Outdoor Adventure USA

JULIAN MINE RUN

For several years now we have done the Mine run. If there is enough interest, we will do it again this year. For those who would like to participate, you will need to post your interest here.

BRIEF HISTORY

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is located just east of the town of Julian. Julian's origin began during in the gold rush days of the late 1800's. Remnants of many mines still exist today, some in quite good condition.

The run will be through a triangle of canyons comprised of Rodriguez, Chariot and Oriflamme. Contained within this area, and a bit outside, are several mines, all of which are on private property and almost all of which are fenced off. Three of the top ten gold producing mines are in this area and the owners have given us permission to enter the property to view the the remnants of the operation, which by the way, are in very good condition, given their age (over 100 years). In one location there stands the original 5 stamp mill, with wood frame, including much of the machinery used for the operation.

Each member of the tour will get a copy of the book "A good Camp" by Leland Fetzer (no charge). If you want an early copy, let me know. Otherwise, I will be handing out copies just before the run. The book contains a great description of the history of the area as well as the mines that we will be visiting.


CONFIRMED LIST

1. DaveK
2. John
3. Jeff
4. Roger
5. Brent

I'm interested in the mine tour if we can get critical mass for a tour.

Jeff

It looks like the run is a go. I'll make the final call the week of Borrego Fest.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see parts of California history that are not readily accessible to most folks. If you haven't taken the Julien Mine tour with Dave before, I urge you to sign up - you'll be in for a treat !!!

You can count me in on this one too.

With the hike moved to Friday, count me in for this tour again Dave.

Dave,

Please count me in for 3 people on the mine tour.

Gents

Welcome Jeff, John, Brent and Roger. We have room for three more.

This was my first time attending this run and I gotta say that I had an absolutely fantastic time! A big thanks to Dave for organizing and leading this outing and thanks to the property owners who graciously allowed us to explore these historic sights.

I'll have more photos up soon.

“Not long after the United States conquest of California, prospectors turned to the Cuyamacas in search of gold. They had observed that these mountains display promising sierra-like granite that might hold a bonanza for the lucky finder.

In the late 1800’s miners would take about $1,700,000 in gold from the area. However, the 20th century has not been kind to Cuyamaca mining. After the boom of the 1890s, a hundred years of 20th century gold production was only a small fraction of what 30 years in the 19th century had yielded.

But the mines cannot be forgotten. They changed the face of the mountains with excavations and mine buildings, roads, private inholdings, brought a surge of prosperity to what would’ve been only a modest ranching and farming district, and attracted a mixed population of emigrants and settlers from other regions who would never have come if gold had not drawn them to the mountains.

Most importantly, we can see that the mines created something else; a colorful community unique in Southern California and one heavy with reminders of the past. In expectation of enriching their own lives, modern visitors in unexpected numbers come to savor the areas past, vicariously to live again in the world promising the lure of hidden bonanzas, to understand something about the trials and triumphs of early Cuyamaca gold-mining.” -Leland Fetzer