Day 478 – US – Montana [Missoula to Clinton]

26/07/21

37km

  From Missoula (Montana) to Clinton (Montana)

North America

Back on the road towards Helena, on a 5 days stretch that promises to be… fairly desertic

Anaconda St bridge over the Blackfoort River

I set out of Missoula this morning, onto the frontage road (that runs parallel to the Interstate Road). I will not meet a real town before I reach Helena (capital of Montana) on Saturday. The run today was very rural, and by km 28, I joined the Interstate for the final kilometers to the lodge. There is absolutely nothing but the lodge where I am. Around me are mountains, the Pacific train line and the Interstate.

Quite a sight – planes on a freight train across Montana

It is a major adjustment. Back in Europe, there was always a city, a town, a village, sometimes just the seaside – but at least, somewhere to go to for a walk in the afternoon. I have never before experienced these vast expanses of land with really nothing in the middle. I guess I should use it as a preparation for what Australia will be like, especially as I will be crossing the Nullarbor desert, which famously has no distraction for 100’s of kilometers at a time (not even the luxury of the lodge like tonight).

Not getting tired of these landscapes

I keep myself busy sorting out my logistics for the next few weeks. The crossing of Montana is quite challenging (as I have decided I did not want to go “wild camping” and will only stay in designated campgrounds or motels). This is a decision driven by the many risks at the moment, including wildfires, multiplied incidents with bears recently in the region – safety in general. It makes things more complicated – but not impossible. And I like a challenge…

Check out today’s flyover video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vKv2yMexMoq

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: