Bad Ass Mining - Halloween 2010

Evergreen Cemetary, located at 12th street and Glacier Ave., Juneau, AK.Where some of the most influential figures responsible for shaping Alaska are buried. The primary gravesites I was looking for are those of Richard Harris and Joe Juneau. As I've written in previous posts, these two miners are the "founding fathers" of Juneau.

Joseph Juneau (1836 - 1899)

Joe Juneau was a Canadian miner and prospector and co-founder, with Richard Harris, of Juneau. Along with Harris, his partner, and guided by Chief Kowee, Juneau made Alaska's first major gold discovery around 1880 and helped the city of Juneau (originally named Harrisburg) become the hard rock gold capital of the world. The city, re-named for Joe Juneau, has been the center of government in Alaska since 1906. Juneau continued his travels on to Dawson, Yukon Territory, during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s, and died in Dawson in 1899. His remains were returned to Juneau in 1903.

Richard Tighe Harris (October 31, 1833 – October 11, 1907)

Richard Harris was a Canadian miner and prospector who was born in Dummadonald, County Down, Ireland. However, attended Girard College, a private boarding school in Philadelphia, PA (USA).

He is most famous for co-founding, with Joe Juneau, the city of Juneau, Alaska. The first major gold discovery in Juneau or Douglas Island (across from Juneau) was circa 1880. It has been the political capital of Alaska since 1906.

His Native American guide in southeastern Alaska was Chief Kowee. Kowee is credited with discovering much of the Juneau area. Richard and Joe were sent with Kowee by George Pilz, an entrepreneur from Sitka. Richard and Joe traded with the natives much of their grubstake (rations) for hoochinoo (alcoholic brews). Needless to say, the prospectors accomplished nothing. When they returned to Pilz empty-handed, he promptly sent them back to the Juneau area. There, Kowee took them beyond Gold Creek (which today flows beside the city's United States Federal Building) to Silver Bow Basin. Today, a creek on Douglas Island is named Kowee Creek.

After the discovery of gold in Juneau, Richard and Joe loaded approximately 1,000 pounds of gold ore back to Sitka.

It is interesting to note that the town did not take up its current name right away; originally it was known as Harrisburg, Pilzburg, and Rockwell. Apparently, Joseph Juneau was able to bribe (buy votes from) enough of his fellow miners for it to be changed. Even though the city doesn't carry Harris' name anymore, Harris Street remains in Juneau. Richard lived the rest of his life in Juneau, his children and descendants stayed in Juneau for many years.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gold Creeks Flume Trail

Fourteen years after Thomas Edison invented the incandescent Light, Juneau merchant Willis Thorpe installed a water wheel and an electric generator on the banks of Gold Creek. The year was 1893, and his fledgling power plant soon had a name: Alaska Electric Light and Power Company.

Today, a sophisticated hydroelectric facility now harnasses the power of Gold Creek. The old water flume, however, still remains. The trail that runs along the flume has become a very popular hiking trail.

It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk the entire 3,250 feet of pressure treated lumber that makes up the Flume Trail. The walk is a relatively level one with only 2 obstructions at present. These obstructions are called colluvial (rock) or alluvial (water) driven slides or "fans".

Typically the only wildlife you will see are squirrels or porcupines. Black bear and mountain goats have also been seen near the trail, but I am told it is very rare to see them.

There are many types of trees and foliage along the trail including spruce, hemlock, alder, cottonwood and willow. The devils club is EXTREMELY tall here, so you have to be careful as the thorns embed themselves for weeks and are very irritating.

It is HIGHLY recommended not to go off trail for good reason. Many people have been killed by doing this, and many have been experienced climbers. There are memory plaques along the trail for one of these unfortunate people.

A Little Intermission....

Sorry about the lack of posts lately.... It is not that I haven't been mining as much as haven't been writing about it. At this time, I am waiting for my son Kiegn to join me (September 10th) so that I am not traveling out in the wilds by myself. The mountains here are the most dangerous I have seen anywhere, and can understand why there have been so many accidental deaths. I will be, however, walking a trail today called the Flume Trail, as it is on top of a working flume. For those of you who do not know what a flume is exactly....

A flume is an open artificial water channel, in the form of a gravity chute, that leads water from a diversion dam or weir completely aside a natural flow. Often, the flume is an elevated box structure (typically wood) that follows the natural contours of the land. These have been extensively used in hydraulic mining and working placer deposits for gold, tin and other heavy minerals. They are also used in the transportation of logs in the logging industry, electric power generation and to power various mill operations by the use of a waterwheel.

