Helena, Montana

The view from atop Mt. Helena (June 15, 2008)

Tucked along the crooked path where Last Chance Stream once meandered, Helena is the town that gold built, an honor no other modern Montana city can claim. Helena's nineteenth century architecture dazzles, its gold rush history compels, and its arts and culture reflect a richly talented community.

Our twosome arrived in fine fettle in the "Queen City of the Rockies" (as fine a nickname as a city could hope for), though a tad bumpy on the descent. Weather report: "80ish and sunny". So it was off to scale Mt Helena, a short but tough little calf burner up the hill at the edge of town. The reward for a climb well done was a two-hour nap followed by a big plate of beef.

And now for some Helena history. The selection of Helena as the capital of Montana had an inauspicious beginning. A political war between two "Copper Kings" Marcus Daly and William Clark, resulted in massive bribery and vote-buying scandals only a "Copper King" could afford. With Daly backing Anaconda and Clark supporting Helena, it is estimated that in 1894 each man spent almost $3 million to determine which city would become Montana's new capital.

Next up: Bozeman, MT
(another 5-star Adventure brought to you by US Bank)