ebird list
The Argus Mountains are one of our go to spots for winter hiking. The big appeal isn't abundant bird life, as it is really a bird free spot, but it can be warm and wind free. We had seen parts of the Ruth Mine from afar on previous visits and now it was time to see if we could get there. We didn't actually know if we could get past all the private property, or even if Ruth Mine was private. It turns out none of it was posted, so we went and explored.
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| What remains of the Ruth Mine Site from the mine. |
It appears that the BLM attempted to do some clean up and some interpreting of the site. The clean up, arsenic related, and buildings lost due to fire, have really diminished the site from what it was ten years ago. See photos here Historic Ruth Mine Photos.
A bit of history the Ruth Mine started production in 1899 which continued until forced to close as a nonessential mine in 1942 during WWII. In the 1970s a mine restart was tried, and modernized items can be seen in some of the buildings. This restart attempt failed. A bit more about the mining history can be found here Ruth Mine History.
The Searles Valley Historical Society told me that the school closed when the mine closed in 1942. It had 22 students in grades 1-8 at the time and was was taught by Thelma MacPherson. The students that remained after that went to school in Trona. During the 1970s Friends of the Ruth Mine modernized and stabilized the school. That is why there are plastic student desks in there today. A plug for Searles Valley Historical Society, they are a very small non profit founded over 40 years ago that operates several small museums in Trona showcasing the history of the town, mining in the area, and the railroad. Worth a couple hours of your time if you are in the area. They don't have a website but can be reached via email tronamuseum@verizon.net.
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| There was once two outhouses. |
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| School house and teacher's apartment all in one. |
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| The bunkhouse |
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| The inside of the bunkhouse. |
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| Swamp cooler. One of the upgrades in the 1970s. |
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| This building looks like it was occupied and upgraded in the 1970s. |
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| Rock work along the old road to the mine. |
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| Mine claim marker |
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| Argus Peak |
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| Telescope Peak |
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| Manly Peak |
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| Ruth Mine from across the valley |
Beautiful photos. I always like too, your account of the obstacles you overcame on the trek. Looks like this objective was an easy hike. Great that you could document the site's present condition.
ReplyDeleteSo many stories those buildings hold. So many ghosts. So much effort. I appreciate your showing us what this place looks like.
ReplyDelete