The Great Adventures of the Yamaha Viking VI
27-Dec-21

Group:
  1. Yamaha Viking VI: Gary and Gnettie Eisert
  2. Can Am 2 Seater: Bob & Lloyd Syms
  3. Polaris General Seater: Mike Gruenthaner & Sherwood Hagey
The day was cold and dreary, and because of that we found things on this ride we had never seen before. Bob Syms' son Lloyd was along for his first desert excursion.
The first area to show him were the stone cabins, but on the way a dark hole appeared in the side of the mountain to the East. Yep, a mine we've never seen before because usually the sun blocked it out.
   
This is what it normally looks like, just a pile of over burden. Here is the mine itself. Not many folks get up here because it is normally invisible. Lloyd went into the mine and had to jump over the vertical shaft.
   
The vertical shaft. Bob and Gnettie looking in.
   
From the mine we ventured south to the stone cabin area, but on the way we noticed a stone wall. The sun is usually so bright these stones just look like part of the desert. As you can see it went along ways up towards the mountain. What it ws used for remains a mystery.
   
After the wall we came upon this cabin. The fireplace. Hard to believe people eeked out a living out there.
   
This is what is left the stone cabin to the far West of the first cabin. Bob and Lloyd exploring the cabin to the west of thge first cabin.
   
Through the wash to the south is the old water tank and trough.
   
Hiking farther west from the water tank were a large catch basin and corrals.
   
From the stone cabins we ventured off to the Purple Pansy Mine.
Concrete footings that once supported the machinery to process tghe oar. Could this have been the office ?
   
Vertical shaft. Would be fun to send a camera down to see where it goes. Looks like the vain went in two different directions.
   
Water tanks. Lunch break. It was getting cold so we decided to make a run to the Manganese mine and then home.
   
After a run down a wash for a while then we headed north to the Maganese mine. There is an old building and windmill south of the deep hole.
   
Windmill and water tank. This is all that is left of the buildings.
   
I decided to drive up to the edge and take pictures looking into the mine while the rest of the gang went exploring down into the mine