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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Agreed. I took the Anaconda cutoff in 2007 but
afterwards felt that I may have preferred the official route. Jonathan mentions
the considerable road walk. Another issue is cutting across private land and
darting around no trespassing signs. I'd take the official route were I doing it
again. (On the other hand, the wetland was enjoyable, and the Anaconda library
was handy.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Steady </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title="mailto:jonathan@phlumf.com CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:jonathan@phlumf.com">Jonathan Ley</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 01, 2009 6:45 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=cdt-l@backcountry.net
href="mailto:cdt-l@backcountry.net">CDT MailingList</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Cdt-l] Anaconda Cutoff...</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I just wanted to put a “shout out”
to the non-Anaconda route (i.e. actual CDT) around <ST1:CITY
w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on">Butte</ST1:PLACE></ST1:CITY>… Each year, quite a
lot of hikers take the Anaconda cutoff. While years ago this part of the CDT was
mostly a lengthy road-walk, it’s now quite a lot better and mostly all trail. My
guess is that a lot of old information is still in circulation; incorrectly
describing the CDT route in that area. Actually, the Anaconda cutoff may have
more road walking than the CDT route (even including <ST1:STREET
w:st="on"><ST1:ADDRESS w:st="on">Delmoe Lake Road</ST1:ADDRESS></ST1:STREET>).
So, if your goal is to stay off roads, you’re probably better-off with the CDT.
<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The forest service, CDTA, and local
volunteers have put a lot of effort into improving the trail in this section,
and it’d be great if more thru-hikers could “show it some love”.
<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Yes, it’s a little longer than the
Anaconda cutoff, but it’ll only lengthen your trip by a couple days… And is a
couple more days in the mountains really all that bad?
<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Anyway, hike your own hike and all
that… but give the <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:CITY
w:st="on">Butte</ST1:CITY></ST1:PLACE> trail a chance,
eh?<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Good luck & best wishes to all
out there in 2009!<BR><BR>-Jonathan<BR></SPAN></FONT></BODY></HTML>