By Mark Hance
What a beautiful and rewarding day on the road as we pedaled across the wide-open spaces of Big Sky Country!
Our route today for Day 17 of the Northern Tier 2026 cross-country ride took us from Malta all the way to Glasgow, Montana. It was a steady 70.4-mile push across the prairie with 1,323 feet of elevation gain and a gentle maximum grade of 4.0%.
We started the day under an absolutely gorgeous, massive blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds, showcasing the stunning, expansive green fields of Eastern Montana passing incredible views of farms, ranches.
Along the way, we had the chance to soak in some incredible history and local culture. We stopped to read the fascinating marker at Sleeping Buffalo Rock and later took a moment at the Buffalo Country historical marker learning more about the profound history of the Great Plains.
As we pressed on through the vast rangelands, we shared the view with local cattle grazing against a stunning backdrop. The weather was absolutely perfect and clear for the majority of the journey. However, Montana’s classic passing weather caught up with us near the end. While most finished dry, our final three riders got caught in some passing rain showers during the last 15 miles of the ride, rolling into town through a bit of rain.
But a little rain couldn’t dampen our spirits, especially with a warm welcome waiting for us! We officially rolled past the “Welcome to Glasgow” sign and capped off our 70-mile journey at our shelter for the night.
We are so incredibly appreciative of the support, warmth, and wonderful hospitality from our host tonight, First Lutheran Church! Having a safe, dry place to rest our heads and share faith and fellowship after a long day in the saddle is truly appreciated by the Fuller Center Bike Adventure family!
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