Stephen Halligan stopped in at the High Country Lodge near Polaris for breakfast this morning.  Nate G., Lael W. and Josh I. flew by with a nice stiff tail wind pushing them toward Lima around noon.  Kai Edel, Chris Seistrup and Evan Deutsch stopped this afternoon for a short rest and resupply before heading for Lima.  Bannack Bench road is nice and dry for those who are wondering. 

man i so enjoy following along and seeing all the pix..  living vicariously through all these badasses.... but my goodness he looks rough... but then again we all would if riding this much, dealing with weather, and little to no sleep...  i cant even begin to imagine the physical and mental toughness all the folks possess.  its absolutely incredible

 I think Josh was feeling pretty good for pedaling 817 miles in 4 days.  We visited about steelhead and hooking up for a pyramid lake trip next winter.  

Josh Kato was the second TD rider to make it to High Country Lodge near Polaris.  A quick breakfast, WIFI, lunch to go and he was headed off to Lima. 

The first 2019 Tour Divide rider Sofiane Sehili rolled up to the High Country Lodge near Polaris tonight at about 10:30, just a few minutes behind Mike Hall's 2016 arrival time to our lodge.  SS was going to take a short rest and push off for Lima. 

Montana High Country Lodge, your go to stop, located in the Grasshopper Valley 1 mile north of Polaris, Montana wishes all of the 2018 Tour Divide Riders a safe ride all the way to the Antelope Wells or Banff if your doing a NoBo. We put up a new Tour Divide Sign this morning. We'll have the computer on and will be watching the dots pedal our way.

[Montana High Country Lodge, your go to stop, located in the Grasshopper Valley 1 mile north of Polaris, Montana wishes all of the 2018 Tour Divide Riders a safe ride all the way to the Antelope Wells or Banff if your doing a NoBo. We put up a new Tour Divide Sign this morning. We'll have the computer on and will be watching the dots pedal our way.]

Montana High Country Lodge, your go to stop, located in the Grasshopper Valley 1 mile north of Polaris, Montana wishes all of the 2018 Tour Divide Riders a safe ride all the way to the Antelope Wells or Banff if your doing a NoBo. We put up a new Tour Divide Sign this morning. We'll have the computer on and will be watching the dots pedal our way.

Ben made it back on track today.  He said he felt rested from the day off and headed to Lima late this evening.  Through the help from Rob at the Outdoorsman he was able to find a replacement in Bozeman.

High Country Lodge is starting to get a steady stream of Tour Divide riders.  Sunshine, little wind and lots of smiles.

Josh Kato dropped into the Grasshopper Valley this morning.  He had a wet night near Basin two nights ago, got dried out in Butte yesterday and is ready to peel some mileage off today. 

Brian is on the Bannack Road and seems to be showing solid pace.  The rains may have stopped early enough yesterday to allow the surface to firm up.

Staying at High Country Lodge last night was part of Brian's strategy to give the Bannack bench more drying time.  Looks like it worked in his favor.

Rain stopped, snow melted and Brian Lucido was the first TD rider to make it to the High Country Lodge.  Dinner, a shower and a few winks before Brian takes off early in the A.M.

He is back in Butte at the Outdoorsman.

Yeow! How is Bannack rd going to be after all that rain Russ? Are the leaders about to hit flypaper?

The weatherman is calling for more rain today.  Unfortunately my guess is the Bannack bench road and the Medicine Lodge road will be ugly!  It will take a day of sun and wind to dry it out.

It rained for 8 hours then turned to snow at the High Country Lodge which sits at 6500 foot elevation. Rugged conditions today for the Tour Divide riders when they come over Fleecer Mountain, the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway and on to the Bannack bench road. For sure we will be ready for the first TD riders to arrive at our lodge later today.

High Country Lodge is ready for 2017 Tour Divide Riders.  We have food, lodging, showers, WIFI, Verizon cell service and some limited repair parts.  Located in the Grasshopper valley, 1 mile north of Polaris, Montana.  Track-leader is always on at our lodge so we are watching and waiting for you to stop.  Good luck to all and ride safe.  See you soon!  Russ & Karen Kipp

High Country Lodge is ready for 2017 Tour Divide Riders.  We have food, lodging, showers, WIFI, Verizon cell service and some limited repair parts.  Located in the Grasshopper valley, 1 mile north of Polaris, Montana.  Track-leader is always on at our lodge so we are watching and waiting for you to stop.  Good luck to all and ride safe.  See you soon!  Russ & Karen Kipp

High Country Lodge is ready for 2017 Tour Divide Riders.  We have food, lodging, showers, WIFI, Verizon cell service and some limited repair parts.  Located in the Grasshopper valley, 1 mile north of Polaris, Montana.  Track-leader is always on at our lodge so we are watching and waiting for you to stop.  Good luck to all and ride safe.  See you soon!  Russ & Karen Kipp

I was not going to post anymore this season but yesterday & last night were very strange to southwest Montana.  We had rain off and on all afternoon / evening, a funnel cloud touched ground not to far from our lodge and it snowed last night.  Jim Goodyear ITT rider spent the night, as well as Touring riders Ryan Hamilton (2015 TD rider) and Nicolas Legget (2013 TD rider).  Jim was headed to the Bannack bench and Medicine Lodge area with lots of rain and snow in front of him.

Thanks to all the TD riders that stopped by Montana High Country Lodge near Polaris, MT.  We enjoyed seeing the returning riders and meeting the new riders.  A special thanks to Matthew Lee and Joe Polk for all you guys do to make this event a success each year.  The last NOBO road past our lodge yesterday, so this will be my last post for the 2016 season.  Our lodge will still accommodate riders needing services when passing by on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail.  Yeh... It's time to go fishing.

Hal is one of the riders we look forward to seeing each year at Montana High Country Lodge near Polaris, MT.  His up beat attitude and smile is contagious!