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In July 1862 John White and the members of his group, who were called the Pikes Peakers camped several miles downstream on a creek that ran thru Bannack. He didn't know the creek had already been named Willard Creek by Lewis and Clark, so White christened the creek the "Grasshopper" because of the dense grasshopper population at that time. This group panned the gravel on the banks of their camp and found gold in sizable quantities. White filed one of the first recorded mining claims in what would become Montana Territory. This good news spread fast and miners rushed in to the new "Grasshopper Diggins". By early Fall the mining camp went from a population of 400 or so to 3000 by Spring.! I wanted you all to see the "real" colours of this area. The winters here were drastic, often way below zero for long time periods. There was actually a 60 below zero recorded! People tented along this Creek. The price of food went up as the gold increased. And many people left quickly. I wonder at the times I've visited there, if there is still a bit of gold to be found in those waters! If you visit, there's a big camping area just before the little Ghost Town, but I've never quite had the nerve to "sleep-over!"