Berkeley Pit

Who would have thought that both mom and my favorite random stop of the summer would be an abandoned open pit copper mine filled with highly toxic levels of contaminated water? And yet, that is exactly what I am telling you.

 

In the hills just on the edge of Butte, Montana lies what is known as the Berkeley Pit. The pit and other Butte mines were the source of enough copper that you could have paved a four inch deep four lane highway from Butte all the way past Salt Lake City, a distance of over 400 miles. Mining stopped in 1975 and the pumps that kept water out of the mine were turned off in 1982. Since then the mine has been filling with water which is highly acidic and full of heavy metals. Toxic enough to be designated a US Superfund site it is now one of the biggest tourist attractions in Butte.

 

You walk through a tunnel in the rocks to a viewing platform which is well barricaded from the water, ensuring no accidental contact with the water is possible. As soon as you see the water though your mind forgets that this is such a deadly site. Instead you are mesmerized by the bright colors being reflected from the cut edges of the mine and the brilliant blue of the sky dotted by puffy white clouds. Colors which change according to the water level and which metal is most prominent in the water in the current year. Reflections which make you realize you actually aren't sure where the water line is until you look closer. A view which made for possibly my most memorable pictures of the entire trip. Who'd have thought a deadly open pit mine full of water could be so fascinating?

Summer escape

Summer is so often an escape for me. One in which I try to get as surrounded by nature as possible, as a way to recover from 10 months in one of the biggest cities in the world. Over the past several years I've been doing that by heading into the US's National Parks. This summer was no different. The main destination this year was Glacier National Park in Montana, where there was no shortage of trails to allow me brief forays away from just about anything that reminded me of civilization (well if you could ignore the bear bells ringing from other hiker's packs). As always it was the little moments that really made the week special, and allowed my spirit to recover. Finding a perfect reflection of the mountains in the lake. Noticing that the sun hit my favorite flower, the bear paw, in just the right manner in that field. Reaching Apikuni falls to find no one else there, making the .8 miles up hill well worth the hard breathing. The marmot that just made me smile. That plant, whose inner growth spoke to the part of me that loves symmetrical, mathematical beauty. The different shades of blue that together form one peaceful landscape. Reaching the third waterfall in one day, and finding I only had to share it with 6 other people. Splurging on high tea at the Prince of Wales hotel across the Canadian border in Waterton Lakes National Park. Just the overall peacefulness of mountains, greenery and water helped me to feel renewed.