Day 20: Darby to Wisdom, Montana

We have found wisdom! Or at least the town of Wisdom, Montana. Chris gets the quote if the day award for his (too true) comment “I think Wisdom is up ahead, just over that ridge..”

We are celebrating because we were able to surmount the two 7,000 foot plus passes, which were actually very close to each other. There was a relentless 13 mile climb to the first pass but we started very early today to avoid the heat and the elevation helped with the temperature as well. Mary Ann was impressive on the climb,  attacking the ridge like a Sherpa on wheels.

We covered 68 miles today and are now over a thousand miles into our trek. Tomorrow is a challenging ride to Dillon, and we will pass over the 7,360 Big Hole Pass, but for now we celebrate a very successful ride today.

We spotted a BIG cinnamon colored grizzly on the way up to the pass today! Luckily he/she was separated from us by a very deep ravine. It was interesting to watch as it climbed a log and dug in the rocky soil. – Mary Ann
Moonset outside our lodge prior to our departure this morning. We are now staring much earlier I each day to minimize riding time in the afternoon heat.
Breakfast stop at Sula Camp at 18 miles before our climb.
No summit signs so we stopped here just before the decent.
Clouds rolled in during the afternoon. Rarely have clouds been so welcome .
Montana fencing across from the Big Hole Battlefield. We spent some time at the visitor center. A very important story told there of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce. Such an embarrassing and horrible part of our history.