[Jordan]

Hey folks. Went up to Mineral city last friday. Its been years since I was up last. Tried to find some sign of Mineral city itself, anyone else tried this? I hiked the trail to where the creek comes right throgh mineal city then I walked it down to Silver creek. This is where the city was, right? There is an old road in the woods down by silver creek but that is all I could find that remained. Anyone had any luck finding remains of the old city? Thanks

[Brushbuffalo]

[North Cascades]

When I checked out that old road downstream from the trail in 2014, all I found was young trees growing among old growth stumps. I made a couple of vids while I was there.

There was also a pipe sticking out of one of the stumps.

FWIW, here's a mining cadastral document, showing the location of some of the buildings near the trail.

[Damian]

How were the creek crossings on the way? Any of the old bridges still holding up? Did you pass the old bus?

[Brushbuffalo]

[North Cascades]

Brushbuffalo, the bus is about a 10 minute walk south of the Monte Carlo Cabin.

Lower Silver Creek

[Jordan]

[Jordan]

[Hikesume]

Hey guys! Skip here - owner of the Bus, properties surrounding it, and co-founder of SUME (Straight Up Mining Explorations). Sorry it took me about a year to respond.... been off NWhiker for a while. My brother and I have detected throughout the MC site, and have found several interesting artifacts, but no coins or anything of monetary value (yet). We have also had success on several surrounding mining claim locations. In regards to the trail up through Silver Creek, There have been several major impressive trail updates thanks to our partner Alan (Mineral Center Mining Co). See You On The Trail! -Skip

[Jordan]

I was wondering if anyone else had been through there with a detector. What kind do you have? Ever used it around Goat Lake?

[Hikesume]

We have 2 that we’ve used... the main go-to is my Gold-Master II.... aside from the mineral city area, I’ve also detected near mineral center, New York/Seattle mine workings, gulch lakes, silver lake and twin lakes.... See You On The Trail! -Skip

[Jake]

The town was platted at the forks of Silver Creek, but the town grew up around the present road area. I was up there in circa 1979 not long after they had logged the area. They had pushed a bulldozer road through the old townsite east, toward the creek forks. I walked that cat track and found a number of very nice ornamental coal oil lamps, and lamp bases all broken to pieces, along with other town debris like door knobs and those old black square door locks from that era, Sad to see all that broken artifacts laying there. But they must have had some nice buildings there for here today, gone tomorrow mining camp.

[Hikesume]

Hi Jake! Excellent insight to some of the history there! I just just a wee lad when they logged in the late 70’s... which is shortly before our family drove the bus up to its current location. I have a couple pics of a cabin that claim to be “mineral city” residents, but after further investigation, I believe they are from some years after the abandonment of MC. It’s sad that there isn’t much data regarding such a thriving historical town - very little except what Hodges printed, and then what Woodhouse paraphrased later. I have several historical hand drawn maps showing potential treasure/cabin site locations. Some we have investigated, and some are future adventures! See You On The Trail! -Skip

[Jake]

Hello Skip. If the pictures you mentioned are the ones I'm thinking of, they are from the 30s or 40s. There's a sign in the picture saying Mineral City. The only known picture of the original Mineral City is the one we have in DWHN volume I of one of the hotels. It was taken by Josiah Spurr in 1900. I don't know if you are aware of it or not, but your bus isn't the only bus up there. There is a bus some 1950's- 60s miners used for a bunkhouse at the mouth of Red Gulch, just north of the townsite. There's an old bulldozer up there too. There is a story in an old GOLD magazine, published around November, 1965 about their mining operation and a cock and bull story about a lost mine up there once located by Shakey Bill.

[Hikesume]

Hey Jake! You are exactly right on the two photos! Although I thought the one on the NWUEV1 book was of Galena and mislabeled as Mineral City? I could be wrong if you have some updated historical documents referencing otherwise..? If so, please share!! And yes to the bus and bulldozer too! I’ve seen them both on several occasions (on the far side of red Gulch - towards the base) on my way up to the top of Red Gulch! Awesome that you know about these too! The Small Bus is completely squished now, but the bulldozer is still mostly in tack. After scaling up the tough terrain of Red Gulch, you finally get to a cliff face. There’s a metal cable that ran down one spot that we used to scale up to the top - which goes to an old cabin site foundation, the remains of a collapsed adit, and, most interestingly, a fascinating natural structure causing the headwaters of Red Gulch (truly a sight to see). The cable since has become dislodged, but last time I was up, I managed to scramble up the cliff side and tie it off again. Anyway! Awesome to hear from someone who has some knowledge of the area up there! Our group, SUME (Straight Up Mining Exploration) is a close-knit group of like minded individuals dedicated to the preservation of Mineral City and the Silver Creek areas. Let me know if you have any questions or topics to discuss about the area! See You On The Trail! -Skip