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the Degree Confluence Project
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United States : Montana

9.1 miles (14.6 km) SSW of Anaconda, Deer Lodge, MT, USA
Approx. altitude: 1985 m (6512 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo aerial ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 46°S 67°E

Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: Ace Confluence Hunting team of Les and Guy #3: Looking North from 46N 113W #4: Looking West from 46N 113W #5: Looking South from 46N 113W

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  46°N 113°W (visit #1)  

#1: Les Marks the Spot - Sugarloaf Mtn. in background

(visited by Guy Sande and Les Chagnon)

20-Jan-2001 -- While on a weekend visit to my old stomping grounds of Butte, Montana, my good friend Les Chagnon and I decided to bag our first confluence point and only the third in Montana. The point is located approx. 10 miles SSW of Anaconda Montana and roughly 400 yards off a very scenic 2-lane blacktop known as the Mill Creek Road.

Our chosen day of January 20th dawned bright and blue, which was a clear sign fate was with us as the previous day was most notable for its lead grey skies and periodic snow squalls. A quick 40 mile drive from Butte brought us to the correct stretch of the Mill Creek Road closest to 46N 113W. Our first obstacle was picking a parking spot along the snowy shoulder of the road. Our second became immediately apparent the moment we stepped off the road into knee deep snow. It's been a fairly dry winter in Montana, but I still should have remembered to bring the snowshoes. Fortunately that same level of snowfall makes the area quite popular for snowmobiling and we were able to follow their numerous tracks to within 50 feet of the confluence point. Although we could hear plenty of snowmobiles playing in the area, none came by as we walked to the point. Which was fine with me - this was my first confluence attempt, and I didn't have a snappy explanation for what we were doing yet.

By carefully watching the GPS as well as shrewdly eyeballing where the point was going to fall, we were able to make a nice "X Marks The Spot" in the snow with only a few stray tracks to mar the scene - winter confluence hunting does have a certain aesthetic appeal. After some quick photos (now I wish I had taken more) we cruised back to the truck and made the scenic loop down the Big Hole River and returned to Butte.


 All pictures
#1: Les Marks the Spot - Sugarloaf Mtn. in background
#2: Ace Confluence Hunting team of Les and Guy
#3: Looking North from 46N 113W
#4: Looking West from 46N 113W
#5: Looking South from 46N 113W
ALL: All pictures on one page