Another Jacob City Mine trip

[Derek]

Hey UnderUtah,
Welcome to the site. Its interesting that we meet the maker of those green lines! We were so confused by them, as it was only two weeks before that we had been inside the mine. Good to know that we weren't crazy and just didn't miss them the first time.

I think I might know what your talking about with the access above Hidden Treasure Mine. There were two vertical shafts, both with large amounts of snow, and a high amount of clean air coming out. They are gated fairly well, except we also noticed that one still had a spot where one could crawl in.

Keep making trips up there! You never know what new mine you'll find access to.

The first time I went into the Hidden Treasure mine in 1996 we rappelled down the shaft that is off to the south of the water tank which sits right above the main adit entrance. That was fine and dandy except for the fact that we didn't mark the hidden hole so that we could fine it again on our exit! Luckily for us someone had dug around the boulders the were used to cave in the main adit and we were able to shimmy out that way, boy what a relief that was. I must say that the Hidden Treasure is a very amazing mine and one of the best that I have ever been in. I would love to explore the area at the bottom of the inclined shaft where the tracks practically go straight down. I have been told that this mine connects with the Ophir Hills mine in Ophir canyon. This theory seems very plausible given the fact that when I was in there last someone had used green spray paint and marked the footage on the wall in the inclined shaft and if I remember correctly the painting stopped around the 1700' mark, but the tunnel kept going. And although I have yet to be invited into the Ophir Hills mine by the Ault family I hear that it is very large indeed and goes deep into the mountain in the same direction as the Hidden Treasure.

Ah the green arrow maker!
We had a nice long discussion last time we were in the Crystal Mine about the mysterious green arrows. I had myself convinced that they were there the last time we were in, but then I would change my mind and decide that they had to be new. So finally I know that they truly are fresh.

The access shaft above the hidden treasure is still there and yes they have put a small gate on that squeeze point, but alas I don't think it can really keep anyone out for very long. Drawing from what I have seen in other mines around the state, I believe mines nearby may connect into the hidden treasure at some point allowing for a very nice little journey under the mountain.

(Crystal Mine+Hidden Treasure+Buckhorn=Ohir Hill)
I know the last three do connect in that order, but the missing link may be an upper level of the Crystal Mine.
I hope to someday solve this riddle.

-Mojave

I have yet to go up there with my laptop and check out each individual mine location so you will have to bear with me on this one. Where in relation to the Hidden Treasure is the Crystal Mine and the Buckhorn Mine?

Perhaps I should change my name to the Green Arrow Hopefully you weren't lead astray by the sometimes less than legible markings! The theory about the Crystal Mine connecting to the Hidden Treasure is an interesting one. I am dying to get home from this business trip and head straight to the Historical Society to start researching. I know that the Buckhorn connects to the Hidden Treasure, but I recall that when Josh Dennis was lost in 1989 a volunteer with extensive knowledge of the area (his grandfather was the Hidden Treasure Mine superintendent if I remember the story correctly) had attempted to enter the Hidden Treasure from the Buckhorn but could not pass a roof collapse to make the connection. If I were speculating based on geology I would guess that the Crystal wouldn't connect to the workings on the opposite side of the canyon, but perhaps some of the workings higher-up above, or the two other medium sized mines below (both gated) further down the canyon. Who knows without maps though!

Fellow with the last name of Skinner is the guy you are thinking of although I don't recall his first name. He has/had (I don't know if he is still alive) a very extensive knowledge of the Stockton, Ophir, and Jacob City area and the mines contained therein. He also offered his services to Search and Rescue on the Jeremiah Honorine case, but was not taken seriously by the rescue team and was eventually told to leave. I find that last part very interesting given the fact that he was so much help in the Joshua Dennis case, but with law enforcement sometimes you just never know.

Has anyone checked the condition of the Bauer aka Honerine Tunnel? This tunnel purportedly exits just north of Stockton, near a large area of tailings and mine silt. The tunnel is supposed to connect (and once drained) most the mines in both the Honerine and Jacob City groups.

In 1995 when I was there last the first 200' were in pretty bad shape and we ran out of time and had to turn around. I have always wanted to make another trip there and finish the journey, but have been apprehensive because of the county dump and the Parsons batch plant that sit right next to the site and given the fact that Bauer is private property you never who will call the sheriff on you if you go in the middle of the day.

