{a little bit of mining}

Shortly after coming back after Christmas we decided to head out on an adventure

Dangerous I know, but we went, we did, we survived!

 Just over the hills down the street from our house lies a small town called New Almaden.  This town lays at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the national park of Almaden Quicksilver Park.  The park is huge and is loaded with mines from the days of quicksilver.  (mercury) This was also used during the time of the gold rush to clean the gold.  This was one of the first quicksilver mines in California.

Our goal:
a mine shack.  Impressive I know.

This park is filled with many mines.  One is still an open mine, not operating, but open so you can walk into the mine tunnels at your own risk.  We plan to find it one day....it's really far into the park.  I think we'll need some better equipment for it!

Bigger kids being one...

 Our boys not really wanting to pose for me, but put up with me none the less.  This side of the hills were so green despite that it's winter.  The creek was nothing but green grass and weeds.  I suspect that it's not normal for winter out here since everyone says it should be raining.  Lucky for us we've had so much sunshine!

Typical hazy day.  Since we haven't had any rain there is no place for the hazy fog to go!

It just likes to hang around...

The hike in we took, was a great workout!  Up, down, rocks, kid on my back, you know the usual.

Things we found interesting...
This house

 This red tree.... strange yes, everywhere yes, beautiful yes....any clue as to what they are? 

Taking a rest is a must!

The strange faces are also included...

 I think the boys are rethinking this idea of an afternoon hike!
shhh, we haven't told them they have to walk back down....

 Beautiful scenery at the top of the hill, never gets old!

 Almost there!!! This is the last trail change!

Even closer...just up this hill is our destination.

Good thing, I was tired of hearing are we there?  

 They made it!

We made it to the ruins of a water pump house

This is where the workers would pump water out of the mountains so they could dig deeper mines.  Some of these mines went below sea level.  

Looking down into the ruins

Our map holder for the way out.

These grates lead to a VERY deep holes and at the bottom....WATER!

 Headed down to the other side.

We explored....

We climbed....

April walking along the original wood planks to the pump house.....

We ate...

We ran...

We saw wild birds...

We headed back...

....till next time.