16 to 1

[augoldminer]

abc10.com | Still digging: California?s oldest gold mining company

 

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[arizau]

For those interested, there are several youtube videos of the 16 to 1 mine if you do a search and the current owners have their own website that you can find with a google search for Original 16 to 1.

On a personal note, I have a family history of this mine and others in the area. An uncle worked for the 16 to 1 for many years until his passing in the late 1950's or early 1960's and a cousin also worked summers there or at other area mines for a few years during the early 1960's. My father and a couple of his brothers worked a few of the mines in and around Nevada City/Grass Valley before WWII broke out.

 

[Stuperduke]

My step father used to work at the 16 to 1

 

[Terry Soloman]

My buddy Steve Wandt, made rings for my wife and I from gold I found in Arizona, and a specimen from the 16 to 1 mine. I would like to go there one day.

 

[arizau]

My buddy Steve Wandt, made rings for my wife and I from gold I found in Arizona, and a specimen from the 16 to 1 mine. I would like to go there one day.

Your wife's ring is similar to the one my mother wore daily all of my life until her passing. Over the years, the gold wore down to sub quartz level.

 

[Stuperduke]

They host tours still I believe. They are pretty fun.

 

[augoldminer]

I know mike and the crew at the 16 to 1 and i worked the El Dorado Mine, Alleghany, California

 

[Miner49er_2015]

The challenge lately, has been all the snow in Alleghany. It has been so deep that the road to the portal has been snowed in. It took more than a day just to get to the lower road to access the portal. Not much going on. The main project has been to rehab the 49 winze to the 2400 foot level.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

View attachment 1569125 View attachment 1569128View attachment 1569131
The challenge lately, has been all the snow in Alleghany. It has been so deep that the road to the portal has been snowed in. It took more than a day just to get to the lower road to access the portal. Not much going on. The main project has been to rehab the 49 winze to the 2400 foot level.

Is this your baby or do you work in it?

The icicle shot is a great photo. It took me four tries to remember how in the heck to spell icicle. How in the world is that pronounced "Ice Sickle" and not "Ick Ickle"?

 

[Miner49er_2015]

SaltwaterServr, I work there. I lead a crew underground. Currently rehabbing an old winze to the lower levels.

 

[BrassEagle]

I did the tour it was fantastic! at the time I did it you could take a detector with you. This was a few years ago. One of the cool things was large 82nd Airborne flag hanging on the wall of the winch operators room. If you can go there do it. From flying through the air to deep in the earth I have had my hi's and low's in my life.

 

[Stuperduke]

That's f***ing awesome miner 49er. If you guys are still doing tours I also wanted to make it out there as an adult. My step father used to run the skip there for a bit. Great experience going down there. Gotta ask if you guys still have the Misery Wagoneer or if that was jusy a tall tale?

 

[Stuperduke]

My mom still has a crap load of shares from the 90's.

 

[Miner49er_2015]

Gotta ask if you guys still have the Misery Wagoneer or if that was jusy a tall tale?

Tall Tale? There is an old jeep Wagoner behind the old office building. Have been told that was the jeep. Now if that is true?

 

[Miner49er_2015]

My step father used to run the skip there for a bit.

Well, that is awesome! Probably the winze we are rehabbing now. The only winze we have with a
substantial hoist is the 49 winze and the 83 winze. That must have been sometime ago,
as both hoists are not in use now and are in a sad state of disrepair. Here is a pic of the 49 Hoist.

 

[augoldminer]

Miner49er_2015 i wonder if we know each other.

I know some of the miners there.

Lone Miner El Dorado - Plumbago Mine

 

[Miner49er_2015]

The Union newspaper article on the 16 to 1 mine from 2017

Here is a link to a newspaper article in The Union from August 7, 2017, images and video:
https://www.theunion.com/news/local...leghany-gold-mine-continues-despite-hardship/

 

[Stuperduke]

I think it was the 49 but I'm not sure. I may just be relating 49er to that but I'm mostly sure. Yeah, I heard the story a million times when we watched Misery that the mine had that wagoner. I believe portions of Misery were filmed up there. I'm assuming if there's an old wagoneer floating around still than the tale must be true.

 

[tamrock]

The challenge lately, has been all the snow in Alleghany. It has been so deep that the road to the portal has been snowed in. It took more than a day just to get to the lower road to access the portal. Not much going on. The main project has been to rehab the 49 winze to the 2400 foot level.[/QUOTE]

I know the feeling. Took these as I was working with the Campbird mine a few years back. Back when I was a miner I was working above 11'000 ft in the Colorado Rockies. When the temp fell below 50 degrees on a swing shift which got off at 11:00 pm, the shifter just said it's to dangerous to step outside so, ya just as well pull a double. That was in the 70's and there was always a little supply of some uppers, bennies or what ever you wanna call em in those days to keep ya going another 10 hours. Today these new generation of miners carry these little 5 dollar bottles of energy drink to swig down. Still at the shifts end a few cans of beer or a shot Hiram Walker was the next steep to put ya to sleep so you could get up and do it all again come 3m that day.

 

[arizau]

The challenge lately, has been all the snow in Alleghany. It has been so deep that the road to the portal has been snowed in. It took more than a day just to get to the lower road to access the portal. Not much going on. The main project has been to rehab the 49 winze to the 2400 foot level.

I know the feeling. Took these as I was working with the Campbird mine a few years back. Back when I was a miner I was working above 11'000 ft in the Colorado Rockies. When the temp fell below 50 degrees on a swing shift which got off at 11:00 pm, the shifter just said it's to dangerous to step outside so, ya just as well pull a double. That was in the 70's and there was always a little supply of some uppers, bennies or what ever you wanna call em in those days to keep ya going another 10 hours. Today these new generation of miners carry these little 5 dollar bottles of energy drink to swig down. Still at the shifts end a few cans of beer or a shot Hiram Walker was the next steep to put ya to sleep so you could get up and do it all again come 3m that day.[/QUOTE]

Didn't realize Camp Bird was operating that long or had it been re-opened when you worked there? I remember it as a jeep road(?) from Ouray back in the late 40's early 50's. The family friend we were visiting was a super at the Idarado on Red Mountain at the time and the Million Dollar Highway was unpaved. Beautiful country.