Changing of the Seasons in Montana

Upon arriving at MacDonald Pass, I stuck my thumb out and began my 100-mile hitch to the city of Missoula.  Took me three separate rides to reach my destination yet was still a surprisingly efficient way to travel such a distance.  I spent three zeroes touristing around town, meeting up with a couple of friends, and seeing two quality shows at the Big Sky Brewing Amphitheater.  Any day when I’m not lugging a backpack around is a welcome rest day, yet after three zeroes, the border began calling my name even louder.  Time is running low and I can only walk so fast. 

Hiker, don’t shoot!

I am currently in Lincoln, MT, picking up a resupply and figure the border is about 260 miles away.  130 miles a week puts me there in two weeks.  Certainly doable.  However, the past couple of days brought me into contact with a couple of locals who gave me some serious eyebrows when I said I was going all the way to Canada. 

On top of the divide.

Heeding their winter worries upon me, they share stories of years past when snow fell during the last week of September.  Of how the weather can change in an instant, tossing a blanket of white over everything in sight.  The skies above hold foreboding and warnings of their own.  While walking over the tallest peak of the day, I was welcomed with snow flurries floating down from above, occasionally being whipped around by the wind.  

Snow flurries!

After two days of partly cloudy weather and sporadic raindrops, the sky cleared up in lieu of the last day of summer.  I walk through dense groves of pine trees, shaded from the sun.  The evergreens remain just that as their stoicism disguises the changeover of seasons.  Autumn only existing upon the forest floor where plants have turned orange and red, burning bright for a while longer before fading back into the ground.  I wait patiently for winter, hoping it will hold off a couple weeks still.  

Waves of autumn.

Thanks for reading!  Wi-Fi was terribly slow so will update with photos at another time; check my Instagram story for some pictures from this section.  Peace and Love

knots