Last Chance Mining Museum At The Jualpa Mine Camp

Perseverance-Gold-Mining-Company-Mill-Archive-Album-45465

The Last Chance Mining Museum is located in the historic compressor building associated with the former Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company which operated in Juneau from 1912 until 1944. The museum features the world's largest Ingersoll-Rand air compressor and other industrial artifacts associated with hard rock gold mining. The site also includes electric locomotives and rail cars which hauled men to the mine and ore to the mill. Access to the museum is via a short hike up the hill on a trail of uneven terrain-well worth the effort. Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Alaska Gold Rush Properties.

The museum is the only historic mining building officially open to the public from Juneaus gold rush era. There are MANY artifacts throughout this area that are accessible and well worth exploring. When you think you've seen it all, you stumble across more. So make sure you have extra batteries and lots of storage space, because you WILL be taking a lot of pictures.....
 
The museum is open daily, mid-May through late September 9:30am-12:30pm & 3:00pm-6:30pm
The admission is $4, and well worth the price!

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There is even an easy location to try your luck and strike it rich.

First Monthly Gold Giveaway!

CONGRATULATIONS dawnrc123, you won this months gold!!! You have 7 days to supply me, via email, with your mailing info to receive your prize.

Klondike Gold Rush Video

This is a VERY good video that gives a LOT of background to the mining and hardships of the Klondike gold rush. It is based on the book of the same title.

_/'The Klondike Gold Rush'\_
--( CLICK HERE )--

Treadwell Mine Complex

Treadwell Neighborhood

Case and Draper, PCA 39-863

Alaska State Library

The strike at Gold Creek sparked the Juneau gold rush which resulted in the development of many placer and lode mines including the largest, in their time, gold mines in the world: the Treadwell complex of lode mines on Douglas Island (across a narrow sea channel from Juneau) and the AJ lode mine, in Juneau itself. The steep, wet, timber-covered, seaside mountain setting provided water power, transportation, and lumber such that, "extraordinarily low costs of operation make available low grade ore that under conditions only slightly different would be valueless."

The first claims of what was to become the Treadwell complex were staked in 1881. Mining the Treadwell site began by sluicing residual placers over the lode deposits. Underground mining began with a five-stamp mill operating in 1883. In the mid-1910s, with 960 stamps grinding ore and tunnels reaching as far as 2400 feet below the surface and extending under the sea, Treadwell was one of the most technologically advanced mines of its day. Up to 2000 people worked at the mine before a collapse allowed the rising tide to flood the tunnels in 1917. All operations at the Treadwell ceased by 1922.

As the Treadwell mines declined and closed, the AJ mine rose in prominence. After years of losses and labor problems, the mine became profitable in the mid-1920s: with 600 workers it was setting production records. Through the decade, it was the main economic engine of Juneau. In the 1930s, with 1000 workers, it was an important factor in softening the impact upon Juneau of the Great Depression

If you ever get a chance to visit this historical site, you will not be disappointed! The hiking is very mild, and the trails are well groomed. Many of the buildings are still standing as you can see, and you get a real sense of what the original miners felt as they walked through this area.

There is a wonderful website that is dedicated to the Treadwell complex that I highly recommend.

Treadwell Gold

Gold Creek Timeline

The first creek to spotlight is the closest one to me at the moment. Gold Creek. I will be posting all my research as I go and will create a final report on each creek once I have exhausted my resources. Here is the online information I have found in a timeline format.

Gold Creek, Juneau, AK
1870 - The Gastineau Channel area was a fishing ground for native Tlingit and Haida people of Southeast Alaska for thousands of years; Tlingits are the most numerous in Juneau. In 1870, the largest permanent settlement in the Juneau area was Auk Village. What later became Douglas Island was Taku territory. Gold Creek was called Dzantik'i Heeni; Tlingits considered it the "biggest salmon creek of all."

1871 - The saloons, of which in 1871 there were already twenty-two, have increased proportionately, and there are, further, at least one weekly newspaper, one volunteer fire brigade, a militia company and a brass band in Juneau. The curio shops on Front and Seward streets are well worth visiting, and from the top of Seward Street a path leads up to the Auk village, whose people claim the flats at the mouth of Gold Creek.

1872 - The precious metal was originally discovered near Sitka in 1872. Eight years later, the state's first big gold strike made news in Juneau, when two prospectors and their Indian guide collected over 1000 pounds of gold ore in what is now aptly named Gold Creek.

