Starbuck's Exploring

"Mineral Hunting Blind" Site

This is a small native hunting and habitation site I went to check out. It is along a prehistoric deer migration route. They set up a long rock wall to use as a blind and to force deer into a canyon where they could ambush them. There are plenty of chips left over from spear and arrowhead making. Interesting to note that none of the petroglyphs in the canyon are of deer.

Rio Pinto - "Lost Spanish Mine"

When Alysia and I found this triple arrastra site, we didn't know it's history. I had guessed that it was built by early Mexican prospectors around 1860s or 1870s. Since then, I have been doing some reading in my libary and come across a few references and pieced together some history. The arrastras were likely briefly worked, if not built by, William Hunter and John Porter in 1875 working the nearby mine. In 1906, mine promoter A. D. Whittier rediscovered the ruins and called them the "Lost Spanish Mine" and used the site to promote the "fabulous wealth" of the Ubehebe Mine. Local newspapers reported the ruins to be the work of early Spanish who were driven off by hostile Indians.

Empire Mine

Our group gained special permission from the California State Park service to explore the Empire Mine. Doug McConnell and local TV program "Bay Area Backroads" crew came along to film the event for one of their episodes. What an incredible opportunity! We went down to the water table in the mine and explored the Magenta Drift on the 600 level. We encountered a lot of mud, water and tight spaces. Doug and crew were very good sports considering the punishment they and their equipment had to put up with. We found a few artifacts left over from the miners that had not been seen in many years. Among the items recovered for the Historic State Park collection were shovel heads, a carbine lamp, and candles used by the miners. We are very thankful to Park Ranger Jeff Herman and Empire Mine Historic State Park staff for allowing us entry and coming with us inside! We had a great time!

Trepier Mine

Prospector Victor Trepier found gold in the Inyo mountains in 1894. He worked his claim on a small basis and it never became a large mine but it had one heck of a view. He probably built this humble little stone cabin on the side of the mountain, near his mine.

"The Mine that Time Forgot"

This is a huge mine camp that we were able to get a private tour of. This is private property and the mill has a full-time caretaker and is guarded. It is a huge mill with a long history of operation.

Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

Parowan Gap is a narrow pass in a low set of hills that must have served as a natural corridor. The rocks at the narrowest part are covered in petroglyphs. It is easy to reach and not remote, but still an interesting site because of a few unique petroglyphs there. Most of the glyphs seem to be from the Archaic period, but Fremont and Anasazi styles are there as well. There is an interesting article on the site and some of the stories and legends associated with it in a 1940 edition of Desert Magazine.

"Lepus" Mine

This mine was worked as early as 1880s and produced $2.5M dollars before 1906. It was continued to be worked until 1959. That is a long time and total production could be as high as $10M. We didn't explore the mine fully and need to return one of these days.

"Moss and 757" Mines

We met up with Dezdan, Annie and Micah to explore an old mine out in the desert. We spent most of the day hiking to this old mine camp. We were surprised to find a few old cabins, mill remains and an ore cart out there.

Eagle Cliff Mine

We decided to hunt down a small rock shelter that a prospector built into the jumbo rocks out in Joshua Tree. We couldn't find this place the first time, but were successful the second time out. What a neat little hidden spot. If you head out there, please respect the place and leave everything there for the next explorer to discover.

"Belle Up" Mill

This is a remote little mine in an out-of-the-way side canyon in the mountains of Nevada. The mine is caved in now, but was worked in the 1920s and 30s for gold. It was lightly snowing when we stopped by for a visit.

"Tower Canyon"

This is a remote Ancestral Pueblo ruin site with many ruined towers and cliff dwellings. I had read about the site some time ago and was eager go check it out. The site is not hard to reach, but hours of hiking and climbing are required to reach some of the ruins. I certainly wasn't able to explore it all and need to return. The canyon bottom has a creek that probably has water all year. The people who lived here likely farmed crops there.

Butler Wash

This is a long creek with Ancestral Pueblo ruins scattered along it. The BLM has an overview of one ruin near the far north end of the wash.

Montezuma Creek

There are many small Ancestral Puebloan ruins and petroglyph sites scattered along this creek. Some are hard to spot, so you have to keep an eye out for them. Near the middle of the canyon is Three Kiva Pueblo where the BLM has restored one of the kivas for people to check out. It was very interesting.

Cave Spring

This is an Ancestral Puebloan (Anazasi) site that was also used by cattle ranchers to camp at. The site is inside of Canyonlands National Park. And what a neat find it is. Please do not touch or remove anything. Once removed, the story of an artifact is lost forever.

Newspaper Rock

This is a large solitary panel in a nice shady canyon. Petroglyphs from the Ancestral Pueblo (Anazasi), Fremont and modern Ute are present. This site was used by multiple cultures for a long period of time. Why this spot?

