The Hunt: A Single Day Snapshot of the Latest Ski3pins Adventure

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

I picked up a copy of the book at the library in Winnemucca.

Some facts from Shamburger's book:

* The reservoir is, in fact the terminus of the pipeline from the White Mountains. It was 80'x90' and ten feet deep, for a capacity of "at least" 450,000 gallons.

* The remains of a structure is adjacent. This was used as an ice house.

* The original water line ran between what is now Pinchot Creek (originally called Pinschower prior to 1942); in later years more water was necessary for increased milling, so a line was run another four miles and tapped nearby Trail Canyon.

* Water reached the reservoir by February 25, 1882.

* In March of that year, crews were digging the ditch for a pipeline from the reservoir to Pickhandle Gulch. From there, water was distributed to several points in Metallic City and Candelaria. A few small reservoirs were built at the larger mines and reduction works.

* A line ran to the railroad yard and a storage tank was built and completed by the end of April, 1882.

* Residents of Candelaria and Metallic City were served by water wagons, making three round trips between the reservoir and town per day.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

And a filled reservoir in 1999? Where did that water come from as the pipeline was gone?

I very curious now.

Maybe a photographic anomaly, or the mining company utilized a temporary waterline to fill the reservoir for their purposes.

According to Shamburger, the pipeline continued to be in use until 1942. Dismantling of the pipeline began between a junction box near Basalt to Candelaria. Afterward, until 1961, there was legal wrangling between the state of Nevada and Esmeralda County. The assets were sold at a tax sale in 1961.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

Kind of sad. Shamburger's book was published in 1978. Many of his own photographs are dated 1975. Both Candelaria and Metallic City contained numerous ruins. Photos of Pickhandle Gulch showed numerous dwellings and mine structures perched high on the slopes of the canyon. Using GE to look closely and move along what was Pickhandle Gulch as if on the ground really gives scale as to the destruction by open pit mining. Along the bottom half, the west side of the canyon has been removed and drops into the open pit. Along the upper half both sides have been removed; only a haul road is left to continue to once was the head of the canyon.

 

[ski3pin]

Thanks for all the continuing research, it is fascinating.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

wow, the story continues to evolve -
we earlier find out that the skipm's do an inordinate amount of sleuthing around in the dark - no lights in their camper, and only red lensed lights getting out and about.
and now we are finding that some (?) of their destinations are controlled by a fellow out by Winnemucca (love that name).
i think i once met julie and monte, but it was daylight, and now i am wondering if i should reconsider who i actually met...
thx mr reconnoiter for shedding light on this travelling duo, and their whereabouts - albeit yesterday...
go

 

[rubberlegs]

We've done several trips with the '3pins (lucky us). They are both amazing explorers! That includes research at home, and much time in the field wandering about discovering all kinds of fascinating places. Some are pretty strenuous places too.

 

[ski3pin]

We like to think we are guided by HI, Historian Intelligence.