1877 - Outline history of development and description of placer and vein deposits in area less than 200 mi east of Juneau, Alaska; known gold-bearing veins occur in volcanic rocks, in area 3 by 5 mi; some veins are 15 to 100 ft. wide; larger veins contain little pyrite or other sulphide and are not known to contain visible free gold; in 1877, McDame Creek produced nugget worth $1300.00.

1879 - Placer gold was found at the mouth of the creek in 1879 and the " city " was settled in the following year by two prospectors named Joseph Juneau and Richard Harris. The camp was called Harrisburg until it was given its present name of Juneau. The principal gold-mines are situated in the adjacent Silver Bow basin, the source of Gold Creek and the site of the Great Perseverance Mine.

August, 1880 - Pilz grubstaked prospectors Richard Harris and Joseph Juneau in August 1880. They found plenty of color in Gold Creek, but did not follow the gold to its source. At Kowee's urging, Pilz sent the pair back again. Harris and Juneau climbed Snow Slide Gulch at the head of Gold Creek and looked down into the mother lode of Quartz Gulch and Silver Bow Basin.

Oct 4, 1880 - On October 4, 1880, Harris and Juneau laid claim to the area which was later named Gold Creek. The discovery produced one of the largest finds in history of the Alaska Gold Rush era. Juneau is between Mt. Juneau (3576 feet) and Mt. Roberts ( 3819) which provides the town with natural protection against the cold winds and permafrost.

Oct 18, 1880 - The town of Juneau was the first to be founded after the US purchased the territory of Alaska. It was founded October 18, 1880 by Joe Juneau and Richard Harris.


Nov 1880 - When Juneau and Harris came to Sitka with their news concerning Gold creek, Pierre started forth on a similar quest, accompanied by several Indians, one of whom was his wife's brother. They landed on the beach of Douglas island in November 1880 and found gold in the sand. Pierre also found an outcrop of gold- bearing quartz on the hillslope, about a quarter of a mile from the shore.

Dec 1880 - Following the discovery of the rich deposits in Silver Bow basin above modern Juneau, Harris and Juneau returned to Sitka. Pilz returned to the new town site with them. He approved of the work that the men had done and accepted the claims as fairly staked. There were enough miners in the territory to set off a rush to the new site in December 1880.
 
Dec 14, 1881 - The town initially went by two names, Rockwell and Harrisburg, until gold miners voted on December 14, 1881 to rename the town after Joe Juneau, one of its founding prospectors.


1882 - Harris and Juneau named the creek where they found gold, Gold Creek, and they named Silver Bow Basin at the head of the creek. In 1882, the First Alaska salmon canneries were built in central Alaska and first commercial herring fishing began. Two years later Steamers began bringing they first tourists to Alaska.

Juneau Bound

Getting from Glacier City to Juneau requires much planning if you are on foot. You can either fly there, or my favorite, take the Alaska Marine Highway System (AKA the ferry system)

If you are taking the ferry as a walk-on you need to pack very carefully. Anything you are going to need readily accessible should be put into a seperate pack, as you won't want to carry your large pack everywhere.

Many people require a real bed and private room..... However, the ship is FULL of observation rooms and other places to relax or sleep. But if you are like me, you want the REAL adventure and sleep up on deck. There are several covered areas on deck that allow you to stay dry, but still have the benefit of the fresh sea air. While travelling in this bohemic fashion, be aware, there are thieves everywhere. The BEST way of securing your stuff is using their VERY large lockers. The down side to this is that it costs $1 each time you open it (thus the reason you pack a small pack to carry with you) While taking showers, it is VERY important to keep your belongings away from the door and as close to your direct view as possible. There has been many a time when people have lost their wallets because they didn't think about this..... Even when you ARE being very careful, hey, it can still happen to the best of us.

The trip from Whittier to Juneau takes 2 days via ferry, so you are bound to see wildlife like porpoises, whales, seals, orcas.... everything you would expect to see on the ocean in Alaska. Iwanted to get more pictures of wildlife, but all I had was my digital camera and animals rarely stop and pose within range, so they usually end up looking like specks of dust or bushes.

The first half of the trip was cloudy, and it even rained at times, but the second half was beautiful. Not clear, but partly sunny. As we arrived in Juneau, the clouds mostly parted and it became quite warm.... Especially considering I had a pack that weighed 185, and 5 other packs and cases..... wearing my leather jacket.... of course.... I was given a tour of both Juneau and its neighboring town Douglas...... Both are EXTREMELY beautiful!

