SAMPLE FOR BOOKS   MINES of the ALPINE LOOP   I  II  III

Mines of the Alpine Loop Volumes I, II, and III are a series of books to aid travelers, explorers, and history enthusiasts to mine, mill and ghost town sites in the San Juan mountains of Colorado. The three volumes contain information about over 400 interesting sites, most of which are abandoned mines and mills. The volumes also help the reader to identify the minerals and ores commonly mined in the area and explain the processes for extracting and milling these ores. The volumes also include short stories of historical events such as the story of the “Colorado Cannibal” and the tale of the “Lost Swede Mine” .

The volumes include maps and (GPS) longitude and latitude for each site. Volumes I and II include directions for driving or hiking accessibility. Pictures and underground diagrams are included for many of the mines, and each listing has a description of the known production for the mine.

Volume I covers the area from lake City, passing by three ghost towns before reaching the top of Engineer Pass and on to Mineral Point and Animas Forks, then back over Cinnamon Pass through four ghost towns and back to Lake City. The book contains over a hundred sites along this route.

Volume II includes all the gulches and valleys in the Animas River watershed from Animas Forks to Silverton and then from Silverton to Gladstone along Cement creek and its tributaries. Then over California Pass and down Poughkeepsie Gulch and California Gulch. Volume II contains more than one hundred seventy-two sites.

Volume III lists one hundred thirty-seven sites between Silverton and Ouray along the famous Million Dollar Highway. This includes the gulches and valleys on each side of the highway and to the top of Corkscrew pass. There are short stories about the ghost towns along the route and a short history of the railroad which includes the famous corkscrew turntable.

Another book that may be of interest to those exploring the Lake City area is “Carson Camp.” Carson Camp is a history of the people and mines of Carson Mining camp in Hinsdale County Colorado. Carson Camp is referred to as Carson Ghost town. It thrived with silver and gold from 1882 until after the turn of the century. It is one of the best preserved and best kept secrets, accessible only by trail or four-wheel drive, straddling the continental divide. This is a little-known story of how the Carson Mining District came to be and the hard rock miners that made it happen. Told from maps, stories, photographs, and old news clippings.

Mines of the Alpine Loop I  II  III are available at local book stores and on-line book stores.