July 5th, 2024
Mike Marker: on Anaconda Alternate
Miles Hiked: 28
Woke up this morning with frost on the inside of our tent due to condensation and cold temperatures. Needless to say it was very chilly this AM. We decided to sleep in until we felt like the sun was almost over the mountains into the valley. It appeared we were on the wrong side as we watched the sun shine upon the opposite end.
Eventually around 7:30 we decided to go make breakfast and let our tent thaw.
After finishing breakfast we went back to our tent and it was soaked. We didn’t have time to let it dry out so we decided to pack up anyway and headed out after 9 AM, our latest trail start yet.
We kept the pace casual and talked while hiking over some smaller climbs. We discussed numerous things but my favorite was talking about our favorite forts as kids. I talked about building one in my neighbors yard and in the forest nearby, how I felt like such an explorer venturing off into the forest and climbing on trees. We discussed how different the place would look if I went back now as an adult.
We then came across a cooler along the trail that I got so excited for as I thought it was trail magic. However, I was wrong, it was trash! A hiker wrote on it for us southbounders to carry it bit by bit and eventually it will get out to a trash can.
We all did our part, totally 6 miles of carrying it. I only did one mile but props to the boys. 💪🏽
We dropped the cooler off at a spring and decided to stop for lunch and dry out our gear. It was a longer lunch than usual with epic views of big distant mountains and it wasn’t cold. It was a perfect spot.
The second half of the day consisted of walking on gravel and trail back and forth for a few miles and then taking a cut off for the town of Anaconda.
Anaconda is said to be one of the best trail towns along the CDT and in Montana so we felt like we couldn’t pass it up. Some people choose not to take it because it’s quite a bit of gravel and road walking which is harder on the feet and legs. After a couple miles on gravel I could feel the tenderness in my feet start up.
Thankfully it was all downhill and we could move fast. We shared some of the music we listen to and instantly I felt a pep in my step. How much I have missed listening to music on this trail. I can’t wait till we get to the lower part of Wyoming and we can start listening to music again.
Around 7:30 we stopped for dinner near a creek to rest our feet and eat for some energy. We weren’t sure where we were going to camp so we decided to get dinner out of the way.
We hiked on for another hour and finally came up on a hill to camp. We settled in our tents around 9:30.
Another long day in the books! I’m so excited to get into town tomorrow and rest up.
Iz and Oz
Izzy + Ozzy 