Mines

Not yours or mine but silver and gold mines.  There are hundreds of them where we are right now, with the majority of them being silver mines.  But there are also hundreds of mine shafts in the area, so walking where one is walking is quite precarious.  Only walk or hike on suggested trails.

One in particular that we hiked the other day is the well know Castle Dome Mine.

Travel through rugged parts of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Keep your eyes open for the abundant wildlife, which includes desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyote, cottontail, bobcat, fox and golden eagle. You can visit a cave once inhabited by Native Americans. Cross rocky McPherson Pass through the Castle Dome Mountains.  The recent rains did that pass in if they repair it before we leave we'll go back.  Hike to well-preserved cabins at Big Eye Mine.We stopped at the Castle Dome Mines Museum and learn about the area’s extensive mining history.Your trip starts out as an easy washboard gravel road which Mr is not afraid to travel on with the truck.  Anything more than that we walk.

Castle Dome was a small mining settlement which first produced silver and later lead. Since lead is not nearly as valuable as silver, the mine did not last very long.

Mining foundations,  buildings and miscellaneous mining gear remain.  The couple that now own the property have reconstructed many of the old buildings like the bank, the five saloons and of course there's always a brothel.

What I always find when on the desert are saguaro cactus.  This one caught my attention because of it's five arms which means it's quite mature.

Next is a very large lake in the area that we must go search for.