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| Hiking | 8.50 Miles |
1,010 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.50 Miles | 4 Hrs | | 2.13 mph |
| 1,010 ft AEG | | 12 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | | To borrow a term ,trying to hike where others ain’t, got a base hit by heading out to the Miller Mine area. Couple of inches of water flowing over Apache Trail at Tortilla Flat, had the pull off for the FR 213 all to myself. Different view of Four Peaks, patches of wildflowers and Tortiila Creek running below were the views for today. Always enjoyed walking under the old entrance to the ranch at the top of the valley, sadly one post has succumbed to the elements so only one remains. Passing by it made me think of the old tv westerns like Bonanza imagining looking down the valley at a big cattle spread . That fantasy was dampened after finding out there was a massacre here during the Rancheria campaign against the Apache and for awhile after called Dismal Valley. Walked up the fence line at the gate and found the “summit” log container , a glass jar, which was broken and close by the log notebook adrift and fluttering in the breeze, if anyone wants it let me know. Descending to the ranch area you notice it is recovering from the Woodbury fire ,unfortunately invasive grasses seem to recover the quickest. There were some campers in the area of the old windmill but had departed by time I came back down JF Trail. The JF Trail is in decent shape only a little eroded and a little overgrown easy enough to follow at least to the the junction with Hoolie Bacon Trail however I turned off just before the junction to the Miller Mine area. Legend has it that George Miller had several claims in the La Barge canyon area, one of his Native American workers named Apache Jack showed him the mine shafts in exchange for a horse. Supposedly these shafts were also worked by Mexican miners and Jacob Waltz . Miller began his operation in about 1915. As usual investor money taken but no significant gold was produced. There was a stone cabin located there and Miller and 2 other miners were buried in marked graves, appears to me nature has taken it all back. Did see lots of rusted items mostly cans attestIng to long deserted activities, there was a depression filled with boulders that may have been a mine shaft. Remained cautious about searching the area not wanting to spend the night in a mine shaft so headed back down JF Trail , better to check it out in cooler weather. If your looking to hike along a forest road to rattlesnake infested vegetation to observe rusted stuff this is the trip for you. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Lupine, owl clover, poppies, brittle bush,hyacinth, blow wive, thistle |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
