Tuesday, July 8, 2014 Picuyane, Placer, California

We did a repeat of some of the trails today so Tommy could see some of the mines/mills.  Of course, Charles & Jane went to a different trail in search of wildflowers and had snow fall on them!! Darn.  That's okay, we still had an awesome time.  We took our leisure time; stopped and explored some old mine areas. 

The morning started off in the campground with the unloading of a coal car for engine 315.

One of our camping buddies pulled it off with the winch on his Jeep.

 Nice slow ride along the Animas River:

 

 

 

 

 

Starting up Picuyane Trail:

 Some of the buildings at the old Treasure Mountain Mill built in the early 1900s:

A blacksmith operation inside the building;

 Who needs framed pictures when you have a window view like this?

 

 

 '

 

 On down the trail and we found one of our favorite rock-hammering mines has been blasted. 

Blasting wires & caps all over the place! 

 

 

 

 Tommy hammering on rocks:

And the journey continues:

 We tried to get to "Kathy's Bail-Out Mtn," but were stopped by a snow drift:

 

 

This was just before he buried his face in the snow.
Don't ask; I don't know why.

 Jimmy & Tommy poked their heads into several old mines.

This one was full of water & it was dripping from the ceiling:

 

 

The Sound Democrat Mine built in 1899:

Next stop, California Pass.  It was cold & windy but

Tommy wanted to climb up anyhow.

 

Headed back toward town; temps really dropped here:

 Most of the ice gone from Lake Como:

 

 

Another excellent day in Paradise!