Mina Nevada Re-Visited May 2017

We made a return trip to Mina Nevada (see link to prior trip to Mina Nevada May 2010 on this list).  This trip was with Doug A, Drew and Cindy S, Robert D, Bruce L, Gary M and Jim W.   We had planned this trip to Mina before Drew and Cindy left on their LDS mission to Texas so I was fun to see them again.

If you have ever driven thru Mina Nevada you might ask why here or why even stop. Unfortunately the town is slowly going away.  The prior Country store, gas station, motel and restaurant  are closed.  There is a new burger joint that is open, run by a little woman who makes great food.  Check it out if you are ever in the area of Mina.  It is not FAST FOOD, it is GOOD FOOD as she advertises and she has nailed it, especially after 100 miles of dirt roads and trails.

We stayed at the Sunrise RV Park on the south end of Mina.  It is nice, well maintained, a bargain.  The operator will sell gas to registered guests only.  Pricey but cheaper than returning to Hawthorne to get Gas.  So bring plenty.

There over 1100 miles of open roads and trails and lots of mine relics and remains to view.  They deteriorate slowly due to low rainfall and dry conditions but they are slowly going away.  We explored a few new sites on the East side of 95, logging 92.4 miles and the next day explored the West side, almost 100 miles.

Having previously explored some of the East Side of Mina I had some basic knowledge of the layout.  However, in 7 years some roads have closed and new ones have opened.  I found this sign was very helpful.

Thursday Day #1.  Very cold and Windy we headed to the Simon-Lead mine.  History of this area states that it was a Silver and Lead and some Zinc mine.

Overview look at a part of the mine from surrounding mountain top.  There was a deep mine shaft going straight down from the top of this mountain.  Just beyond the Loading bin structure are the remains of a large structure with cement pillars.  Some sort of “FLOATING” process took place there to separate out the mineral components.

Bruce, Doug, Drew, Robert and Jim at the Simon-Lead mine overlook.

Jim and more cool old building at the mine site.  There were a lot of buildings here, many completely collapsed.

Inside another building on the site that contained a large number of cataloged drill core samples.

Just out side this building was a mine shaft that was edged in cement.  This hole goes straight down for over 1000 feet.  According to information about the mine on the Internet, there are over 25,000 feet (5 miles) of tunnels in this mine complex.

This is an additional mine shaft down the mountain a bit further.   Here is a link to some excellent photos, wish I had seen this Link before going it would have made more sense.  Check this link out Simon Lead Mine

Next up Gun Metal Mine

Three main entrance Portals with deep shafts just inside.  This is the Gun Metal mine and reportedly Tungsten was mined here.

Ore cars were brought out of the lower mine shaft exit, I am guessing 600 plus feet below the three portals seen above.  It was brought from the mountain on the small gauge rail road bridge to this Hopper.  It had a least 3 levels to control material before it dropped out of the shoot.

Here are some links to other pictures and explanations of the Gun Metal Mining Complex.  Gun Metal Mine Complex also a few shots from inside the mine here  Gun Metal Mine

On Friday, Day #2,  we set out see Rattle Snake Wells, Cow Camp and Bass Cabin and mine.  It was 100 miles with all of the side roads taken trying to find the exact road.

Lots of interesting canyons and variety of Rock Formations to explore.

Cow Camp Cabin and corral in the distance.  The owners keep it well stocked and open for emergencies, primarily for Cow Boys that might be a long way from their home base.  It is very remote, roughly 35 miles from Mina, not bad in a motorized vehicle but with snow or on horse back it would be a welcome and possibly life saving retreat.

Jim, Cindy, Drew, Doug and Bruce.  The tall structure holds well pipes, presumable for changing water levels.

Cindy writing in the log book, all the comforts of home in this remote cow camp.  The door was locked with a nail.  We left our name in the log book, replaced the nail in the lock and left it as we found it.

On the way to the Bass Cabin and Bass mine you pass this unusual complex of structures.   The book notation on this section of trail mentioned it and suggested a stop.  They are called Guzzlers.  Apparently there are 1300 of these installed all over the Nevada Mountains. This one is called the Defender Guzzler named after the Defender Mine just up the hill from this site.   Apparently they are placed in high mountain passes to help water the wild Big Horn mountain sheep.  The fence keeps Burros and wild horses out, but the Big Horn sheep can enter.  The center area of concrete has a basin that holds water.  The large dark structure to the left is a rain catchment system that drains into a number of large plastic cisterns buried under ground.  Apparently the water is stored in the large cisterns and it drains into the basin for the Mountain sheep to drink during the summer so they can stay up in the high country and survive.

Narrow, windy and steep rocky trail going over two passes to get to the Bass Cabin and Bass Mine.

Bass Mine shaft opening

Robert driving to the Bass Cabin down the hill from the Bass Mine opening.

Cindy asks Drew if he could “FLIP” this house.  It has a gorgeous view.   Quiet neighborhood.

Bass “under the rock” cabin.  30 year roof.  The rock protects it from the weather and was very comfortable inside.

This ingenious system collects rain water from the edge of the rock and stores it in the Silver cistern below.

Cindy logs our visit (Parasise 2017) on the Geocache box as the Log book is missing.

One of numerous business card stuck on the wall.  I like his thinking.

Looking back where we came, Drew in center and top of Roberts RZR around corner.  Just missed Jim on his ATV.

Lots of Wild burros thought we were quite interesting.

Looking over the town of Marietta and Garfield Flat and Teels Marsh.   Group now heading down Moho canyon.  Cindy, Doug, Jim, Drew, Gary, (left to right) Bruce is on the far left fussing with his RZR in yellow cover-alls.

Saturday Day #3  Douglas mining complex

We were going to try riding over Thunder Mountain to the Silver Dyke Overlook and then down Moho Canyon but got side tracked on these mines in the Douglas mining complex.  There were multiple buildings in various levels of decay probably 30 – 40 mine shafts.  A guy with his truck and RV trailer were still digging in this area.

Not really sure the exact name of this mine, but the timbers are very well preserved before getting back to the hard rock section.  Very cool place to sit in your “lawn” chair.

Part of the Douglas Mine  Complex on Thunder Mountain.