What Route Did the Narrator and Chris Follow On Their Bozeman Mountain Climb? The Next Four Photos Are a Series of Four Maps That Shows My Best Attempt to Find an actual Hiking Trail That Fits the Descriptions Given By the Narrator In the Book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZMM).
The four photos following this photograph, are maps that show how you can drive (by paved roads) to some of the Gallatin National Forest Areas of the Narrator’s Mountain Climb.
Marked on these three maps, are parking areas where you can then hike on "The Narrator + Chris Hypothetical Climbing Trail". Twenty nine "N+C Points" mark a trail that the ZMM Narrator and Chris might have used on their hike on, or around, 17 July 1968. In choosing these Points, I have used the Narrators words as clues (assumed factual) along with knowledge of the forest, to construct a reasonable "hypothetical" hiking trail. The trail is shown on four successive maps. The likely goal of the ZMM Narrator, is snow covered Mt. Blackmore and Elephant Mountain. These snow capped peaks, among the highest (and closest) that would be approachable starting from the Cottonwood. These Mts are shown, enlarged with final Trail Points, on the fourth and last Map.) Also discussed on these photos are: ZMM author Robert. Pirsig's disagreement re my Hiking Trail, links to more information re the ZMM Trail, and other information. Each Topo Map can be double clicked to enlarge & print. Or you can "Rt Click > Save-As" them in your computer, for later transfer to your PDA WebPage Viewer. (Also marked on these maps are A) Two possible alternate trails, B) All my Gallatin National Forest photo location GPS WayPts 198 up to 215 and then 407 up to 507. These two groupings mark all my photo locations in The Gallatin National Forest, respectively, on 27 June and 10 September 2006. Not all numbers used. Click here for first of four successive map-photos showing Narrator's Mountain Climb Trail, which opens new browser.
Photo Above Shows a View From My Own Campground Sum2002. Near creek previous two photos. Langhor Campground, Hyalite Canyon, Gallatin National Forest, MT
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(Photo = 108-0895 ...... ZMM Page = 227 ...... Photo at WayPt = 222w ~6200ft)

Map Photo & Three Others, Are Topo Maps Which Show The ZMM Narrator’s Mountain Climb Route In the Gallatin National Forest South of Bozeman MT. Although I believe the climb route shown on these 4 maps fits the ZMM Narrative fairly well, Mr. Pirsig Doesn't Agree. Scroll down to see Robert Pirsig Responses Dated 4 Jan 07 & 5 Mar 07
Who is right? Please help in the search for the Narrator's Bozeman Mountain Climbing Route. Trail enthusiasts are invited, indeed urged, to volunteer their time and skill to a field check my trail hypothesis map. Please use your own ideas or follow my instructions, I would like to hear what you discover. We can work together! This would be the best way to choose a "Chris Pirsig Pilgrims Trail" into the Bozeman Mountains. What ever you (and other people send in) I will post on my "Bozeman Mountain Ascent" WebPage, so other Pilgrims may share in Chris’s and the Narrator’s mountain top victory! Please let me know by email what you find out. And if you have any other trail suggestions, or any other information please communicate: HenryG--Aiken.SC.edu
If you wish to use a GPS to explore my hypothetical trail, you may request a computer file which will place my N+C WyPt Numbers into their computer or GPS.
ZMM additional information about the Narrators Bozeman Mountain Climb. ) This page shows all the ZMM Narrator's Trail Clues, and has instructions so you may make your own higher resolution Topo Maps of Gallatin National Forest or other places. These free internet maps (as opposed to my maps) are much clearer and have the ability to "Zoom In" for more detail and resolution.
(In case you missed it, here is my general introduction for these four topo maps. This has additional information.
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(Photo = ExpertGPS Topo Map. Screen Capture by ACDsee Photo Software ...... ZMM Page = 167-231 ...... WayPt = N+C 01 thru 07 ..... File Name = ExpertGPS TopoMapN C ClimbWyPtCtnWoodPart=Capture )