Hello everyone'today i took a walk behind the creekside Apts in Girdwood Alaska.Just me a walking stick and a gold pan;i could smell bear in the air and besides the sounds of the rushing creek it was realy still and calm out there...even the birds didnt want to chirp or sing' im thinking it was the heavy bear smell in the air and his presence in the forest. i stopped about a qaurter mile down river'then bent down to move a couple of baseball sized rocks scooped a single scoop of dirt out from under where the rocks were in the creek that i had moved beforhand im sittng there working the pan when woe and behold the prettiest gleam caught my eye....thats right that golden gleam we all hope to see and find;staring up at me from my pan a flat squished nugget about the size of a pea.! the name of the creek is california creek located behind the creekside apts in girdwood Ak. I have explored that creek several times and in the past i have only found micro flour gold and specks and tiny flakes....just goes to show ya if thertes gold in the location your in seek and you will find........well thats it for today when i go back and check out california creek again ill put a rating scale on it. Thanks everybody and stay tuned for more discoverys........Lee out

Getting Ready - Day Five

Ahhhhh, there is nothing like waking up to a downpour. I have quite a bit more to get packed up for my Juneau trip, and the rain can't slow me down. 2 more days until I board the ferry for this amazing adventure.

We decided that all videos we shoot will be linked for viewing after I get to Juneau, so make sure to keep checking back. If you enjoy them even half as much as we enjoyed making them you're guaranteed one heck of a good time!

I was hoping to do some digging today, however the creeks are too swollen for it to be enjoyable. I will have plenty of digging to do soon enough!

After considering my options, I decided to stay dry and start the historical researching for the Juneau area. There are actually gold bearing creeks that flow right through the middle of town! I can't ever remember mining within walking distance of a latte...... Apparently there are some haunted areas as well.... This could get even more interesting than I imagined!

Getting Ready - Day Four

After all the events of late, I decided I needed to rest. No drama or new adventures today. I did, however, go to Lee's house to remenise about Little Bit and mining trips past. Most people who had the pleasure of meeting him have their own personal story. He meant alot to many people.

And now, I need to introduce the rest of the Bad Ass Mining crew.

Steve

Lee

Johnny

Shawn

As we go you will learn more about all of us. We're all tough as nails and ALWAYS have new adventures. So stay tuned......

Here's to you boo

Hello fellow miners ...My name is Lee. and if you're like me then you love prospecting..mining ...exploring...and last but not least.... ADVENTURE!!!.For those of you already following Bad Ass mining..I'm sure you have already met Shawn, my good close friend and mining partner ....I will have lots of stories and and adventures to share with our followers in the near future. ....

Today I come to you all with a heavy heart..we lost a member of the family yesterday his name was Little Bit AKA boo or boo bear.He was a big black hairy dog that had his own personality and very loyal to those he loved....the one thing I will allways remember about boo is he was our referee he didn't stand for any rough housing or monkey business lol...believe me, I know from experience...when boo said stop the arguing or rough housing you better do it or get nipped in the butt .....hee hee hee......Heres to you my furry friend, I love you boo and know you'll still be there in spirit watching over the boys and gals and saving our butts from bears and ourselves..RIP Little Bit - July 24th 2010

Getting Ready - Day Three

this was one of the hardest days I have ever been through. The loss of my job and family recently was very hard, but the timing on losing my very best friend and family member was more than I can bear. My first inclination was to not write about this, but I really feel I need to. For those of you who do not know the story of Little Bit or if he held a special place in your heart, This is for you.....

Little Bit first entered my life, when a friend of mine invited me to visit his cabin. He had 12 dogs in a fenced pen. He let them out to introduce them to me, and one of them ran straight over to my truck and jumped in. We figured he just thought he was being let out to go somewhere. I spent a few hours there before I decided to head back home. The dog, Little Bit, was still in the truck. When His owner tried to get him out, Little Bit bit him and he decided to give ownership to me...... even though Little Bit chose me.
At that point in my life I was very much a loner. I lived in the woods inside of a tent for 2 years until I ended up in the hospital. A friend of mine at that time decided enough was enough and demanded I move in with him and his family. Little Bit was not amused and caused me alot of trouble during this period. Shortly thereafter I moved out to the first gold claim where we lived in harmony for a year. Eventually I realized I needed to find a job if for no other reason than to keep my sanity. Shortly after I found a job in Glacier City and began to attempt getting back on on top. Shortly after I got established in Glacier City, I was fortunate enough to get visitation from my son Kiegn (Key-Un) and exposed him to the gold mining tradition.

