Montana - North Dakota - A Great Fracking Run

The Bakken Formation and fracking has changed the landscape in northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. An area of badlands and grasslands and remoteness still has all of that, but it now has pumps spread all around and people in nearby towns that have relocated to follow the jobs. It also has some better maintained dirt roads that I took advantage of to explore this once booming industry. But mostly I just ran and enjoyed the solitude and the grasslands and interesting hills. I also benefitted because I heard it was the warmest temperature recorded here for this day in March - 68 degrees. So the Bakken beckons.

Montana North Dakota border run

Little Missouri National Grassland -Sidney, Montana at North Dakota border

Bakken Formation Oil Pump

#CARPe Crazy Ass Running Plan Map

Montana - Wyoming 2 - An extra run in Big Sky Country.

Sometimes you get a chance to run in a beautiful spot and you just can't pass it up. Even if your Crazy Ass Running Plan #CARPe already has that spot checked off. The area south of Billings and east of Yellowstone's currently closed because of snow entrance issued me such an invitation. Remote? Yes. Solitude? Yes, couldn't even see the highway. A trail? Yes - more like a single lane dirt road. Nice weather? You betcha. Blue sky? It was a "Big Sky" and it was blue with those great white clouds that seem so close. Scenery? Yes, snow covered mountains off to the side.

Snow-covered scenery - Montana - Wyoming border

Big Sky running - Montana - Wyoming border

Map

Montana - Idaho - Bring your own Oxygen

This was my my highest point on a run so far. The actual border intersects with the Continental Divide at 7,072 feet (2155 meters). Any small hill or acceleration can literally take your breath away. For me, the only possibility of success on a hill depends on immediately switching to a pace which seems excessively slow. But it never is. And remember that I am not running that fast before the hills.

Continental Divide Trail Idaho

Targhee Pass - Continental Divide - Montana - Idaho - Single trail on South Side of Highway 20

Continental Divide Idaho

Map  #CARPe Crazy Ass Running Plan

South Dakota - Montana - It is just YOU State Line

Out west, sometimes there is no marker. Sometimes there is no sign. Sometimes you don't have all the modern items like a camera with you. Sometimes it is just YOU. But most of the time, that's enough.

#CARPe Crazy Ass Running Plan

South Dakota - Montana State Line