- Joined
- May 31, 2015
- Messages
- 3,216
October 16, 2021
Jessica and I spent a weekend in Anaconda back in mid-October so she could attend a yoga retreat at a nearby hot springs resort and so I could go hiking while she was there. We had been to Anaconda a few times in the past but had never gotten out to the mountains nearby.
She had to get on to her stuff fairly early in the morning, so we got breakfast before sunrise and she dropped me off at the trailhead, which was right at the edge of town. It was a little below freezing that morning and made for a nice chilly start.
The sun was rising within minutes of me starting.
![PXL_20211016_133900945.png PXL_20211016_133900945.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105007-8e4a54e708974891ae156502ab11e934.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_134625444.png PXL_20211016_134625444.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105008-c9838339ee571e463be7f15a69832156.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_134848602.png PXL_20211016_134848602.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105011-fb9a50c07ab8a8d1b78d7b4b8310114e.jpg)
Sunlight starting to hit the high peaks.
I encountered one guy out for a walk on the lower section of the trail. Wasn't sure how many people I was going to see, but I imagined it wouldn't be many.
![PXL_20211016_143140767.png PXL_20211016_143140767.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105012-bfe6bf836dafdfd3f1593081223b83e7.jpg)
The trail got snowier as I got higher up. Hearst Lake supplies the town's water, so the trail is actually a road that's just closed to vehicles, aside from ones on city business. There also is a prohibition on overnight camping at the lake and along the trail, which I found slightly surprising but very understandable.
![PXL_20211016_143605104.png PXL_20211016_143605104.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105013-b2a432263eaffea83b9fe7e7a97296dc.jpg)
Looking back as I climbed up the path.
![PXL_20211016_144624263.png PXL_20211016_144624263.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105014-91e5b6b14029083c21d9fc97b44b0375.jpg)
Higher up, more in the shade.
![PXL_20211016_152853162.png PXL_20211016_152853162.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105015-459bee223f3f570b273b13548563b465.jpg)
Getting closer. The trail/road stays in a very thick forest almost the entire time. Must have been a huge effort to clear all the trees to build the road.
![PXL_20211016_153031979.png PXL_20211016_153031979.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105016-12e40134cf92c51b51b6952c5a5d48de.jpg)
A lower "lake." I think it's much higher in earlier months.
![PXL_20211016_153454788.png PXL_20211016_153454788.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105017-dd439d6f2762f6fefc7a364f3bac3f52.jpg)
Some sort of formerly functional water-supply-related building near the lake.
![PXL_20211016_153511527.png PXL_20211016_153511527.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105018-fbf60390a56e1975c2cb5ca6c31070cc.jpg)
Looking down at the edge of the brick building.
![PXL_20211016_153543422.png PXL_20211016_153543422.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105019-e0811d8c42914ab7f5ae0350bf662f50.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_153709423.png PXL_20211016_153709423.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105020-f526c8e666de02b5834eab49ace9629b.jpg)
Back on the road.
I spooked an older man up right by the lake. He had a big, fully loaded 60-70L pack on, so I believe he probably spent the night up there. He didn't hear me coming around the corner and was surprised to see me. I think he didn't expect to run into anyone up there. We exchanged greetings, he asked where I was visiting from, and then he continued down the trail. He was the only other person I saw while I was on the trail.
I am still a little mystified by that guy because on my way back down, while I was still within maybe 1-1.5 miles of the reservoir, I was following his footsteps in the snow that were also headed down. However, at a certain point, I lost his footsteps, and I never passed him. I'm not aware of any other intersecting trails that high up, so I have no idea where he would have gone. My best theory is that he had just stepped back into the forest to relieve himself or something. However, that means he would not have walked very far in the hour or so that had passed between when I saw him and when I lost his tracks... I suppose it's possible given his age and heavy pack, plus the snow. Anyway, back to the main event.
I made it to the lake.
![PXL_20211016_154252170.png PXL_20211016_154252170.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105021-01f7b8c565bd7a3e7ecd448e653d3c28.jpg)
Crossing over the dam.
![PXL_20211016_155138572.MP.png PXL_20211016_155138572.MP.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105024-251436953e8843134a147790f9f2d775.jpg)
I enjoyed seeing the light illuminate the mountains.
I walked around the northern side of the lake and had a snack.
![PXL_20211016_155341252.PANO.png PXL_20211016_155341252.PANO.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105025-c2a4a3d55d04b575cd260606574ab43a.jpg)
I head back the way I came but stayed on the other side of the dam.
