Granite Ghost Mine 1872.
Bear Creek National Forest
Owned and operated by the Granite
MT Company.
A rich silver mine was discovered in 1882
Closed 1893. Population: 0
Chills run up her body at the thought of a Ghost Mine, and a grin of delight fills her face. “We've struck gold, Sasha. Finally! Civilization. I bet it's a tourist trap, I'm dying for a drink. That granola bar is long gone,” she says, glancing at her watch. It's a little after two in the afternoon. “Let's check it out.” Sasha turns back to look at the trees behind them, clearly still worried about the noise from earlier.
Her fear is forgotten for the moment, Delta teases, “Come on scaredy cat, I'll keep you safe.” She starts walking over the granite-paved pathways leading into the center of town. The paved walkway begins to show more wear and tear. Chunks are missing, and grass has grown up in some areas. Careful to avoid the rocks, she wraps the leash up around her hand to keep Sasha closer to her.
Delta freezes when she finally understands where she is. It looks like she is standing in the center of an actual ghost town. Derelict buildings, once beautiful with redwood timbers and tin roofs are now crumbled red bricks with collapsed archways leading to snow filled rooms. Fallen down shacks, dirt walkways, with rusted red pipes exposed by time, shoot up out of the ground. All of the buildings are missing the glass in the windows where the walls are still standing. Some have only one wall supported by collapsed rooftops or beams.
“Amazing,” she snaps a few pictures, forgetting for the moment that she is lost in Montana. Gone is the scared mother of two and the writer in her emerges. Inspiration is precious, and she's not one to squander such a gift. Excitement fills her eyes, “Let's check it out.”
Sasha plops down and stares at her as if to say, ‘No way in hell.’ Delta tugs on the leash and laughs.
“Look, just a few pictures, and we will go. I swear.” Sasha sighs and slowly stands, stretching her legs out behind her. “Good girl,” she whispers and pats her head.
The town of Granite is completely deserted. Delta realizes she is walking along what was once Main Street because the buildings are all surrounding the one street. Massive granite boulders were used to create the road that leads to two massive structures further down the end of it. As promised, Delta snaps pictures and moves along sticking to the main street.
The only church is a crumbled reminder of times destructive power. Each building looks almost the same. The bottom half seems to be made of big granite stones, before leading to simple red bricks with some kind of mortar holding them together. Some have a roof, while others only have wood or steel beams left, and all of the windows have been destroyed. The ground is littered with broken glass, rusted cans and broken shards of aged pipes.
“Look at that one,” she gasps, snapping a picture of a beautiful house with redwood timbers and large steel beams. A stamped metal sign still states that this was once the Granite Mines office. Carefully avoiding the broken glass on the ground, she ties Sasha’s leash to the sign and tells her to stay. “Sorry girl, but the ground is too dangerous for you.” Delta walks inside and smiles once more. The walls are now only half walls, covered in plaster and faded wallpaper. “Oh, what stories you must hold,” Delta whispers running her hand over the walls. The empty house is depressing but makes for great pictures. She snaps a few before she hears Sasha’s first bark.
This is not the bark of loneliness or boredom, but a warning. Delta rushes out and finds Sasha barking furiously at a group of trees in the distance. She unties her leash quickly and struggles to hold her back.
“Quiet,” Delta commands and Sasha whines but obeys.
Gazing into the trees, with her heart pounding, Delta waits for any sign of danger. Just when she thinks the threat is past, something moves. The swish of its short tail gives it away. “Bobcat!” Delta inhales slowly and tries not to move. They are being stalked by a bobcat and Sasha is trembling with the need to go after it. “Bark and hold,” she orders, and Sasha begins to bark and growl. The terrified cat turns and dashes, back into the trees.
“Come, Sasha!” This time, Delta runs, and the cat follows staying inside of the tree line waiting for a moment to strike. Delta turns, leaving the main path of the road and runs in the opposite direction, straight towards the massive mine in the back of the town. Running and looking for shelter, she doesn't see the pipe jutting up from the ground until she falls.
“Oh!” Sasha barks furiously keeping the beast at bay so Delta can get up. Standing up, she looks at her leg and sees a rip in the thigh of her jeans. Terror pushes her on, and she ignores the wet burning sensation. In a few strides, Delta reaches a graveyard full of enormous metal tram cars that have tumbled on their sides, effectively blocking her path into the large ramshackle mill. “Damn!” Delta mumbles and grabs a metal rod from the ground to fight off the large cat.
Sasha is barking furiously and straining against the leash, causing Delta to drop her camera, but she's not letting Sasha loose. They stand trembling and Delta, snaps, “Cease!” so she can hear. Sasha instantly goes quiet, but her body is vibrating with the need to protect. Nothing, but the sound of the wind in the trees. This time, the cat creeps along behind the iron cars. A breeze blows the
