American Girl Mine

Cocopah RV Resort
February 11, 2014
Yuma, AZ

Driving west (about 8 miles past Yuma) on Interstate 8, you can see off to the right a small group of mountains that appear dark brown. Ronnie and Carol had a plan...and that was our destination.

These mountains are known as the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. Mexican miners worked the area for decades before Americans entered the district in the mid 1800s. Cargo Muchacho, or Loaded Boys, received its name when two young Mexican boys entered camp with their shirts loaded with gold. 

Years later, the discovery of gold in the Cargo Muchacho Mining District is credited to a mule that strayed while members of a California bound wagon train were camped near the mountains in 1862. When the mule was found, a sharp-eyed man picked up a nugget on the spot.

 Originally named Gold Rock Camp, then Hedges, and finally Tumco...the area is one of the oldest gold mining areas in California. Its history spans 300 years with several periods of boom and bust.

The completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Yuma to Los Angeles in 1877 allowed access to the gold which led to a gold rush in the area.

 Individual mining claims soon gave way to mining companies that purchased claims and developed the mines on a large scale.

 During the boom of the 1890s, mines produced $1,000 a day in gold. Ultimately over 200,000 ounces were taken from the mines in the area.

 Historical accounts describe Tumco as a typical raucous mining town that fell into financial ruin and by 1907 it was a ghost town.

 One of the most important mines back in the day was American Girl Mine. And as it turns out, it also has the most recent history.

When the price of gold soared to $1600 per ounce in the 1990s, gold was once again mined from 1989 to 1995.
No longer did they tunnel down 1,000 feet for it, they just removed chunks of the mountain, crushed the ore, and recovered the gold.

Today, American Girl Gold Mine is for sale. It can be bought at $400 an acre.

So, did we find gold on our adventure in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains? Not exactly...

...we didn't head back to "camp" with shirts loaded with the precious ore.

...instead, we had loads of dust...in our hair, up our noses, in our pockets,  in our shoes and yes, maybe in our shorts!

We also brought back to "camp" loads of memories...a day full of tons of fun and laughs!

 Thanks Ronnie and Carol...a special day with special friends!

 

 

Until next time...

West Wetlands Park

Cocopah RV Rresort
Yuma, AZ
February 9, 2014

West Wetlands Park is a public park located on the northwest edge of Yuma. It is located along the Colorado River within the Yuma Crossing Heritage Area.



According to
Wikipedia...it opened in 2002 on 110 acres of city-owned land. It is maintained by the City of Yuma Parks and Rec Dept.

 It was interesting to learn that from 1910 to 1989, this area was a landfill. After the landfill closed, Yuma citizens took an interest in converting the hazardous and unsightly area into a riverfront park. Arizona State Parks worked with the city to develop a plan, but a lack of funds stalled the project.

The EPA determined that covering the whole site with 6 to 8 feet of clean fill was required to reuse...at a cost of $10 million. Over a three year period, with many grants and volunteers, the master plan was completed. Since that time, volunteers have planted over 450 trees, a pond was added, a butterfly and hummingbird garden planted and a Burrowing Owl habitat established.

Did you know that burrowing owls are not able to dig their own burrows so 20 artificial burrows (made from PVC pipe protruding from the ground) are nestled among large sage bushes.

 Unlike most owls, they are active during the day. I was disappointed we didn't see an owl...and I hope to go back before we leave.

We did see several hummingbirds, but they were too far away and too fast for me to get a picture.

We ended up walking about 2.5 miles...it was nice just to be outside and the warm sun felt so good. The trail we took followed the river.

 As far as a wetland goes, I was disappointed. There were no marshes...no places where the soil was really wet. I did read a wetland is an area of land whose soil has high water content either permanently or seasonally. Maybe its the wrong season?

The birds were singing, the trail and park were clean, and we enjoyed our morning walk...

Everyday, we have a wonderful time at the pet park...Jack is one Happy Jack!



Can you tell?

Happy Valentine's Day...