With my military adventure quickly approaching, my Air Force recruiter scheduled my physical at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Butte, Montana. Fortunately, all expenses were covered. With an early start, I set off on my mini-vacation, leaving a killer sunrise behind in Denver.
With a short stop in Salt Lake City, we landed in MT by early afternoon. I was amazed at how close the mountains were when I stepped off the plane. Though not terribly far, Denver is still a decent drive (through heavy traffic) to the mountains.
Judging by the size of the plane and airport, I already suspected that Butte was a small town. This fact was soon confirmed by the hotel shuttle driver. He also informed me that I had just missed a cold front that passed through with temperatures reaching -60 F! Glad I dodged that bullet. One of the cool things about a small mountain town is the close-knit bond weaved throughout the community--a feature that I picked up on despite the short visit.
After settling in at the hotel, I went for a walk to get some fresh air and stretch my legs. Though warmer than the previous week, it was still cold and snowy. That night, I ate dinner at the hotel, read my latest mystery novel, and attended the nightly meeting. Most of the guests at the hotel are military applicants coming and going for their various appointments at MEPS. I was clearly outnumbered both in gender and rank--most of the young boys were enlisting in various branches of the military, which is different than my plan to become a commissioned officer.
The following day began with an early breakfast and shuttle ride to MEPS. While the boys had a full day there, it was luckily just a morning affair for me. Nevertheless, the physical was thorough and tedious.
Happy to have that part of the process out of the way, I spent the afternoon in town since my flight back to Denver wasn't until the following morning. The mild afternoon temperatures allowed for a leisurely walk to the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial. I followed the snow-covered paved path up to the memorial, stopping to read the informative signs that depict the town's history.
In the early 20th century, Butte was a unionized industrial city with one of the largest mining operations in the world. The mining town ambitiously met the increased demand for copper during WWI.
On June 8th, 1917, 168 lives were taken in a catastrophic fire that ensued in the mine shaft. 79 years after the disaster, the Granite Mountain Memorial Memorial was dedicated to the men how lost their lives. The beautiful plaza offers panoramic views of headframes, the East Ridge, and the remnants of a once-flourishing mining industry.
The Berkeley Pit--another important piece of the town's history--was an open-pit copper mine that began in 1955. Millions of tons of ore and waste rock were mined from it. Today, it is filling with highly contaminated water and toxic chemicals.
Even in the face of tragedy, Butte is considered to be "The Richest Hill on Earth," referencing the soul and determination of the community.
After my much-enjoyed walk, I descended into the city center, which is known as "Uptown."
My afternoon adventure ended at Butte Brewing Company. All in all, a very rewarding day!
I caught the early wake up call the next morning with just enough time for breakfast and a shuttle ride to the airport. I was accompanied by a small group of Army "shippers" that were departing for boot camp. It was all that they could do contain their nervous energy.
I was back in Denver before I knew it, happily greeted by sunshine and warm temperatures. I was relieved to discover that the icy streets had thawed out while I was gone. Good to be home!
