Long-distance hiker starts on Continental Divide Trail

EAST GLACIER, Mont. — Jeff Garmire of Vancouver is about a week into his southbound hike on the Continental Divide Trail, the longest, hardest and most remote of the Triple Crown of America’s long-distance trails.

He completed the Appalachian Trail this spring and finished up the Pacific Crest Trail in late July. Garmire is attempt to become one of a very small cadre who have hiked all three of the trails in a calendar year.

He reported leaving East Glacier with an extremely heavy pack for the 190-mile stretch to Lincoln, Mont.

“The first 15 miles were a pretty easy mix of old roads and maintained national park trails,’’ he wrote on his blog Tuesday. “Then I arrived at Marias Pass and the good trail and tourists disappeared.’’

The CDT is less complete than the AT or PCT and requires using old roads and some cross-country travel. It has various alternative routes.

“Shortly after following an old, overgrown road, I entered an extremely large burn area. I was exposed in the hot sun on a poor and often nonexistent trail in the middle of the backcountry.’’

Garmire crossed the South Fork of Two Medicine River.

“The scenery wasn’t great today, but I can see some incredible formations I will be traveling through ahead.’’

His progress can be followed online at http://freeoutside.com.