And...winter has hit.

[AnnaMountain]

Very sad to say that as of Monday this week...digging, prospecting, and movement in general at the mine has come to a grinding halt - we now have 2’ of snow on the ground that isn’t going away until June.

Always catches me by surprise with equipment and other things still out...every year, hehe So inevitably I get caught in that situation where there is no perfect vehicle to go back out and finish the cleanup lol - you would all get quite the giggle seeing my setup this time of year!

Let me paint the picture: Haven’t fully winterized the cabin yet, still have my cistern full of water and all pipes connected, etc.; - hot water heater not drained yet, solar panels not put away yet, batteries still in play on all fronts, hydraulic fluids haven’t been winterized yet, and I’ve got tons of equipment still out under tarp.

So...to reach the property during these interim times between enough snow to actually sled effectively and so much mud you wouldn’t dare go there...you end up with a 1ton truck with a rhino in the bed...in the bed of the rhino you have a set of cross-country skis and snowshoes, and in a trailer behind the truck you have a spare quad with a winch, and the dirt bike in case that’s the only way in.

You go as far as you can in the truck, then you unload the rhino. You go as far as you can in the rhino, then you get out and ski/snowshoe. If the rhino gets stuck, you ski back to the truck to get the other quad...it’s a perpetual mess

Anybody else get to have that fun?

 

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[Rookster]

Not yet. Still dodging Hurricane's.

 

[AnnaMountain]

Got all the machines out or covered up, Internet disassembled, batteries taken out of everything, cabin winterized, shovels set out, etc. - just in time to still be able to make it out via 1ton diesel hehe...

However the cistern was a different story - 500 gallons already a big ol’ ice cube...that’s going to be fun to watch thaw out alllllll next season.



I’m jealous of all of you that get to keep chippin’ away all year round!

However, this forces me to start processing...already been getting all of the equipment setup and the shed rearranged in preparation for the fun

PS - bonus of the season, miners get to find cool stuff like this

 

[russau]

YUP ! It's a blessing when you can keep going!

 

[tamrock]

They keep at it up in the San Jaun's.

 

[gold tramp]

They keep at it up in the San Jaun's.

Very nice old buildings, thanks for the pic.
Gt.....

 

[barrelroll]

Haha, I know the feeling. So far not much is sticking at 10,000' but winter has started. The joys of working underground, temps really don't change but getting to work does become more of a struggle.

Where about in Colorado is your mine?

 

[AnnaMountain]

Haha, I know the feeling. So far not much is sticking at 10,000' but winter has started. The joys of working underground, temps really don't change but getting to work does become more of a struggle.

Where about in Colorado is your mine?

Yea, we’re at 11,800 - the snow actually came a bit later this year - last year first one that stuck was September 25th - this year was early October - but when it came, it came with a fury

I’m still working at getting back underground, had a massive slide-in at our tunnel entrance last winter due to snow load sloughing off part of the mountainside. Everything we worked this year was from the shaft at the top, and with the snow we’ll be full of water before long. Prolly 3’ sitting on the ground as we speak, in the middle of a decent sized storm.

I’m 40 miles or so north of Gunnison ::

 

[tamrock]

There was fella named Gidison that had a mine around Gunnison I talked to many years ago. Also I got a call from someone who worked out of the Ace hardware store in Gunnison. I think he was maybe wanting a jackleg or some drill steel. It's been a long time. You by chance know Bumper?

 

[Johnnybravo300]

I'm just south of gunnison in gold basin and we got another 3 or 4 inches last night. My claim is in chaffee county so it gives me a little more time and digging season but not much. I bet 11800 feet is deep right now.

 

[AnnaMountain]

There was fella named Gidison that had a mine around Gunnison I talked to many years ago. Also I got a call from someone who worked out of the Ace hardware store in Gunnison. I think he was maybe wanting a jackleg or some drill steel. It's been a long time. You by chance know Bumper?