THIS IS A DUPLICATE OF PREVIOUS CAPTION: Map Photo & Three Others, Are Topo Maps Which Show The ZMM Narrator’s Mountain Climb Route In the Gallatin National Forest South of Bozeman MT. Although I believe the climb route shown on these 4 maps fits the ZMM Narrative fairly well, Mr. Pirsig Doesn't Agree. Scroll down to see Robert Pirsig Responses Dated 4 Jan 07 & 5 Mar 07
Who is right? Please help in the search for the Narrator's Bozeman Mountain Climbing Route. Trail enthusiasts are invited, indeed urged, to volunteer their time and skill to a field check my trail hypothesis map. Please use your own ideas or follow my instructions, I would like to hear what you discover. We can work together! This would be the best way to choose a "Chris Pirsig Pilgrims Trail" into the Bozeman Mountains. What ever you (and other people send in) I will post on my "Bozeman Mountain Ascent" WebPage, so other Pilgrims may share in Chris’s and the Narrator’s mountain top victory! Please let me know by email what you find out. And if you have any other trail suggestions, or any other information please communicate: HenryG--Aiken.SC.edu
If you wish to use a GPS to explore my hypothetical trail, you may request a computer file which will place my N+C WyPt Numbers into their computer or GPS.
ZMM additional information about the Narrators Bozeman Mountain Climb. ) This page shows all the ZMM Narrator's Trail Clues, and has instructions so you may make your own higher resolution Topo Maps of Gallatin National Forest or other places. These free internet maps (as opposed to my maps) are much clearer and have the ability to "Zoom In" for more detail and resolution.
(In case you missed it, here is my general introduction for these four topo maps. This has additional information.
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(Photo = ExpertGPS Topo Map. Screen Capture by ACDsee Photo Software ...... ZMM Page = 167-231 ...... WayPt = N+C 01 thru 07 ..... File Name = ExpertGPS TopoMapN C ClimbWyPtCtnWoodPart=Capture)

THIS IS A DUPLICATE OF PREVIOUS CAPTION: Map Photo & Three Others, Are Topo Maps Which Show The ZMM Narrator’s Mountain Climb Route In the Gallatin National Forest South of Bozeman MT. Although I believe the climb route shown on these 4 maps fits the ZMM Narrative fairly well, Mr. Pirsig Doesn't Agree. Scroll down to see Robert Pirsig Responses Dated 4 Jan 07 & 5 Mar 07
Who is right? Please help in the search for the Narrator's Bozeman Mountain Climbing Route. Trail enthusiasts are invited, indeed urged, to volunteer their time and skill to a field check my trail hypothesis map. Please use your own ideas or follow my instructions, I would like to hear what you discover. We can work together! This would be the best way to choose a "Chris Pirsig Pilgrims Trail" into the Bozeman Mountains. What ever you (and other people send in) I will post on my "Bozeman Mountain Ascent" WebPage, so other Pilgrims may share in Chris’s and the Narrator’s mountain top victory! Please let me know by email what you find out. And if you have any other trail suggestions, or any other information please communicate: HenryG--Aiken.SC.edu
If you wish to use a GPS to explore my hypothetical trail, you may request a computer file which will place my N+C WyPt Numbers into their computer or GPS.
ZMM additional information about the Narrators Bozeman Mountain Climb. ) This page shows all the ZMM Narrator's Trail Clues, and has instructions so you may make your own higher resolution Topo Maps of Gallatin National Forest or other places. These free internet maps (as opposed to my maps) are much clearer and have the ability to "Zoom In" for more detail and resolution.
(In case you missed it, here is my general introduction for these four topo maps. This has additional information.
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(Photo = ExpertGPS Topo Map. Screen Capture by ACDsee Photo Software ...... ZMM Page = 167-231 ...... WayPt = N+C 01 thru 07 ..... File Name = ExpertGPS TopoMapN C ClimbWyPtCtnWoodPart=Capture )