I just haven't come across anything documenting or suggesting (other than modern online rumblings) that the mines in Jacob City (The Hidden Treasure) drain out of the Honerine Drain Tunnel. In a Minerals Resource publication from around 1910 there is reference to the drain tunnel being an 11,000 foot adit that drained the Honerine and two others and was being enlarged to drain the Galena King. The Hidden Treasure would have been in the Ophir mining district at that time, and the Honerine in the Stockton District. Based on Topo Utah measurements the tunnel would have to be just over 40,000 feet, or over SEVEN MILES straight from Bauer to Jacob City to connect and drain those workings! I am not saying it is impossible, but there are many more economically feasable ways to have drained the mines in Jacob City - a drainage out Dry Canyon at the valley floor level would only require the appropriate shaft depth and a mere 1.75 mile or 9240 feet of drainage tunnel. Why would a drainage from a different district connect seven miles away? If it exists and is documentable, I will certainly believe it, but as it stands, I can only find that the Honerine Drain Tunnel drains mines in the immediate area, nothing two canyons southeast and miles away. Anyone else who can confirm or deny / dispute any of these speculations? I would love to find a seven mile drainage adit; that would rival anything done even in Park City (the Spiro Tunnel was a drainage adit only about 4 miles long if I remember correctly). I will believe it when I am standing in my muck boots at it's portal.

One of the other two mines that the tunnel drains in reported to be the Ben Harrison Mine which is just north of the Honorine Mine.

Ryan

Keep a close eye on the forum for notices about trips we are making. Sometimes we don't even post them until the day we are leaving. All the bigger trips will be posted at minimum a week or two in advance.
For example, the key members of the Mojave Mine Team will be making a preliminary excursion up to ophir to investigate some mines next week. If you contact us via private message we may be able to have you join us.

If it is possible and if it wouldn't be too much trouble would you let me know when you plan on heading up there I would love to meet the group and do some exploring in Ophir. Sorry if I have got a little of myself being that this is only my second post, but I am so excited about this site and finding more people in my area that love mine exploring that I can't help myself.

Derek

[UnderUtah]

Derek

Well, great to have you and your experience on board! The Hidden Treasure really lives up to its name – there is so much to see down there we just haven’t been able to competely probe it’s depths. We have not been to the “bottom” of the incline – the last time we went without any rope and didn’t feel it safe to continue past the section where the slope went from 20 degrees to 30 then what looked like 45! One of our members went down a little and with a powerful flashlight thought that he could see the bottom level-off and continue on. Just means we need another trip… Did you peer down to the bottom of the incline? What do you remember?

All historical references say that the HT connects to the Ophir Hill, but I remember reading that when Skinner was turned away from the Josh Dennis rescue effort on the Stockton road he went into the Ophir Hill to get into the HT but could not pass a collapse.
Other members of the site have been in the Ophir Hill and describe it as the crown jewel of Utah’s abandoned mines – I have not had the opportunity to go in though.

The Crystal mine is jut down the trail down Dry Canyon from the HT. Going down towards the HT, on the last 200 yards before reaching the mine dump there is a split in the trail, the left leads to the HT and the right leads down and snakes around the mine dumps. When the trail splits again, the right hand trail that passes directly in front of the ruins of the old hotel leads to the portal of the Crystal.

The Buckhorn is high on the north west canyon wall in Ophir Canyon. It still has a standing tram house but I have not been there in person.

On the Honerine Drain Tunnel are you saying that you entered the drain adit itself in the ghost town of Bauer? I have visited Bauer but never sought the drain tunnel. Tell me more! I could see the Honerine Drain Tunnel could have drained the Ben Harrison, that makes sense. It is pretty deep and close (just a canyon or two to the north) of the Honerine. The Ben Harrison used to be a pretty sizeable operation – I found some pictures from the historical society of the workings that I want to get online – I also want to juxtapose them against modern day photos of the area showing where the buildings once stood – there were a few large buildings and the enclosed hoist structure – all of which were raised at some point in history leaving only a crumbling hoist foundation and the un-gated open maw of the very deep shaft.

Great to have you on the site and we will be looking forward to you joining up with us and sharing your knowledge!

[Derek]

Derek

Well, great to have you and your experience on board! The Hidden Treasure really lives up to its name – there is so much to see down there we just haven’t been able to competely probe it’s depths. We have not been to the “bottom” of the incline – the last time we went without any rope and didn’t feel it safe to continue past the section where the slope went from 20 degrees to 30 then what looked like 45! One of our members went down a little and with a powerful flashlight thought that he could see the bottom level-off and continue on. Just means we need another trip… Did you peer down to the bottom of the incline? What do you remember?

