Post by SteveHolmes on Nov 24, 2008 1:28:27 GMT -5
Since the board has been a little slow lately, here's another field trip report. There are soooo many cool pictures that it was hard to choose which ones to post. Hopefully it's not an overload!!!
This was a hike done on Sept. 7th, 2008.
My friend Dave had never explored this canyon before. It's one that I Love to show people, but it's one of the longest hikes to do as well. This canyon is called the Eldorado Canyon and is located in Willard, Utah. There are really 2 significant sites up this canyon. One is the Queen Mine, the other is the site of the King Solomon Mine along with a large boarding house and a Fordson Engine! That part of the hike will be in another post sometime in the future! Once you hike to the mouth of the canyon, there is really no trail heading East. You will pass several prospects along the way until you spot some of the famous 'Maguire Trail' on the North side. Look closely, and you can see the stacked rocks which built up the trail. The trail was constructed to allow donkeys to haul equipment up.
You eventually come to a split in the canyon. This is also a location of another small prospect which only goes into the mountain about 60'.
From this point, it is neceassary to follow the North side up. We have made the mistake before going up the South canyon. You run into a 100' waterfall, (dry during the summer) which is almost impossible to traverse. We've done it before, but wouldn't recommend it. Continuing up the North side, it isn't far, that the country rock turns into beautiful reds, oranges and browns.
This is where the Prince of India vein cuts through the country, and this is also the location of the Queen mine! I have been inside the mine before, so Dave and I were prepared with waders and a wetsuit. The entrance is open, but filled with debris. You can see the timbers at the entrance, and a few famous 'new' miners with their names carved; including the 'Holmes' brothers! ;D
Getting inside the mine you have to duck....just for a few yards, as you immediately get off the debris that has filled the entrance and you are actually standing on the mine floor. The water is about chest deep for about 50'.
Pristine water!
Once out of the water, you are mucking through mud and on top of the wooden rails still laying inside.
This is one of the most unique and fascinating of all mines in the entire area! First....several mud pots inside.
Bright oranges, reds, blacks and browns....it's truly a marvel!
More formations....and colors!
The mine goes back about 300' before you come to the end. At this point, the mine cross-cuts both North and South....and also at this point it feels like you've entered into another realm. An underground alien world! Hundreds if not thousands of iron-type stalactites hang from the ceiling. Some are several feet in diameter and several feet long!
The Colors are really undescribeable! Swirls of every color imagineable! Close-Up shot of a stalactite.
One stalactite forming another.
There are also several places where the walls are anchored up with timbers. Some not so stable.
Dave and myself probably took 50+ pictures combined of inside this mine. It's honestly amazing...and catches you in awe!
Coming back out....don't forget to duck your head!
Once outside....Dave and I changed and got ready for the 2nd leg of the journey. Part 2 will come sometime soon.
Hope you enjoyed....and sorry for the many pictures.
Steve
This was a hike done on Sept. 7th, 2008.
My friend Dave had never explored this canyon before. It's one that I Love to show people, but it's one of the longest hikes to do as well. This canyon is called the Eldorado Canyon and is located in Willard, Utah. There are really 2 significant sites up this canyon. One is the Queen Mine, the other is the site of the King Solomon Mine along with a large boarding house and a Fordson Engine! That part of the hike will be in another post sometime in the future! Once you hike to the mouth of the canyon, there is really no trail heading East. You will pass several prospects along the way until you spot some of the famous 'Maguire Trail' on the North side. Look closely, and you can see the stacked rocks which built up the trail. The trail was constructed to allow donkeys to haul equipment up.
You eventually come to a split in the canyon. This is also a location of another small prospect which only goes into the mountain about 60'.
From this point, it is neceassary to follow the North side up. We have made the mistake before going up the South canyon. You run into a 100' waterfall, (dry during the summer) which is almost impossible to traverse. We've done it before, but wouldn't recommend it. Continuing up the North side, it isn't far, that the country rock turns into beautiful reds, oranges and browns.
This is where the Prince of India vein cuts through the country, and this is also the location of the Queen mine! I have been inside the mine before, so Dave and I were prepared with waders and a wetsuit. The entrance is open, but filled with debris. You can see the timbers at the entrance, and a few famous 'new' miners with their names carved; including the 'Holmes' brothers! ;D
Getting inside the mine you have to duck....just for a few yards, as you immediately get off the debris that has filled the entrance and you are actually standing on the mine floor. The water is about chest deep for about 50'.
Pristine water!
Once out of the water, you are mucking through mud and on top of the wooden rails still laying inside.
This is one of the most unique and fascinating of all mines in the entire area! First....several mud pots inside.
Bright oranges, reds, blacks and browns....it's truly a marvel!
More formations....and colors!
The mine goes back about 300' before you come to the end. At this point, the mine cross-cuts both North and South....and also at this point it feels like you've entered into another realm. An underground alien world! Hundreds if not thousands of iron-type stalactites hang from the ceiling. Some are several feet in diameter and several feet long!
The Colors are really undescribeable! Swirls of every color imagineable! Close-Up shot of a stalactite.
One stalactite forming another.
There are also several places where the walls are anchored up with timbers. Some not so stable.
Dave and myself probably took 50+ pictures combined of inside this mine. It's honestly amazing...and catches you in awe!
Coming back out....don't forget to duck your head!
Once outside....Dave and I changed and got ready for the 2nd leg of the journey. Part 2 will come sometime soon.
Hope you enjoyed....and sorry for the many pictures.
Steve
If any of you are ever up in Utah and want a personal tour...feel free to contact me. ;D I'm always up for a good hike. The Miners were seeking Copper in this particular area. I don't know how much was ever found; we have never been able to find any reports of values or any ore that got shipped out. Alot of these mines were prospects and cutting the different veins to see exactly what was to be found. There are over 40 mines on this mountain in about 6 different canyons...and none of them have the geology inside that this one does. It is truly awe inspiring. The 1st time my brother and I decided to go in, it was spooky. We only brought one set of waders, and so only one of us ventured in at a time. Unfortunately....I was the guinea pig...but I made it out safely. It's much more comforting when there is a companion inside with you. It doesn't fell so scary. 
;D The water is crystal clear until the mud is disturbed. I wouldn't dare go in bare foot....because there are probably minerals in there that are deadly./ 
I know somewhere near the entrance lies a flashlight we dropped in on our 2nd visit. We could never find it in the 2' thick black mud bottom. It is so soft that it just bellows up with every step. I tried to recover one of the stalactites at one time...but they are just so fragile they just fall apart. I can honestly say...I;ve never hammered these walls. I don't even know what colors the walls would be if broken into. I guess I'll have to do that one of these times. The thing about it is...there's no visble tailings on the outside. Does that mean that everything they dug out was hauled down?
I have no idea...but if it was all hauled down...it would suggest to me that it was fairly good ore. And probably so with all the minerals leaching through the walls and cielings. Glad you all enjoyed it! I know it's been a part of my life since 1990!
