SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jan 2, 2008 20:14:37 GMT -5
Thanks guys for the words of advice, encouragement, and for allowing me to share my adventures. ;D Mules would be the most ideal, but it's been over 100 years since these mines were in service, and the terrain has changed quite a bit due to floods and snowslides. The mules would have to climb over two rockslides, and up a pretty steep face. I doubt they'd make it. Tony...the Box idea is something to think about. I'll tell my friend about that one, and let him ponder the idea. Michael...the saucers would be ideal for the flywheels. Right now we have a toboggan type sled up there now. We have some 2x4's cut into the bottom of it with eyebolts on the boards so we can fasten the parts down. The engine is just so heavy, and the snow so powdery, that right now...it just isn't working. The Flywheels would fit perfect into the saucers though. They are much easier to handle. Rob...if you get to Utah this summer, you better look me up. I would love to take you out on a rockhounding trip or two. I don't think a Geocache would do very well up in this area. You have to get permission to park somewhat close to the canyon, and if you can't get permission...the hike gets about 2 miles further. My friend is planing on rebuilding the engine and get it running. He's a genius. He collects old mining memorabilia, and rebuilds things like this. He has rebuilt several old Mine Cars, and he also has rebuilt an old Rock Drill that he could actually use. Thanks again Guys! I enjoy sharing my passion. You only live once, and I tend to live every minute to it's fullest! ;D Steve
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 2, 2008 21:06:09 GMT -5
Egads! I friggin hate snow. Was horrified to see some on the ground when I went to the ranch last week. But lookin at your pics is the way I want to see it if I have to see it. Personally, I think yore a little nuts for hiking around in that cold wet junk but different strokes and so on. Darn pretty pics for lookin at anyway!....Mel
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jan 2, 2008 21:36:22 GMT -5
Mel, I couldn't agree with you more!!! I hate it so freakin' much!!! Couple more months...positive thoughts...lots of sunshine melting the snow....rocks appearing underneath it.....I'm better now! Steve
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Post by cina on Jan 3, 2008 20:13:08 GMT -5
My kind of place! Makes me want to go up my Mountain
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Jan 4, 2008 15:19:47 GMT -5
How on earth did they get it up there 100 years ago??? I have to agree w/Roxy, you guys are nuts. But what wonderful pix!
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Post by takilasunrise on Jan 4, 2008 16:17:29 GMT -5
Like Steve the rocklicker said, there's rocks in the pictures, so your photos count! Looks wonderful. The last photo looks like you've got some altitude going on........could you breathe ok?
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desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
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Post by desertdweller on Jan 4, 2008 16:35:35 GMT -5
In the winter? You climbed that mountain in the winter? Do you have some underlying issue with just living happily ever after?
Yeah, I ducked out of that little get-together, I don't mind hiking but in my mind a steep grade is kinda like those roads that warn truckers to use their brakes, 6% or you could even double that and it wouldn't be a problem but I have always had problems with rock face cliffs and avalanche areas. I'd say most of that mountain would fall under those 2 categories.
Just during our little adventure yesterday (Roxy and I) I'll bet between the two of us we must of fell at least a dozen times and everytime I'd hear the sound of loose gravel moving down the mountain, sure enough I'd turn around just in time to see Roxy doing some "Ti Kwan Doo Hickie" move then hear something like......"My bad, silly me, I seem to have left my hoofs at home." She's right though, I have a hard enough time climbing in my desert hiking boots/dress shoes, (same thing....Dress shoes double as hiking boots when you leave the house at the spur of the moment). I get an ugly visual when I try to picture myself hiking up avalanche areas, you know the bald spots on the mountain where nothing grows because of constant rock slides or in this situation snow slides......With two tennis raquets tied onto my feet, dressed in enough thermal clothing to insulate a small home. I can just see the headlines now................."Woman found at core of large snow ball that rolled off of Willard mountain today, wiping out several small towns, 2 freeway bridges and the valley's powerlines."
Not a pretty sight.
When Steve called us to join him on his little outing last summer he said, "Its a good hike, there isn't really a trail to follow though and theres a few small cliffs we would have to cross but other than that its not too bad."
Not bad if you are a prong horn sheep.
You are at least 1/4 prong horn right?
