August 13-I Found Gold in Them Thar Hills

Swirling the gold pan filled with fine sand, tiny gravel, rock particles, and mineral rich sediment in the water in the wooden panning trough at Eagle Mine in Julian today, I was delighted to see tiny, bright yellow specks of gold appear in the bottom of the black ridged container in my hands.

Arriving at the property’s grounds earlier this morning, I was treated to a private tour of the 1000 feet of underground tunnels created at this site and the High Rock Mine to which it was connected below the earth’s surface. Established shortly after gold was discovered in the area in 1869, the mines contributed to the development of the town of Julian itself.

Carved through rock by hand using a double jacking process – one miner would hold a drill against the hard surface, and two others would take turns striking it with a sledgehammer- the tunnels followed quartz veins through the rock mountain in search for the gold contained in the minerals.

One of my favorite parts of the tour was when my affable tour guide, Rick, shut off all the electricity, enveloping us in thick darkness. He then lit a candle and showed me how to hold it above my head in the same position the miners used to illuminate their immediate surroundings.

Because lighting a match could ignite flammable underground gases, workers had to light their candles before entering the mine. If their candles blew out, they needed to use another to relight it. Miners who found themselves without light needed to follow the track for the mine cart downhill in the dark to an exit or wait for others to find them.

Rick also showed me how the red steel mine hoist utilized buckets to lower and lift men and rocks up and down between levels of the mine, with operators ringing bells to communicate with each other.

The mines I toured today produced approximately $100,000 in gold before they were shut down in 1965. This feat is especially remarkable because it took approximately one ton of rock to produce a single ounce of gold.

The funny thing is that I walked to the mine this morning hoping to get a little exercise, fresh air, and perhaps a picture of the worksite’s entrance, not realizing tours were even available. What a wonderful surprise. Another great day on the road!