Hovenweep - Square Tower group

One of my favorite little parks, Hovenweep National Monument is a quiet little site in the Four Corners Area. Most of the buildings were built by the Ancestral Puebloans (Anazasi) in the 1200s and probably a few hundred people lived and farmed around this village site. And this was but one of many pueblo villages in this region. The purpose of the towers though, remains a mystery. Theories whether they were for living, observation, signaling stations, ceremonies, storage or defense all abound. People lived in this area for perhaps thousands of years before building the towers, then by the end of the 13th century, the site was abandoned.

"Cliff Dweller Wash" Petroglyphs

This is a small concentrated site with quite a variety of petroglyphs.

Black Dragon Pictographs

This site is in a impressively deep canyon that is a little too easy to reach. High clearance is required, but that is about it.

Mouse's Tank Petroglyph site

This is a neat site inside of the Valley of Fire State Park. It is my favorite petroglyph spot in the park.

Atlatl Rock

Not exactly a remote site, but interesting none the less. Atlatl Rock is worth a stop. The site is inside the Valley of Fire State Park. Petroglyphs here are most likely the work of the Anasazi.

"Panamint Valley Geoglyph #1"

Out in Panamint Valley, near an old camp, Dan took us to a geoglyph site on the desert pavement. This one is mostly linear with a few spurs.

Coso Petroglyphs

The Coso petroglyph area is the largest concentration of petroglyphs in North America. There are thousands and thousands of petroglyphs located in a few square miles, with most of the petroglyphs in Petroglyph, Sheep and Renegade Canyons. The entire area is located deep inside the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station and normally off-limits to the public, but you can arrange a guided tour with the Maturango Museum of Ridgecrest. We have done the tour a few times and look forward to doing it again!

"Peace Dove" Mine

I've been to this mine so many times, I've stopped taking photos on the last few trips. It is still a great mine to explore and there are a few hard to reach passageways I still haven't seen. There are miles of drifts and stopes across at least 9 levels. (We have done a few full days underground exploring here.) The mine was worked and re-worked many times, but was it was most productive from 1906 to 1928 and 1940 to 1957. It was mostly worked for lead, zinc and silver. These photos are from many trips over many years.

"Eastern Mojave" Mine

These were once two seperate mines but became connected. I've been here a couple of times over the years and it's still one of the best. There are huge stope rooms, square set timbering, winzes, raises, chutes, ladders, drifts, cross-cuts... all set across 16 levels and over 20 miles of workings. Most of the workings are now collapsed and inaccessable, but I've never fully explored the mine. I know there is more to see. Plan on a couple of 8 hour days, underground, if you want to see everything - it is alot of walking. Be prepared though, this one doesn't easily give up her secrets.

"Rachel" Prospect

I'd known about this site for a while, but it took a couple of years to finally get out there to it. It was a small cinnabar operation and the mine itself was only a small open pit, but the area had some older prospects and I wanted to see if rumors of a remote cabin where true. They were, and what a neat place it is!

Golden Gate Mill

The Golden Gate Mill is a neat site and fairly easy to get to. The BLM has been stabilizing the 10 stamp mill, which is great to see. The mill got its ore from a 2300' tramway which ran up to the mine. The gold mine was discovered in 1898, but wasn't worked until around 1902 and probably peaked in 1913. Apparently, the mill and buildings were destroyed a couple of times by avalanches! Once in 1907 and two in 1911!

Beveridge

Beveridge... A legendary mine camp. Probably more than anything, because it is so difficult and hard to reach. The trail is a strenuous one and because the hike is so long, time is an issue. We started hiking early in the morning one spring day. It took us 6 hours just to reach the camp. We did this as a dayhike, but it is better suited for a backpack. Even so, be sure to get an early start on the hike. The trail disappears quickly after the sun sets over the high mountains and it becomes very easy to get off trail and stuck on a rocky cliff. I know so much more about the area than I did back in 1996. I need to go back sometime. And... contrary to rumors, a helicopter didn't steal a piano from this camp, it was really a pot-belly stove.

Jefferson

Jefferson is a very scenic area and usually has a nice little creek running down in the trees. Once an old town, mainly in the 1870's, it is split into two sections - Upper and Lower Jefferson. The lower part had two mills, the Jefferson and the Sierra Nevada and some stores and houses. Upper Jefferson had houses, probably stores, another mill (probably also called Jefferson...), and the mines. Dan and I were joined by the legendary Bill Gossett, his son John and Stanley Paher. Bill did a great job of showing us around!

