The Making of “Stone Soup” in Lima, Montana

How a Small Montana Town Came Together to Celebrate a New Chapter on the CDT

It’s hard to imagine a day that wasn’t 90 degrees and smoky. But about two and a half months ago, on a very rainy, very wet, and very chilly day in late spring, CDTC staff gathered in the center of a small Montana town to celebrate our 23rd Gateway Community along the Continental Divide.

The weather may have been moody the weekend of May 29 and 30 – and far from ideal for an outdoor celebration- but that didn’t stop people from coming out to join the festivities and shower their hometown with love and support. Spirits were high, and the energy and pride of the community were truly palpable.

The Town of Lima, Montana, is home to just over 200 people- people who are resilient, kind, and welcoming. At the community’s core is a deep connection to the outdoors, whether through recreation, ranching, or simply the landscape that surrounds them. The people of Lima know the treasures of the land they call home, and they don’t take them for granted. They cherish them, celebrate them, and want to share their beauty with those passing through.

And sharing that beauty is exactly what they are doing.

As a newly designated Gateway Community, Lima is adding another layer to its outdoor identity by fully embracing the Continental Divide Trail and the hikers, visitors, and adventurers who travel through town on their journeys along this remarkable trail.

The celebration began Friday afternoon with a community hike about an hour outside of town. Montana Regional Representative Sierra LaBonte led a group of participants onto the CDT for a short hike to kick off the weekend festivities. Afterward, they were greeted by the smell of freshly made pizza wafting through the crisp mountain air, courtesy of The Peat Steakhouse & Saloon. Pizzas and salads of all varieties lined the table as folks lingered, chatted, and indulged in some of the finer things in life: breathtaking views, wonderful company, delicious food, and the great outdoors. 

The next morning, community members were up and about, preparing for the grand finale celebration.

By noon, the heart of town was buzzing as locals from Lima and surrounding communities gathered to “Brand a Beam.” The fundraiser was an initiative to support Lima’s local heritage and community beautification efforts while helping revive the town’s central community park. For a minimum donation of $50, community members could burn their ranch or family brand onto the new Welcome Center kiosk, preserving their support and generosity as a permanent part of the structure for generations to come.

The support from the community was overwhelming. As outsiders looking in, it was heartwarming to watch old friends reconnect and catch up while newcomers were welcomed into the tight-knit community.

Even though the rain and cold persisted, it didn’t scare off this hardy crowd. As the “Brand a Beam” event continued for more than an hour, the rain showed no signs of letting up but neither did the people. More and more community members kept arriving until the gazebo was packed and some were forced to stand out in the rain.

Then, the crowd migrated just a block down the street to Lima’s public school, where a hot meal was waiting for everyone. Inside the school cafeteria, tables filled with friends- both old and new- chatting over lunch as they dried off and warmed up.

Once everyone had a plate, the designation ceremony for Lima’s newest chapter as a CDT Gateway Community began.

A handful of local voices took the stage, including representatives from the Lima Area Community Foundation and the Bureau of Land Management, along with longtime residents and local business owners. As each person spoke, one common theme continued to emerge: the heart behind this small town in rural Montana and the unwavering support its people have for one another.

One speaker referred to it all as “stone soup.”

Now, you may be wondering, “What does any of this have to do with soup? Let alone stone soup? Because, honestly, that doesn’t sound very good.”

Well, imagine you’re making soup- in the olden days of course. You need some key things: ingredients, time, patience, and a little help from your friends. It starts small. You have a pot of water and a stone. Then, a friend sees you making soup and brings over some carrots to add. Another contributes potatoes. Someone else brings peas, while another offers spices to give it just the right amount of kick. As you continue to stir and stir, what started as nothing more than a pot of water and a stone slowly transforms into a flavorful dish- one that can be shared with everyone who helped make it.

Although there was no actual soup being made in Lima, they created their own version of the metaphor. 

Everyone added something to the “soup” in order to pull off the weekend celebration of this town and create something beautiful. Whether that was the person who donated money to have their brand on the new Welcome Center kiosk beam, the person who helped maintain the grass in the park so it was welcoming and beautiful for visitors, or those who dedicated their time to organize the entire event and bring people together. Every act and every skill was an ingredient added to the pot that made up Lima’s “stone soup.” And at the base of this soup was the love they have for their community and the pride they take in their people.

CDTC is lucky to welcome such a small but mighty town into our growing network of Gateway Communities along the Continental Divide. It’s communities like Lima and the people who call them home that make the CDT experience what it is.

The Continental Divide Trail is one trail connecting more than 3,100 miles of diverse and vibrant communities. Each one has its own story, its own identity, and its own way of showing up to support something greater than itself.

In Lima, that support looks a little like stone soup.

And we’re grateful to have a seat at the table.