Weekend Rambler

There is gold in dem dere hills folks, the view from Pliocene Ridge in route to Alleghany and Forest City on a Motherlode foray.

There are few active mines left up here other than placer gold claims along the rivers and a couple of them are here in Alleghany home of the oldest active claims.

The 16-1 mine is over 80 years old, this isn't a photogenic town, lots of junked vehicles and junk everywhere.

The old Wells Fargo stage stop vault is all that's left.

The saloon was open for business though, time for a cold one.

An ancient 4x4 truck, any old truck enthusiasts out there that can identify it its make? I bet it has one heck of a granny gear, it is flathead powered and the engine is next to the driver.

The surviving general store of Forest City, like most the front was the store while the family lived in the back. Forest City boomed quick as it had rich deposits that were relatively easy to get to .

The dance hall bar suspended in time, left for eternity.

The dance hall itself and its collapsing facade, though it appears the Historical Society and E Clampus Vitus are trying to do some clean up and restoration here in Forest City, and it has a population of forty down from a population of over 1000 during the boom days.

Main street today, it was once lined with shops and saloons and no trees were visible in old photos, the town burned three different times but a few of the remaining houses are still lived in full time or used as hunting cabins.

A boulder miners used for drilling contests and a few drills, it is behind where the Brewery stood, apparently some of the best available, Prohibition never made it here.

Ye olde school house.

An assembled steam driven two stamp mill, the first one I have seen complete for the most part, it even had the old drive belts in place.

Of course all these towns had "Houses of Comfort" or ill repute if you prefer, the brothel marked by red painted stones on the front steps.

Of course it had a second story back entrance with a hillside trail for those wanting to be more discreet about their visits.

These towns are both deep in the foothills, a very rugged country of steep canyons, deep winter snows and perilous narrow shelf roads. Many investors refused to invest in these towns after being scared to death on the stage ride in, the roads were so dangerous, steep, slick, narrow, and perfect for ambushes from the guys in the black hats. There is still plenty of gold to be had up here if you have the gumption to look for it, the experts figure only 10- 20% has been recovered but there is no way to actually figure that out. There is no telling what these vast hills hold deep within their bowels.

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Dang, a sure sign I am getting old, Laurence Welk is on and I haven't changed the channel yet. I remember watching Hee Haw, LW, Gunsmoke and Bonanza at my Grandparents on Saturday nights when we were helping them with the farm as a child in the Deep South. Funny us true rednecks did not find Hee Haw insulting, even the California perspective of us, I can vouch that Ca. rednecks are just as stereo-typical as those of us from Dixie and cruising these backroads can have a "Deliverance" feel for sure as you are isolated in a big way. Stay tuned the adventure will continue...