We woke up to 46 degrees and sunshine. We headed out to Virginia City, Montana around 8:15 am. On the way, we passes Hebgen Lake, which is the area that was affected the most by the 1959 earthquake. It was 7.5 on the Richter Scale and is the third largest earthquake to have hit the lower 48 states. Many summer homes slid into the lake off their foundations. At least 28 people died and many were injured. The lake is big and beautiful. Nick couldn't get over how calm the lake was and how it looked like a piece of glass. The water had a bluish tint to it. This area led to the Gallatin National Forest.
From the forest we went into the Montana plains. We were at the lowest altitude we had seen in at least a week. We were surrounded by green and brown swirled mountains. Cattle and horses were spread out through the area. Log cabins and ranches were too. There were also quite a few fishing lodges. The ground was mainly grass and the tres were no longer pine trees.
We got to Virginia City about an hour and a half later. Virginia City is a ghost town that has been preserved.
Fun facts about Virginia City:
In 1864 the population was over 10000. At the last population survey it was under 200.
$120 million in placer gold was mined and another $30 million in Hard gold was mined between the years of 1863 and 1866.
Camels arrived in 1865 for freighting.
Electricity arrived in 1892.
The first public school in Montana opened in Virginia City in 1866.
Merchants first set up shop in tents, wickiups and wagons with gold dust being the preferred payment.
Virginia City was the first administrative point for Yellowstone when it became the first national park.
Virginia City became the first capitol of the Montana Territory in 1865.
In the 1860's and 1870's, Virginia City was known as the social city because balls and dances were held for every occasion.
Telephones came to Virginia City in 1902. Cellular service didn't arrive until June 2010!
And we thought our trip to get there was long.....James P. Miller walked there from Salt Lake City for a total of 450 miles and it took him 16 days. A quote from his journal.....September 9,1865.....Up half past six. Snow three feet deep and still snowing.
Snow...in September? No thanks, I'll keep my jersey septembers.
We stopped in a little town called Ennis on the way back for lunch. Nick got a Reuben sandwich from a local bar called the Reel Decoy BBQ and Grill. He said it was delicious. Right across the street was a butcher. We bought some ground beef and pork chops. They made fresh jerky which the boys wanted me to bring back but it wouldn't stay for that long. Nick tasted some, and his not being a fan of it, thought that it was delicious.
After lunch we went back to the campground to hang out. Dinner was pork chops with apple sauce, twice baked potatoes, and a vegetable. Wow! Those pork chops were the most tasty, juiciest chops we've ever eaten.
We decided to go over to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center after dinner. What a great place. There was so much information about the two animals that we wish we had gone there the night before because your admission ticket is good for two days. We also got to view several wolves and bears that were residents because they could no longer survive in the wild. They were beautiful. My favorite bit of useless information that I retained was the fact that they use the bears to test bear proof garbage cans. If they cannot get into the cans within 90 minutes, then those garbage cans are approved for use. I guess that explains the metal tilted garbage cans with latches all over the place!
Our last atop before turning in was for dessert........which was none other than Wilcoxson's Ice Cream!
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