Hornsilver Mine

The Hornsilver is a fairly remote silver mine and camp. It was a good producer early on and had its ore hauled to a local mill, but like most mines, was worked intermittently. The original road to the camp is long over-grown and washed away. We tried heading up it, but to no avail. Instead, we came down from the top. It is an interesting, but small site, although, I'm sure there is more to be found, hidden in the undergrowth.

Coyote Hole Petroglyphs

Tucked away in a small canyon is this small petroglyph site. There is a seep nearby, which probably was reliable water for part of the year.

Mt. Irish Petroglyphs

This is a large petroglyph site, and we didn't see most of it when we were there. Still, what we did find was amazing. They are on just about every surface you can see. We will have to make a return trip.

Surprise Tank Petroglyphs

These are some old photos of a petroglyph site Alysia and I visited a long time ago. We should go back and take some better pictures. It is a neat (and large) site and worth a visit.

White Caps Mine

The 75-ton mill is the first thing you see when you come to this mine site. The mine was discovered in 1905 and first worked in 1912 for gold, later for mercury and antimony as the ore tenor changed with depth. There are a few empty buildings in the camp, but the rotating furnace is the star of the show. Ore would be roasted before cyanidation. The multi-level mine itself is in poor condition and mostly caved. Reportedly, the site is fenced now.

Jumbo Mine

Not much is left at the Jumbo mine. The mine itself is a small open pit, but we did find an interesting ore wagon and bin. Wagons are pretty rare. I've only seen a few. That made this site definitely worthwhile.

Petroglyph Butte

I wish I had taken more photos of this remote site, but it was a very hot day and at the end of a long trip. We were beat. I guess that just means that we will just have to go back.

"Yield" Mine

This remote gold and silver mine was mainly worked from 1906 to 1930's, and was the principal mine of the district. Not much is left these days. The mills are gone and the area is quiet.

"Occidental" Mine

I met up with Ron and Rob at this great mine. I have to leave details out to protect the site, but it was worked for a long time. We had a great day here.

"Singer" Mine

Dan and I discovered this abandoned but modern mine on a recent trip. A good and hidden find. We explored most of it, but missed a level or so.

Perseverance Mine

We met up with quite a few old friends (Wild Bill, Lewis, Cat, Micah, Snownymph, Desert Mouse, Dezdan, Brian and family) for this hike to a forgotten mine camp. We stayed up a little too late the night before having a good time, but everyone was smiles the next morning. What a great time we had on this trip!

"Slight Chance Quartz" Mine

Alysia and I met up with my dad, Brad, William and friends to go hunt for a remote old mine. There were several quartz veins here worked for gold as late as the 1950s. The mines aren't deep, but don't seem to be played out. I'd bet there is some gold still here. The area is off-limits to mining now.

"Palmer" Mine

This is quite a place! It's huge and strange. The sound of underground rivers far below you, 2' bore holes going thousands of feet into the unknown, multiple levels, elevators, offices, strange equipment, ladders and miles and miles of workings. A full day of exploring is just getting started in this place.

Blue Jay Mine

The majority of my trips this year seem to have been out to the more remote parts of Death Valley, and this one is no exception. I met up with my dad and Dan for a challenging hike to an old mine site. The hike took us about 8 hours to cover about 8 miles of rough terrain. The mine itself, the Blue Jay, seems to have also known as the Queen mine. I haven't been able to find much history on it yet, but it is obviously old. The camp litter matches a rock inscription which dates to 1906. The area is full of old prospects and miner's trails, so we'll be back to explore them when the temperatures cool off a little. And hopefully, on a less hazy day.

"Morris Camp"

We all agreed to name this place "Morris Camp" (to help protect it from vandalism) after one of our fellow explorers. The mine was first worked for gold and silver by Chas Noble in 1915 and later developed into a multi-level mine and worked for tungsten to at least 1956.

Alkali Flat Native Site

We met up with a group of friends out in remote Nevada to visit a small native site. Turns out there is much more out in these small unassuming hills than I would have guessed.

Panamint City Pictographs

Panamint City is mostly known for its mining boom but it also has some native sites. And what awesome site they are! It is a bit of a trek to get up here these days, and probably done best as an overnight backpack, but the trip is well worth it. I'm sure we didn't see all the sites here, as some are well hidden in the trees. But considering the extent of the miner's activities in the area, I'm surprised anything is left of the native's habitation of the area. If you come across any of these sites, please respect them and take only photographs.

"Little Boulder Valley" Petroglyphs

Dan led us out to a small native site that he had discovered recently. It seems to be a very old and isolated site. (Although, we should really poke around in the hills some more). We found a few more artifacts than he had seen last time he was here. It was a very nice little side trip.

King Midas Mine

I meet up with Dan and Sunshine to hike up to a lesser-visited mine. It was mainly worked around WWII era, which is a bit later than many of the others in the region. The tramway was a highlight of the hike for me. It is 3,000' long and over 1,000' in vertical height. Some of the tram is still here, but at least the power cable is missing. (We saw pieces of a buried cable in the canyon bottom.) The canyon itself is very pretty in that stark, harsh and desolate Death Valley kind of way.

