Thanks for the memories. I had college surveying field classes there (old plane table and rod surveying) in the 1960's. But no rock crawling because we students couldn't afford 4x4's.
Not sure what canyon I was in behind Calico back in the late 60's, but while there I saw an adit on the "north side"??? of the canyon wall about 30+ feet up. It appears as though they had ran an ore cart out of the mine across the narrow canyon on a small bridge and dumped ore into wagons and then the wagon headed out of the canyon. One of the adults and I (I was about a 7th grader at the time) scrambled up the south side of the narrow canyon to look across into the mine opening. Sitting directly across from the opening, we could see they had tried to build into the hill we were sitting on a landing or mount for the rails to sit on and while sitting there eating our lunch, Paul the adult, started digging around a bit with his hands finding bits and pieces of "stuff" when he came across an old letter in an envelope tucked into a hole or impression. Upon opening it very carefully, as it was dried out and fragile, we could make out a little from the letter. It appeared to be from a girl to a guy (I'm thinking love letter) and dated something like in May ?? 189?. I can't recall the actual month, BUT I do recall it was from189? (we could not read the last digit). After sliding back down the steep hill we showed it to the other 4 guys and all of us were really surprised that anyone would have every found it there on the hillside after all those years. Later that day, one of the adults finally rock climbed up into the adit and was able to tie off a rope and throw it down so the rest of us could get up into the mine. We spent the next few hours checking it out and it was a TREASURE of artifacts!!! It had old shovels and picks. an old lantern or two, empty dynamite boxes, paperwork here and there, lumber ready to be used and of course there sitting on the rails were an ore cart half full of rocks. This happened back in the day when our friends with lots of money had Polaroid cameras and took many photos to show off what we found... I have no idea which adults took them and haven't been in contact with them since back then. Lastly, two other things I recall from that adventure, and for a kid growing up in So. Cal... that WAS an adventure, the evenings and nights were freezing cold and it was the first, and only time I shot a British 303 rifle. I was a scrawny little 7th grader in a kneeling position when I pulled the trigger and when I came to, I was lying on my back, gun pointing straight up towards the sky, and the back of my shirt was packed full of sand from me getting knocked over backwards sliding across the sandy wash. Oh yeah..... I remember a bunch of people howling with laughter as I handed the rifle back to an adult. DANG those WERE the good old days!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sean, assuming the camera made this look easier than it was, it still looked not easy. Great adventure. I was esp interested on how that WJ handled the terrain. Did pretty good.
Thanks for the memories. I had college surveying field classes there (old plane table and rod surveying) in the 1960's. But no rock crawling because we students couldn't afford 4x4's.
Good to hear from you Jan! Hope you're doing well.
those are pretty canyons besides the trash beer cans and taillight pieces. looked like an ok time!!~!!
So true!
It looks very dangerous 😮
Not sure what canyon I was in behind Calico back in the late 60's, but while there I saw an adit on the "north side"??? of the canyon wall about 30+ feet up. It appears as though they had ran an ore cart out of the mine across the narrow canyon on a small bridge and dumped ore into wagons and then the wagon headed out of the canyon.
One of the adults and I (I was about a 7th grader at the time) scrambled up the south side of the narrow canyon to look across into the mine opening. Sitting directly across from the opening, we could see they had tried to build into the hill we were sitting on a landing or mount for the rails to sit on and while sitting there eating our lunch, Paul the adult, started digging around a bit with his hands finding bits and pieces of "stuff" when he came across an old letter in an envelope tucked into a hole or impression.
Upon opening it very carefully, as it was dried out and fragile, we could make out a little from the letter. It appeared to be from a girl to a guy (I'm thinking love letter) and dated something like in May ?? 189?. I can't recall the actual month, BUT I do recall it was from189? (we could not read the last digit).
After sliding back down the steep hill we showed it to the other 4 guys and all of us were really surprised that anyone would have every found it there on the hillside after all those years.
Later that day, one of the adults finally rock climbed up into the adit and was able to tie off a rope and throw it down so the rest of us could get up into the mine. We spent the next few hours checking it out and it was a TREASURE of artifacts!!!
It had old shovels and picks. an old lantern or two, empty dynamite boxes, paperwork here and there, lumber ready to be used and of course there sitting on the rails were an ore cart half full of rocks.
This happened back in the day when our friends with lots of money had Polaroid cameras and took many photos to show off what we found... I have no idea which adults took them and haven't been in contact with them since back then.
Lastly, two other things I recall from that adventure, and for a kid growing up in So. Cal... that WAS an adventure, the evenings and nights were freezing cold and it was the first, and only time I shot a British 303 rifle.
I was a scrawny little 7th grader in a kneeling position when I pulled the trigger and when I came to, I was lying on my back, gun pointing straight up towards the sky, and the back of my shirt was packed full of sand from me getting knocked over backwards sliding across the sandy wash. Oh yeah..... I remember a bunch of people howling with laughter as I handed the rifle back to an adult.
DANG those WERE the good old days!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Some cool finds for sure. That's what it's all about. Thanks for sharing.
Sean, assuming the camera made this look easier than it was, it still looked not easy. Great adventure. I was esp interested on how that WJ handled the terrain. Did pretty good.
❤❤wow
No rolls? No flips? Crunching jeep metal is one of my favorite sounds.
How you get sound on the drone?
Sound came from a go pro that was recording on the ground
Calico has streets. Why would you do this??