Day 124 – 8/24/13 – 28.1 mi (2264.9)

We only had to go over one pass first thing this morning before getting to the split for the Anaconda Cutoff. This is one of the major alternate route choices on the CDT. The official trail continues east and south, making a big loop around the city of Butte. The Anaconda route takes a more direct approach to the north and saves about 100 miles. We asked every southbounder we saw which route they took and how they liked it. We got very lukewarm responses from those who took Butte: it’s dry, there’s some roadwalking, you go through clear cuts. Those who took Anaconda all agreed: the Chinese restaurant in Anaconda is really good. Obviously, experiencing Chinese food in Montana is a cultural experience we’d be fools to skip.

We were on alternate trail and a dirt road most of the day, but the last 10 miles or so into the town of Anaconda were on a busy paved highway. Late in the afternoon, just as LoveNote and I were jonesin for a break, we saw a sign with three letters. GAS? Hmm, maybe we could get a soda. As we got closer, we dared to believe…BAR? Yes! It was true! Our first cultural experience of the Anaconda cutoff – Moscow Mules!

On our way out, Ninja arrived! Sweetfish had hitched into town already to get lunch and get to the Post Office before they closed. He was planning to hitch back out and slackpack the highway. The three of us walked the rest of the way into town together, with a few more cultural stops of course: The Haufbrau and Dairy Queen.

We stopped for dinner at Pizza Hut, where Sweetfish ended up joining us. Ninja ordered a large stuffed crust pizza. How much of it did she eat? ALL OF IT!!

Another mile to the end of town where we finally got a motel room around 9pm. We were all exhausted from the long day of culture, but no one wanted to ruin the nice white bed linens by sitting on them.

Tomorrow we will slackpack the rest of the highway miles, resupply, and get our Chinese meal. We love Anaconda!!