Gleeson mines

David and Karen hosted a hike around Gleeson hill, a network of mines that now dot the treeless hills in the region.    Lead and silver were mined here late in the 19th century.  The land is still owned by the mining company, but hikers are allowed to walk the old paths if they are with landowners in the area.  They can not go into the mines.

It was a mild day, with whispy clouds overhead.  I took Zeke, who followed me closely from the start of this hike, even when we passed a few grazing cows.  David, Karen, Rod, SteveS, SteveA, JimA, Paul showed up.  We followed Karen around Mount Gleeson, down a sandy wash, before turning south on an old railroad bed that was still visible despite the overgrowth.  This old railroad went between two hills, from which other paths intersected.  At one point this was a very busy mining complex, with paths going in all directions.  Now catclaw, prickly pear and cholla dominate the hillsides, but the old road grades are still visible when one looks closely at the hills.


The hike itself wasn't very scenic, but one could see how once this area was all about mining.  This was more of a historic walk, imagining what this area was like when the mines were at their busiest early in the 20th century. Low-lying fog toward the eastern Chiricahuas still floated over the ground in the distance.  It never got too hot today, but I watched Zeke to make sure he was hydrated.  Jim, both Steves and Rod split early from the group to explore the northern mines while the rest of the group stayed with Karen as we slowly moved around the hill.  When we got to the southern section of the big hill and saw all the old mines come to view, even I sped up to use that extra time to explore the large mine that's visible from Gleeson road.


There were other people exploring some of these south-facing mines, decked out with lamps and hammers.  They came down from Phoenix and were telling me they were allowed to be inside the mine, moving around in the dark as the headlamps revealed colorful minerals in the walls of the mine.


I walked around the outside of the old mines, hoping to meet up with the rest of the group.  The vanguard returned but said they didn't find the "Mystery Mine," the one that allegedly tunnels its way through the hill.  When we all gathered up again, we drove to the host house where we mingled over chips and beer.  I was the last to leave, forgetting the time and not leaving until the near fullmoon rose over the hills at 4:40pm.  Watching the moon rise from their home is quite a scene as their home is on its own hilltop, secluded from noisy neighbors or nuisance dogs.