Missoula, Montana – August 2, 2016

Just in case I haven’t mentioned it, I want you to know I will probably never be able to buy another peach in the grocery store.  Remember those peaches Jim picked in Washington, better than I have ever tasted, EVER!

Jim picking peaches at Hanson’s Orchard – Green Bluff, WA

We moved to Missoula, Montana on Monday and found a city of approximately 115,000 with a college and University but most of the students are gone.  Driving into town, I told Jim this looks like you would imagine Montana to look with evergreen covered mountains and wide open spaces.  Looks exactly like the set of a western!

Today we traveled east to see an honest to goodness Ghost Town, Garnet, Montana.  After we finally saw the sign and turned in, we came really close to aborting the trip and coming back to the RV.  The road leading to the town abruptly changes from asphalt to graded rocks and dirt with an abundance of washboarding.  Although it only lasted for just over 6 miles it seemed like an eternity.  Just before reaching the town we came upon a photo turnout.  I know the camera can’t do it justice, but is this not beautiful?

Garnet Range’s remote location made “placer mining” the perfect method for this area because there were very few tools needed.  Everyone was looking for gold in 1865 and all that was required here was a gold pan, and rocker and some hand tools. By 1895 the town consisted of 4 stores, 4 hotels, 3 livery stables, 2 barber shops, a union hall, a butcher shop, a candy store, a doctor’s office, and 13 saloons, plus a school with 41 students.  Over the years the mining went from gold to quartz to silver back to gold but by 1942 the post office was closed because the mining had just played out.   Remains of this town are now owned by the Bureau of Land Management and the Garnet Preservation Society and together they have salvaged several buildings scattered in a valley and built on various levels on the side of the mountain.

Hotel in Garnet, MT

One of the original 13 saloons now the visitor’s center

General Store – Garnet, MT

Jail in Garnet, MT

Upper class home of the time

MG checking out the outhouse

luxury accomodations – 3 holer

Honeymoon Suite in Garnet, MT

It was the best preserved “ghost town” I have ever seen and totally authentic.  As we were leaving I heard a wife say to her husband, “See everything you want to see, because I’m never coming back here.  I guess the hike down into the valley and back up was more than she had bargained for.

We saw several families with coolers eating lunch up near the parking lot.  I guess they knew this place was in the middle of nowhere, which we did not and it was waaaay past lunch.

After driving back to civilization for lunch, we drove to the Missoula Smokejumpers Base.

Smokejumpers at Missoula, MT

Back in 1939 someone figured out that parachuting close to the fire to get it under control was quicker, would save time and lives.  Think about jumping out of plane in 1939!  There is a quote in the Visitor Center made by someone in that time saying something like all the men who are willing to do this are crazy and unstable.

Parachute repair/repacking room

Insidethe smokejumpers plane

Today, 10% of the Smokejumpers are women and none of standards have been altered to help them qualify.  An experienced firefighter with 10 years experience can apply for Smokejumpers but they must also qualify according to some hefty physical requirements.  Their gear weighs 85 pounds and they have to be able to walk miles carrying it.  This is another branch of first responder that I never gave much thought to, but guaranteed I will now.

We even got to sit in the plane they use to drop into the fires.

Then off to the local farmer’s market that is held every Tuesday evening, the area is known for its Huckleberries and Dixon Melons, very delicious .

Dixon melon – Missoula is known for their Dixon melons