![PXL_20211016_161309470.png PXL_20211016_161309470.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105026-f2ffd1800dfa471cf04a0b8977134533.jpg)
Old rail cart.
![PXL_20211016_161354058.png PXL_20211016_161354058.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105027-bbcd94d3d66154e575933271a5c53910.jpg)
Views through a cleared section of trees.
![PXL_20211016_161411299.png PXL_20211016_161411299.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105028-74ce9178ea4e831066f368e092d26b75.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_161636185.png PXL_20211016_161636185.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105029-ad832a720562090347bdd271e59060ba.jpg)
Looking into the water intake. Deeper than it appears in the photo. Felt very sketchy leaning over to look down into it.
![PXL_20211016_161723166.MP.png PXL_20211016_161723166.MP.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105030-d136f61563c89cb3c9c9d6bf7159bccc.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_161958682.png PXL_20211016_161958682.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105032-be2ec67b2d1ed291b162569eb76a3549.jpg)
Big old piece of pipe.
![PXL_20211016_162229730.png PXL_20211016_162229730.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105033-dc5dae524729741c55ba63d2beb96fff.jpg)
Headed back down.
![PXL_20211016_171250972.png PXL_20211016_171250972.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105034-ecdcb39e75e20864f6cfb73428f36b7b.jpg)
Nice fall day.
![PXL_20211016_173756187.png PXL_20211016_173756187.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105035-9e521494b3127e68b4c4580ae4358a11.jpg)
Some aspens still in the process of changing.
![PXL_20211016_174440107.png PXL_20211016_174440107.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105036-05ef56c5680bc81b9dbfb30e16f58955.jpg)
Almost back to town.
![PXL_20211016_175922377.png PXL_20211016_175922377.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105010-972ac9e135a2318550d0c192f906fda7.jpg)
Serious beaver action on the lower stretches of the creek.
Because Jessica was going to be at her yoga thing all day, I had planned to just walk all the way back to our AirBnb. It added an extra 2.5 miles, but I was excited to do an almost entirely human-powered trip.
![PXL_20211016_181634972.MP.png PXL_20211016_181634972.MP.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105009-97a676d8d1201830c1e27fcc7fe829d5.jpg)
I took a final break at the ball park.
The rest of the walk was uneventful. Great half-day outing, and long enough to give me a nice kick in the butt. Anaconda is a great place.
Jessica and I spent a weekend in Anaconda back in mid-October so she could attend a yoga retreat at a nearby hot springs resort and so I could go hiking while she was there. We had been to Anaconda a few times in the past but had never gotten out to the mountains nearby.
She had to get on to her stuff fairly early in the morning, so we got breakfast before sunrise and she dropped me off at the trailhead, which was right at the edge of town. It was a little below freezing that morning and made for a nice chilly start.
The sun was rising within minutes of me starting.
![PXL_20211016_133900945.png PXL_20211016_133900945.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105007-8e4a54e708974891ae156502ab11e934.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_134625444.png PXL_20211016_134625444.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105008-c9838339ee571e463be7f15a69832156.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_134848602.png PXL_20211016_134848602.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105011-fb9a50c07ab8a8d1b78d7b4b8310114e.jpg)
Sunlight starting to hit the high peaks.
I encountered one guy out for a walk on the lower section of the trail. Wasn't sure how many people I was going to see, but I imagined it wouldn't be many.
![PXL_20211016_143140767.png PXL_20211016_143140767.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105012-bfe6bf836dafdfd3f1593081223b83e7.jpg)
The trail got snowier as I got higher up. Hearst Lake supplies the town's water, so the trail is actually a road that's just closed to vehicles, aside from ones on city business. There also is a prohibition on overnight camping at the lake and along the trail, which I found slightly surprising but very understandable.
![PXL_20211016_143605104.png PXL_20211016_143605104.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105013-b2a432263eaffea83b9fe7e7a97296dc.jpg)
Looking back as I climbed up the path.
![PXL_20211016_144624263.png PXL_20211016_144624263.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105014-91e5b6b14029083c21d9fc97b44b0375.jpg)
Higher up, more in the shade.
![PXL_20211016_152853162.png PXL_20211016_152853162.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105015-459bee223f3f570b273b13548563b465.jpg)
Getting closer. The trail/road stays in a very thick forest almost the entire time. Must have been a huge effort to clear all the trees to build the road.
![PXL_20211016_153031979.png PXL_20211016_153031979.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105016-12e40134cf92c51b51b6952c5a5d48de.jpg)
A lower "lake." I think it's much higher in earlier months.
