Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Adventuring: The Big Horn Mine

Every once in a while, I get to go on an adventure.  And right now, I am reliving my time in the Hwy 2 hills of Southern California chasing an apparently well known and openly accessible abandoned mine.  The Big Horn. Heard of it?  You probably have.  And if you haven't, you most likely have made its acquaintance without knowing what you were looking at, as it was in my case for months.

The hike was one of the easiest ones my sister and I have done in a while as it consisted of only four miles and no steep inclines.  We began our journey before the sun, driving the 2 hours required to reach the trailhead and along the way we were rewarded with the best sort of sunrise. Fiery pink with a whisper of clouds.  Honestly, this is the best time time of the day to drive the Pearl Blossom Hwy.  The desert is being gradually awakened with the sun and before you have time to reflect on how desolate it appears, you have already make it through into the hills.

Can I take a moment to digress about how much I love the community of Wrightwood? (With my whole two experiences of it...) Cinnamon's Bakery & Sandwich Shoppe is a MUST for a breakfast snack.  And the cinnamon rolls???  The first time I rolled up to this town I was greeted with a breath of crisp, fresh mountain air as I escaped those 75 degree winter temps of LA.  And it just got better from there.  I opened the doors and was welcomed to the classic gossip gathering for the "older" men of the community and instantly my mind went back to my small hometown.  This location has at times been the Cottage, Kountry Kitchen, Berry Patch, I-5 Cafe or the new Petro Gas stop depending on tradition, their cheapness or their opinion of the service that day.  It was like a little unexpected beautiful taste of home.  But back to Wrightwood.  We haven't even gotten to how great Cinnamon's bakery items are... they're amazing. That's it.  You HAVE TO stop in to get something if you are in town.

So after I dragged my sister in to get my hiking snack (because pastries and coffee are the best pre-game hiking snack of course), we continued down Hwy 2 watching for the trailhead turnoff.  And it being still quite early in the morning, we were greeted with only one other car.  Success!

We walked down that well worn road (because its more than just a trail) as it wrapped itself around the edges of the mountains.  Rounding mystery corners, surrounded by trees and a lack of other people, it was perfect.  As you proceed further in, you come to see evidences of the mine occasionally. A shaft here. Equipment there. Cables. Wooden parts.  And then we see our first official true shaft of the mine. And it has "free candy" graffitied on it with a stuffed cat hung by its neck in front.  Yeah.  Not creepy AT ALL.  Moving on....

We continued down that road "trail" and I kept expecting to be rewarded with a view of the mine around each turn but alas, it was further in than I expected.  Which caused me to wonder: how it was uncovered in the first place?  Legend says, the founder was hunting big horn sheep in these mountains and thus the name.  But still!  To lug all the necessary equipment in and out of these mountains, up so high when the obvious easy pass is down below where the creek is flowing.  It's just so interesting to try to imagine what is was like when he first come into this country and all the necessary moves he had to make to establish this mine.

Finally, we rounded a corner and there it was.  Another shaft.   AND THEN, the mine.  A cement foundation, metal beams void of walls overlooking the mountain pass, cables running from the base to inside the mine at various points, wooden roof and various parts that you must scale to reach the gate that leads into the mine.  Did I mention that?  WE CAN EXPLORE THE MINE.  And it was obvious that others had gone before us, not just because of the graffiti or the remains of a campfire, but because of the various colored strings leading from the gate opening into the dark tunnels of the mine.  Now.  I am a very much unashamed chicken when it comes to putting myself in potentially dangerous situations.  Although there was no evidence of anyone in the area besides ourselves (well, besides that mystery campfire), I persuaded my sister to retreat probably when about 100 yards inside the main tunnel, out of sight of the light of the point of entrance and out of cell phone service range.  BUT what we did see was legit.  The rock forming the tunnels, the faint creek running down the middle, the intact railing for hauls all indicate a very well preserved and safe area that will require a TEAM adventure and further exploration in the future.

On the way back though, let me tell you.  The whole world had seemed to wake up and deem today to be the day to hike the Big Horn Mine.  And I get it.  It is the perfect family hike for all ages.  Safe. Incredible views. And a little mystery for one to speculate on in days to come.

And so there it is.  Get out there and explore this world.  "It is more fantastic than anything made for or paid for in factories..." -Ray Bradbury


















Though others may have had these very same travels, all the opinions, stories, and photographs above are my very own (with a few being credited to my sister) as we did travel together this round.  Woo!  Let's keep exploring where you're at folks, wherever you be!