The OH MY GOD ROAD in IDAHO SPRINGS, COLORADO on "Travel Tuesday"

For an outing full of Colorado history and scenery, there's a steep little dirt road that snakes its way up and over one of the richest mountains in the world.  Room enough for (BARELY) two cars to pass (SLOWLY) THISCLOSE!  This is the OH MY GOD ROAD.  Drive it for yourself, through some video magic at the bottom of this post.

This old nine-mile road connects the two former Boom Towns of Idaho Springs and Central City, Colorado. Officially named the Virginia Canyon Road, with the locals referring to it as the Oh My God Road, it climbs at about a 7% grade, to an elevation of 9,400 feet.  Paved at the top of the switchbacks, you need to be a little cautious of the narrower stretches of the loose gravel road (no guardrails on this one), slowing for any oncoming cars and/or bicyclists.

Dad and I spied this mine from the road, hidden in the trees, and decided to do a little photo exploring.  We climbed up a treacherous shale hill (one step forward and three slides back), before hitting the top and realizing there was a really nice trail leading up, further back behind us.  This had been a pretty big operation at one time, as evidenced by the tailings left behind.

Be mindful of private property signage; otherwise, you're free to explore.  The old mines have shafts that drop down hundreds of feet, with tunnels that branch out at several levels.  This creates a very real danger of cave-ins.  When in doubt about what is underfoot, PLEASE check out the old mines and buildings from well-worn trails or roads - use that zoom lens and play it safe.

Up, over, and down the other side, through the ghost town of Nevadaville (there are a few modern day houses sprinkled in this little valley); this road takes you through the heart of another old mining operation from days gone by.

Spy something like this old mine opening?  DEFINITELY do not enter - take that picture from afar.  This one has been sealed off with a grate, but there are plenty more in these mountains where these precautions have not been taken.  Gases inside are another hazard, in addition to deep drop offs.  Play it safe!

The Lace House at the top of Central City - and views from the neighboring hills (I have no idea about the golden calf in the two right side photos, but I liked it) - the amount of gold tailings dotting the hills is incredible in "this neck of the woods".

"And now for something completely different"...I found this time-lapse video someone made of driving the OMG Road from Idaho Springs, down through Central City and over the mountains to Nederland and beyond (another gorgeous drive). No need to watch the entire thing, unless you're so inclined. A few minutes and you've got the idea (the OMG Road/Central City portion will take you halfway through the video, plus, I get sick motion sick watching these things)...the gravel road starts at about 38 seconds in.

How do I GET to the Oh My God Road, you might ask?  Located about an hour west of Denver, take I-70 to exit 241 in Idaho Springs.  You'll follow Colorado Blvd. into town.  At the fork in the road, stay to the right, and take the second right you come to, onto Virginia Canyon Road.  That's where the pavement ends and the fun begins!

LAMARTINE MINE - FREELAND, CO on "TRAVEL TUESDAY", Late Edition

An exercise in getting out and exploring your surroundings - you never quite appreciate it all until you leave some place, and then it might be too late.  You might discover something new (or old), learn something in the process, and/or just end the day with a general "feel-good" satisfaction about yourself.  High above the mountain town of Idaho Springs, CO, sit the remnants of an old mine that my long-ago relatives (a great-grandfather and his siblings, among them) worked.  Two summers ago, we explored the surrounding area of Idaho Springs and Freeland, CO, but did not venture up the mountain to the mine.

This past summer we did.  UP the mountain we hiked.  Seemingly STRAIGHT up - this is a rugged jeep trail so we had to traverse it on foot - a couple of miles, round trip, in the very least.  Troopers all - some did it in short spurts, which was fine.  When you're out exploring, LISTEN to your own body (The Capital of Denver sits at a mile high - the mountains are MUCH higher than that, meaning the air is "thinner" and breathing more difficult) - take it slow - take water!  If you're going into an area you're unfamiliar with as far as BLM lands or private ownership, ASK first.  Be respectful.  In addition to your water, arm yourself with a camera and, perhaps, a great walking stick.

This mine, from information I can find, produced not only gold, but silver ore, and lead.  Veins discovered in 1867 led to the opening of the mine.  If you look at the grouping of photos above this, you can see gold colored "tailings" from various mines surrounding the mountains across from where we stood.  The large mounds of gravel are tailings from the Lamartine, itself..."leftovers", once the precious metals were gleaned from the ground, dumped over the edge in front of the mine.

While I would NEVER suggest a trip through an old abandoned mine, what we found here were several old buildings that evidently housed the outer workings of the mine itself, and NOT the actual mine shafts themselves.  This was probably what they referred to as the ore house.  We were VERY mindful of where we placed our feet, making sure we were ALWAYS on solid ground - the old mines have a handful of danger to them...gasses and unseen dropoffs, among them. Again, if you're not sure, ASK!

A large fissure vein produced several million dollars in gold, silver and lead over the years in operation. 

This interesting old ore house has stood the test of time, through some mighty cold and hard Colorado winters.

