Thurs, June 25 ANIMAS, CALIFORNIA, PLACER, PICAYUNE

Jim drove us to the top of California via Animas Forks and I drove us back down and across Placer & Picayune.  We were not able to continue from California to Hurricane Pass because of  . . . surprise . . snowdrifts!  Still a LOT of snow on the way to California and the dozier was working to clear the path to Hurricane.

I have a story about my lesson in learning how "not to roll a Jeep" on the Picayune ledge road, but I have to wait for pictures from Brett.

This evening we saw Cathy & Larry and they had just seen a mama and baby moose, so several of us trekked out to Mineral to try to see, but alas, they had evidently bedded down for the night.  Today's sightings were a couple of deer and marmot.  Brett and group did see a herd of elk.

The good doc's house:

 The ugly side of mining.  

This old car has been parked here every since we've been coming out here:

 Lots of waterfalls on the Animas River:

 The Columbus Mine & Mill,

built in 1927; closed in 1948.  

Some of its best years were during WWII, producing zinc:

 The "disturbed" snow mid-picture is actually the cleared path on the trail:

 Almost to California Pass: 

Short hike to the top of California, Elevation almost 13,000 feet;

hard on us Florida Flatlanders:

 Snow ledge across the way looks ready to slide:

Lake Como still frozen:

Jimmy decides to hike up and join us:

 Old mining equipment:

 Headed down from California to Placer:

 Back side of the Treasure Mountain Gold Mining Company

Built in the early 1900s, many of the old buildings are still intact &

make for some interesting exploring: