day 71, Ennis to Alder, 24 miles

After breakfast at the "Pharmacy" we headed up a big pass. Of course the post office in Ennis didn't open until almost an hour after we went by it, so we had to continue giving Smokey the Bear a lift instead of mailing him home.

After 8 miles and 2000' of elevation gain we began a well-earned desent into Virginia City, a historic but very commercialized gold-rush town. We spent several hours there checking out the shops and even took the very entertaining narrated fire engine tour around town. We also got our picture taken with Gabby the prospector.

In Nevada City we treated ourselves to a Huckleberry milkshake. From there it was just a few more downhill miles to the KOA in Alder.