A "trellis" at the far end of the ore house was evidently a covering of some sort of rail system for the ore carts...we found tailings and some remnants of small stone foundations and old iron equipment past the end of it, looking out over the mountains.  Perhaps a way to load wagons for the trip down to Denver?

By the time the mine was closed down in 1905, the total output was put at 39,292 ounces of gold; 2,677,471 ounces of silver; and 3,232,000 pounds of lead.

The mine sits at an altitude of 10,500 feet - the main shaft of the mine itself is said to be 900 feet deep.

Again, these buildings were all on solid ground...be aware of where you place your feet and hands - watch overhead for anything that might have a chance of falling.  Be respectful of the history of these old sites, and ALWAYS mindful of your own safety.  If in doubt, DON'T!

THIS was probably the opening to a shaft - boarded up ages ago. You also want to watch walking on top of the surrounding ground on something like this - stick to solid ground!  There's plenty to see from a distance.

Photos from my "cute" post - this is the scenery from the trek up and down the mountain.  Interested in just WHERE this spot might be?  This tells how to hike it: (LAMARTINE GHOST TOWN)

Again, this hill more than likely leads to a drop off, somewhere underfoot - the telltale sign pointing to a shaft in the vicinity are the gold colored "tailings" at the top up there.  Play it smart - play it safe!  But mainly, PLAY IT!  Get out and see something, wherever you can...learn something, and you might just find you learn something about yourself or your own past along the way, too!

And, "she" said it couldn't be done, but I did it...surgery late last Friday, and a post today.  On the mend, though it will still take quite a few weeks before I'm up to more hikes like this. Summer's comin', and I'm resting so I'm ready - doctor's orders...XOXO

IT'S ALL RELATIVE AND, THE CEMETERY AT IDAHO SPRINGS, CO

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors.  All of them are alive in this moment.  Each is present in your body.  You are the continuation of each of these people.”  ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I am related to each and every one of the persons in the photos of this post.  Spending a wonderful summer with beloved family, dragging my poor father on two trips through an old mountain cemetery looking for a lost family plot, and perusing family "documentation" served as a reminder of the importance of present family and ancestors long gone, in my life.  I'm a sucker for old photos (it's usually the first thing I go for in the antique stores), so thought I would share the love in this post.

My Paternal Great Grandparents O'Brien; my Grandmother Katherine (left), and her little sister.

My Grandma Kate and Grandpa Carl Rudolph Anderson, who immigrated to the United States from Sweden at the age of 17, all by himself.  Ja...that makes my maiden name Anderson, also.

My "Greats"; My Grandmother Kate; her son/my father Arvid (it's a Swedish name), as a baby; and his older brother/my uncle Robert (Bob), with his wife/my aunt Delores.

These gentlemen were all brothers on my Mother's side...the Rhyno brothers - uncles of my Grandpa Rhyno, I believe I have been told.

My Grandma Hazel and Grandpa Herschel Rhyno - Grandpa ran his own garage business behind the house in North Denver for as long as I had him in my life.

Their marriage brought about my Aunt Violet (upper left, with my Grandpa and Mom as a toddler), and my own Mother, Barbara (that's her at age 3); bottom photos are the family, and my Mom and Grandpa sharing a story on a family camping trip.

The union of two families led to this, eventually...my folks, Arvid and Barb; me, with both sets of Grandparents; my parents with me and my brother, Arvid; and my brother and myself in a photo my talented Dad took and developed himself.  I married and had two kids of my own, further propagating both family lines (as well as melding with the ancestors on my husband's side), much as I hope my own children will.

 

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one" ~ Jane Howard

And, driving down the road this summer from the meadow and mines in Freeland, where we spent the day remembering those that came before us, we set out on a mission to locate the long lost family plot of my Great-Great Grandmother Lory (the older woman from the family photo in the FREELAND post), my Great-Great Grandfather, and their 3 year old grandson.

Three of us hiked for an hour and a half on the first trip through, looking at just about every single headstone there was.  Sadly defeated, we left the mountain for the lure of margaritas, but with a vow to return and find the plot later in the summer...and that we did!  Another hour and a half spent walking row after row looked like it was going to end the same way - hand in hand my Mom and I headed back to the car that held my sleeping Dad.  We had all but thrown in the towel when we decided to look over one last wall before we quit - there they were.

"Misplaced", but not forgotten - found at last...documented now in the online registry of the Idaho Springs Cemetery - Margaret and Richard Lory, and Ernest Nicholls (he had passed in 1894, before the photo in the previous post was taken - he would have been the oldest of the children)...a sweet, melancholy day, rewarded with a tear, a hug, and a huge thank you for dragging my dad back through with us a second time - he's pretty awesome!

"We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies"  ~ Shirley Abbott

THE PHOENIX GOLD MINE, A GHOSTLY SIGHTING, AND AN ORB - Idaho Springs, CO

The Phoenix Gold Mine, down the road from Freeland and a “hop, skip, and a jump” up from Idaho Springs (or a 30-minute drive from Denver), sits at 8,200 feet in elevation, and is a working gold and silver mine owned and operated by third-generation hard-rock miner Alvin "Al" Mosch.

