27th-28th August
7.8 miles
Near Anaconda (2223.3) to Anaconda (2231.1)
I’d run out of food late yesterday so I had no dinner last night and no breakfast or snacks for the morning. Luckily it wasn’t far to town and I could make it without too many issues. Or so I thought at the time!
I arrived in the town of Anaconda around 8.30am due to a pre dawn start to my hike. I searched in vain for a place that was open to serve me a large portion of food. Everywhere appeared closed. Anaconda almost appeared to be a struggling ghost town. Abandoned buildings, even abandoned houses with many ‘For Sale’ signs everywhere.
I sat on a bench in what appeared to be the centre of town, but there was no way for me to be sure. I looked at my maps. Many places were mentioned but they all appeared to be closed. I looked up. On the other side of the road I saw some hikers. It was Popeye and his partner Olive Oil or Evoo I as called her. I hadn’t seen Popeye for over 500 miles. I hadn’t seen Evoo for over 2200 miles, or the start of the trail. She joins Popeye for a couple of short sections here and there.
I had a huge problem. It appeared that I lost my tent poles. I never lose things, or rarely if ever lose things. Lack of food and a pre dawn start meant I must of left my tent poles on the ground at my campsite. I was very pissed off.
Popeye, Evoo and I found a cafe that was open. I ordered a large breakfast and made a plan to go back to get my poles. As I ate breakfast I received a message from Nips who was already in town with Easyrider. They met a local trail angel who offered to take me back the seven miles to pick up my poles. Saved by an angel. And they were exactly where I left them.
I resupplied and relaxed for the afternoon. Nips, Easyrider and I shared a room. After an extraordinarily large pizza meal I went to the cinema. A rare treat for me. Jason Bourne was the only attraction showing.
The following day Nips, Easyrider, Popeye and Evoo left town. I had a zero day to relax and catch up on town chores. Unfortunately my body seems to require about a week off the trail to recover.
Next – Day 134 Still Moving North
Everything you need to know about hiking the CDT:
Complete Guide to Hiking the Continental Divide Trail
CDT Resupply Guide
CDT Gear List
What a relief that your poles were still there! There seems to be so many amazing, helpful people on the trail.
Definitely, the people who are near the trail always amaze and inspire me
A relief about the poles.
Indeed, I could have been in serious trouble