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| Hiking | 9.13 Miles |
1,107 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.13 Miles | 4 Hrs | | 2.28 mph |
| 1,107 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | On Agua Caliente Road, I missed the turn off for Buckeye Copper Mine, and had to double back. It's not obvious. (Watch the drive video, below, to see what I mean.) There's some rutting on the jeep trail, but my SUV handled it fine.
I had thought about parking where the jeep trail splits to either side of the Buckeye Copper MIne ridge. But decided to head up, to the east, towards the ghost town. I had also thought about parking at the saddle over looking the ghost town, next to building #6, as my stay behind wife would have a view of any approaching vehicles. I ended up parking "in town".
I saved the interesting buildings / strcutures for last, starting by checking out a cluster of five buildings. One was about twice the square footage of the others; maybe an office and four homes? I think hiked back up to the saddle to check out building #6.
Building #6 had a lower front porch, with old post holes to support a railing. It had two entrances between the porch and upper section, with an area in the middle that had once had indoor plumbing, including what appeared to be a shower. The view north, across the valley towards the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating station, and beyond, was fantastic. If I had any trade skills, I’d restake the claim just to be able to rebuild that house. Despite a nearby sign, I don’t think any of the buildings in the ghost town were “SRP Power Wise Homes”.
I continued counterclockwise to what on the topo is an adit. I smelled it before I saw it. I thought it might be a dead miner or something, but turns out it was a Bat Cave and what I smelled was guano. I was bummed the adit was gated.
Then I headed west, up a faint foot trail, to a pass overlooking Hargan Mine. The cement door ( [ photo ] ) that FLYING_FLIVER spotted -- and which prompted today's exploration -- was wide open. I wonder who was in there the past two weeks? Supposedly there is a second adit, but I could not find it.
On the way down to Webb Well, on Woolsey Wash, I also saw the concrete semi-circle FLYING_FLIVER had spotted. At Webb Well, which also served as Hargan Mine's mill, besides the well there were several other concrete chunks in the ground. At least one of which was also a concrete semi-circle. I think there were parts of the mill's arrastra.
I returned to perimeter road around the Buckeye Copper Mine ridge. What I hoped would be a shaft was instead either collapsed or filled in.
I found a couple more small buildings on the ridge's southeast corner, next to which was a shooting gallery with a righteously shot to hell Windows computer.
Back in ghost town's "downtown", I checked out the more important structures, including a building (#10) with indoor plumbing, the explosives locker, and the mill.
I really would have liked to see Buckeye Copper Mine in full bloom, because by mining camp standards it was surely once the lap of luxury. Instead, I was kind of disappointed not find *any* equipment. (Made up for in large part by scoring a full box of .22 long rifle cartridges I found just laying next to the road.) 
Drive Video: [ youtube video ]
Explore Video: [ youtube video ] |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
The vast majority of the vegetation around Buckeye Copper Mine is creosote, with some palo verde. Cacti, other than scattered saguaro, are almost non-existent. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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