September 30, 2006

I am sitting here, in Beautiful Montana with the Rocky Mountains at my back door and the rest of South West Montana in reach. I live in an area that sits in a turn of the Rocky Mountains where 30 miles from me across the Divide is The Big Hole Valley.
The Big Hole River flows into the Jefferson River which is one the legs that form the Grand Missouri River.
This area is rich in gold, silver, and copper. The old Anaconda Smelter is at the edge of the City of Anaconda. The Copper mines are 23 miles to the East where the Open Pit mine resides at Butte.It is now the largest toxic swimming pool in the US.
These mines were drilled to over a mile deep with branches going everywhere.
The Smelter is now history and the mine ships the raw ore elsewhere to be processed.
Anaconda is a small quiet town where travel is discussed in miles rather than time. Everything is "just down the road".
This time of year is a time of change with beautiful colors. The mountains rise in an array of colors and beauty that makes you want to stay outside rather than sitting in front of a computer.