The Big Trip (Part 3)

SILVERTON, COLORADO (Old Hundred Gold Mine)

The hills are alive with the sound of .... GOLD!

After camping in Durango we drove up through the mountains to a little mining town called Silverton. I kept thinking of the Sound of Music while we were there-- it was GORGEOUS!!



We all climbed into an old rail car and went into the mountain about a half-mile. Our guide was a funny old miner with lots of jokes and stories about working in the mines.

Heading into the mine........... There was lots of water dripping down on us as we entered. It was a chilly 46 degrees!

Showing us how they split the rocks to find a vein of gold.


Caleb got to be his helper.


The boys were fascinated with all the details about mining life.


I don't remember what this machine did specifically, but it was LOUD!!









Anne wasn't quite sure what to think of that big dark place, but she was happy as usual. She turned 15 months on our trip and is still learning to walk.





PANNING FOR GOLD


Just outside the entrance of the mine there was a trough where we panned for gold. The boys had fun finding little bits and pieces of who knows what!?


The water in the trough was FREEZING COLD!!


I didn't have the heart the tell them that this sand probably came from Home Depot and they'd never find any gold..... they sure thought it was cool!


Caleb is an official "gold-digger"!! You can see how serious he was! He would have stayed there all day hunting for chunks of gold. After an hour and not much luck, he and Luke went into the little gift shop and bought a tiny glass jar of gold shavings for $5.

Even Anne got into the gold action. She was digging for gold in the dirt! :)