Carlyle Mine

 This turned out to be a good old fashioned desert adventure! I'd read about the Carlyle Mine years ago, and always wanted to go there. Every time I made the attempt, I was thwarted by soft, fine sand (locals call it "blow sand") that even my 4WD Jeep would sink into like a soft feather pillow. So I was surprised recently when driving by the road leading to the mine to see it looked compressed and drivable. I made a quick U-turn to check it out and it was indeed drivable!

 

Get comfortable, it's a long post (didn't want to split it into separate posts), and enjoy the adventure!

The above video actually shows me leaving the mine, but it gives you a feel for the drive. Right around where this video stops, the road gets rockier and more challenging. Driving out to the mine, I was confronted with the classic dilemma: [1] Continue on... heck, I've come this far, it would be crazy to turn back now, vs. [2] Do the sensible thing; turn around and be safe! The road seemed to be deteriorating the further I went.  Also going through my head: It's a very long hike back to the highway, I'm by myself, and no tow truck will be able to reach my Jeep on this road full of angular rocks doing their best to destroy my tires or punch a hole in my oil pan. As I'm sure you have guessed, I continued on as my knuckles turned white from my tight grip on the steering wheel!

 

The road looks like it might end up ahead, and it might be too narrow to turn around, so I start to hoof it from here. I know the Carlyle Mine is somewhere up this canyon. I breathe a sigh of relief that the old Jeep got me this far without mishap!

 

Some interesting things to be seen hiking up the canyon.

 

 

Note the heavy cable around this boulder.

 

 

It seems like no matter how remote you get, taggers have gotten there before you. It's really too bad. 

 

I'm wondering how in the world the early miners managed to get all the concrete up this remote and challenging canyon? I think what we are looking at are the remains of the concrete foundation of a floatation mill. It's huge! This is also our first glimpse of the tram tower.

 

The Carlyle Mine is a turn of the century silver and gold mine. In 1938 it was reported that 24 men worked the mine. There were two shafts: One 1500' long, the second 1200' long. An aerial tram 2600' in length delivered ore from the mines to the floatation mill. In 1938, a third mine was tunneled. The mine closed in 1941.

 

Some kind of toxic-looking sludge above the flotation mill. It's too bad, as this is a beautiful canyon. 

 

 

 

 

I still haven't found the mine opening, but I'm following a faint trail up the hill. It's steep and rocky, and definitely not a trail I want to try to go down in the dark, so I need to watch the time. There are some pretty blooms along the way, and my hope is to get up to the old tram tower.  

Looks like the remains of a wooden ore chute, and behind it, a large deposit of mine tailings. I'm guessing the first of three mine openings should be just up ahead. 

 

The mine opening looks sketchy. I'm wondering if the big X is a warning? Which brings up another classic dilemma: [1] I've come all this way and I'll be kicking myself if I turn back now vs. [2] don't go in and stay safe. I decided to go in, but just a little bit. Maybe 10-15' just for a photo.

 

Inside the mine, it's surprisingly roomy. No bending over needed to walk around. I decide it's safe to proceed a little further, always keeping the opening light visible. My biggest fear is getting disoriented. Thankfully, this mine goes mostly in a straight line, with just a few side branches.

These two short videos will give you a feel for what the mine looks like inside. I didn't proceed far; just a guess but perhaps 1/4th of the way in?

Leaving the mine and back out in daylight, I feel like I've just been privileged to see some amazing history! I'm feeling elated and decide to make my way up to the tram to take some pictures.

 

 

The views from the tram are incredible! That's the Sheep Hole Mountains, with the salt works at the base of the mountain (whitish area). Look closely and you can see the salt silos. They are huge, but they look tiny in the photo!

 

The trail continues, and looking closely, I can even see more tailings (which probably means mine #2). I have a little bit of daylight left, but I'm going to have to hustle.

 

A really interesting large boulder with pretty color. I wonder if someone drilled that hole with intentions of putting a stick of dynamite in there and breaking it open to see what minerals are inside?

 

I find mine #2.

 

You ever get that feeling like you don't want to press your luck? To enter this mine would require crawling on hands and feet. Nope, not today. But I know from research this mine has some amazing stuff in it, and I need to come back at some point and explore it.

 

More ruins of some kind. Miner's cabin?? Those 24 men that worked the mine had to sleep somewhere!

 

If I'm going to make it back to the Jeep before dark, I need to pick up the pace!

 

 

 

The drive home. Yay, a rare stretch of smooth road!

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

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