"Montana’s first pack camels probably trod the road between Virginia City and Helena. For a time, they were common sights in Bear Gulch, Gold Creek and Deer Lodge west of the mountains. A camel could carry four times the load of the average pack mule and plodded on for days on one “drink” of water. They were eventually phased out due to their pure orneriness with other animals. Their time in Montana apparently ended with long-haul stints on the Mullan Road to Walla Walla out of Hell Gate or Missoula. ~circa 1865." (drawing and text courtesy The Missoulian)