Tuesday, 10/4.....Anaconda and Phillipsburg

Started out partly sunny this morning and walked through the ghost town of Bannack, as described in yesterday's blog entry. Then onto Big Hole National Battlefield, where the Nez Perce native Americans were attacked by the U S Army in 1877....a beautiful setting marred by this massacre. Drizzly and chilly while we were there....

Then north to Anaconda and Philipsburg....the huge smelter smokestack of the Anaconda Mining Co. is still here, and it is taller than the Washington Monument! Unfortunately, this area, including Butte, is the largest Super Fund site in the country. And what an incredibly beautiful setting. That makes TWO places today where a gorgeous Montana setting has been marred by our conduct. Saddening, really.

Philipsburg has a very well regarded BBQ house, and we stopped and bought some ribs and pulled pork to eat for dinner at our campground. It's killing me not to eat it as I sit here typing this, before dinner....hit snow on the pass between Pburg and Anaconda, yuck.

Lost Creek State Park is a few miles outside of Anaconda, and it is a spectacular setting. Huge granite walls on both sides of a canyon, with our campsite in the middle. Looks like we may be the only campers tonight...