Day at the Mines

maps from Frank

Six of us, Tammy, Tiana, Frank and Ellen, and John and Elly, bagged the high-country hike due to overcast threatening weather and went on to explore an area on the other side of the Yuba: Orleans Flat, over past Malakoff Diggins. The day would bring terrific views of man's environmental desecration. Frank had a map that included a maze of dirt roads back to what looked like an abandonned farmouse. From there we started the trail which led to the first of 3 dump sites, and rocks piled upon rocks - that HAD to be man made. Then we started the steep downhill for a mile and a half. We dropped 1400 feet, remembering "what goes down had to come up." We passed dumpsite number 2 and dropped further down to private ("you will be prosecuted") dumpsite 3. We saw a cabin and vehicle and wondered if a shotgun was being loaded or the trespass police called. We had arrived at the Sleeping Beauty Mine so we had to explore it. Down we went towards the now-visible river to see some old RR Tracks, a compressor, a tunnel, and the requisite pile of trash. Shinnying down to the beach, completed our downhill trek so we ate our lunch a tad early down by the river. After lunch we went up the hill at a fast enough pace that we had time for another hike. Note: The Sleeping Beauty Mine is a hike you can skip.

We wended our way back to N. Bloomfield and headed out to the Diggins past the cemetary. The temperature in the pit was comfortable so we had a great 4.75 round trip past the colorful grand canyon of the Malakoff...drained through a mile and a half tunnel until the Sawyer Decision in 1884 put an end to hydraulic mining. Thank goodness. There was a beautiful swamp and lake in the middle of the pit which must have been where all those face flies came from.

All together we hiked almost 9 miles on both hikes. Next week we are talking about taking the long hike that starts at Grouse Ridge. Anyone want to join us? Does anyone from the other group want to report on your hike? As I remember, it was both Marilyn's, Priscilla, and Jo. Any others? They were supposed to go to Cascade Ditch. Marilyn S. writes that they did a leisurely 9 miles, sharing the trail with many runners and dog walkers. Following the leisurely hike they had a leisurely picnic at Pioneer Park.