In order to get to the gold mine, we hiked about two miles.
As we started out, there were still wildflowers to be seen. We were at about 4000′ of elevation, lower down all the wildflowers have died in the heat.
This bright red greeted us often on the path.
If you catch the angle just right, everything is green.
When in reality, we hiked through pretty dry areas, where the agave thrive.
Most of the hike was on the old road, so although rocky, it wasn’t hard.
Until we got to washout areas like this.
Or this. Nature is busy deconstructing the mountain.
Since at this height the mountains get snow in the winter, trees and bushes thrive. As does the large flowering stalk of the agave.
The Forest Service took down as much of the ‘town’ as it could. This must have been the base for some of the heavy mining equipment, so it remains.
Of course it was the rock formations that interested the miners. Not sure this is any indication of gold, but it sure is pretty.
As are these specimens I brought home. White quartz and green Mica??? I have no idea, they are just pretty rocks to me.
This one is very flaky, yet very green. It means there is some kind of mineral in it, but what it may be, I don’t know.
I do know that when the weather cools down, I need to do some more hiking in our local mountains.
Leah