THIS IS A NEAR DUPLICATE OF PREVIOUS CAPTION: This Photo Is a "Zoom-In" To Show Detail Of Narrator's Climb To "Ridge".
This Close Up Topo Map Shows More Clearly the Climbing Trail That Fits the Last Part of ZMM Narrator’s Mountain Climb Descriptions. Although I believe the climb route shown on these 4 maps fits the ZMM Narrative fairly well, Mr. Pirsig Doesn't Agree. Scroll down to see Robert Pirsig Responses Dated 4 Jan 07 & 5 Mar 07
Who is right? Please help in the search for the Narrator's Bozeman Mountain Climbing Route. Trail enthusiasts are invited, indeed urged, to volunteer their time and skill to a field check my trail hypothesis map. Please use your own ideas or follow my instructions, I would like to hear what you discover. We can work together! This would be the best way to choose a "Chris Pirsig Pilgrims Trail" into the Bozeman Mountains. What ever you (and other people send in) I will post on my "Bozeman Mountain Ascent" WebPage, so other Pilgrims may share in Chris’s and the Narrator’s mountain top victory! Please let me know by email what you find out. And if you have any other trail suggestions, or any other information please communicate: HenryG--Aiken.SC.edu
If you wish to use a GPS to explore my hypothetical trail, you may request a computer file which will place my N+C WyPt Numbers into their computer or GPS.
ZMM additional information about the Narrators Bozeman Mountain Climb. ) This page shows all the ZMM Narrator's Trail Clues, and has instructions so you may make your own higher resolution Topo Maps of Gallatin National Forest or other places. These free internet maps (as opposed to my maps) are much clearer and have the ability to "Zoom In" for more detail and resolution.
(In case you missed it, here is my general introduction for these four topo maps. This has additional information.
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(Photo = ExpertGPS Topo Map. Screen Capture by ACDsee Photo Software ...... ZMM Page = 167-231 ...... WayPt = N+C 01 thru 07 ..... File Name = ExpertGPS TopoMapN C ClimbWyPtCtnWoodPart=Capture )

Heading North Toward Route 10, the Road Out of Town.
“The next morning we check out of the hotel feeling refreshed, say goodbye to the DeWeeses, and head north on the open road out of Bozeman. The DeWeeses wanted us to stay, but a peculiar itching to move west and get on with my thoughts has taken over. I want to talk today about a person whom Phædrus never heard of, but whose writings I’ve studied quite extensively in preparation for this Chautauqua. Unlike Phædrus, this man was an international celebrity at thirty-five, a living legend at fifty-eight, whom Bertrand Russell has described as "by general agreement, the most eminent scientific man of his generation." He was an astronomer, a physicist, a mathematician and philosopher all in one. His name was Jules Henri Poincare’. .. It always seemed incredible to me, and still does, I guess, that Phædrus should have traveled along a line of thought that had never been traveled before. Someone, somewhere, must have thought of all this before, and Phædrus was such a poor scholar it would have been just like him to have duplicated the commonplaces of some famous system of philosophy he hadn’t taken the trouble to look into.“(Cont.next)
Bozeman, MT.
And indeed, to go West from Bozeman, in 1968, it would be appropriate to first go North. Many things have changed the late 60's. Most of I-90 in Montana didn't even exist in 1968! It has since either overlaid or skirted the old "Zen" road from Bozeman MT to beyond Butte MT. (Ditto for the interstates from Miles City to Bozeman.) To experience the old "Zen" road from Bozeman, I recommend that the ZMM Pilgrim take the frontage roads that may be found along I-90. Out of Bozman, in many cases, these frontage roads are the actual pavement of the old U.S. Rt 10. To do this from Bozeman, take North 7th Street which eventually angles left into Frontage Road. This will follow the RR tracks (and parallel to I-90) thru the towns of Belgrade, Manhattan, and Logan. After that you will see many frontage roads leading off of I-90 at the interchances, but most of these are no improvement from the I-90 itself. Consult with local maps to find the best ones.
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(Photo = 108-0856 ...... ZMM Page = 232 ...... WayPt = 227w ~4850ft)

