Reynolds Creek Mill

Our curiosity got the best of us, so we set out at 6:30 this morning to take a closer look at the mill we spotted along Reynolds Creek yesterday. Larry & Jean decided to follow a hiking trail leading off into the mountains while we crawled around the old mill ruins. From what we've been able to find after doing some brief research, the mill operated from the late 1800s on and off until the mid 1940s. We were correct in our speculations yesterday, after examining the extensive mine tailings, we were able to determine that Asbestos from the areas vast mining operations was being processed there. Huge mounds of Asbestos tailings were piled alongside Reynolds Creek.
Larry & Jean returned telling us about a wonderful oasis complete with a waterfall that they located about a mile up the trail. They also reported that there were several more mines in that general vicinity. We'll head back there during the Winter months to check it out, once the temperatures are more bearable and the snakes are sound asleep.
We spotted three King Snakes near the creek, they were living under an old tree root. I suppose as far as snakes go, these guys were particularly pretty ones, wearing very vivid colors. They're shy, non venomous snakes, who preferred to crawl back into their tree root that to stick around watching us.

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Asbestos tailings mounded along the creek

Old Asbestos Mill

According to the NY Times, the foundry
that made these mill parts burned to the
ground January 1, 1900

More mill remains

Here's Larry wrangling (annoying) the King Snake

One King Snake, there were two more under the log.

Reynold's Creek Trail

One of the beauties of reaching the so-called golden age is the ability to come home from a Jeep ride, eat a full meal, curl up on the sofa and take a nap, all without the necessity of feeling guilty or explaining to anyone why we're doing so....today was no exception.

We headed out at 7 this morning with Jean & Larry to run a trail up in the Sierra Anchas. The air was crisp, clear and downright cold at that early hour, an invigorating change from the desert heat we've been having lately.

Reynold's Creek Trail is simply beautiful, there's no other way to describe it. The scenery changed as we rounded each curve in the trail. Tall, thick Pine forests gave way to rolling meadows, crowned by rocky cliffs and soaring spires. Deer wander the area at will, grazing the abundant greenery. We saw a few deer, plus evidence of elk and bears. The bear tracks looked fresh and very large, we must have just missed him as he stopped to drink from a puddle in the middle of the trail leaving just his huge paw prints behind.

Everything was blooming, Manzanitas, Locust trees and Pines decorated the landscape. Columbines were in full bloom alongside Reynold's Creek

The trail itself is a nice one, a bit rocky, rutted in places with a few large to mid size boulders thrown in for a challenge. The Jeeps did just fine, taking us where we wanted to go in a reasonably comfortable manner.

This area was once heavily mined, we saw remnants of what appeared to be an old mill built right alongside Reynold's Creek, although we'll have to do further research to determine what was being milled there. Asbestos and Uranium mines dot the hillsides. We'll definitely return to explore the old mill site further.

We came home, ate a great meal and took a 2 hour nap, Ahhh life is good.

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Columbine in bloom

Columbines along the creek

The remains of an old mill

Sweeping views

Big bear paw prints

Locust trees in bloom

Inside the old mine, looking out at Ralph, Jean and Larry

This short tunnel looks like they were digging sample holes. If I had to guess, I'd say they found asbestos.

This is the only old bat we saw in this mine.

Some more wildflowers