Doesn’t ring a bell, but there are lots of old timers in the area, and some new old timers moving in My best resource is a guy who is 95 and still lives year round in the woods. Still lots of small-scale going on if you know where to look - like the Antero group still up there on top of Antero in their 70’s...I heard through the grapevine that Viagra is their secret - no ****. Helps keep the blood flowing at high altitude.

 

[AnnaMountain]

I'm just south of gunnison in gold basin and we got another 3 or 4 inches last night. My claim is in chaffee county so it gives me a little more time and digging season but not much. I bet 11800 feet is deep right now.

It is deep! My problem is the way in isn’t deep enough yet lol - it’s the weird window where I can’t sled in and I can’t drive in...so I’m praying for more snow to dump so I can get back out there and just enjoy the cabin...nothing like the solitude and peace you feel in the middle of the deep mountains, with a few feet of snow laying around and a nice raging bonfire!

In the meantime, I’ve got all the ore sorted...specimens in one pile, crushable in another. So I’m going to at least get to play with cleaning up specimens, mix a few chemicals, and get the online store fully loaded again. That will keep me occupied for another 30 days...by then, my hope is I will get to taste freedom again

 

[oneguy]

Maybe a set of these for the quad? They get me anywhere I choose anytime I choose...…..

 

[tamrock]

Doesn’t ring a bell, but there are lots of old timers in the area, and some new old timers moving in My best resource is a guy who is 95 and still lives year round in the woods. Still lots of small-scale going on if you know where to look - like the Antero group still up there on top of Antero in their 70’s...I heard through the grapevine that Viagra is their secret - no ****. Helps keep the blood flowing at high altitude.

I know someone's doing some work on a mine around Tincup. Bumpers a guy I know working to get the Campbird under control with the EPA. He comes from a generation of miners who've been in the San Jaun's for at least a 100 years now. Yeah I believe Arizona would be the best place to have a mine. They are working to get smaller mine up and going again in Oatman, AZ I just found out about. My function is mine supplies, so when your ready to drill, blast, bolt and hang some wire give me a shout if you will.

 

[AnnaMountain]

I know someone's doing some work on a mine around Tincup. Bumpers a guy I know working to get the Campbird under control with the EPA. He comes from a generation of miners who've been in the San Jaun's for at least a 100 years now. Yeah I believe Arizona would be the best place to have a mine. They are working to get smaller mine up and going again in Oatman, AZ I just found out about. My function is mine supplies, so when your ready to drill, blast, bolt and hang some wire give me a shout if you will.

For sure - I’m in the same area - TinCup

Do you sell stuff like miller tables and kiln’s as well?

 

[AnnaMountain]

Maybe a set of these for the quad? They get me anywhere I choose anytime I choose...…..

View attachment 1649340

View attachment 1649341

Now you’re making me jealous Those things cost about the same as the quad is my problem...and I didn’t think they’d be great in deep pow, but your pictures give me hope. I’m literally sledding through anywhere from 6 to 10 feet by February, and unless you get out there to pack it down at least every other snow, you’re in for quite the ride to attempt getting back to my place. I would love to have a quad with that capability instead...added bonus of cargo room, a winch, and easier to work on, lighter, etc. It’s a heart-pounding journey in the winter...if you get stuck, you’ll be snow-shoeing out for HOURS...I always go with at least one other sled and STAY ON THE THROTTLE

 

[tamrock]

For sure - I’m in the same area - TinCup

Do you sell stuff like miller tables and kiln’s as well?

No we don't deal in any processing equipment. I do almost exclusively anything for driving a drift, shaft sinking and raises, except explosives. My biggest customer base is the mining contractors who most the large companies hire anymore to develop the underground mines. As for small narrow vein operations who hire their own miners I do deal with them when they're working and there's 3 here in Colorado right now working on funding or EPA issues, to once again be an operating mine. I also sell to the surface drill and blast contractors and some rock quarries.

 

[tamrock]

I would imagine that Viagra would help with the blood flow in the high altitude, but I'd be afraid of what would happen if I saw a mountain goat near by if I was on that stuff.