Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine - California
Explor Date: January 15 of 2015
The best laid plans are often subject to the weather. I had planned on hiking the one-mile loop trail to Heart Lake in Mammoth, and also to wander around the remaining buildings of the Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine which are right near by. It snowed the day prior to my arrival, but I was still able to make it to the Coldwater campground parking lot which also served as the trailhead to both of the places I wanted to visit. Fortunately, the old buildings from the mining camp are located quite close to the parking area, so I was able to visit those without too much difficulty. And while I did attempt the trail to the lake, the snow on the ground effectively hid the trail (and it was cold!); that hike will have to wait for another day.
Gold was actually discovered here in 1878 and the area had a mini gold rush for several years. At one time, the population of the region was estimated at several thousand, the principal mining camps being Pine City, Mill City and Mammoth City.
The origins of the Mammoth Consolidated date back to 1927, when A.G. Mahan Sr, his son Arch and several other partners purchased various claims on the side of Red Mountain, and called themselves the Mammoth Consolidated Mining Company. An early assay estimated about six-tenths of an ounce of gold and one-fifth of an our of silver per ton of rock. That doesn’t sound all that promising to me, but the investors and owners thought they could make a go of it. The company lasted a few years before it shut down.
Years later, after others had leased the claims and tried their luck without success, the Mahan family donated the land and the remaining buildings to the town of Mammoth Lakes. Which means we get a beautiful, historic place to visit and explore.
Making my way through the fresh snow, I set out to see what I could find and picture.
The Superintendent’s Home.
The Superintendent’s Home - Frontal
The Mahan Cabin
The Mahan Cabin - Front Porch. I guess when winter can sometimes drop 20+ feet of snow, it’s amazing that there are buildings left here to see.
Some of the old machinery used at the mine. There’s probably more scattered about the area that would be easier to find without the snow.
The Assay Office. I wonder if there’s anything left inside these buildings from their working days.
Two of the four bunkhouses that sheltered the crew. During the busy times, up to a dozen men lived here at the mine.
After wandering around the buildings for a while, I decided to set out and see if I could find Hart Lake. With the snow, the trail was a bit tricky to follow.
After about an hour hiking into the mountains, I figured that I had probably missed a turn somewhere, so I headed back without seeing the lake.
A dug-out shelter on the side of a hill.
Inside the shelter. It looks like it might have been used for storage, but could also have been a place to spend the night.
I was a bit disappointed to not find Hart Lake, but I was rewarded with some beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. And whenever I don’t find something I was looking for, that’s always a great reason for a return trip. Perhaps when it’s a bit warmer and the trail easier to see.
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