Buckley Field Trip Report July 9, 2016
As Mike and I started our drive to Buckley it was raining so hard. I was not a happy camper as I dislike traipsing in the rain. By the time we reached Buckley the rain had stopped and the blue sky was peaking through the clouds and my mood greatly improved. 🙂 The rest of the day the weather was very nice and the forest was beautiful!
Approximately 25 people from the Cascade Mineralogical Society Club, Puyallup Gem & Rock Club, West Seattle Rock Club, plus a few others, turned out for our trip to the abandoned Clipper Mine located north of Carbonado.
We met at Rosie’s IGA Market in Buckley and promptly left at 9 am for the mountain. The mine is located at about 3,800 ft.
We drove through Wilkerson and Carbonado and then stopped at the Carbon River Ranger Station. The flowers were blooming and the river was gorgeous.
We crossed over the Carbon River Bridge and started up a non-maintained rocky rutted road for about 8 miles. We parked along the roadside and then hiked approximately 1/2 miles up a trail with a slight grade. We arrived at the bottom of the tailings pile. The pile as about 120 ft tall with the Clipper mine entrance at the top. If you had a four-wheel drive vehicle or wanted to hike further it was about an 1/8 mile (steep) to the top and the mine entrance.
The younger rock hounder’s scrambled towards the top and scattered over the upper part of the pile. Us older less agile stuck to the bottom 1/3 of the pile. Several people did go into the mine and were able to find some really nice slabs and pieces.
Working the tailings pile.
The entrance to the mine and a look inside.
Finally we gathered up our tools and buckets and prepared to head home. A few of us had to slide down the pile on our tushes, such as moi.
Everyone went home with something. Mike and I found copper, pyrite and tourmaline. I broke open a rock and found small tourmaline crystals inside. This was my find of the day! Maybe once the rocks are cut and polished we will discover other minerals in the pieces.
For some more photos and a history on the mine look at http://www.ghosttownsofwashington.com/clipper-mine.html
I am relatively new to rock hounding and I find it not only fun and interesting but the scenery is always so beautiful!
These flowers were in bloom all around the Carbon River Ranger Station. The green of the plants, trees and moss was so vibrant it almost hurt your eyes. So beautiful!
This waterfall was a long the side of the rocky rutted road as we drove up to the mine.
A good day was had by all!