Beartooth Hike and Pack

Today is the longer of two travel days to get out to the Beartooth Mountains. Expect about an 8 hour drive through most of North Dakota. You’ll stop shy of the Montana border by about 10 miles and camp just outside Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The last travel day before you gear up for a once in a lifetime backpacking experience. Expect about 5-½ hour drive to Woodbine Campground. Located in Custer Gallatin National Forest, you’ll surely notice the change from the North Dakota landscape you observed on day one.

After breaking down camp and departing Woodbine Campground you’ll head to the trailhead to start your hike near Cathedral Point, MT. Departing the trailhead, you’ll begin winding through a narrow canyon section along Stillwater River. Take time to enjoy the views and smell that crisp mountain air–you're exactly where you're supposed to be. Wilderness Inquiry leaders will help you set up camp on Sioux Charley Lake, a fanned-out section of the Stillwater River. Relax under the stars, and enjoy your first dinner on trail, you’ve certainly earned it!

On the move again, you’ll find yourself passing through lush rolling meadows following a fairly flat portion of the Stillwater River. This is the perfect time to come across deer or moose–keep your eyes peeled! A trip in the mountains only stays flat for so long… As we approach Wounded Man Creek campsite, the terrain becomes steeper. Remember, the best things in life are worth the effort!

Today you’ll start retracing your steps back to the trailhead. Don’t think of it as seeing what you’ve already seen- anticipate and recapture the landscape that made the journey spectacular thus far! You’ll be surprised by the new perspective simply by turning 180 degrees back toward civilization.

You’ll return to Woodbine campground where you’ll enjoy one last night in Montana. Relish the break your body has earned when you realize you don’t have to put that pack back on your shoulders the following morning! The hard part is over. Howl at the moon tonight and enjoy dinner in a somewhat more glamping lifestyle than you’ve been accustomed to while backpacking.

Take one more glimpse or dip your feet into the Montana Rivers that have become your home the past few days. Remember this feeling and cherish it as you begin your journey home. The memories and sensations of the western landscapes and waters will extend far beyond this week.

The journey has been long, but you’ll have plenty of stories and jokes to share with your trip mates during the last few hours on the road. Be proud of what you just accomplished as a team and know the mountains are always waiting for you.