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Post by midnightrocksi3 on Jan 4, 2008 23:16:14 GMT -5
LOL.... I can't believe you told about my Cat like reflexes LMAO!!! Omg that's not even the whole story.. But I don't know anyone else that I can just go over and visit and on a flip of a dime decide to go rock hunting and be game and go with me.... But I should know better and just always be prepared.... see at least Steve looked prepared .. you know the right kinds of clothing and tools extra.. Myself I just came from shopping so I had on good clothes. that I don't like to hunt in.. oh yeah and my good shoes.. forgot my hooves at home.. not to mention Jamie's pace is an easy 10 miles an hour(sprint to a fire) walk.... myself.. I'm more of the I'll get there when I get there walk.. .. So when we're walking and talking at the same time.. and carrying rocks, one starts to get a bit winded..... not for jamie. I'm all panting and begging for water.... ya know I just quit smoking too to top it off..... anyways I can barely breath as it is.. and I'm half way up this huge mountain going straight up..... and I'm begging at this point to rest.. and in major need of water.. she stops long enough to LIGHT HER CIGERRETE.... and then off she goes.. Or she'll wait long enough for me to catch up to her and then she's off again..lol.. Oh you don't even want to know the way down.. it was awful.. I stood at a cliff at one point because my legs were starting to buckle under the weight of the back pack and my RTH Rock bag Not to mention my back was killing me.. So I stood there and contemplated jumping .. just so I wouldn't have to climb down.. and plus If I jumped far enough I just might be able to get a good roll going.. never the less she finally shows up and talks me out of it by reminding me I might loose my rocks....So down we go.... and go and go..... and so what might of looked like some Karate Move...... was actually me in the falling forward motion in full throttle.. and just absolute no control of my body where all my limbs were going in opposite directions.. LOL so.. on that .. I need to go sit in a hot tub for the second night in a row just to get the kinks out.. and I know there are some on this board that remember how she hikes.. You'd think I'd learn my lesson by now..... so steve the next time just Drag her up there .. I know the girl is half billygoat.. lol ;D Roxy
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Jan 5, 2008 1:28:29 GMT -5
When I saw the pic, I thought that is a sort of cannon. You have to work quite hard to bring that motor down, but why during winter??? The only advantage could be if you could use some sledge to move it.
Beautiful landscapes, thank you for sharing.
Adrian
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jan 5, 2008 8:14:13 GMT -5
If you guys try the saucer thing, DON'T tie the rope around your waist !!!!!!
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Post by akansan on Jan 5, 2008 9:28:51 GMT -5
Whoa. That's quite the undertaking! Good luck with it. Have to agree with agatemaggot, though. I enjoy a good hike. I enjoy a small snow. Combine them? Huh-uh!
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desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
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Post by desertdweller on Jan 6, 2008 15:19:49 GMT -5
He told me it only takes him about 3 hours to reach the point on the mountain where the old mine is, is that right Steve? My Dad said the mine is very near the top of the mountain. If its closer to the top, couldn't you drag it up there with a wench and just roll it down the other side? The other side of that mountain is steep enough I bet it would make it all the way to the bottom without stopping. LOL!
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jan 6, 2008 15:39:06 GMT -5
Jamie, and Roxy... I would have loved to have seen that trip. High heels and rocks...and you talk about me on steep cliffs in snow shoes! You two would be perfectly adapted! Jmaie, There are several (40+) mines on the mountain within 6 different canyons. Most people know the mountain by the one near the top. The mine where the engine is, is about half-way between both. There's no way in my dream world, I'd drag that darn thing up. It's gotta come down!! BTW, of few of my friends that have gone up, swear I'm half billy-goat. I guess 15 years of hiking those mountains will turn you into something like that. Steve
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desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
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Post by desertdweller on Jan 16, 2008 12:33:32 GMT -5
Hey Steve, I bet that mountain looks just like a glacier right about now, heard you got quite a bit of snow in the last two weeks. You probably wouldn't even be able to find the motor now that its buried under 10 feet of snow.
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Jan 16, 2008 19:21:24 GMT -5
LOL Steve!
Trust me.. it wasn't a graceful as it sounded.... I'm like one of them stupid cats that can get up a tree and can't get down for nothing.. that was me.. all claws and eyes and teeth, on the way coming down that mountain! . Now I know why Jamie was so far ahead of me.. the whole snowball effect might have occured if I would of collided with her lol.. But I'll try to remember My hooves the next time I try to billygoat it upside a steep hill..
*smiles*
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2008 0:12:48 GMT -5
That is one most excellent adventure!!! Please update when you get that out. I know you two will. Thank god you guys made it out safely, looking down at that hill made me dizzy!
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jan 17, 2008 7:44:26 GMT -5
Thanks Tony. I was a bit nervous crossing across the ravine where the big snow drifts had lipped off the edge of the ridgeline. It was even more nerve-wracking on the way down after the snow had melted it a little. I don't think we'll be going up anytime soon. As Jamie stated...the last storm we had hit that area big time. My sister recieved 21" and she lives just below the area. I'd imagine it doubled up there..if not more. Just praying for Spring to arrive very soon. Steve
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