Outdoor Adventure USA

Tell us how the mine run went. Share your stories and pictures here.

The weather cleared long enough for a spectacular morning. After a few adjustments, due to the heavy rains (about 4-6 inches), we were able to see all of the mines which were on the schedule. The first stop was at the Ranchito Mine with a personal tour by the current owner, who is the great grandson of the original owner back in 1895. Chris R. was kind enough to spend about an hour touring the remnants of the mine which included the only stamp mill in the Cuyamacas which is still standing in it's original location. Despite exposure on the ranch for over 100 years, the machinery was in remarkable condition. Chris had done considerable research on the mine, making the visit very informative. The Ranchito was among the top ten gold producers in the Cuyamacas.
Chris R. Risdon 5 Stamp Mill in it's original location - manufactured in 1896. Note boiler on left Boiler Water tank used for the boiler and washing away crushed ore

Some photos:

We had a lot of fun exploring these mines, I'm very thankful to Jon for offering us his spot on the run. The scenery along the hikes was amazing, and that climb up to the Golden Sugar mine left a smile on my face a mile wide.















More pics / Higher resolutions in my gallery.

I love how every year's group manages to capture totally different angles of these sites that always make me think "I want to go there!"