'Anaconda is the town': CDT hikers gladly take 50-mile detour to rest, restock in the Smelter City

Hikers on the Continental Divide Trail gather for Hikers Night at Pintler's Portal Hostel last week. Leader photo: Nikki Johnson
The Pintler’s Portal Hostel was jam-packed Wednesday, July 17 with hikers from near and far for Hikers Night, an event the hostel hosts twice a year to celebrate their summertime trail enthusiasts. An impressive spread of delicious food and beverages were on full display for hikers on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
One hiker strummed the guitar while others ate, told stories, and laughed together. They discussed their experiences both at the hostel and also on the trails.
“We just walked a bunch of miles on a road in 95-degree heat so we’re just trying to get our brains together here,” chuckled Edward from Seattle, Washington, using his trail moniker, “Radio.”
He nonchalantly stated that they had “only” walked about 16 miles that day, a significant difference from their typical 29-mile hikes.
“I did the PCT in 2021 and so it’s hard not to compare one hike to another, but I’ve really been surprised by the towns in Montana. Like, the towns in Montana have been a really surprising part of the trail,” he stated.
Radio explained that even though the Smelter City isn’t technically on the CDT trail (the trail actually intersects in Butte), hikers will often make the 50-mile detour to go through Anaconda based on the town’s exemplary reputation.
Another hiker, “Maverick,” from Salt Lake City, Utah, added, “I think every single person we know took it [the detour through Anaconda]. Everyone’s only heard good things about it.”
“Jet Puff,” also from Seattle chimed in saying, “Anaconda’s like the town.”
Maverick said that he had flown in from Colorado earlier that day and made the trek to the hostel in Anaconda for his second time in the Smelter City. His first trip was in 2015, before the hostel was here and he explained that due to its impressive reputation he had to check it out for himself, and he wasn’t disappointed.
“I have to do it [the CDT] in sections. So last summer I did the Canadian border to here, and I strategically planned this because I knew I could fly into Butte and then get an Uber here and stuff. So, I’ll go down to Lima and back down to Salt Lake and go back to work as a school teacher,” he said. “That’s how I roll. I can’t be like the rest of these guys and do it at once. They’re the cool ones,” he said, laughing.
When asked if they’d seen any interesting wildlife around Anaconda, Maverick said, “well, we slept with a bunch of cows last night,” and the table erupted in laughter.
Jet Puff explained what’s appealing to her as a hiker stating, “you can just turn your phone off for days at a time, unreachable. You can just like walk 10 miles a day, it’s nice.”
“Everyone’s been super nice. We’re not trying to move here so we’re just kind of passing through,” she said, adding that she’s heading all the way down the CDT to Mexico and should finish around October. She saved up money for a few years, then quit her job to be able to make the trip.
“I feel like it’s very different from your normal life. Normal life is easy and complicated and trail life is difficult but simple. So it’s so nice to be out there whittling your life down. Like, how am I going to get water? How far am I going to go? When am I going to sleep again? And it’s just so satisfying to whittle everything down. And you have time to think about other things and be with yourself. In the real world I don’t hitchhike, but on the trail I do. It’s great to meet other people and I feel like the community is so kind, and it’s a kindness you don’t necessarily get in real life,” she explained.
Since its opening a few years ago, the hostel has quickly become a staple for hikers looking for, not only an affordable, comfortable, and convenient place to stay, but a place to gather, share information, and meet new people.
“I think it’s incredible,” hostel owner Marsha Hill said. “One of the things that I think that whole journey is about is healthy living and being back to nature and I think they bring that here. Anaconda’s really become a destination and the community really welcomes them and they know that and they appreciate that.”
She explained that many local businesses, and Discover Anaconda in particular, have embraced the hikers, creating a unique opportunity for the community to absorb something that can otherwise be elusive – culture and diversity.
“When you come in here any given night and you’re going to sit with people from, not just all over the country, but all over the world. We had France, and Germany, and Croatia, and Florida, and I think Spokane Washington, and we were just all sitting around gabbing,” she said.
One way that the hostel has shown their appreciation to the hikers, while creating an opportunity for them to connect with the community, is through these Hikers Nights. This is their third year hosting the event.
“When we conceived the idea of doing the hostel, it was the hikers going through town that really stimulated that idea. We just wanted to find a way to celebrate the hikers in Anaconda and a lot of other people are doing that, too. And I think the day will come when there will be more collective trails celebrations in Anaconda. I know that the Anaconda Trail Society is going gang-busters on the trails and offerings that they have this year,” she said.
The Hikers Night in July targets southbound hikers, while the one in August targets northbounders. Hill mentioned that last Wednesday’s event was hands down their largest one yet.
“I think the word is getting out there and we appreciate it that they like the hostel and we try to make it real comfortable and affordable for them,” she said.
The next Hikers Night event will be on Aug. 22. The community is invited and dinner for the hikers is free but they ask community members to make a donation to help cover food and drink costs.