All historical references say that the HT connects to the Ophir Hill, but I remember reading that when Skinner was turned away from the Josh Dennis rescue effort on the Stockton road he went into the Ophir Hill to get into the HT but could not pass a collapse.
Other members of the site have been in the Ophir Hill and describe it as the crown jewel of Utah’s abandoned mines – I have not had the opportunity to go in though.

The Crystal mine is jut down the trail down Dry Canyon from the HT. Going down towards the HT, on the last 200 yards before reaching the mine dump there is a split in the trail, the left leads to the HT and the right leads down and snakes around the mine dumps. When the trail splits again, the right hand trail that passes directly in front of the ruins of the old hotel leads to the portal of the Crystal.

The Buckhorn is high on the north west canyon wall in Ophir Canyon. It still has a standing tram house but I have not been there in person.

On the Honerine Drain Tunnel are you saying that you entered the drain adit itself in the ghost town of Bauer? I have visited Bauer but never sought the drain tunnel. Tell me more! I could see the Honerine Drain Tunnel could have drained the Ben Harrison, that makes sense. It is pretty deep and close (just a canyon or two to the north) of the Honerine. The Ben Harrison used to be a pretty sizeable operation – I found some pictures from the historical society of the workings that I want to get online – I also want to juxtapose them against modern day photos of the area showing where the buildings once stood – there were a few large buildings and the enclosed hoist structure – all of which were raised at some point in history leaving only a crumbling hoist foundation and the un-gated open maw of the very deep shaft.

Great to have you on the site and we will be looking forward to you joining up with us and sharing your knowledge!

Thanks for the kind words UnderUtah. While at the "bottom" of the HT we did try and step down on one of the ties between the tracks in order to get a better view of what was below, but I don't think we saw as far as you were able to and given that it would only take one misplaced step to really screw up your day we decided that we would come back at a later date with ropes, unfortunately that day never happened in time and now the easy way into the mine is closed. As a side note I don't understand why the state closed that mine the second time around because it is privately owned by the Ault family and in their extended family there are some mining buffs that love to explore the family owned mines.

I know some of the families that grew up in Ophir and all of them that can recall going into that mine said it is absolutely fantastic. This of course only makes me even more jealous since I haven't been in it either. Some of the members on this board are familiar with one_bad_rover aka Corey Shuman of Gold Rush Expeditions. Last year we were given permission by Julie Gilman (part of the Ault family) to explore on their property (which is pretty much the whole south side of the canyon including the Buckhorn Mine and tram terminus) and look for iron pyrite. While there we were suppose to contact the grounds keeper and he was suppose to let us into some of the gated mines including the Ophir Hill mine, but much to our disappointment the keeper was no where to be found and all we could do is sit in front of the mine and feel frozen air blasting out of it. Corey also told me of a story that he heard about and avalanche that occurred in Jacob City back in its heyday and the only way to get people out of there was by way of the HT and Ophir Hills mines.

Does the Crystal Mine have a mini concrete dam in one of the side tunnels? I'm sure that I have been in it since I have been in most of those mines before they were closed off I just don't know the names of most of them, because when I explored them it was in the mid 90's before I had a GPS.

On the Bauer drain tunnel, yes I did enter it in the ghost town of Bauer, but it was in such rough shape and it was late in the night that we turned around before we got too far into it. Given what I know now I would like to go back over there some time and see if the conditions have gotten worse or stayed the same. Maybe we need to take a quick trip down there on a weekend when the batch plant and the city dump are closed and see if we can locate the tunnel.

One of the historical references that I recently read mentions that the Ben Harrison Mine was larger and produced more than the Honorine Mine. Now I don't know if it was talking as a whole or if it producing more only during a certain time frame. I have searched my records and now I can't find the stinky reference on that info. I think I have seen the pictures of the Ben Harrison Mine that you are talking about and it in fact looked like a good sized operation. Have you looked at the Shipler photo collection on the U of U digital library? It is very impressive and has a bunch of old mining pictures.

Derek

[UnderUtah]

Derek

Always happy to hear from others with our collective interests. We certainly stopped short of the bottom of the HT due to the slope – I am dying to get down there and clip-in to one of the huge I hooks bolted into the roof and SRT down further to investigate. Do I smell a trip brewing?

