Day 5: Philipsburg to Anaconda

June 16, 2025

Broadway Hotel served a basic breakfast, so I loaded up on oatmeal. On the road at 9:30. No hurry. Today has a steep climb but the route is short and half downhill.

Roads were wet when I walked the bike out the back door of the hotel. I must have just missed a shower. The sky was dense overcast, still threatening to rain.

Looking back when leaving downtown Philipsburg. A top tier historic mining town.

Former Philipsburg high school. The new high school is next door.

Today's route begins the same as yesterday. First gradual uphill in a big valley, then a steeper grade in a narrow canyon.

Pedaling south on MT 1 towards big mountains. Climbing gently at first.

Today has the first genuine mountain climb of the tour. The steep part climbs 900 feet at a steady 5-6 percent grade, with several switchbacks. Relentless, but 900 feet is small compared to many mountain climbs. I took several short photo stops.

The steep 900 foot climb begins. Road cuts visible above.

The highway has moderate recreational traffic. The valley sections have a paved shoulder but the steep mountain climb has no shoulder. People drive slowly there because the road is narrow and relentlessly winding. I had to share the lane but it didn't feel unsafe. My two flashers were on, as always.

Looking north from near the summit. Much exposed lava and cinders here.

There is no descent at all after the big climb. I reached the top of a dam and started following the shore of Georgetown Lake.

First view of Georgetown Lake from the dam.

Georgetown Lake is quite populated. Many vacation homes. Many boats on the lake. It has spectacular mountain views. Surely even better on a sunny day.

After Georgetown Lake is a gentle hill climb to Silver Lake. The lakes are not connected. They have separate watersheds and separate outlets.

Silver Lake is higher, different color, unpopulated.

After Silver Lake is a long gentle descent to Anaconda following Warm Springs creek, but with few views of the creek. The shoulder returns but traffic increases as I get closer to town.

Scarred mountains near Anaconda. Not much of this near Anaconda because it was mainly a smelter town.

Anaconda was founded as the smelter site for the giant open pit copper mine 24 miles east in Butte. The smelter operation needed the reliable water supply from Warm Springs creek.

I followed Warm Springs creek downstream to Anaconda.

The sky threatened to rain pretty much all day, but it never did rain until the final 2 miles coming in to Anaconda. And then only light sprinkles. So I took only one photo when passing through the historic downtown. There will be more opportunities.

Weather was cooler today. 53F at 10 AM. High of about 70F. I wore tights all day. Wind was not a big factor.

I arrived at Hickory House Inn at 2:35 and self-checked myself in. Easy. Then I took a 2.5 hour nap before dinner at a Mexican restaurant that seemed to be the only place open on Monday night.

Home for the next 2 nights is 1902 Hickory House Inn.

My room has a south facing bay window but the windows have almost total shade from a tree and tall building to the south. My room is probably the coolest of the 5 rooms. None of the rooms have air conditioning. It's not needed often at 5335 feet elevation.

Hickory House Inn was a Rectory, now has 5 guest rooms. My room is the downstairs bay window on the left.

I like the personal service of small B&B places. My room combination was the last 4 digits of my phone number.

Still another stained glass transom window. Very dark.

My room is close to the front door and also close to amenities such as the shared fridge, microwave, electric kettle, and tea supplies. I didn't go near the candy jars. I saw the owner's young kids put their dirty hands in there many times.

My room has a private bath, good to be downstairs because there is no A/C and the bike rolls from sidewalk to room with only a 1.5 inch step.

Homemade breakfast is included. The dining room is in the oldest part of the rectory, built in 1888.

Shared living room adjacent to my guest room.

I will enjoy my 2 night stay at Hickory House Inn. The owner is a transplant from North Carolina. The location is perfect-a relatively quiet place 2 blocks from the middle of downtown. A good base for rest and recovery, and for sightseeing in historic Anaconda.

Distance: 31 miles
Average Speed: 8.5 mph
Ascent/Descent: +1476/-1418 feet

Today's ride: 31 miles (50 km)
Total: 161 miles (259 km)

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