![PXL_20211016_153454788.png PXL_20211016_153454788.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105017-dd439d6f2762f6fefc7a364f3bac3f52.jpg)
Some sort of formerly functional water-supply-related building near the lake.
![PXL_20211016_153511527.png PXL_20211016_153511527.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105018-fbf60390a56e1975c2cb5ca6c31070cc.jpg)
Looking down at the edge of the brick building.
![PXL_20211016_153543422.png PXL_20211016_153543422.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105019-e0811d8c42914ab7f5ae0350bf662f50.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_153709423.png PXL_20211016_153709423.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105020-f526c8e666de02b5834eab49ace9629b.jpg)
Back on the road.
I spooked an older man up right by the lake. He had a big, fully loaded 60-70L pack on, so I believe he probably spent the night up there. He didn't hear me coming around the corner and was surprised to see me. I think he didn't expect to run into anyone up there. We exchanged greetings, he asked where I was visiting from, and then he continued down the trail. He was the only other person I saw while I was on the trail.
I am still a little mystified by that guy because on my way back down, while I was still within maybe 1-1.5 miles of the reservoir, I was following his footsteps in the snow that were also headed down. However, at a certain point, I lost his footsteps, and I never passed him. I'm not aware of any other intersecting trails that high up, so I have no idea where he would have gone. My best theory is that he had just stepped back into the forest to relieve himself or something. However, that means he would not have walked very far in the hour or so that had passed between when I saw him and when I lost his tracks... I suppose it's possible given his age and heavy pack, plus the snow. Anyway, back to the main event.
I made it to the lake.
![PXL_20211016_154252170.png PXL_20211016_154252170.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105021-01f7b8c565bd7a3e7ecd448e653d3c28.jpg)
Crossing over the dam.
![PXL_20211016_155138572.MP.png PXL_20211016_155138572.MP.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105024-251436953e8843134a147790f9f2d775.jpg)
I enjoyed seeing the light illuminate the mountains.
I walked around the northern side of the lake and had a snack.
![PXL_20211016_155341252.PANO.png PXL_20211016_155341252.PANO.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105025-c2a4a3d55d04b575cd260606574ab43a.jpg)
I head back the way I came but stayed on the other side of the dam.
![PXL_20211016_161309470.png PXL_20211016_161309470.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105026-f2ffd1800dfa471cf04a0b8977134533.jpg)
Old rail cart.
![PXL_20211016_161354058.png PXL_20211016_161354058.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105027-bbcd94d3d66154e575933271a5c53910.jpg)
Views through a cleared section of trees.
![PXL_20211016_161411299.png PXL_20211016_161411299.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105028-74ce9178ea4e831066f368e092d26b75.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_161636185.png PXL_20211016_161636185.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105029-ad832a720562090347bdd271e59060ba.jpg)
Looking into the water intake. Deeper than it appears in the photo. Felt very sketchy leaning over to look down into it.
![PXL_20211016_161723166.MP.png PXL_20211016_161723166.MP.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105030-d136f61563c89cb3c9c9d6bf7159bccc.jpg)
![PXL_20211016_161958682.png PXL_20211016_161958682.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105032-be2ec67b2d1ed291b162569eb76a3549.jpg)
Big old piece of pipe.
![PXL_20211016_162229730.png PXL_20211016_162229730.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105033-dc5dae524729741c55ba63d2beb96fff.jpg)
Headed back down.
![PXL_20211016_171250972.png PXL_20211016_171250972.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105034-ecdcb39e75e20864f6cfb73428f36b7b.jpg)
Nice fall day.
![PXL_20211016_173756187.png PXL_20211016_173756187.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105035-9e521494b3127e68b4c4580ae4358a11.jpg)
Some aspens still in the process of changing.
![PXL_20211016_174440107.png PXL_20211016_174440107.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105036-05ef56c5680bc81b9dbfb30e16f58955.jpg)
Almost back to town.
![PXL_20211016_175922377.png PXL_20211016_175922377.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105010-972ac9e135a2318550d0c192f906fda7.jpg)
Serious beaver action on the lower stretches of the creek.
Because Jessica was going to be at her yoga thing all day, I had planned to just walk all the way back to our AirBnb. It added an extra 2.5 miles, but I was excited to do an almost entirely human-powered trip.
![PXL_20211016_181634972.MP.png PXL_20211016_181634972.MP.png](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/105/105009-97a676d8d1201830c1e27fcc7fe829d5.jpg)
I took a final break at the ball park.
The rest of the walk was uneventful. Great half-day outing, and long enough to give me a nice kick in the butt. Anaconda is a great place.