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[DirtyDog]

All that is left of Aurora is a cemetery and a modern open-pit mine.


Old roasting oven:

[DirtyDog]

The goal for the next day was to visit a couple remote mining towns I have not been to: Silver Peak and Gold Point. Unfortunately the out-of-the-way drive to Silver Peak ended up being a disappointment as there weren't many historical buildings left in the town and it really wasn't worth the trip. We had a quick stop in Goldfield on our way south:


And finally Gold Point:

[DirtyDog]

Gold Point had an active bar that is not a bar:




So this bar doesn't have a liquor license and drinks are served on a strict by donation only basis. Pretty neat place we had a good time here

[DirtyDog]

Based on a recommendation from the bar owner, we headed into the mountains west of Gold Point:


Since Marc likes to make fun of my fire-building skills, I repaid the favor by buying him a shot glass with his name on it:


Marc breaking in the Nancy glass:

[DirtyDog]

We were out here to look for this old cabin based on the story by the bar owner in Gold Point. Dick reminded me some of the details - apparently this cabin was owned by the actress Marie Dressler who starred as Tugboat Annie. She died in 1934.

[DirtyDog]

The Marie Dressler outhouse......... hey get out of my shot Marc! Geesh!


Lets try this again. I present the........ Dick darn it! Everyone is a comedian!

[DirtyDog]

We had been in Tule Canyon going through these mountains and just as that dirt road rejoins highway 266 there is an old stamp mill here at Pigeon Springs:


Lone grave at Pigeon Springs:

[DirtyDog]

Well these guys were finally worn out keeping up with this young buck and they headed back to cali. I had a couple more stops to hit on the way home so its a solo mission now! Drove through Manhattan to get to Belmont, one of Nevada's most charming old mining towns (I said charming with a really manly voice so its all good).





If there was ever a more perfect retirement business for Dick, my name isn't Dirty Dog (its for sale):

[DirtyDog]

Just up the hill from Belmont are the ruins of the spectacular Combination Mill:




1872:

[DirtyDog]

Next: Pine Creek Campground and Mount Jefferson Trail. The campground is really a nice spot - oasis in the desert and the trail starts right from the campground:


The Mount Jefferson trail climbs to almost 12,000 feet over about 6 miles. View from the top - Round Mountain mine in the distance:


Herd of antelope at the top:


Despite the high temps I made it out of the wilderness alive, but exhausted. I'd been in the desert for a week in some of the hottest conditions I have experienced and I was DIRTY! That night I broke down and got a hotel in Winnemucca and had the most satisfying shower of my life.

Great times again guys. Thanks a lot to everyone that showed up!