Tag Archives: wilderness hiking

Mission Accomplished. Made it to Canada, and ran into an old friend!

(September 19, 2018, Canada! Day 115 and 3000 miles)

Well, after 3000 miles and 115 days of hiking, I reached the Canadian border.

All smiles, I had time to dance a little jig.

And then the rain came down and it was time to move on.

Without a doubt, the hardest physical endeavor of my life. And worth every step.

After crossing the border I hitched up to Calgary where I had the pleasure of running into an old friend. A friend I had shared the road with through Sudan, the Central African Republic and Zaire back in the wild late 80s. And a friend who I hadn’t crossed paths with in the subsequent 30 years.

Catching up was the icing on the cake after hiking the CDT.

Below is the final installment of pictures and text. Thanks so much for following along and your support along the way. It meant a lot.

 

Bighorn sheep blockade on the trail. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

Climbing out of a valley field with an inversion. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

And descending into yet another inversion. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

A climb for the future. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

Had a Mexican standoff for a while with this guy on the trail. I was the first to yield. And I have a video to prove it. Check Facebook shortly and you will see for yourself! (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

Headed down from a pass in Glacier National Park. The CDT is visible in the foreground and to the right. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

Fall near the Canadian border. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

Made it! (Selfie by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

Official finishing point. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

THE END! (Of the CDT)

Note from Admin: Knowing Steven “Blast,” he’ll be off on another adventure before his face thaws out.

 

 

 

 

 

Lincoln, Montana – 300 miles to go

(September 6, 2018, Lincoln, Montana)

I can smell the border. 300 miles to go.

Body is getting grumpy but that is what Alleve is for toward the end.

Lots of fires ahead, but I’m getting quite good at sneaking around them.

With a little luck, I’ll kiss a Mapleleaf in a couple of weeks.

Fall comes to the pine forest. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

History of a wildfire memorialized by the survivors. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

My birthday gift on the day I turned 55. Stumbled upon a 100-year-old wooden railway trestle bridge being taken over by the forest. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

The only remainder of Anaconda, Montana’s famous smelter. The brick masonry smokestack is taller than the Washington monument. At its rim, it is wide enough and strong enough for a Cadillac to complete a circumference. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

My favorite bar in Anaconda. Took my first day off since leaving Rawlins, Wyoming on August 1 in Anaconda. The plan was to relax and relax some more. But my room was over another bar and it was karaoke night. Nothing to do but sing-along from my bed until 4 AM. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

Laundry after four days on the trail. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

9 PM bath for a moose. Both of us avoiding a fire up on the ridge. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

What happened when the fish crossed the road? (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

An incredibly labor-intensive fence that tracked the CDT for miles. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

Getting ready to hike into an inversion, (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

Bone directions to a spring. (Photo by Steven “Blast” Halteman)

 

Steven “Blast” Halteman, signing off from the CDT!

 

Steven “Blast” Halteman – Off Again! This time hiking the CDT.

(Continental Divide, Southernmost Point, April 25, 2018) Decided to step away for six months or so. Maybe try to visit a couple countries I haven’t seen before. Also, try to get in a good hike.

Started the hike part four days ago. The trail is called the Continental Divide trail lasix sin receta. I’m 85 miles in and have 3015 miles to go.

The trail starts on a part of the Mexican border called Crazy Cook. Which is so named because an early surveying party was marking the border circa 1907 when one of the crew gave an unflattering pre-Yelp review about the food and was promptly murdered by the cook.

 

The photos above is of a fairly questionable water stop which didn’t work out well for my friend got there before me. But I found to be quite palatable. Sometimes it’s nice not to have a choice.

My sleeping quarters and some interesting views (below):

Until next time!

Steven “Blast” Halteman, from the CDT. See you on the trail.