Stupid, boring, easy ol' Saxon...

[Hypoid]

I went over on Saturday 10-24. I did not post here because the run was specific to another group. As it turned out, I'm the only one who made it. It was kind of liberating in that I could take more time to explore areas that we usually drive past.

The shelf road above Georgetown was dry in most of the open areas.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon019.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon050.jpg

I scoped out another mine site. I've driven past this one and never knew it was there. Although this site is on private property, a short section of the road leading to it is public. There was quite a bit of cropping to fill the frame of this pic.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon028a.jpg

There was a bit of snow at the top, and lighting that changed every moment. Pretty exciting stuff for an amateur shutterbug.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon062.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon066.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon069.jpg

[Hypoid]

Another from the top:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon072.jpg

The most snow I saw was in the trees. Nice to have something to stop you if you roll.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon079.jpg

One of my co-workers is something of a rock hound. He told me there was a ghost town at Lamertine. I don't see no stinkin' ghost town, do you?

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon090.jpg

Maybe if we look at it this way:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon083.jpg

Looking at all the holes and piles of dirt made me wonder if there were structures in this area. I looked around the downhill side of one pile and found these lamp parts. The part with all the perforations was all I saw at first. I couldn't figure out what it was until I saw the other parts partially buried and fished them out. They gave the first part enough context for an identification. They are still there, waiting for the next curious visitor.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon086a.jpg

[Hypoid]

After looking around the clearing, I saw another vehicle drive down this road to what is left of a log structure:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon089.jpg

Construction detail, inside and out:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee120/Hypoid/Saxon/Lamartine-Saxon103.jpg

The road pretty much dead-ends at the first structure. Walking around and looking at the remains of other structures confirmed my theory about the meadow: People dug and terraced enough hillside to put a building on.

Since I had cell signal, I called home and set a time for arrival. I had an uneventful drive out on Spring Gulch Road. There is still plenty to explore on another day...:)

[Chris]

It sounds like you has a good time and that it wasn't stupid & boring but that may be because Barb & like spending days just like that. We were heading towards Georgetown ourselves on Saturday planning on a leisurely drive on an easy trail to check out mines and such. Barb didn't like the look of the clouds and snow ahead so we turned around and went back to Idaho Springs. We settled for a quick run through Barbour Fork which should be gated for the winter very soon then walked around town. No mines to be seen but it was a nice day any way.

[Brody]

Nice pictures, Mike! Thanks for the trail report!

[Hypoid]

Barb didn't like the look of the clouds and snow ahead so we turned around and went back to Idaho Springs. I went with the full expectation of being denied on the switchbacks. The FS told us the back side was open, and that we could probably make it down the switchbacks. After being stuck at Bill Moore last fall, I decided I'd rather have my exit be on a downhill slope. ;)

As for being the only one to make the run: Smaller group, different demographic, things came up.

EDIT: Temps were 45* at Georgetown, 34* at the summit, no accounting for the wind chill.

[ShutUpHippie]

Nice pics! Those old mine sites are so fun to explore.

[Funrover]

Nice pics, sometimes it is nice to just get out and have your own pace kinda day!

[Hypoid]

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

[Doobie]

where is Saxon located?

[KnuckleHead]

Nice pics, I hoping to one day go out and do some exploring of the mines and all myself. Where are some good spots close to Denver?

[Chris]

There are a lot like Saxon, Argentine, in the Idaho Springs/Georgetown area.

[Smash]

Nice shots! I love days like that.

[1freaky1]

Mike great photos! The red buildings can be seen from the rock overhang above, and the shots you mentioned Laramatime Town in the meadow area, was correct that is where it was located and the mounds was where the homes were built. The town did not last long If memory serves me right it only lasted like 8-10 years and most of the miners had movable cabins. Meaning the that they could take them apart and move them to an new mining area when mines dried up. See the picture below of this style cabin construction.



where is Saxon located?

When you are driving up I70 to George town and look south by the lake it is the road the snakes its way up the side of the mountain. It is a nice trail with mild obstacles (rocks) and some good ledges that can give you a bit of a pucker with the seat.


Nice pics, I hoping to one day go out and do some exploring of the mines and all myself. Where are some good spots close to Denver?

That is something I try to do every summer, there are a lot of mines between Idaho Springs and just west of Georgetown then going north upto Estes Park. My favorites so far are Waldorf and Santiago mines, the road to Waldorf is pretty tame for a stocker but getting into Santiago is a bit more challenging for a stocker, I did it a few times when the ranger was stock. From there you can go up the staircase to heaven road, lots of steep switch backs and drop offs. Anytime you want to go explore some of them let me know!

[Hypoid]

Anytime you want to go explore some of them let me know!
Sweeet! You can be our guide to the Magical Hissss-to-ry Tour. :D

I told one of my managers about my big adventure. He's pretty familiar with the area, and he likes to explore the sites as well. He told me he just put power steering on his YJ and he wants to go wheelin again! :thunb:

[1freaky1]

No problemo Mike I have been getting a lot of books over the past two years on the mines hear in Colorado and doing a lot of research on them. I use this info for two things 1) to go exploring and 2) for my garden train layout. Plus I just love the history of mining here in our wonderful state since my family was a part of it from the beginning here.

[Chris]

Barb & I would be up for something like this. She hates wheeling with a group and passing by places she'd like to explore.

[1freaky1]

Bar & I would be up for something like this. She hates wheeling with a group and passing by [laces she'd like to explore.

That would be great Chris. We was going to do one of these runs earlier this last summer but it never got up on the board.

[Chris]

We do them all the time Sean, lots of great mines in Buena Vista too! Let's plan on one or two in the Spring!

[Hypoid]

ROLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUP! ROLL UP FOR THE HISS-TOR-Y TOUR!!!

Oh! Never mind???
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/MagicalMysteryTourDoubleEPcover.jpg

[HuricaneWillys]

thats the kind of trails I hope to do next year, good way to start on wheelin, and since the Willy's will be sittin in stock height it would be perfect, just hope to keep the project on coarse.