The Big Eye Mine Trip

The Tate's friends organized a caravan into the desert to see the Big Eye Gold Mine, 25 miles up into the hills from Arizona 95.  We headed out in 4 vehicles at 9 AM. The road progressively got rougher with gullies and deep ruts to traverse in 4 wheel drive. Top speed was 10 mph and usually much less. Jim's sturdy truck persevered. The scenery was spectacular. Our leader found a shady spot to break for lunch after trimming up a mesquite tree where we were entertained by Debbie who sang and signed a couple revival songs.  We were barely half way to the mine and it was only 1:30 pm. There had been several stops along the way for photos and exploration. One vehicle turned back and 3 ventured on. Once we got to the mine at 2300', there was another half mile hike up to the cabin and another quarter mile beyond that to the actual entrance. Sonny and I didn't go all the way to the mine shaft but some of the group did.  The troupe gathered up about 5 pm to start the trek back, hoping to get to AZ 95 before dark. It only took 1.5 hours for the return run to pavement and then 30 miles into town. What a fun day!

Beaver tails in bloom.  We saw several shades of pink.

Understatement!

Castle Dome peak 10 miles away in the distance.
There is a museum to visit there another time.

We were on pavement before the sun was totally down.  
Desert sunsets have been magnificent.

One last pit stop before the sun went down.

Saguaro

We're looking up from the bottom of a very deep,
crooked, narrow, rutted gully while the
others are waiting for us.

At the cabin, this sign discouraged explorers from
going into the mine.

The mountain peaks were interesting making
for guesses about the shapes.

The baby cholla cactus like to attach to shoes.
 I managed to walk onto one.

Sonny was exploring around the old water tanks.

Caretaker's cabin about 2500'

We traveled around Thumb Peak to get to the cabin. 

Hard to read, but the mail box says
Big Eye Mine

We left the parking lot taking the trail to the cabin.

Terrain on the way to the cabin.

No two saguaro are alike.

Yellow and orange blooms in a wash.

Bright blossoms

The caravan creeping along towards Thumb Peak.
The road went around to the right of peak and
into a canyon where the mine was located.

Inspecting a recently fallen saguaro.

Debbie singing and signing after lunch.

Picnic lunch in the shade. The organizers
brought tables, umbrellas, and tons of
food. They make desert runs at least
once a week and sometimes, more. The
leader was quite knowledgeable about
the desert environment.

On our way to the Big Eye, we stopped at another
 old mine site.  There were graves....

.....mine shafts......

....cans....

....and more old cans........

and still more rusty cans.

Ocotillo cactus starting to bloom.  At the higher
elevations, the stalks had begun to leave out.

The caravan into the desert.

This cactus still seemed to be alive
but it had seen some abuse.

Amazingly still standing in spite of
holes and bruises.