We decided to do a reasonable hike.... My 2 mining partners and Kiegn and myself....and of course Boo.We had decided to hike the streambed instead of the trail and made it about 1 mile up before we took a rest. Within 5 minutes of our break, my son Kiegn yelled "BEAR!". By the time we all turned to look, one of the biggest grizzly bears we have ever seen was charging across the creek at my son. Little Bit ran down in between them, which was about a 7 foot gap, and got right into the bears face. At about this time, we all noticed a cub about 20 feet from the sow. Immediately Little Bit focussed in on the cub and began chase. The sow, seeing her cub in distress, turned her attention towards the cub and followed through the woods. At that time I, as well as the rest of the team, figured Little Bit was a goner. Within 10 minutes, Little Bit emerged like a conquering hero, which he was! He has saved my life at least 4 times, but this was the most memorable!

RIP Boo Bear, You will be missed greatly! (1997-2010)

Getting Ready - Day Two

Day 2 started off slowly.... But it ended with a feeling of accomplishment. For I traveled the dangerous highway called Seward. It is one of the most treachorous roads in Alaska. Not only traffic accidents and head on collisions, but avalanche hazards like no other in north america...... I was in search of needed supplies, and weighed the risks carefully. No avalanches recently..... That's a relief. Traffic is heavy, but mellow...... Feeling better about this..... Convenience store stocked up on Red Bull..... Check, check and check... Off to Las Anchorage!

Mostly all that was needed were bungee cords.... Lots and lots of bungee cords. These wonderful inventions make packing equipment SO much easier that ropes and straps. All together there is 285 lbs of equipment and supplies. 135 of which is attached to my backpack. This is why we establish base camps in inconspicuous places so we can shed most of this burden.... Makes things less frustrating when dealing with the locals..... like bears.....

Anchorage was packed with busy people like it normally is. Everywhere I went involved waiting in a long line..... Not my favorite activity, but it reminded me why I mine for gold..... No lines.

August 1st is rapidly approaching. I am both excited and nervous about this project, but everything is lining up exactly as planned.

Getting Ready - Day One

Just recently finalized trip plans and proceeded to pull up my tent stakes..... Time to get serious about this.
It just so happened that Steve was heading up to our last dig and offered me a ride. His girlfriend and son were also there. As we rode along the beautiful stretches of the Seward Hwy we discussed what we needed to get done while we were up there..... 40 miles from civilization.....
I needed to pull my sluice box and other equipment from an extremely steep canyon which is about 3/4 mile down...... and, back up... I secured the site camp at the bottom. It was absolutely beautiful. The water level was still flowing over our normal digging spots.

The memories I have of this area are some of the best I have. I've been digging here, along these cliff walls, for almost 7 years. I never really got much gold from this area, but the seclusion and closeness of the canyon walls were very comforting. Granted, the water we work next to happens to be class 2 rapids.... unless it rains, then it gets fun.

I Digress.....

I gathered my equipment, consisting of a large gold pan, small gold pan, classifier, Sluice box and my trusty shovel. The hike up from the bottom of this canyon is VERY vertical... At 5 different points, you need a rope assist to go up or down. This isn't very difficult if you have use of both of your hands.... a luxury that I didn't have.... But I did manage to climb down and back up in just under 90 minutes.

As I caught my breath at the top, I realized I was 15 minutes early for my ride. I swatted bugs away and thought about the new project...... 45 minutes worth of day dreaming went by before I snapped back into reality.... which said.... "You are out in the middle of nowhere, with equipment..... what now?"

I headed towards the upper camp where he had gone..... another 1 1/2 miles.... uphill..... with equipment...

I got to the gate.... locked. I walked around the gate and proceeded to a small campsite close by to drop my gear. I then started walking back up towards the upper camp.... As I approached the powerline trail I yelled..... I heard no response. I then turned around, grabbed my gear, and headed back out to the highway. Fortunately within the first 6 miles I got a ride from a really nice guy who didn't mind discussing gold mining for an hour.

I finally got back to Glacier City not knowing what had happened to Steve.

Apparently.... They had gotten stuck at the top camp, and in freeing the car, it blew the radiator. He had a 4 runner parked up there as well, so they were able to get home safe and sound.... 4 hours after I got back.

This is definately looking to be quite an adventure!

WELCOME!!!

Welcome to Bad Ass Mining! The purpose of this blog is to map gold bearing creeks in Alaska and report what we find. All gold bearing creeks will be categorized and rated on a 10 scale. 1 being no luck, 10 being EUREKA!!!! My goal is to mine every historically proven stream in Alaska. We will begin in Juneau... Alaskas capital, and finish in Nome.

Prepare to see some spectacular pictures and catch gold fever......

The adventure begins August 1, 2010...

Are you ready for it?