Another wonderful event has come to a successful closing. Mojave Underground Inc. just returned from our Ophir trip, which took place August 19th-20th. Stuart, Crystal and I, along with many others, spent weeks organizing the event, calling landowners and other related people, in attempts to secure means of entrance into the Ophir Hill Mine. At the last moment, we were able to contact one of Leo Ault’s trusted guides to take us through one of the most amazing mine any of us have ever been through.
Our trip started Tuesday afternoon deep in Ophir Canyon, where we all met and set up camp at our favorite site along the Ophir river. Crystal and Stuart got out the dutch oven and cooked one of the best roasts I’ve ever had, while Miah prepared the pies for desert.
Harley, our guide, met us at the site and we followed him down to Ophir Hill. Outside the mine, we toured the well preserved processing facilities and ore carts. The Ophir Hill Mine entrance was as healthy as ever, with an impressive amount of cold air blasting out. The mine’s interior was overall in excellent shape, except for one section where the support timbers are straining under weight and are in need of reinforcement.
Many structures still exist within the mine, including grizzlies (ore chutes), a solid 24†rail system, hoist structures and equipment, old artifacts left behind by the miners, and other mining paraphernalia. The minerals within the mine were just as spectacular: Pyrite, dogtooth spars, galena, copper, and calcite could be found all throughout the mine. Harley was an amazing guide and knew the mine inside and out. His stories of activity in the mine and his incredible knowledge of the workings made the trip an adventure for all of us. To earn Leo's respect and gratitude several of us carried out an old battery box weighing at least 300lbs. What an adventure! Several hours after entering the mountain, we journeyed back to our camp site and retired for the night.
The next morning, Miah and I cooked a wonderful potatoes and egg, bacon, sausage, and pancake breakfast. We packed up camp and headed up into the Jacob City area via Dry Canyon and explored the destroyed workings of the town. Overall, this trip was the best we’ve hosted. Things just get better and better. It will be hard to beat a trip like this, but expect more in the future.
Our trip started Tuesday afternoon deep in Ophir Canyon, where we all met and set up camp at our favorite site along the Ophir river. Crystal and Stuart got out the dutch oven and cooked one of the best roasts I’ve ever had, while Miah prepared the pies for desert.
Harley, our guide, met us at the site and we followed him down to Ophir Hill. Outside the mine, we toured the well preserved processing facilities and ore carts. The Ophir Hill Mine entrance was as healthy as ever, with an impressive amount of cold air blasting out. The mine’s interior was overall in excellent shape, except for one section where the support timbers are straining under weight and are in need of reinforcement.
Many structures still exist within the mine, including grizzlies (ore chutes), a solid 24†rail system, hoist structures and equipment, old artifacts left behind by the miners, and other mining paraphernalia. The minerals within the mine were just as spectacular: Pyrite, dogtooth spars, galena, copper, and calcite could be found all throughout the mine. Harley was an amazing guide and knew the mine inside and out. His stories of activity in the mine and his incredible knowledge of the workings made the trip an adventure for all of us. To earn Leo's respect and gratitude several of us carried out an old battery box weighing at least 300lbs. What an adventure! Several hours after entering the mountain, we journeyed back to our camp site and retired for the night.
The next morning, Miah and I cooked a wonderful potatoes and egg, bacon, sausage, and pancake breakfast. We packed up camp and headed up into the Jacob City area via Dry Canyon and explored the destroyed workings of the town. Overall, this trip was the best we’ve hosted. Things just get better and better. It will be hard to beat a trip like this, but expect more in the future.
oh well they are my favorites as well.
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