Gold Rush Run 2012 - Part 2: Gold Valley

[wayoflife]

Rich in history and with so many fun trails to run, it was really hard not to head back up into gold country and do some more exploring. On this trip, we decided to do a quick run out to Deer Lake and then make our way across Gold Valley to check out some of the side trails, mines and wildflowers that were supposed to be in full bloom. Here are some pics from our trip, I hope you enjoy.

Starting our expedition on the Deer Valley Trail - so cool to see all the moss covered trees...


Shot from the rim looking down on the ever tranquil, Deer Lake...


Heading in for a closer look...




We haven't been up to this lake in years but I can tell you, little has changed - so beautiful...






Some lovely Low phacelia near by that we found...


After leaving Deer Lake, we made our way north to hook up to the Gold Valley trail...


As you can see, most of the trails in this area are easy but very scenic...


For fun, we decided to explore one of the spurs along the way that would ultimately take us out to Smith Lake...


Here are a few shots of unusually large Tiger Lillys that kind of looked like pumpkins or paper lanterns...






Shot of Smith Lake - pretty, but really buggy...


On the move again and crossing beautiful fields of wildflowers...




Here we are pulled along side an old dead tree that had been cleared from the trail. Being that so much of the forest was clear cut to support the mines in the area, we were surprised to see that when it was alive, it's diameter was almost a thick as Rubicat is tall...


Coming out of the forest and out onto a ridge, the Mule Ears were in full bloom in spite of the fact that it was late in the season...




High up on the ridge, we got an awesome view of Wades, Rock and Jamison Lake...


Of course, the Crest Lupines up here were simply out of this world...




Rubicat nestled in and among them like a bumble bee...


The trail ends in the mining town of Johnsville which is located in the Plumas Eureka State Park. This is essentially a big museum with all kinds of cool mining structures and equipment to check out...


A lot of the mining done in this area was with one of these - the ever destructive hydraulic water monitor...


But, there was still plenty of hard rock mining going on too. Here's drill, various pumps and other machinery...




If you can believe it, this is an old air compressor. I wonder if you could fit it under the hood of a JK?


A very cool stamp mill display that shows how the whole thing works...


We have been to a lot of old mining camps and ghost towns and have to say that the old Mohawk Stamp Mill is by far one of the largest wooden structure of its kind that we've ever seen. Very impressive that it's still standing and in the condition that it's in...




I hope you enjoyed following us vicariously on Part 2 of our Gold Rush Run. If you would like to see all the pics we took along the way, simply click on the link below:

Gold Rush Run 2012 - Part 2: Gold Valley Photo Gallery

[Blonda]

Wow, very pretty up there Nice pics

[JeepFan]

Awesome pictures! We would love to explore this area someday. Thanks for sharing your adventure...

[wayoflife]

thanks guys, there really is so much to see and explore up there. we'll definitely have to find some time and drag you up there with us so that you can see it for yourselves.

[Maxydouda]

WOW !


Thank you for sharing such great pictures !

[Trail_Creeper]

Awesome pictures as always. Just out of curiosity. What do you use for a camera set up? Filters?

[wayoflife]

Awesome pictures as always. Just out of curiosity. What do you use for a camera set up? Filters?

if you can believe it, cindy just uses an old sony a700. there are much better cameras out there today.

[Trail_Creeper]

Those are some nice pictures. Most of mine are taken with a Nikon D40x he Mrs bought me for Christmas a few years back.

[Holeshot]

is there a link a could see hi-res pics of your trail trips? need a new wallpaper

[wayoflife]

is there a link a could see hi-res pics of your trail trips? need a new wallpaper

Click on this link, click on the pic you want and then there should be another link below the larger pic that will take you to an even larger one

http://project-jk.com/wpg2?g2_itemId=292777