| Bluelight Mines Revisited -August 25, 2001- |
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| Above: These Mean-looking rogues are what my friend Steve called the "Toll Dogs". They guard the trail head to the Bluelight mines and do a lot of macho posturing & barking as you approach. Iron Fist's melt away to Velvet Gloves when paws are greased with snack-treats. Milk-Bone talks big in these parts and opens a lot of doors. Like Federales though, they conveniently forget who you are on the trip back down and bribes must be doled out again. |
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| Above: Here is George in front of Level 3. We actually met George on our first trip out in April, mearly asking directions as he lives on the road close to the trail head. This time we found him walking his dog "Biscuit" and he showed interest in our journey and said he would catch up with us on the trail after he finished walking his other dog "Gravy". George is in far better shape than Andrew and I and found us before we even passed the mill site. |
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| Left: This is the fast way up to level 5. 50 deg. incline and all loose rock. (never again) |
| Above Left: This is the entrance to Level 5 from some years ago in this undated photo. Careful examination shows the ore cart being pulled by a donkey. Photo courtesy of the Silverado Library. Above Right: A relatively similar view of the Level 5 entrance as it is today. Although the sturdy donkey and ore cart are gone, the rickety shack suprisingly still stands. George is a human of average stature so miners of the time were a short breed judging by the shack's door. |
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| Above: As you can see level 5 had limited access. About 5' in, the floor became very soft red mud impeeding any further exploration. George found some of the "never seen" Arroyo Toads inside . |
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| Above: Andrew showing the depth of the mud in Level 5. I tossed a few Cyalume sticks further in to the mine but they were quickly swallowed up by muddy water. Moments after this photo was taken, a few opportunistic wasp's took some of the fresh mud off Andrew's boots as we rested. |
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| Left: The mines of the area are of fairly solid rock and the timber shoring you see here is rarely seen elsewhere. |
| Right: As cavers go, Andrew and I are Rank Amatures. But we are quite literate and not too arrogant to heed thoughtfully placed warnings like "CO2 Danger" |
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| Above: Andrew demonstrating typical caving posture. Above Left: Note Andrew & George shining flash lights in what appears to be broad daylight are actually in a pitch- black room, victims of my cameras heavy-handed flash. Left: This icing-looking stuff is Calcite and is actually dry to the touch. The potential beginings of a stalagtite, had I not put my greasy fingers on it. |
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| Above: This is our group photo outside of level 3. The camera spun as I walked back, nearly eliminating me from the picture. Our pack lunches resemble what you would send a 9-year-old on a field trip with: Lunchables, Snack-pack fruit cup and gas station jerky. |
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| Left: Topo map of Silverado |