| Difficulty: | Number: | Miles: | Altitude: | Obstacles: | Time: |
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| Easy 2 | CR24 | 4.25 | 9,824 to 11,600 ft. | NA | 1-2 hours |
Closure:
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows possible
Accessed:
In the late 1900s and early 1910s, the Kittimac (Kitti Mack) Mines Company struggled with the Kittimac Mine, around one-half mile east of the Caledonia Mine. The Kittimac paralleled the Caledonia, in part because it tapped the same ore system. The Kittimac had extensive underground workings, a mechanized surface plant, and a mill unable to treat the complex payrock. Unlike Fleming, however, the Kittimac company had enough capital to refit its mill under the guidance of an expert. In 1915, James Hyde installed Huff Electrostatic separators to recover zinc and flotation machines to separate other metals. In 1916, after nearly four years puzzling out problems with the ore, the company successfully ran the mill for several months to demonstrate its effectiveness, then leased the entire operation out. The lessee was George A. Beaton, son of James Beaton, who had made a fortune from the Caledonia Mine during the 1880s. George Beaton organized the Kittimac Mining & Milling Company to work the property. P.M. Collins of the American Oil Flotation Company ran the mill and improved the flotation process, and Augustus Malchus oversaw operations. Malchus was also involved with the Mayflower in Arrastra Gulch. The mill did not recover adequate metals and had to be refitted again. Later in 1916, the mill finally functioned as expected, and as an added benefit, miners discovered a rich pay chute underground during 1917. The operation became profitable, but was short-lived as the ore declined in quality. In debt, the Kittimac Mining & Milling Company was unable to meet its payments, causing the Kittimac Mines Company to declare bankruptcy. The Kittimac Mines Company, remained in possession of the mine and spent 1918 operating it to realize some income. To evade creditors, principal Daniel Carey dissolved the company in 1919. He then found new investors, and moved the assets to the Sullivan Mines Company of Wyoming in hopes of resuming production. The property remained quiet for several years. In 1921 Carey interested Pennsylvania investors who organized the San Juan Consolidated Mining & Milling Company to lease and bond the property. They hired a crew of five miners who rehabilitated the surface plant and began driving exploratory workings underground. The nation's economy worsened, and the new firm gave up.
Twitty, Eric Historic Mining Resouces of the San Juan County, Colorado United States Department of the Interior: OMB No.1024-0018, Print.
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Caledonia Mine Boarding House - 1991 photo by: Adam M |
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Caledonia Mine Boarding House - 2000 photo by: Adam M |
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Caledonia Mine Boarding House - 2000 photo by: Adam M |
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About a quarter of a mile from the boarding house you will cross the creek again and then come to an intersection. Taking the left you will climb through thirteen switchbacks. At the tenth switchback you will pass through the Caledonia Mine workings.
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Caledonia Mine building - 1991 photo by: Adam M |
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Caledonia Mine building. Detail of dove tail joint photo by: Adam M |
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At the last switchback there is a spur road to the left that leads to one of the upper Caledonia Mine tailings. There isn't anything there, but you get a nice view of the valley.
After making the last switchback it is a short distance to the Kitti Mack mine.
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Kitti Mack Mine - 1991 photo by: Adam M |
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Kitti Mack Mine building - 1991 photo by: Adam M |
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Kitti Mack Mine building - 2000 photo by: Adam M |
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Back at the intersection by the creek, if you take the right branch the road will continue to follow the main valley of Minnie Creek. The road will go through some small patches of trees as it climbs up the valley. Just after about a mile and a quarter from the intersection you will pass timberline and be at the tailings of the Esmeralda Mine. There is a curve in the road the takes you to the upper tailings of the mine. Also at the curve is a parking area for a spur trail that connects with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.