Log Cabin Mine

First of all, this mine has a great view. That alone was worth the trip up here. The mine was worked for gold, silver and lead. Ores were brought up the shaft (now caved) from 4 levels of workings. The deepest only at 280'. Ore was worked in the large 100-ton mill. Work on the mine started around 1910s and went until WWII closed the mines, then again off and on until the 1980s. The property is currently owned by the Boy Scouts. They have a camp right next to it and I'm told the mill is boarded up now. These photos are early and from my film days. Quality is a bit lacking.

"Z" Canyon Petroglyphs

We have done a couple of trips to this great narrow canyon full of petroglyphs. It is a challenge to get in and see them. The canyon is full of dry falls and slick rock, but the site is certainly worth it!

Carlysle Mine

Alysia and I met up with my buddy James to do a little mine exploring. We headed out to the Carlysle mine. It was a gold and silver mine mostly active in the late 1930's. The mine has 3 adits and has a few interesting section to it. Not much remains of the mill.

"Snake Canyon" Petroglyphs

This is a collection of two sites that are very close together in western Nevada. They are medium sized sites with a variety of petroglyph designs.

Grass Lake Petroglyphs

Petroglyphs in the high Sierras are rare in my experience. And though the site is very small and the petroglyphs are faint, it was still exciting for us.

"Panamint Wickiup #1"

There are a few petroglyphs high in the mountains here, but the main attraction was the village site. I would bet there is more around here.

"Wildrose" Pictographs

This is a small site with a great view. Most of the glyphs have faded from weathering but a few vibrant ones remain.

"Panamint Wickiup #2"

This site had been in the back of my mind for years and years but it wasn't until recently we finally decided to track it down. What a quiet and neat place. It took a couple of trips and a few hours of hiking, but we finally found it. I'm sure there is more out around this spot, hiding in the pinyon pine, and awaiting rediscovery. If you happen across this site, please treat it is great care and respect.

"White Cliff" Mine

We revisit a site I hadn't been to in years for a test run of Alysia's new Xterra. (It performed very well.) It was good to come back up here and to find an arrastra, which I had missed before.

"Desert Gold" Mine

It is a bit of a hike to find this great little gem of a mine. It was worked as early as the 1890's, and again in the 1930's. The miners walked away from the mine in 1941 when World War II broke out and a presidential order closed most mines. Looks like they never came back. Artifacts from that era are here. If you find this site, Please leave everything here for the next explorer to find.

"Song" and "Sun" Mines

Morgan, Ric and I were out exploring in the Stanislaus National Forest on the hunt for some mining equipment. The winches we found were great and rarely seen still out in the wild.

"Squaw" Mine

I met up with Morgan and Ric to do some mine exploring in the Stanislaus National Forest (in the Sierra Nevada). I couldn't find much info on this operation. I'll have to research it more.

"Funeral Hoodoo" Pictographs

Dan, Alysia and I went out hunting for a hidden pictograph site. Most pictograph sites are small and this is no exception, but this was a great find. As usual, if you happen across it, please treat it with great care. Sites like this are very rare.

"Death Valley Tuff" Petroglyphs

What is truely amazing about this small site is that it is in plain view and people pass it everyday. I didn't notice it until it was pointed out to me. If you find it, please respect it and... keep it quiet. You will always pass it in the future with a smile on your face. I need to go back and take a few more photos.

"Alta Silver" and "Rock Eagle" mines

I met up with Dan, my dad, Micah, Lewis, his son Aaron, Werner, John and his cousins for a trip to some out of the way mines.

Greenwater Pictographs

Dan, Niki and Jamie (of Dzrtgrls fame), Alysia, my dad and I went on a long and blistering hike out to try and find a set of pictographs. They are not easy to find and required some searching by us. And even though it was a bit of a distance, the heat was more of a factor in making this hike tough. I guess even April was too late to be out in this country.

"Ubehebe Bunch" Petroglyphs and Inscriptions

Dan and I hike to a petroglyph site we've been wanting to check out for a while. It is a bit of a hike, but we were well rewarded. We were surprised to find historical inscriptions by Bill Keys and others.

"Churchill Pictograph Shelter"

Somewhere in central Nevada we came across a few native shelters with pictographs in them. A very neat and rare find! We need to go back and explore the area further.

Baker Creek Cave Pictographs

We stopped at one of the Baker Creek caves on our way to Colorado. Some nice, but very faded pictographs here. This is a beautiful area and we are looking forward to getting back here sometime.

Site Redesign

Site Redesign. I'm still working on it...