Total miles and ascent are now calculated from Strava from this point on
Total miles – 500.10 Total ascent – 38,986 ft
We are slowly heading south and the changing landscape shows it. Today we saw sagebrush coming into the mix.
We had our third crossing of the Continental Divide somewhere between Basin and Butte. We rode to the city of Butte, Montana today. Less mileage and elevation than yesterday but it felt harder because my legs were tired from yesterday
The city has seen better days but there are some cool buildings
Butte is know for the Berkeley Pit. From Wikipedia:
The Berkeley Pit is a former open pitcoppermine in the westernUnited States, located in Butte, Montana. It is one mile (1.6 km) long by one-half mile (800 m) wide, with an approximate depth of 1,780 feet (540 m). It is filled to a depth of about 900 feet (270 m) with water that is heavily acidic (2.5 pH level), about the acidity of Coca-Cola, lemon juice,[1] or gastric acid. As a result, the pit is laden with heavy metals and dangerous chemicals that leach from the rock, including copper, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and sulfuric acid.[1]
The Berkeley Pit opened in 1955 and closed in 1982. After it closed the water pumps were turned off and the pit began filling with groundwater forming a small lake. It is currently one of the largest superfund sites.
Annie Bikes 
Leave a comment