Event Information

Divide Ride 08 is a week long event with registration starting on Monday July 14th. Tuesday is the first day of trails rides and Wednesday will be a day off to hang out at camp or go to Virginia City or into Butte or fishing at one of the nearby lakes for a little more relaxed pace. Also Wednesday night there will be a BBQ of hamburger and hotdogs provided for all participants.

The Montana 4x4 Association (M4x4A) has negotiated the use of the Whitehall High School grounds, main auditorium and shower facilities for DR08. There will be a charge for use of the showers as indicated on the registration form. All activities will be in the main auditorium or at the campgrounds. Camping will be west of the school grounds. After you exit I-90 into Whitehall, follow the signs to the campgrounds. See you there!

(1) Trail Sign-up: This will be done in advance! Select 5 choices for trails you wish to run, from the list provided, place them in the order of most desired to the last desired. Trails will be assigned upon arriving at registration. By choosing 5 trails we will attempt to assign you to 4 from your list.

(2) Vehicle Proof of Insurance: To help speed up registration we will be requiring a copy of your proof of insurance to be sent in with your registration form. Not doing so will delay your registration as we will return your forms and wait for your paper work to be completed.

(3) Vehicle Tech: To help speed up registration, please provide a brief description of your vehicle and its abilities if you sign up for trails rated 4 or higher. Making sure you have the required equipment such as proper tire size, lockers - front and rear, roll cage, and winch and other important information. Not doing so will get you assigned to easier trails!

(4) Level 5: We may have some level 5 trails — body damage will happen, tire size restrictions; winch, locker - front & rear required. If you feel your rig meets all requirements and you would be interested in a more challenging area to drive please note that in the provided area on the registration and how many days you would want to be included on that trail. Note requirement of #3!

(5) RULES: The M4x4A has worked hard with the host town to make the best impression and therefore will not allow anyone to run the trails either on their own or unauthorized that you have not been assigned to run! Doing so shall have you immediately removed from this event as well as not being considered for future M4x4A events. This is for your safety, as well as the safety of other participants. Some areas where we will be traveling are on private land where we have obtained special permission for agreed upon times and numbers of vehicles, so please respect the M4x4A’s stand in these situations.

Agenda

Monday, July 14
Check-in/Registration
Registration: 10 am to 7 pm
Driver’s Meeting 7 pm

Tuesday, July 15
Registration continues
Trail Ride Departure - Times to be announced (TBA)

Wednesday, July 16
Family Day/BBQ Picnic

Thursday, July 17
Trail Ride Departure - Times TBA
Drivers meeting 8 pm
Pot Luck Dinner

Friday, July 18
Trail Ride Departure - Times TBA
Ice Cream Social and Ladder Golf
Drivers Meeting 8 pm

Saturday, July 19
Trail Ride Departure - Times TBA
Dinner catered and served at campsite

Sunday, July 20
Breakfast: 6:30 - 9 am
Events and times subject to change, others may be added.

DR08 Headquarters

We will be headquartered at the Whitehall High School. All activities will be in the main auditorium or on school grounds. Camping will be west of the school grounds. The School is located directly off I-90 at Whitehall’s main exit 294. Morning pastries and coffee will be available each morning.

Campfires, motorcycles, ATV’s, Quads, etc are not allowed at camp. Dogs are discouraged, but if brought must be on a leash at all times. Owners are responsible for clean up of all droppings. Proof of current vaccinations must be provided.

You can begin camping Saturday, July 12, but there will be no services available at camp till Monday, July 14th.

Whitehall, Montana

Whitehall is located in Jefferson County Montana, has a population of 1184, and is nestled in the Jefferson valley in the shadow of the Tobacco Roots, Bull and Highland Mountain Ranges. Whitehall is conveniently located 60 miles east of Bozeman, 20 miles west of Butte and 50 miles south of Boulder, it is adjacent to I-90 and on the crossroads with highways 2 and 69. The Lewis and Clark expedition passed through the area in 1805 and camped nearby at LaHood Park and Kountz Bridge. The expedition journal describes Panther Creek (Pipestone Creek), Fields Creek (Boulder River), Frazier Creek (South Boulder River), and Birth Creek (Whitetail Creek). Recently Whitehall had twelve brightly colored murals painted on downtown buildings that depict actual events members of the expedition experienced as they passed through the area. This has given them the nickname “City of Murals” and has become a popular tourist attraction. The valley was once home to Native American tribes, fur trappers, miners and homesteaders who took to farming and ranching that provided for the mining camps. Whitehall is named after a large white ranch home, originally owned by Major E. G. Brooke and was used as a stopping place for stages running from Helena to Virginia City. Brooke named his structure “Old Whitehall” after a similar structure in Whitehall Illinois. The original station and post office is located 4 miles from where Whitehall now stands. By the turn of the century, the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived and was soon followed by the Milwaukee Railroad which helped the community to grow and prosper.

The area has strong ties to the land with many large farms and ranches. It is also part of the mineral rich Boulder Batholith and in the 1860’s gold fever brought miners and started a long history of mineral production. The mining heritage of long ago is still alive, as can be seen on area maps of creeks and homesteads with names such as, Ohio, Burlington, Columbia, Mayflower, Hudson, Gold King, Big Four, State, Beaver, Chili, Good Friday, McVey, Whippoorwill, Sand Creek and Jupiter to name a few. The Golden Sunlight Mine, the largest open pit hard rock gold mine in Montana, overlooks the town from the north. It was first claimed in April of 1890 by Anthony H. Hedly. He located the leached outcrop of the Sunlight vein and had several other claims including Sunlight, Golden and Last Chance.

The Tobacco Root Mountains cover the eastern horizon, with high mountain lakes that contain most of Montana’s trout species. The Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is another popular destination that is east of town near La- Hood Park. The Caverns feature an underground tour showcasing unique geology found anywhere. The Jefferson River is a blue ribbon fishery that meanders nearby. West of town is the Pipestone area it is rich with history with the Pipestone hot springs that used to be quite the resort with a golf course, bath house and pools and had such prestigious guest as Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Abandoned structures can still be seen on the now privately owned property. Another unique formation is known as Ringing Rocks, a pile of red rock found only one other place in North America. This rock pile is unique in that a rock thrown against them or when struck with a steel bar will produce a bell type of ringing. This area nestles against the Continental Divide. South of town is Silver Star and the mineral rich Highland Mountain range. A close look at the map and you will notice the tight quarters of the many mining claims that developed this area.