In 2010, I decided to return to this small mine that I had visited ten years ago. It is still a pleasant and quiet hike out to this little remote valley. I had come out here before to see a small and seldom visited miner’s cabin. Now, I wanted to see if it was still standing.
The Bald Mountain Mine (also known as the CB Mine) was probably built in 1930s Depression era, but I found signs that there was a camp here long before that time. Information on the mine is hard to find but it looks like it was a gold mine. One report states that the white rock on the hillside is a talc deposit. It does look like one from a distance but I’m not so sure it is talc. The main mine is across the canyon and consists of some small workings and rails down to an ore bin.
Looking down on the faint trail of the Skidoo pipeline. The pipeline, built in 1907, brought water from Birch Springs to the Quartz stamp mill and Skidoo, but not without much hardship.
The path of the pipeline and an old road.
Only a few scraps remains of the pipeline.
Pipeline clamps.
A small retaining wall built to support the pipeline.
Another look at the wall.
I hiked down the hill a little farther and found more wall and a piece of 6" steel pipe.
Closer view of the rivetted pipe and stacked rock wall.
After hiking for awhile, I come to the fallen remains of the cabin.
Pieces of the cabin are blown all around the canyon.
My guess is the wind finally got this old tin cabin. It wasn't much more than frame and tin anyway.
A sad loss.
The fallen Bald Mountain mine cabin.
I hiked up the canyon and could see the ore bin and railing below some of the mine workings.
Closer view of the rails coming down the steep mountain side.
Mine dump and rails.
View of the main mine workings. A railed tramway (?) lowered ore cars from the mine to the ore bin. Not much is left of it now.
Mine workings. All of them are pretty shallow.
The view from one of the workings. Left of center you can see a faint road. That's where I parked.
An old shovel waiting for the miners to return.
View of the main mine workings. I'm crossing over to them on an old miners trail I found that goes from one side of the canyon to the other.
These are just prospect pits at the top of the mine workings. The wood debris in the brush is the remains of a small headframe.
Upper adit.
Top of the remains of the railway. Not enough is left to see everything that was going on here. Across the canyon is the mine working I was just at. It is not a talc deposit.
Adit portal (with some snow).
I know the mine isn't very deep but I check it out anyway.
After the mine, I hike down the the steep slope along the rails to the ore bin. It is steeper than it looks.
Looking down the dislodged rails at the ore bin.
The track is torn up.
Top of the ore bin.
These rails run along side the ore bin to a truck pad - A rail bypass.
I say fairwell to the ore bin.
A revisit to the blacksmith shop under the trees some 10 years later.
Most of the items, except the shovel, are still here, if only rearranged. I checked my photos and the shovel didn't go up to the mine so it is missing. Please leave everything you find. These are irreplaceable historical artifacts that tell a lot about the site.
An old side soldered can. This suggests there was a camp here before the 1890s.
Old carbide barrel hidden in the brush.
I find other cans and debris as I hike out.
The last of the debris I find. A great day!
A long walk into the hills.
The Bald Mountain Mine cabin circa 2000.
"Acme Beer, The Miner's Choice." The Acme black label can was last made in 1950.
Ore bin and tracks coming down from the mine above.
Old rails.
Ore bin.
Dead juniper with the remains of a wooden cabinet.
Adit portal.
A small blacksmith workshop hides in the trees. Note the anvil stump, shovel and drills.
A nice view from just above the cabin.
Last Updated on August 4, 2020 by Guy Starbuck
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