The mine's temperature hovers between 42 and 54 degrees F. year round, so it's a good idea to take a jacket no matter what month you arrive. Tours last between 45 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes, depending on how many questions you might have. It is a walking tour on a slight grade - no ladders involved - strollers and wheel chairs are permitted. For the enthusiast, the price of the mine tour includes a chance to try your hand at gold panning (gold pans provided) in the stream that runs through the mine property. There are also picnic tables and barbecue pits alongside the stream.

Originally discovered in 1871 by a miner named, appropriately, Miner. He, in turn, sold The Phoenix Vein to a Cornish miner who was said to have worked it until he was able to return home to England, a wealthy man.

In 1930, the mine was sold to a local real estate investor for $20.00 in taxes owed. The agent "salted" the mine by firing a shotgun loaded with gold into the dirt, and sold it to a family of two Minnesota farmers named Gunderson for $5,000. They went 30 to 40 feet further along the drift and struck ore. They continued down 100 feet and the vein was 11 feet wide, yielding a high output of 6 ounces of gold per ton of ore. In 1934, the government devalued the dollar, which raised the price of gold in the area from $20.00 to $35.00 per troy ounce.

In 1943, President Roosevelt closed all gold and silver mines to divert miners to mining minerals needed for the war effort. Mr. Gunderson was forced to close the mine in 1943, but did so as a very rich man.  After World War II, only a few mines re-opened. Gold was still valued at $35.00 an ounce but was costing much more, per ounce, to process. Small miners had a very rough time of it.

In the 1950's the mine was leased to three partners - these men swept the gold dust left in the stopes and tunnels and each man made enough money to buy himself a brand new Cadillac. It was not worked again until Al Mosch acquired the property in 1972, for that seemingly magic number of $5,000.00. At the time, he was working as a silver miner.  Al has since done a lot of "dead work," greatly adding to the original workings, creating tunnels, blasting stopes, installing support beams, laying track, etc.

Also seen on this tour are the tunnels and rooms of the Resurrection Vein. The Resurrection vein was discovered by Al’s teenage son in an outcropping of rock above the west side of the Phoenix tour of today. The Resurrection vein was mined through the original tunnel and led to the exposure of the High Grade ore found on the Phoenix vein, in the deepest part of the main tunnel of the tour. Al never mined the High Grade, which has enabled tourists over the past years to see just how the ore looks when it is still in the ground. The aqua-colored (from copper oxidation) vein is very evident in the ceiling of the Shaker Table and Ball Mill rooms.

Historical mining tools, ladders, milling equipment, buckets, emergency equipment and much more is on display throughout the tour. You will be able to see Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron Pyrite and Tellurium (Tellurium - the stuff they make solar panels out of - the lighting inside the Phoenix is all solar-powered), still in the earth.

"The Widow Maker"...a 150-pound compressed-air-powered, one-man rock drill that was just about guaranteed to kill its operator after three years of use (prior to the use of water to cut the dust that caused silicosis of the lungs).  GREAT tour guide!

"The Lucky Bucket" has stories of its own surrounding it, about hundreds of people who have rubbed, hugged, or kissed it, and had phenomenal good luck - we threw pennies in that day, but the 320 million dollar Lotto prize later that week eluded us.

Now, the fun stuff - those who know me, know that one of my silly self indulgences is my love for the unexplained or spooky.  I adore Stephen King novels and ghost stories; a good scary (not slasher) movie; and sitting in the complete darkness on a Friday evening, watching paranormal shows, which my husband rolls his eyes at and sleeps through. 

 

On the way out of the mine, my Mom (a very sane woman) quietly told me that she had turned at one point to see an old miner standing behind me in one of the tunnels.  The only persons on the tour (or in the mine at all) were my folks, me, and the tour guide...certainly no old miners.  Upon doing research for this post, I ran across the following, unexpected quote from a mining group..."In two of Al's mines, ghosts have been seen - most notably an old miner who has been seen by several people in both mines, as well as unexplained touches on the shoulder or hair, etc.".

And that leaves me with this final, ghostly shot from inside the mine, at the end of the tour.  This is the Shaker Table, which was used pretty much how it sounds...to shake the gold from the rocks and debris when placed on it.  If you look to the right hand side of this photo, you will see one (ONE) glowing orb (I told you I watch the ghost shows - I tried to "debunk" this one, and can't)...the old miner from back in the tunnel?!!

 

I had taken photos throughout the entire tour, and not come up with flying dust specks on any of them, mind you (though conditions inside the mine would have been right, with the hard dirt floors).  This, and this alone, was the lone anomaly (ONE ORB - if it was dust there would have been more) I captured in all those dark tunnels.  Like I said before, this is my story, and I'm sticking to it...that's the old miner, right there!  I know it is...YOU know it is!

Something far less spooky...he'll be waiting for you, too.  If you want to take the tour, The Phoenix Gold Mine is open 10 to 6, daily...winter, weather permitting - Phoenix Gold Mine Website