Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

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14er101
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by 14er101 »

My personal favorite is the old shack (nicknamed The Kabin by a few of my climbing friends) that sits on top of Horseshoe Mountain A. Having spent a few nights camping in it, it makes winter summit camping much less windy (sometimes).
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by DaveLanders »

PJ88 wrote: Sat Mar 22, 2025 5:02 pm
IMG_3593(1).jpg
I don't think this is a mining ruin, but any idea what this is? Found this up by Skeleton Gulch in RMNP a few years back.
I was confused initially because the picture is rotated, but I think that's a storage shed for explosives. The early versions of dynamite like explosives weren't very stable, which is why Alfred Nobel made a fortune when he fixed that.
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by 9patrickmurphy »

d_baker wrote: Sun Mar 23, 2025 6:21 pm I haven't been (over) there....but they sure look cool from a distance....
This is the Old Hundred mine boarding house and tram building. I've hiked to these buildings, and they're super neat. Apparently Silverton's historical society got some money in the 90s (I think?) to reinforce the buildings and keep them standing. Even still they're super dilapidated which isn't surprising given the incredibly precarious perch they are on (I'd love to know what their foundations are). There is a trail that you can take from Rocky Gulch that traverses over to these buildings and passes a few tunnels and tailings piles along the way. The tram house is super cool, and looks exactly like a wooden version of modern jig-back trams a la Jackson Hole or Snowbird. A bit further up the Rocky Gulch road is the remains of the Buffalo Boy mine and tram house, which more closely resembles a modern gondola or detachable chairlift; all the walls have fallen away so the mechanism is out in the open. The Mayflower Mill tour has a similar tram house, and is well worth the visit. Silverton's on-display mining history is cool as hell.
Last edited by 9patrickmurphy on Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by 9patrickmurphy »

Speaking of the Champion Mine, I was quite enamored with this bullwheel close to the standing buildings. Copper's head lift mechanic told me he thought this was the first aerial tramway built in Colorado:
bullwheel.jpg
There's also the lovely old truck up at Wheeler Lake:
vroom.jpg
And one of my favorite photos I've taken in the mountains, thanks to this adit I stumbled across up some drainage near Silverton:
hole.jpg
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by XterraRob »

d_baker wrote: Sun Mar 23, 2025 6:21 pm I haven't been (over) there....but they sure look cool from a distance....


Screenshot_20250323_181950_Gallery.jpg

https://www.sanjuancountyhistoricalsoci ... house.html

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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by rijaca »

The Mining Heritage Center in Silverton: https://www.sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org/
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by PJ88 »

DaveLanders wrote: Sun Mar 23, 2025 7:50 pm
PJ88 wrote: Sat Mar 22, 2025 5:02 pm IMG_3593(1).jpg

I don't think this is a mining ruin, but any idea what this is? Found this up by Skeleton Gulch in RMNP a few years back.
I was confused initially because the picture is rotated, but I think that's a storage shed for explosives. The early versions of dynamite like explosives weren't very stable, which is why Alfred Nobel made a fortune when he fixed that.
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks!
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by Marmot72 »

I like finding the equipment.

Pics in order - a view inside the main building in the restored site in Hurricane Basin; air compressor on north side of either Tweto or Kuss; contraption at the start of the trail/4x4 road blocked by extreme obstacle to Mayflower Gulch (which were not there in 2005 but placed there prior to 2016).
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by Marmot72 »

I find that most structures are not much to see, but finding these ruins in such high and exposed places brings a sense of awe. Here is view of a tiny cliffhanger below the Atlantic-Drift ridge, and a large building in Governor Basin.
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by supranihilest »

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned the stuff up West Willow Creek in Creede. All sorts of random stuff just hanging from sheer cliffs over there.

For something rather unique, look no further than the Hanging Flume that diverts water from the San Miguel River for several miles before suspending along and above the Dolores River, where these photos were taken. The Hanging Flume was used for gold mining but this area is otherwise known for its uranium mining. Most of the flume is long gone but there's a number of support beams still left. There's an overlook on SH-141 west of Uravan (these photos were taken from Martin Mesa, courtesy of Whiley). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Flume

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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by highpilgrim »

I'll second both the post about Creede and Animas Forks. Both have a number of great sites and a rich history that you can refer to in exploring them. Numerous books are around with great vintage photography. Also, there is a Mining Museum in Silverton well worth a visit.
creede.jpg
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Silverton Mining Museum.jpg
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Re: Coolest mining ruins you've ran into?

Post by Chicago Transplant »

Yeah the townsites are really cool as well, lots of old cabins. Animas Forks is great! Especially nice to walk around if you are car camped nearby. Cool old mill structure near the "Bagley Tunnel" label on the map as well as you go up towards California and Placer gulch for the 13ers in the area.

Another that maybe less people know about is by the Summitville Mine in the South San Juan. Side trip from the 13ers/county highpoints in the area. They are not in as good of condition structurally but it's a nice side trip if you are in the area and there are probably a good dozen or so cabins west of the main parking and a second smaller grouping east.
Summitville.jpg
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