Jeremy and Aguereberry Camp Death Valley National Park CaliforniaJeremy and Aguereberry Camp
After we’d explored the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns and started back Emigrant Canyon Road we ventured onto a side road of two gravel miles to explore Aguereberry Camp and Eureka Mine.
Aguereberry Camp Death Valley National Park CaliforniaAguereberry Camp
Shorty Harris and Pete Aguereberry discovered gold in Providence Ridge in 1905.  During a short lived gold boom the tent town of Harrisburg sprung up on the neighboring flats, all gone now except the surrounding hills still bear the scars of dozens of mines.  Aguereberry worked the Eureka Mine claim for 40 years until his death in 1945.
Aguereberry Camp Death Valley National Park CaliforniaWe peaked inside the vandalized buildings not trusting to walk on the dry rotted floor boards to see the remains of Aguereberry’s home now filled with pack rat nests.
Buick Roadmaster Aguereberry Camp Death Valley National Park CaliforniaBuick Roadmaster, maybe 1940s
I just love to find an old abandoned car or house and ponder its story.  I figure this Roadmaster belonged to the banker from Skidoo (one of only two profitable gold mining towns in Death Valley) and his wife drove it the 10 dusty miles to visit Aguereberry who she…
Piece of Skidoo pipeline Death Valley National Park CaliforniaWater pipe
Skidoo had everything including telephone and stage services but water had to be piped 23 miles from Telescope Peak.  And thus the popular slang expression “twenty-three skidoo,” which meant scram or get lost. (SIC I know, and some won’t get it, but….)
Jeremy heading uphill to Eureka mine Death Valley National Park CaliforniaJeremy going up to the mine
As we wandered towards the old car we noticed the rusty evidence of the mine operation on the hillside.
Mine entrance Eureka mine Death Valley National Park CaliforniaMine entrance
I let Jeremy go first to clear the spider webs but neither of us planned to go far without flashlights into this well posted potentially dangerous yet totally exciting hole into the earth.
Looking out of mine entrance Eureka mine Death Valley National Park CaliforniaLooking out mine entrance
There was some old rusty stuff inside and on the hillside a large airshaft covered with heavy metal mesh to keep people from falling in.
Mill ruin Eureka mine Death Valley National Park CaliforniaMill ruin
We continued to explore around the top of Providence Ridge until directly above Aguereberry Camp, where I took the second image, then returned to the car and headed back to our camp planning the next day’s journey in Death Valley National Park.
Waxing moon Death Valley National Park CaliforniaWaxing moon and last evening light