Russ Hunting and the Ghosts at the Vulture Mine

It all began with a whirlwind tour of Arizona in 1996. We wanted to visit a ghost town, but didn't relish the idea of traveling ten miles on barely passable roads with a rental car. The Vulture Gold Mine seemed a perfect choice.
We arrived, paid our fee, and set out on the walking tour. We looked at old buildings, mining equipment, abandoned utensils, and holes in the ground. Then, we had the good fortune to encounter one of the Vulture's characters, Russ Hunting.
Russ truly was a character. He began vividly recounting the legends of the Vulture Mine in a highly animated fashion. Ed quietly turned on our video camera and hit "Record." Russ was no dummy. He quickly asked if we were taping him. We sheepishly admitted that we were. Russ's response? "Send me a copy."
Russ brought the Vulture alive for us during our first visit. He believed he had a special connection to the place, and recounted, in detail, on video, his personal encounter with the Vulture spirits.
He died within the next year, and at his request, his ashes are scattered at the Vulture, so he could "be with his friends."
Our meeting with Russ inspired us to return the following year, when we met John and Marge Osborne, the Vulture caretakers. When we requested permission to videotape, John suggested a tour video, most especially for visitors who could not manage the Vulture site's long treks. We happily agreed, and the Vulture video was born.
Julie Cole, November 2003