Desert Queen Mine and Eagle Cliff Mine - 2.4.2018
From the Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree National Park... turn onto the Desert Queen Mine Road and drive 1.3 miles to the shared trailhead for Desert Queen Mine, Pine City and Lucky Boy Loop... we are heading for the mine.
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After hiking a short distance we found this foundation for a two room house.
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Across the canyon from the Desert Queen Mine there is a sign with some of the mine's history.
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Looking across the canyon to the mining area... we found at least 13 mine shafts.
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Looking at one of the mine shafts through the gated entrance.
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Continuing uphill from the canyon wash in search of more mine shafts.
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Gail found one.
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The largest one that we found on the hillside.
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Continuing beyond the Desert Queen Mine in search of the less-visited Eagle Cliff Mine.
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We didn't know it, but the Eagle Cliff Mine and cabin are on the other side of the rocks on the left horizon.
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Working our way through the boulders up to the ridge.
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Looking back at the small basin that we have hiked through... almost on the ridge now.
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This mine shaft was just below the ridge.
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We have hiked over the ridge and are getting close to the Eagle Cliff Mine and the cabin.
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We have found the mine... and the cabin is a stones throw away.
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Gail is standing in the doorway of the cabin.
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Pretty nice digs for the late 1800's and early 1900's.
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The bedroom had a low ceiling... so just don't stand up.
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Gail brews a cup of tea.
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Several steps from the cabin and I found this view.
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I decided to scramble up for a broader view... Queen Mountain in the center of the photo.
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From my viewpoint I'm looking down on the cabin which is hidden behind the clump of trees in the center of the photo.
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Nice rock.
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Looking beyond the three pronged tree to Queen Mountain on the horizon.
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Looking back as we head back to the car.
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Gail returned to the car via the trail while I did a little roaming... here I can see the trail in the distance... so I will scramble down to the wash below... then use it to reconnect with the trail.
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Down in the wash... now just follow it back to the Desert Queen Mine and pick up the trail.
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Found a dam in the wash.
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The wash did present a couple of scramble challenges.
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Looking back at the second scramble challenge in the wash... less than a mile of hiking to get back to the car... the hike was 4.6 miles roundtrip, gaining 985 feet of elevation.
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