Butte, Montana was the site of the richest copper mine. Back in the late 1800's they started mining copper in underground mines here. Eventually, they went to open pit mining and created this giant hole. Its miles around and over a mile deep. They still mine copper in another open pit mine behind this one. They also recover copper out of the leach water left over from the original mining operation. This pit full of water is so acidic it will kill birds that land on it and stay too long. They have a big noise maker they blast to scare birds, ducks, etc. The city of Butte is using this toxic pit as a tourist attraction. I guess its working -- we went to see it. Its all part of a superfund clean up site that stretches from Butte to Anaconda all the way up to Missoula. They are all connected because of the rivers that flow through all of this and got very contaminated from all the mining. It's nice to see that it can be cleaned up but its going to take at least twenty more years.
Jim got his cast off and now just wears a removable brace. We are planning to head to Rexburg, Idaho next. The start of our journey south. It is time to leave Anaconda. It's getting into the very low 30's most nights -- almost had frost one night. The truck has all new filters and fluids and the tires and brakes have been checked. We just need to do a few more maintenance chores on the 5th wheel and boat and we will be good to go.
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