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100 posts

Virginia May Mine

Virginia May Mine

The Virginia May Mine (also known as the Horn Mine) had been on my "To Do" list for years. It was never a high priority, but its remoteness called to me. Located in the southern Turtle Mountains of California, it is out in the middle of nowhere, and

Oakland Mine

Oakland Mine

The Oakland Group of mines never produced much. The mines were worked for gold from 1922 to 1934. A vertical shaft is reported to have gone down to at least 75 feet with drifts, and a separate incline shaft dropped to 85 feet. Water was encountered at these depths, and

Pipes Canyon

Pipes Canyon

Pipes Canyon is a pleasant and easy hike. The trail heads out from the visitor center at the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve and follows the canyon up into a riparian habitat. The canyon is usually dry, but water does occasionally surface to support this isolated oasis. Keep an eye out for

Lemoigne Mine

Lemoigne Mine

Jean François de Lamoignon (shortened to Jean or John Lemoigne) was a black-bearded Frenchman who differed from most of the other early Death Valley prospectors; he was a well-educated mining engineer. He came to Death Valley around 1879 to supervise the Eagle Borax Works. Unfortunately, by the time he had

Toroweap Overlook

Toroweap Overlook

High above the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the Toroweap Overlook. It is the steepest cliff in the canyon, with a 3,000-foot drop to the river below. It is an incredible view and landscape. It is worth the journey to reach it. The overlook is a day-use-only

Nampaweap Petroglyphs

Nampaweap Petroglyphs

Tucked away in the juniper-dotted canyons of the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in northwestern Arizona next to Mount Trumbull lies one of the region's most extensive collections of rock art - the Nampaweap Petroglyphs. Meaning "foot canyon" in the Paiute language, the name probably refers to

Ancient Tomales Wall

Ancient Tomales Wall

Out on Tomales Point, a peninsula that juts out into the Pacific Ocean in Point Reyes, is an ancient Native American rock alignment. The Coastal Miwok tribe, whose ancestors are believed to have built it, call it the “Spirit Jumping Off Rocks.” In a place where there are few other