Road West From Bozeman. The Narrator Takes Up the Narrator's Discovery of the Most Outstanding Mathematician of His Time, Jules Henri Poincare’.
[After the Narrator’s long study in preparaton for this Chautauqua:] "Eventually I came to Poincare’. Here again there was little duplication “ [of Phaedrus] “ but another kind of phenomenon. Phædrus follows a long and tortuous path into the highest abstractions, seems about to come down and then stops. Poincare’ starts with the most basic scientific verities, works up to the same abstractions and then stops. Both trails stop right at each other’s end! There is perfect continuity between them.“ One mile Northwest out of Manhattin, MT.
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(Photo = Summer2006 0100 ...... ZMM Page = 232 ...... WayPt = 2006 509 4208ft)

A Scale Model Of the Topology of the Three Forks Of The Missouri River. Note High Cliffs That Force These Rovers together! This Model and the Rivers Are Seen at the Three River Headwaters State Park.
“When you live in the shadow of insanity, the appearance of another mind that thinks and talks as yours does is something close to a blessed event. Like Robinson Crusoe’s discovery of footprints on the sand. .. “
Two miles Northeast of Three Forks, MT. Near the town of Three Forks, MT, three rivers are forced together to form the Missouri River. The rivers are the Jefferson (fm West), the Madison (fm Southeast) and the Gallatin (fm the East. Three major highways travel from here, each following one of the three rivers up stream. The confluence of these rivers is a great signifigance to the Narrator, because he, like scientists, must choose to follow one of the three to follow the Jefferson West up into the mountains. A forth road follows the fourth river, the Misouri, North to Hellena, MT. The ZMM route, coming from the East, goes directly into Three Forks town with out allowing the pilgrim to see these rivers or their junction. The two links below show a two mile detour where the three rivers are forced together by a mountain ridge. You will see the resulting river, the main highway, a rail road, and, several powerlines are forced parallel and close toghether to go thru a gorge cut into the great ridge. Once either of the maps comes up, you may "zoom-in" or slide the map "sideways" to see more. CLICK here to see topo map of the "Three River Headwaters State Park" To Zoom, choose 1:50000

After map comes up, CLICK of Aerial Image U Right. Note how three rivers, paved highway and RR tracks are forced, to go parallel in a narrow gorge, by the White-ish Cliffs.

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(Photo = Summer2006 0131 ...... ZMM Page = ...... WayPt = 2006 511 4147ft)

As Is the Case In the Three Mathematical Geometrys, the Narrator Here Chooses Among the Three Roads and Rivers At Town of Three Forks, the One Best Road To Productive Fruitful Lands!
“And of course once that door was opened one could hardly expect the number of contradictory systems of unshakable scientific truth to be limited to two. A German named Riemann appeared with another unshakable system of geometry which throws overboard not only Euclid’s postulate, but also the first axiom, which states that only one straight line can pass through two points. Again there is no internal contradiction, only an inconsistency with both Lobachevskian and Euclidian geometries. .. According to the Theory of Relativity, Riemann geometry best describes the world we live in. .. At Three Forks the road cuts into a narrow canyon of whitish-tan rock, past some Lewis and Clark caves. East of Butte we go up a long hard grade, cross the Continental Divide, then go down into a valley.At Three Forks the road ... “
In distance is the town of Three Forks, MT. In ZMM Chapter 22, the Narrator takes up his Chautauqua about " .... an alarmingly deep crisis in the foundations of the exact sciences ... ". As he tells us, Mathematicians had found three contradictory major mathematical geometries, of which only one of the three has fruitful/practical application to our world. As this Chautauqua ends ...... sure enough ...... exactly on cue ..... the corresponding route of travel arrives at three forks of three major rivers plus a town also named Three Forks.. As ZMM Route approaches the town of Three Forks, it crosses several channels of the Madison River, before turning South on combined Rt2 & Rt287. As for the Mathematical Geometries, our road follows one of the three forks, the Jefferson, up into rich fruitful "valleys".
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(Photo = 109-0921c ...... ZMM Page = 235 ...... WayPt = 231w 4120)

