CDT Montana 2016
Day 21, July 26, Tuesday.
Start near 15-205M, a few miles from the Anaconda Cutoff, just below Rainbow Mountain summit
Stop in Anaconda at Big Sky RV Park, near AN260-M, mile 26.4 of Anaconda route
Miles on trail: 31.2
Finishing the climb to the summit of Rainbow Mountain, a landscape just before sunrise is on display.
On the way down, I see a moose!
A tree limb is blocking our view of the antlers. Let us see if he turns back to look after running off…
The first body of water for the day is Page Lake.
A buck is less scared of me than the moose.
Climbing, more views can be appreciated.
Down to Storm Lake, which is huge.
A rather steep climb up and down gets us to Twin Lakes.
Here is one Twin Lake, and you can use your imagination to see the other lake
The trail follows Twin Lake Creek down to the highway. Sometimes the path is hard to find.
An old water flume is on display, which once delivered water to Butte.
A long road-walk, 11 miles on Highway One, leads to Anaconda.
Talking to other hikers, we generally agreed not to hitch-hike the road walk, but if someone offered us a ride it would be impolite to refuse. High speeds and narrow road shoulder make offered rides unlikely.
Rain falls today in three sessions, helping to lessen temperatures on the road. I get into Anaconda fairly late, around 8PM, and get a tent site and do shower and laundry quickly. Groceries for resupply will have to wait until morning.
Another even longer road-walk awaits tomorrow.
Near midnight southbounder Bright Eyes introduces herself at the RV park. Earlier in the day I met Half-Mile, famous in hiking circles for PCT work, and Elevated.
[finished audiobook Anne’s House of Dreams, by Lucy Maud Montgomery, read by Karen Savage]