Thursday, August 31, 2017 - MOOSE AT TWILIGHT

We went out to South Mineral at twilight to see if the Moose were in the "Moose Pond."  Bill & Cindy followed us.  The moose were not there so we drove down the road to see if we could see anything.  Before too long, Bill and Cindy had to turn back because they had dinner obligations with friends.  It is currently bow season and I think it is driving the wildlife further into the wilderness. 

Since we weren't seeing any critters, I thought 

"might as well take a picture of the waterfall."

Even it has almost dried up. 

We drove a little further; saw nothing, & decided to head back to camp.

Saw this doe on the way back:

Okay, you're gonna need your glasses for these shots.  

Low light + no tripod = blurry pictures!

Back out on Hwy 550, we saw a mama moose & baby by the creek.

They're here, I promise:

 Mama looking straight at us: baby on the right with back to us, head turned facing us:

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 U.S. BASIN, RED MTN MINING AREA, CORKSCREW

Today, Cathy & Larry and we were joined by six Florida Flatlander Newbies: Cindy & Bill, Karen & Tom, and Malia & Brian.  Today's trails covered 22 miles from start to finish & took us six hours!  We started them out on one of the easiest trails here, but with spectacular views.

We started up U.S. Basin thru Browns Gulch and our first stop was at the old Brooklyn Mine, in operation as recently as the 1980s.  We hung out while they explored some of the old mining buildings.

Next stop was on top, elevation over 12,000 feet and took pictures of 

mountains all around us.

Sorry about the windshield reflection here:

Once at the end of U.S. Basin, we were on Hwy 550 for a short time until we turned off to drive thru the old Red Mountain Mining Area. 

Here are some pictures of the National Belle Mine .  It opened in 1883 after the discovery of galena & silver.   It's also where we stopped for lunch.

There is supposed to be a building at the bottom of "Knob Mountain" that is the old jail.  I wonder if this is it - or what's left of it:

 Lunch photo compliments of Cathy:

We continued the drive thru the mining area, passing some of the old

 Genessee Mine buildings,

 Here comes Bill, with Larry following:

 and finally the most photographed, vertical Yankee Girl Mine, circa August 1882.  It was one of the most profitable silver mines in the area & was one of the main reasons for the quick growth of the town back in the day.  At one time there would have been bars, stores, restaurants, & a post office near this locale!

 Inside Yankee Girl.

There's a grate over the vertical shaft:

 Another fine photo by Cathy:

Back out onto Hwy 550 for a short distance and

 a turn-off to Corkscrew, thru the Red Mountains.

 Bill - going up!

 Brian going up with Larry following:

This is what happens when you meet someone:

We did the short side trail to Gray Copper Gulch and discovered the herder with his domestic sheep.  Here's everybody looking at them, but I missed getting a picture of the actual sheep.  I guess I was too busy bah bah bahing at them!   If I get one from someone else, I will add it later.

 Th herder's tent. Note the stove pipe:

At the end of Corkscrew, we pick up Gladstone, home to multiple mines, and past the extreme ski area.  I love their buses.  Read the side carefully:

Almost finished trailing for the day, but we stopped to look at this 

old wood railroad trestle down by the creek.

All day, the only critters we saw were two deer, a couple of red hawk and lots of chipmunks.  It's bow hunting season here and I think the critters have calendars and have boogied on.

Fun day & the Newbies headed off to Handlebars for dinner. 

 Here's a video I found of the same ride we took thru Red Mountain Mining District today.  You may have to copy & paste into your browser: 

http://www.coloradovibes.com/ghost-towns/red-mountain-mining-district/ 

Monday, August 28, 2017 - CATHY & LARRY'S CAMPSITE

Just hung out in the RV today.  Jim flew his drone.  Cathy & Larry came by.  Cathy gave us both haircuts.  Tonight, we went over to their camping spot by the creek on the outskirts of town.  They cooked a delicious chicken enchilada casserole in a cast iron Dutch Oven over a campfire.  Such a peaceful night.  

Campsite by the creek:

Larry put hot coals on top of the Dutch Oven 

to get the top of the casserole hot:

 Jim & Larry enjoying the fire: 

 Cathy & Larry:

Good people; Good food; Good Times!

Saturday, August 27, 2017 - SUNNYSIDE MINE, MINNIE - BEAR, TWILIGHT RIDE

Some of the historic information provided in this blog is from "Backcountry Adventures Colorado" by Peter Massey, Jeanne Wilson, and Angela Titus.  And, as always, Click on the pictures to view a larger size - highly recommended for bear pictures!  

What a great day.  We took the Eureka Gulch Trail to the Sunnyside Mine with Larry & Cathy.  Their friend, Roy rode along with them.  While I do not think this area is as "scenic" as some of the other trails, its interesting history makes up for the lack of beauty.  And there was snow for Jingles.  After Sunnyside, we traveled across Minnie Trail to look for Moose.  We didn't spot any moose today, but were entertained by two bear.

The trail to the Sunnyside Mine starts just above the old town site of Eureka.  In its heyday, the population reached 2,000 and boasted stores, bars, restaurants, a post office & newspaper.  Now it is an outlying area for camper parking.  Remains of one of the two mills is still in evidence in the town site:

The trail up to the mine starts off on a ledge road, climbs thru a piney forest and ends up at the old mine site.  The mine was established in 1873 and was one of the best producers in the area.  It shut down for a few years in 1931 and re-opened in 1937. Just two years later, the miners went on strike and the mine shut down again.  The mine continued to operate on and off until 1991 - yes, those are 9s!  As recently as the 1960s, the mine was still producing 600 tons of ore per day. 

What could have been a real tragedy struck on June 4, 1978.  Because it was a Sunday, no miners were working and there were no injuries or fatalities.  Mine buildings had been built along the shore of Lake Emma near the mining operations.  A tunnel that was being excavated about 70 feet under the lake collapsed and completely drained the lake.  Thousands of gallons of water and MILLIONS of tons of mud & rock drained in to the American tunnel before gushing out at Gladstone (same area as the recent Gold King Mine blow out), two miles away and 1,500 feet lower.  The cleanup took more than two  years.  

Here we go up.  A lone tree in mine tailings:

 Some leftovers of the old tram system that carried the ore:

 Dirty Snow = Dirty Dog

 Looking on down where Lake Emma "was"

Approaching the "Pink Wall"

The "Pink Wall" 

Lighting not so good in the picture.  

The pink stone is Rhodonite.  It is made into jewelry and sold in area jewelry stores:

 Larry's Jeep on the edge:

Larry & Roy:

 This old Tram House is on lots of postcards:

 See the waterfall just to the left of the opening:

 Hole in the cloud:

First bear was all black;

Saw it on the way up Minnie:

 

Saw second bear in the same area when we were coming back down.

It had a cinnamon color neck:

Decided to take a twilight ride down Hwy 550 to see if we could spot any more critters.

We did see a lot of deer on the way home, but too dark to photograph. 

Here's some twilight photos; mostly shot thru the windshield: