel
Member

@momo
Locale: Eureka

Thanks David. Excellent!
Can we have some more writings from you, please. Pretty please… with snickers on top.

Apr 6, 2011 at 5:34 am #1720825

Edward Z
BPL Member

@fuzz
Locale: Sunny San Diego

Read the first paragraph, then had to sit down, shut the office door and read the whole thing. Great writing style. Can't wait to see more of your writings on here.

Apr 6, 2011 at 7:47 am #1720863

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

I've got a few ideas I'd like to work up soon.

Apr 6, 2011 at 9:53 am #1720919

Jim Colten
BPL Member

@jcolten
Locale: MN

one word review …. WOW!

Apr 6, 2011 at 10:20 am #1720928

George Matthews
BPL Member

@gmatthews

amazing!

Apr 6, 2011 at 10:39 am #1720943

Sam Haraldson
BPL Member

@sharalds
Locale: Gallatin Range

The format you use for your blog works well for BPL also, Dave. Thank you for sharing the words and photos of this wonderful region.

Apr 6, 2011 at 11:26 am #1720968

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

David, thanks for the diversion from my normal daily routine, very enjoyable.

While working on ideas- I'd like to see how you put your gear list into practice, i.e. what were you using and how were you camping in a particular situation, like, -20* on Bowman(what used and where), etc.

Apr 6, 2011 at 11:39 am #1720979

HkNewman
BPL Member

@hknewman
Locale: The West is (still) the Best

Good stuff. Thanks.

Apr 6, 2011 at 11:49 am #1720987

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

Almost made it to 20 without a gear question! ;)

Tad, the gear list is geared towards April-June and September-early November trips. On that trip to Bowman I had a lot more.

WM Antelope MF bag
MEC Reflex parka
Patagonia Micropuff pants
Full length blue foam and torso-sized ridgerest
Skis with plastic telemark boot and foam liners
etc.

I was pleased to sleep very warm with that setup. The Reflex is an awesome winter coat.

I'd be happy to answer any and all gear questions.

Apr 6, 2011 at 2:04 pm #1721049

Gregory Topf
BPL Member

@notoriousgrt
Locale: PNW / Switzerland

Yearning to get back there am I after reading that one.

Apr 7, 2011 at 7:47 am #1721350

Anne Flueckiger
BPL Member

@annefluke
Locale: Northern Minnesota

It's especially cool to see this b/c David's father and my father were colleagues & close friends (who unfortunately both died way too young). Haven't seen David for about 20 years, but hope to catch up sometime when I'm in Montana. Thank for the essay!

Apr 7, 2011 at 9:15 am #1721383

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

Hey Anne! Our surnames make us somewhat conspicuous, eh? PM me if/when you're around, it'd be great to catch up.

Nice job in the Arrowhead, btw.

Apr 7, 2011 at 7:34 pm #1721742

Dirk Rabdau
Member

@dirk9827
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Great job, captured the moods of the seasons, which is so much of hiking. Amazing how a place you think you know changes by season into something barely recognizable.

I really enjoyed your pics, and at the expense of being a camera nerd, can you speak to the photo equipment you drag into the wild….

Thank you. The Divide is next on my list….

Dirk

Apr 7, 2011 at 8:47 pm #1721786

David Chenault
BPL Member

@davec
Locale: Queen City, MT

All but the photo of Kevin were taken with a Canon S90 shooting jpeg. The shot of Kevin was with a $50 Insignia from Best Buy.
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