Parker Homestead Features a Sod Roof With Prairie Grass.
[“According to the Theory of Relativity, Riemann geometry best describes the world we live in.“]
Seven miles South west of Three Forks, MT. Although this interesting place is unmentioned by the ZMM Narrator, it nevertheless is worth a stopover. In a very picturesque setting, the Parker Homestead is a park for public visit and a resting place. I re-traveled the ZMM Route in September of 2006 and decided to take this photo and place here for your interest. It is striking how different the color change is due to later in the season. This photo is part of an 8 shot 360 degree panorama, which will be placed up in my ZMMQG Panorama Album ASAP.
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(Photo = Summer2006 0188 ...... ZMM Page = 235 ...... WayPt = 2006 516w 4176ft)

The Wide Valley Just Prior to a Narrow Canyon
“ It always seemed incredible to me, and still does, I guess, that Phædrus should have traveled along a line of thought that had never been traveled before. Someone, somewhere, must have thought of all this before, and Phædrus was such a poor scholar it would have been just like him to have duplicated the commonplaces of some famous system of philosophy he hadn’t taken the trouble to look into. .. So I spent more than a year reading the very long and sometimes very tedious history of philosophy in a search for duplicate ideas. It was a fascinating way to read the history of philosophy, …. ” Approaching a canyon of the Jefferson River near Jefferson Island MT A note to prepare you for photos to come: Just prior to Three Forks, the Narrator after introducing Poincare’, finishes his Chautauqua on the Three Geometries. Then, per normal practice before he returns to Poincare’, he introduces one half page of travel scenery. But as you will see, this half page is any thing but normal! As you will see it encompasses an immense range of scenery, ten towns, 110 miles of travel. This will be your next 24 photos. For me, this was 8 hours travel & research, during which I took 65 photos and 12 pages of notes single spaced. I won’t tell you how long it takes me get this same part of the trip prepared and uploaded to ZMMQG, but it well exceeds by five, my corresponding road travel time! All of this the narrator covers in a half page of text!!! [Continued :]
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(Photo = 109-0925 +109-0926 + 109-0927sc ...... ZMM Page = 233 ...... WayPt = 232x 4308ft)

Sure Enough, There It Is! There’s the Narrow Canyon and Brown Sign For Lewis and Clark Caves State Park!
“ …. [The road] cuts into a narrow canyon of whitish-tan rock, past some Lewis and Clark caves. “
Approaching a canyon of the Jefferson River near Jefferson Island MT My Rand-McNally shows the Jefferson River, the Madison River, and the Gallatin River join at Three Forks MT. A long series of swamps and large lakes becomes the Missouri River. As I traveled, I tried to find these rivers; however, the land is very flat with almost swamp conditions and without many signs, so I could not discern from the road where these rivers joined. After Three forks, my notes say “Cross Jefferson River, see Junction Rt287, and start looking for Rt2. Turn on it, following upstream this one river, the Jefferson”. Later my notes say I see] “A rodeo corral, huge salvaged bridge truss and Lewis and Clark Caves sign”. Ahead, I see the gap where I will be entering (as the river does) the canyon through the mountains. More facts fit ZMM!”
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(Photo = 109-0930 +109-0923 + 109-0924sc ...... ZMM Page = 235 ...... WayPt = 232x 4308ft)

A Quick Look Back Toward Three Forks to See The Wide Valley Up to This Point
[“ …. [cuts into a narrow canyon of whitish-tan rock,] … “
Approaching a canyon of the Jefferson River near Jefferson Island MT [Continued:] Typically, the narrator “gets back to the travel scenery” as they arrive at the next town because he discovers and works into the story how the travel conditions relate poetically to the current Chautauqua. The travel from Three Forks to Hall, apparently no such “connections” were found/invented by the narrator. There may be additional reasons The Narrator mentions no town name:. In addition to the above, perhaps the Poincare’ topic is too important to withstand an interruption for scenery or any thing else. There must be powerful reasons, because after Hall MT the Narrator again in continuing the Poincare’ Chautauqua, fails to mention when he and Chris get back on the highway. To my recollection, this is the only place where this kind of “story discontinuity” takes place. Now a new topic: The narrator must have followed Old Rt 10 from Bozeman MT all the way to Missoula MT. Present day R2 here was then Old Rt 10 and the only way to go west from Three Forks MT. After that is a stretch of I-90 which overlaid most of Old Rt 10 except for marginal roads, which can be seen running various places right at the side of I-90. None of those segments seem to have useful connections for the ZMM Traveler. [Continued:]
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(Photo = 109-0928 +109-0929 + 109-0930sc ...... ZMM Page = 235 ...... WayPt = 232x 4308ft)

