Thurs, Sept 03, CUNNINGHAM GULCH, HIGHLAND MARY , RIVER ROAD

We woke up this morning to the sound of soft rain hitting the roof.  Once finally out of bed, it looked like the day would be a wash-out so I did some laundry and we ordered a pizza.  Later, our friends Ronny & Bonnie had a case of cabin fever and decided to do a short trail, so we joined them.

We headed out Cunningham Gulch to Highland Mary, one of my favorites.  It is a pretty short run but has great scenery.  I love the story from "Backcountry Adventures Colorado" by Massey, Wilson & Titus about the two Ennis  brothers from New York that established Highland Mary.  They consulted with fortune-tellers to decide where to prospect.  Her advice sent them in a haphazard search where they unknowingly crossed over some rich gold veins.  They did make a few lucky hits, but after investing a million dollars plus an additional $50,000 to the fortune-teller, they found themselves bankrupt in 1885.  They sold their mine, their luxury home and returned to New York.  The new owners using more tried and true mining methods saw the mine become one of the best producing mines in Cunningham Gulch and operated it on and off thru 1952.

Some of the best rocks to be found:

 This rock was about three feet across; lots of interesting things in it:

 Jim, Bonnie, Ronny:

 Bear Bait?

Jim & Ronny discussing where the Continental Divide trail goes thru the trees:

Bonnie returning from a hike:

Old Mill: 

 The trail that runs along the Animas River (the old railroad bed)

starting to look like Autumn:

 The Animas above the mine blow-out - the way it SHOULD look: