Route Editor
Route Scout
lap of luxury by kingsnake The exploration starts off by heading east on Copper Basin Rd. for a few feet, before it splits left onto an old jeep trail. The trail is so old, it is washed out to a depth of several feet on one side, and on the other is worn only by many cattle. There is an unsigned, easily-crossed, barb wire fence. Just past the fence is the Finch Windmill. After the Finch Windmill, turn left onto a better jeep trail, FR 58. In 100 yds., there is a locked, but unsigned and easily crossed, metal tube gate. Just past the gate, on the left, is an apparently abandoned travel trailer, set up for camping. It looks like it's been there awhile, so I've mentioned it here, in the hike description. *** There are no "No Trespassing" signs at any point on this hike. *** The Flower Gold Mine is only a half mile into the hike, and has a number of interesting artifacts, including an intact metal headframe. A mile into the hike, there is a side trail to the east, which -- according to mindat.org -- leads to the Silver Gulch Lode. The next two miles, FR 58 pitches up, but nothing too strenuous. As FR 58 starts to climb, on the left, you will see an obvious tailings pile. The shaft at the top of the tailings pile is collapsed and filled in, but has a great view back down Finch Wash, out past Kirkland to the entire Weaver Mountains range, including the distinct flat top of Antelope Peak, Yarnell Hill and Weaver Peak. Three miles into the hike,there is an old mining shack. The shack is falling apart, but at one time, by mining camp standards, it was the lap of luxury. It had a thick cement foundation, brick walls, a metal fireplace, and — I kid you not — Dutch doors. I hate to see nice places like that which have fallen on hard times. A couple hundred yards past the former mansion, at the foot of West Spruce Mountain, FR 58 splits. The right split deadends; go left. At the top of a short, steep, climb is this mine exploration’s final feature, and the highlight of the hike: A large open adit. So large, you can almost walk straight into it. Unnamed on the topo, or mindat.org, I’ll call it Finch Wash Mine. See my triplog & photos for more detail. Check out the Official Route and Triplog. Gate Policy: If a gate is closed upon arrival, leave it closed after you go through. If it is open, leave it open. Leaving a closed gate open may put cattle in danger. Closing an open gate may cut them off from water. Please be respectful, leave gates as found. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Review
Finch Wash - Copper Basin
Crossing the barbwire fence, I somehow managed to gig a knuckle anyway. Finch Windmill was working like a charm, but not pumping much water. The tank was mostly dead bees.
There were no claim signs near the travel trailer, so I’m not sure what the deal is. We avoided it anyway. I don’t like getting shotgunned by people that like to live in the boonies.
At Flower Gold Mine, Prescottstyle & I found still open vertical shaft of unknown depth. The headframe is separate from the shaft. There is a whazzit? to the side, which we failed to check out. (“Whazzit?” is what I refer to as interesting objects I spot on satellite view, but cannot determine what they are.)
We found nothing at Silver Gulch Lode.
At the bottom of the tailings pile, there is an adit that was too small for my fat fourth point of contact to crawl into. (And I’ve been into some tight spaces, such as Webber Mine.) I peered inside, and it looks like it may open up a little bit, but it would be a very sketchy entry.
Three miles into our hike, while checking out the old mining shack, I stepped on a nail. Right through the sole of my hiking shoe. Ouch! I pulled it out, but did not take off my shoe. We were almost at the far end of our hike, so if I was skewered like it felt, continuing would not make the situation any worse. At the very least, no blood was squirting out of my shoe. I was still in the fight.
Upon entering Finch Wash Mine, I realized I had left my flashlights at home. As weak donkey as my flashlights’ beams are, it would have been better than what I ended up doing: Using my camera to flash my way down the adit. Literally, I’d take a flash photo, review it, walk 20 ft. forward, then repeat.
Despite extensive timbering, Finch Wash Mine's rock is pretty solid. The only artifacts it contained were a metal folding chair, some wires, a couple of surgical masks.
A couple hundred feet into Finch Wash Mine, the adit narrows and begins angling downwards. It may be possible to continue, but we elected to turn around. It would be worth a return with decent lighting.
Back in Prescott, because I had stepped on the nail, I thought I might need to make a trip to the emergency room for a tetanus shot, but upon taking off my shoe, I discovered the nail had not even broken skin, let alone impaled my foot. Add that to my list of dodged bullets.
After changing into half decent clothes, we walked three miles into downtown Prescott. Rosa’s Pizzeria had a line out the door, so we headed across Gurley Street to Casa Alvarez, which had delicious chips & salsa (red & green). I had chile colorado & dos Negra Modelo.
After dinner it was Whiskey Row …
Copper Basin Rd. Video: [ youtube video ]
Mine Exploration Video: [ youtube video ]
There were no claim signs near the travel trailer, so I’m not sure what the deal is. We avoided it anyway. I don’t like getting shotgunned by people that like to live in the boonies.
At Flower Gold Mine, Prescottstyle & I found still open vertical shaft of unknown depth. The headframe is separate from the shaft. There is a whazzit? to the side, which we failed to check out. (“Whazzit?” is what I refer to as interesting objects I spot on satellite view, but cannot determine what they are.)
We found nothing at Silver Gulch Lode.
At the bottom of the tailings pile, there is an adit that was too small for my fat fourth point of contact to crawl into. (And I’ve been into some tight spaces, such as Webber Mine.) I peered inside, and it looks like it may open up a little bit, but it would be a very sketchy entry.
Three miles into our hike, while checking out the old mining shack, I stepped on a nail. Right through the sole of my hiking shoe. Ouch! I pulled it out, but did not take off my shoe. We were almost at the far end of our hike, so if I was skewered like it felt, continuing would not make the situation any worse. At the very least, no blood was squirting out of my shoe. I was still in the fight.
Upon entering Finch Wash Mine, I realized I had left my flashlights at home. As weak donkey as my flashlights’ beams are, it would have been better than what I ended up doing: Using my camera to flash my way down the adit. Literally, I’d take a flash photo, review it, walk 20 ft. forward, then repeat.
Despite extensive timbering, Finch Wash Mine's rock is pretty solid. The only artifacts it contained were a metal folding chair, some wires, a couple of surgical masks.
A couple hundred feet into Finch Wash Mine, the adit narrows and begins angling downwards. It may be possible to continue, but we elected to turn around. It would be worth a return with decent lighting.
Back in Prescott, because I had stepped on the nail, I thought I might need to make a trip to the emergency room for a tetanus shot, but upon taking off my shoe, I discovered the nail had not even broken skin, let alone impaled my foot. Add that to my list of dodged bullets.
After changing into half decent clothes, we walked three miles into downtown Prescott. Rosa’s Pizzeria had a line out the door, so we headed across Gurley Street to Casa Alvarez, which had delicious chips & salsa (red & green). I had chile colorado & dos Negra Modelo.
After dinner it was Whiskey Row …
Copper Basin Rd. Video: [ youtube video ]
Mine Exploration Video: [ youtube video ]
2017-10-21 kingsnake
