Today the rain hasn�t stopped by 7 am, so I break camp in the drizzle. It�s wet, but I hope for the best and start up my cross-country route. The route is nice. There is one steep, wet, grassy hill above Sawed Cabin Lake where I must move carefully.

I now get to spend some time on the divide. A fog rolls in, making the burn areas I�m passing through look somber and ghostly.

I complained to Ann once that I never seem to run into bevies of beautiful young maidens out hiking the trail. Well, that’s not exactly what happens today either, but I do meet a five-woman trail crew building a bridge. They all stop to chat a little, one of them leaning the 12-foot-long 12�x4� plank she�s carrying against a tree. I always wondered how they got all that milled lumber into the wilderness. I thank them for their work and admire their vitality.

A bit later I meet two guys clearing trail. The wind has made a real mess of the burned trees on the divide, and they�re worried they didn�t bring a big enough saw. They also put up a new sign at an unsigned intersection. The trail in Montana seems to be receiving a lot of attention.

I continue nice divide hiking, but clouds and rain showers allow only sporadic views. I do see some big mountains to the south, and wonder if they are on the divide.

The miles seem to go by slowly. I want to push on to Hogan Cabin, but it becomes clear I won�t make it before dark. At Schultz Saddle I step onto my first road in a couple of days. When it starts to get dark I make a roadside camp, performing a small comedy act for no one in particular while I try to hang my food in the fading light. At one point I throw a rock up, it disappears in the dark, and I run away with my hands over my head. I hope the bears aren�t watching.