Red Mountain

13-Dec-80

By: Fred Camphausen

This one-day outing was planned to let us explore the Rand mining district in the vein of its geographical, historical, and culinary values. Ten of us started out on this adventure at 7 AM Saturday in front of the Silver Dollar Saloon in the town of Red Mountain. We then drove a short distance to the dirt road-end at 3750 ft elev. at the boundary between Sections 32 and, 5 shown on the Randsburg topo sheet, and then climbed Red Mtn (5270 ft) via P4752 and the interconnecting ridge. A resident of the area was with us to interpret nearby points of interest. We then returned to the vehicles and drove into the Stringer District 2 mi S of Randsburg to examine a former gold working located within the Sunshine Group.

After having lunch at the tidy little "76 Cafe" in Johannesburg (don't miss a side order of homemade fries) we searched by vehicle for the Steam Well located at the S end of the Lava Mts NE of Joburg. We missed the turnoff and returned to "Mtn Wells", where the principal attraction is now the rusted body of a 1940 Plymouth sedan. Back in Joburg we visited the small workshop where hand-carved furniture and very nice stained glass items are made. Then we toured Randsburg like ordinary tourists, taking in the museum, antique stores, and "Two-Finger Jack's". We had ice cream at the old soda fountain in the General Store. In this manner all our resolve to climb Fremont Peak melted away and we disbanded in mid-afternoon to our respective homes and our preparations for the Holiday season.

Participants on this easy lay-back type trip were: "Ski", Kent DesJardien, Rose Certini, Howard Derrickson, Delores Holladay, Bob and Marta Hethmon, and Marlin Clark.