109-0928+2sc.jpg

Entering the Canyon. The River, the Rail Road, the Highway and a Gravel Road All Share the Same Narrow Gap
“[a narrow canyon] of whitish-tan rock, …. “
Closer to the canyon of Jefferson River near Jefferson Island MT [Continued from previous:] Further west, the narrator’s Old Rt 10-Alt, between Anaconda MT and Drummond MT is now present day Rt 1. I speculate that between these towns this was the main route prior to the construction of what became called Rt 10 and after that I-90. My 1964 Rand-McNally shows the segment from Drummond MT to Missoula MT as Rt 10 and four lanes. Dotted lines indicate immanent construction of I-90. This may have been completed by 1968, forcing (surprise?) the narrator to follow an interstate contrary to his stated policy! Could this be the reason the narrator mentions no towns between Hall MT and Missoula MT? [Continued:]
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(Photo = 109-0931 + 109-0932sc ...... ZMM Page = 235 ...... WayPt = 233w 4298ft)

A View Back Towards Three Forks.
“ …. [canyon of whitish-tan rock, ] …. “
Closer to the canyon of Jefferson River near Jefferson Island MT The “ whitish-tan rock “ will also be seen in next photo. [Continued from previous:] On the photo for Three Forks MT, I discussed the narrator's use of Poetic Connections. This raises the question: So how does the narrator find these poetic connections between Chautauqua and local scenery? Clearly, it is a property of wide experience and a very active mind. Some may come from memory or spontaneous inspiration while he travels. I’m convinced that many of the connections (especially catchy/poetic town name) come from the narrator’s repeated consultation with maps, while he traveled and while he wrote ZMM. In many cases, topographic maps (topos) were consulted. (See p 21, 36.) Perhaps he wrote these into his 1968 travel notes or marked them on his map that he had open on his cycle gas tank. Several places in ZMM, he says he consults his map on the cycle gas tank as he is in motion. Some place he says the map is open to the current segment of read and strapped onto the gas tank of his cycle.
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(Photo = 109-0933 ...... ZMM Page = 235 ...... WayPt = 233w 4298ft)

The Canyon Is So Narrow the Road Is Jam Tight against the High Cliff
“ …. [canyon of whitish-tan rock, ] …. “
In a high walled canyon near Jefferson Island MT
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(Photo = 109-0947 ...... ZMM Page = ...... WayPt = 235w 4355ft)

Again Turn Around for A View, Back Towards Three Forks
“ …. [canyon of whitish-tan rock, ] …. “
In a high walled canyon near Jefferson Island MT
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(Photo = 109-0935 ...... ZMM Page = ...... WayPt = 235w 4355ft)

Captain Meriwether Clark of Lewis and Clark Expedition Camped Here on an Exploratory Side Trip.
“ We pass by a marker saying something about Lewis and Clark. One of them came up this way on a side excursion from the Northwest Passage. .. Nice sound. Fits the Chautauqua. We’re really on a kind of Northwest Passage too.“
Along the Jefferson River near Jefferson Island MTSince the narrator mentions the Lewis and Clark Expedition back on page I thought you should see how the Zen Route encounters Lewis and Clark territory again and again. www.TopoZone.com says this is LaHood Park. Must be a park town of LaHood MT.
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(Photo = 109-0953 ...... ZMM Page = 092...... WayPt = 236w 4266ft BM)