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.
View Larger Map
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.