Exploring and Visiting Mines in The Okanogan
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Over the course of a couple days, we ended up in the Okanogan region of Washington, right next to the Canadian border.
This was a very productive mining region, with many large sites scattered in the hills around the town site of Nighthawk.
We ended up seeing many mines. From the Submarine, to the Ruby, to seeing the Kabba-Texas from a distance. We managed to check off many sites we had been wanting to see, and check out the still very present history of the area.
The minerals located at these mines are mostly silver based, but what is left now is mostly sulfur. A lot of the actual ore has been carted away in the hundred or so years since many of the mines operated, leaving little but the tailings and waste rock behind.
Overall, this trip did not have us going underground, a fact which we seek to rectify soon. We will be heading underground into some of the largest abandoned mines in the state soon, and will hopefully make up for the lack of minerals and time spent in the dark soon.
I dredged a big nugget out of the rapids above Shanker's bend on the Similkameen. There is a kool gold mine in the hillside there but watch out for the rattlesnake that guards the entrance.
Nighthawk is a cool area. The Coby was torn down about 15 years ago. I was lucky to be able to walk through the processing plant when it was still it tack. Alamend Rd. ends about 2 mile in at a locked gate, that is Little Chapacka mountain. 1/2 dozen mines on that whole hillside and a Alkaline lake at the top. The guy with the old red ford pickup that lives in Nighthawk is the guy you want to talk to. He also knows the mining history of the area better than anyone else. I know his name but don't' have permission to give it out.
That is one amongst the many structures and ghost towns I wish I had seen before I discovered this hobby. So many things lost to time, I feel the need to see as much as I can and document all of it to prevent losses like that from hitting as hard as they do now.
Awesome job guys, my young nephew turned me on to your show. And hello from Evans Wa.
Happy we could entertain! We've got a lot more coming up this year, so there will be plenty more mines to check out and sights to see.
I truly liked all the drone footage and music selections a fine job indeed, and yeah, you didn't get a chance to go underground but to me that is part of the adventure, you just never know what you will find. I really enjoyed watching all of it and at times I drifted away thinking of what the miners weather and overall conditions were back when they were carting silver all day long. Sulfur mostly remains but there is lots of life and experiences to be had indeed. Great job!
Thank you for watching! We enjoy these sorts of adventures too. We find out if sites are accessible, and if there is anything left behind. We have found some of our favorite mines and places to explore by just wandering around areas with all sorts of history! We've got a lot more coming up this year, so we'll have plenty of opportunities to answer our questions, and see what is left behind.
@@SomethingDifferently I really like that plan!
I want to take a trip to the Ruby mine above where the buildings still are .
I'd love to as well. So much promising land up there, even on public lands. I just try to respect the wishes of land owners as much as I can. This one hurt to pass up!
@@SomethingDifferently Is the Ruby mine private property ?
@@ExploringCabinsandMinesCurrently, yes. There are a bunch of signs all over the mine site stating that it is private, and to not trespass. If you use websites such as GaiaGPS or CalTopo, you can also view what is public land and what isn't, and the Ruby is a good block of private in a sea of BLM and Forest Service lands.
Seen some reports that the proustite and pyrargyrite in the ruby were spectacular.
I've seen some reports that describe the interior as well. Really makes me wish that it wasn't so blocked off and restricted. It's supposed to be an awesome set of tunnels and all sorts of stoping inside that would be awesome to see with minerals that you don't really see in too many other mines. Hopefully some more mines in the area can provide us with the views we missed here.
Up on the similkameen?
Yep! We actually camped along the river while out there. Was a great time, and we ended up seeing so many mines. I'll have to go back eventually. We only managed to fit so much into our trip out there.
You could have driven that road to the Kaaba Texas mine. I don't know who put that sign there, but I have an idea who. That was and I believe still is county owned and if they maintain it, even plowing it in winter, then it's public. There's a jerk that lives in the area that thinks he owns everything. However, the Kaaba Texas mine is privately owned, but you can view it from the road. Tell the jerk to screw off if he hassles you.
Thanks for the advice! I'm going to try to make it back there later this year, and will see if I can get a bit of a more in-depth view of the mine while out!
my grandpappy worked these mines
Very cool to hear! These mines are pretty important to the area, so it is actually pretty neat to hear that the people who worked them were doing so pretty recently rather than the hundred plus years ago I get with some mines.
my mom was born in 56' she was raised up in a mountain cabin while her dad worked for the Silver Mountain Mining Company from Seattle as she recalls the mine was closed when she was still very young early 60's and they moved to Nighthawk.@@SomethingDifferently
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It's spelled Okanagan
It may be, but I used the spelling found in the town of Okanogan, and here at the Okanogan County website: www.okanogancounty.org/
Okanagan is the Canadian side, okanogan is what us Americans call it.