AF Canyon

[Stuart]

As a few of you know the BLM has done a pretty thorough job of collapsing/sealing off most of the entrances to almost all of the mines in American Fork Canyon
with the exception of a few that are on private property. Being well aware of this fact for many years I was suprised when a friend called me yesterday to inform me
that his brother discovered a mine far up the canyon that is still accessible. He described the mine as being in fair condition with alot of shafts. We are planning on gathering
enough climbing equipment to descend into the lower levels. If anyone is interested let me know.

-Mojave

[Rustler]

There are one or two openings in fair shape up in AF Canyon on the north side high up in Mary Ellen Gulch. One is the Globe Mine (an entrance found just before the "Old Cabin" or "Hilton" is bad shape for the first 50 yards into the adit) and the second is the Silver Bell Mine, which is most difficult to access (e.g, at 10,200+ feet, past formidable snow fields, rough 4x4 trails, and various small to huge rock slides) but the entry is in much better shape than the Globe Mine. There is also the Yankee Mine, which is alleged to have an entrance somewhere and is massive inside, but I have yet to find said elusive entrance; all the main adits are blown.

Of note, an individual screenamed cruiseroutfit over at www.rockymountainextreme.com is the current expert on AF mining. He is writing a book on the canyon and its mines. He has probably been in touch with more owners and inside more AF mines than any living soul in the area today. If you need more information, I suggest you contact him.

[ExpUt]

Rustler, thanks for the kind words.

I have spent a considerable amount of time in the American Fork Canyon area, primarily researching the mines combined with my general love for the entire canyon.

I was able to obtain resource documents on all of the American Fork Canyon mines prior to their closures in the mid-90's. Documentation included maps, photos, site descriptions pre-closure, recommended closure techniques, etc. In addition I have collected a handful of turn of the centure mine working maps of the bigger mines in the canyon (Yankee, Pacific, etc). Through this we have attempted to relocate additional entrances to several of the bigger workings.

Sadly restoration and preservation wasn't on the mines of the Forest Service for the AF Canyon area... though I have a document produced by a Forest Service employee in the 70's stating his recommended preservation and interpretive sites for the canyon at the time. Also included were oral histories of a handful of miners that spent time in the canyon. Despite all his cautions and urgings, the FS continued to let them fall into disrepair, and even destroying some of the historic features and buildings with their own hands into the 90's. Sadly much is lost for good.

I am working on a book on AFC, primarily on the mining and historical interests, but will cover other aspects as well. If any of you have contacts, information, maps, etc I would love to get my hands on it. Thanks!

[Mike]

The owner of the prospector shop in Orem has a few things to say about AF canyon. He seems to know the area and history quite well. Stu and I used to dig around in the tailing of the Pacific Mine, which had quite a high amount of iron pyrite. We ended up getting some pretty heavy lead and tin exposure breathing in all the dust, but it was well worth it.

[ExpUt]

The owner of the prospector shop in Orem has a few things to say about AF canyon. He seems to know the area and history quite well. Stu and I used to dig around in the tailing of the Pacific Mine, which had quite a high amount of iron pyrite. We ended up getting some pretty heavy lead and tin exposure breathing in all the dust, but it was well worth it.

Excellent, do you by chance have any contact info for the gentleman? I wasn't aware that there was a prospecting shop in Orem... good to know!

The Pacific Tailings are now 100% capped, the last rendition of their reclamation finishing last year with special "help" from Trout Unlimited.

[hondadrift]

The name of the store is Prospector Supply. Its on 400 N Orem. Thats great that youre writing a book o
n AFC! Its about time we had a story about our backyard. Any suggestions on the best place to set up a dredge or sluice box up there?
Chris

[Stuart]

AF

Yeah the ol' Pacific doesn't look anything like it used too When you finish your book let us know and we will do our best to get the word out there. I know I will be first in line to buy a copy!

Sadly restoration and preservation wasn't on the mines of the Forest Service for the AF Canyon area... though I have a document produced by a Forest Service employee in the 70's stating his recommended preservation and interpretive sites for the canyon at the time. Also included were oral histories of a handful of miners that spent time in the canyon. Despite all his cautions and urgings, the FS continued to let them fall into disrepair, and even destroying some of the historic features and buildings with their own hands into the 90's. Sadly much is lost for good.

The forest service has absolutely no use for mines or mining history, they are almost as bad as the OGM guys.

[ExpUt]

Re: AF

Yeah the ol' Pacific doesn't look anything like it used too When you finish your book let us know and we will do our best to get the word out there. I know I will be first in line to buy a copy!

Sadly restoration and preservation wasn't on the mines of the Forest Service for the AF Canyon area... though I have a document produced by a Forest Service employee in the 70's stating his recommended preservation and interpretive sites for the canyon at the time. Also included were oral histories of a handful of miners that spent time in the canyon. Despite all his cautions and urgings, the FS continued to let them fall into disrepair, and even destroying some of the historic features and buildings with their own hands into the 90's. Sadly much is lost for good.

