CDT - Day 134 - Leaving Anaconda
Anaconda is another wonderful trail town. This one is particularly nice because the trail goes directly through town, so there's no need to hitch back out. It's on what's known as the Anaconda Cutoff Alternate, a popular CDT shortcut that shaves off about 90 miles.
When we arrived yesterday, the only chores we managed to complete were showers and laundry. Today was all about resupply. I walked over to Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply to pick up a few Peak Refuel meals, then headed to Albertsons for snacks, coffee, hot cocoa, chips, and a few other things. This next section is only 74 miles, yet somehow I've managed to fill my food bag to capacity once again. I definitely won't be going hungry.
Before resupplying, I walked 1.1 miles to the other side of town for my usual eggs, sausage, and French toast breakfast at BW Blacksmith Coffee & Grill. It was exactly as good as I'd hoped. I also stopped at Anaconda Outdoor to check out their freeze-dried meal selection. They didn't have anything I wanted, but they did have an amazing coffee bar where I got a pour-over.
After resupply, we met at McDonald's for lunch before heading back to the trail. McDonald's ended up being particularly fun and memorable because of how many people wanted to hear about the CDT. Sometimes it feels like we're celebrities in these little trail towns. Even the owner of the McDonald's stopped to chat with us about the hike.
It genuinely makes me feel great when complete strangers are excited about what we're doing. Meeting people like this has become one of my favorite parts of the CDT.
The trail out of Anaconda today consisted mostly of highway walking followed by a dirt road. We hiked about 12 miles before camping on a small patch of farmland owned by a couple of hiker-friendly trail angels.
Tomorrow, we have another 14 miles of road walking before finally reconnecting with the Red Line.