Thursday - Gates of the Mountains ($80)

Post-meeting Trip Thursday

The post-meeting field trip will focus on the Gates of the Mountains on the Missouri River near Helena, Montana. We will travel north from Butte and have opportunity to talk about the geology of the Boulder Batholith (mining, geothermal, groundwater) and western Montana geology. The river trip which will include a picnic lunch at the Meriwether campground will explore the geology of the upper Missouri River, the 1949 Mann Gulch forest fire and its place in history, and of course the Lewis and Clark expedition who named the Gates of the Mountains:

“…this evening we entered much the most remarkable clifts that we have yet seen. these clifts rise from the waters edge on either side perpendicularly to the height of 1200 feet. ... the river appears to have forced its way through this immense body of solid rock for the distance of 5-3/4 Miles ... I called it the gates of the rocky mountains...” Captain Meriwether Lewis, July 19, 1805

If time and interest permits, after the river tour we will bus north to the Wolf Creek – Craig, MT area to explore more of the spectacular geology along the upper Missouri River. Also, we will enjoy a one of a kind dining experience with a homemade meal at the Dinner Bell in Gold Creek, Montana.