The forest service has absolutely no use for mines or mining history, they are almost as bad as the OGM guys.

In addition to the capping of all mines in the canyon, the Pacific Mine, Dutchman Mine, Bay State Mines and Bog Mines all underwent extensive reclamation, ie burying tailings and obliterating nearly all remains of a mine site. Additionally Snowbird did a number on the Mineral Basin mine sites when they built their new road and lift in the late 90's. To boot there is even more talk of continued "reclamation", the Live Yankee Mine site is privately owned, likely by Snowbird, I'm sure they would love nothing more to have a lift from their Miller Hill into Mary Ellen Gulch, with zero mine tailings in the way.

[Stuart]

AF canyon really is a war zone with the ski resort, forest service, drunk public, and trout officianados all converging on one of the most legendary and influential canyons on the Wasatch front. The mining history has been dumped on and plowed over for the last ten years at a rate that is simply astounding. Can we do anything to stop the Live Yankee and its tailings from being destroyed? There has been quite a bit of buzz lately about nominating mine dumps to the National Register. I wonder if this would be a good site to try this out on. Kurt, I have been told that you are the authority on AF canyon, do you think the Live Yankee mine dumps contribute to the "historical landscape" of the canyon?

[ExpUt]

AF canyon really is a war zone with the ski resort, forest service, drunk public, and trout officianados all converging on one of the most legendary and influential canyons on the Wasatch front. The mining history has been dumped on and plowed over for the last ten years at a rate that is simply astounding. Can we do anything to stop the Live Yankee and its tailings from being destroyed? There has been quite a bit of buzz lately about nominating mine dumps to the National Register. I wonder if this would be a good site to try this out on. Kurt, I have been told that you are the authority on AF canyon, do you think the Live Yankee mine dumps contribute to the "historical landscape" of the canyon?

Yes, but don't take my word for it... here is an excerpt of a report written by the Forest Service historian:

"We feel that the site is eligible for NRHP. It was one of the largest producers in the District, and the center of considerable mining activity for several decades. It contains numerous structures relating to mining technology as well as the day to day lives of the people who worked in the canyon. The site has the potential to yield additional historical information about the mining life as well production and transportation technologies in the American Fork Mining District."

Sadly much has been destroyed even in the 14 years since this report was written.

[Stuart]

Wow, that just goes to show how one part of an organization can speak of preservation while the other part goes on a destruction spree. I will do some investigating and find out how we can nominate the site for NRHP. If you have any more information about the Live Yankee feel free to create a new topic on it and we will try and get some momentum up for protecting it.

[ExpUt]

I've been in contact this week with both the Forest Service and the private land owner (Live Yankee and Globe Mines) as well as the Trout Unlimited personelle that has led the charge on the American Fork Canyon mine cleanups (Pacific and Dutchman). They were all very helpful and the land owner and the TU gentleman both spent some time detailing the plans they have for the reclamation at Live Yankee.

They are planning on re-routing some drain water away from the existing tailings pile to prevent the heavy metal contamination that is currently happening. Its my belief that the tunnel they intend to divert is completely flooded, they think the same. I'm not sure what their proposed plan is for diverting, could be a simple pipe under the road or could be a major project? They plan to start one week from today and be in the canyon working for 4-5 days utilizing a small crew and a mini-track hoe.

Its likely I'll try and stop by at least one of the days to monitor their project. While it would be extremely cool if they planned to drain the tunnel completely, I doubt that is the case. The Live Yankee was a rather large working, with separation of levels in the 300 ft range or more. Would be neat if they did drain it, to my knowledge its been closed for at least 15 years and could be even more like 30. I'll update as I get more info.

[Stuart]

Live Yankee

They are planning on re-routing some drain water away from the existing tailings pond to prevent the heavy metal contamination that is currently happening. Its my belief that the tunnel they intend to divert is completely flooded, they think the same. I'm not sure what their proposed plan is for diverting, could be a simple pipe under the road or could be a major project? They plan to start one week from today and be in the canyon working for 4-5 days utilizing a small crew and a mini-track hoe.

Sounds like this project may not be as harmful as I first believed it to be. I think it is a good idea to keep an eye on their project and make sure things don't get out of hand. If they do, let us know and we may be able to throw a couple wrenches in their progress It would be awesome if they drained the mine! Keep us posted Kurt!

[ExpUt]

Re: Live Yankee

...Sounds like this project may not be as harmful as I first believed it to be. I think it is a good idea to keep an eye on their project and make sure things don't get out of hand. If they do, let us know and we may be able to throw a couple wrenches in their progress It would be awesome if they drained the mine! Keep us posted Kurt!

Agreed, it could have been worse... we'll have to see. I'm also guessing they re-backfill the actual mine opening just a dozen or so yards from the mine they are draining. Who knows?

[Stuart]

I bet they will, especially if the land owner is involved. Unless he also enjoys exploring it..