Day 23 - Lincoln to Augusta

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 Stats: 

Today's miles: 55.8 miles
Today's feet of elevation gain: 2,562 feet
Total miles traveled: 855.4 miles
Total feet climbed: 32,039 feet
Dead Rattlesnake count: 16
Initial/Final elevation 4,603 ft / 4,254 ft

Whether it was the long previous day, the 44F morning temp, or the churning in my gut (bad “Deli” sandwich??) I was slow tearing down camp and hitting the road. After oatmeal and a cup of coffee I was on the road a little after 9:00AM. This segment of the route was challenging for several reasons:

1) Within the first 17 mi there is a climb over Rogers Pass/Continental Divide (5610’, the highest elevation on my whole route)

2) There are no services (convenience stores, café, rest stops or water sources) between Lincoln and Augusta

3) The route includes a number of steep climbs up/down river bottoms and buttes on the ‘down slope’ from the divide.

4) The east side of the divide quickly becomes a high plains, hot, arid landscape.

I was feeling pretty confident when I crossed the pass at 11:30. The climb was much easier than Lolo, even though at a higher elevation. After the initial exhilarating downhill from the pass, it became clear how much the terrain and change in environment would affect the rest of the route to Augusta. The Adventure Cycling planners set the route to Augusta even though it’s about 20 mi longer than staying on MT 200 to Great Falls. Based on what I experienced I assume they did it due to the traffic levels and the repeated steep climbs on MT200. In any case, the route to Augusta heads back to the NW, just perfect for picking up the 15mph afternoon headwind! It was a long grind, but I arrived in Augusta just after 4:30. After a stop at the General Store for an ice cold Pepsi, I went to check out the Wagon Wheel Motel/Campground/Restaurant/Bar to camp for the night. It turned out the ‘campground’ was actually just a large, open gravel lot for overnight RV parking. I thanked them for the open hotel room instead. After a ‘deluxe’ burger and a beer (only a granola bar and dried fruit since breakfast) at the Buckhorn Bar & Grill it was time to call it a day.


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