We were down to only three Jeeps this morning (John & I, Larry & Edna and Greg & Kathy) and two hardy Jeepers this afternoon (Larry & Edna headed to Silverton after lunch). Rich & Marcia and Bob & Kathy headed home, Paul & Brenda went photo hunting and Bill & Debbie found another hike. Our day started on Mineral Creek then through Animas Forks to Eureka Gulch and lunch. We back tracked to Picayune & Placer Gulches which took us to California Gulch through Hurricane Pass and onto Corkscrew Gulch which dumped us out on the Million Dollar Highway and back to Ouray. It was a long but beautiful day.
Mineral Creek was the only trail listed as difficult but we enjoyed the challenge of the other trails as they were steep, narrow, twisting and high enough to give us great vistas. Sunnyside Mine and Mill were on Eureka Gulch, it produce over $50 million and used a Angle Tram to transport the ore to the stamp mill. Several mines near the Sunnyside caved in in 1978, causing the small lake to drain completely. The Gold Prince Mine was on the opposite side of the mountain in Picayune Gulch and also used a tram to get its ore to the Gold Prince Mill in Animas Fork until the mill was moved to the Sunnyside Mill down the hill a mile. There were not so many mines on California Gulch but we were breathing heavily due to the 13,000 foot pass on California and 12,400 foot Hurricane Pass. Corkscrew lived up to its name with some steep and tight switchbacks near the top.
All in all it was a good day and has been a good week. We don’t remember another Jeep caravan when it did not rain. The weather has been spectacular and the Aspens have lived up to their reputation of “Gold in them thar hills!"
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