I am sure that the state wanted to reduce liability associated with that infamous (post Josh Dennis) mine and likely did it on their own or forced the owners to close it or assume liability for injuries or deaths. So do the Aults own the HT? Mike, are you following this???

We know / know of Cory and his activites – I wish I had his time to go EVERYWHERE and see everything no matter how obscure. Sorry you never got into the Ophir Hill with them. Neat story about the avalanche – it certainly could be true.

As far as I recall there is no water storage dam inside the Crystal, only saw those in the HT.
Bauer sounds like a good weekend trip one of these days – I would like first-hand knowledge of this somewhat legendary marvel.

I haven’t seen the collection at the U, is it digitized / online? I would love to take a look. I also found reference to underground mine maps within the U’s collection that I would love to examine.

Thanks!

[Derek]

I would definitely be down for a trip into the HT just let me know. As far as I know the Aults still own the mine and it makes sense that they because the road up dry canyon a couple of years ago was mysteriously dug up making it impassable right before the deer hunt. Now no one ever claimed responsibilty for it, but around here it is suspected that it was Leo Ault who is the grandfather to the current generation of Aults that owns all of the land was the one who had the road dug up. Apparently he can get a little funny about his property sometimes and I have heard certain members of the family do not like visitors on their property. Makes me wonder why I was never stopped on my way to the tram terminus and the Buckhorn mine.

Yes Corey is everywhere isn't he.

Here is the link to the digitized part of the Shipler collection and if you are anything like me when it comes to old mining photos, nothing will get done around my house until I have browsed the whole collection.

http://www.lib.utah.edu/spc/photo/p790/P0790.html

[UnderUtah]

Wow thanks for the link! So if the Aults own the HT as well as the Ophir Hill I need to talk to Mike, one of our founding members - he knows some of the Aults and was trying to line-up some permission for the Ophir Hill. I would like to continue exploring under a blanket of permission if at all obtainable. We will have to talk more. I am out of town on business right now, otherwise I would be warming-up my ATV and topping-off the gas for a weekend trip...

When I get some feedback from Mike on the HT and the Ault's permission I will let you know what we can do.

Thanks!

[Mike]

I am following this. Wayne has been out of town logging, but he's back in today. I'll be following up with him and give you a report of what I find. Were hoping for a trip into the mine with one of the Aults on the 19th of August. Were offering to clean up trash both in and around the mine before we start and while we are in there as a thanks for the tour. I think we can all agree to this?

[UnderUtah]

Absolutely - I will offer to do nearly anything to get permission to enter! Thanks for the research Mike!

[Derek]

Ditto on the trash clean up. I'd be willing to do anything to get another shot at that mine. This Wayne you are refering to, is his last name Ault or is he married into the family? If so is he originally from Grantsville?

Derek

[Derek]

Mike,

Disregard my question about Wayne, I found the answer to my question in one of your other posts.

Derek

[Stuart]

Well, quite a good conversation running on here today. Wow, I really consider myself lucky for having been able to so thoroughly explore both the Ophir Hill and Hidden Treasure mines. I cannot even begin to expound upon how amazing they both are and how much I still have left to explore inside of them. Here is an update on the Ault situation: Wayne was not home tonight so Mike and I are currently looking at other options of getting in contact with John Ault, or any other Ault. Sometimes I really wish I was an Ault. I will definitely keep you all posted on our progress. If we can score permission to enter Ophir Hill, our August 19th-20th trip will be absolutely incredible!

I highly recommend everyone submit your RSVP to one of the site admins in the near future. This is NOT a trip you will want to miss!

[Mike]

Did you mean to write something about that Quote there Stu?

Glad you found it. But for those who don't want to search for it, Wayne is not an Ault. He is John's cousin and grew up in Ophir. He is actually my parents next door neighbor. We tried to talk to him today, but he wasn't home when we went by. Next time...

[Derek]

Another person to try would be Julie Gilman who is an Ault, unfortunately I don't have her contact info, but I believe Corey Shuman does. If you tell her your objective and what the group is all about the chances of getting in should be pretty good.

Derek

[Mike]

I believe he does have her info. We once tried to get in contact with her a while back, but with no luck


We are actually meeting with John tomorrow, if all goes as planned.

[Derek]

Sounds good. I need to get through all of the old posts before I post anymore redundant info. I kind of feel like and idiot when I post questions/answers on newer threads only to find that the topic has already been addressed in an older topic. Thanks for the patience.

Derek