Nelson, NV. - Camped at a 150 Year Old Mine

Invited on to private property to camp here among the ruins of ore chutes, ore bins, water tanks, and the giant old wooden vats, stirred at one time by belts driven by a massive steam engine. These old vats were used with cyanide to separate the gold, silver, and electrum from the pulverized rock. The talc like remains of the old high grade ore still sits in the dilapidated tanks, petrified in place.

The violent geologic history of this canyon is evident in the volcanic plugs jutting from the landscape, the cones long gone, taken by unimaginable forces over eons.

There were opportunities to explore inside the old mine. Evidence of old miners candles still drpping down the walls gives one indication of preservation and a deep respect for the men who worked deep under this mountain most of their short lives.