Pick and Shovel Mine

[Wehmeyer]

My father was one of the partners establishing this mining claim which was to my knowledge the last working claim in the sierra wilderness. It was located somewhere between Goodale Pass and Fish Camp, not to give away too much. If you've been there, you would know.

I am gathering information with the intent of an informative web page about the mine, its history, as many stories as I can find to add to my father's, which I wrote down before he died. Please comment if you have any stories, photos, info. Especially any info about the other 2 original partners and their families. That would be families of Glenn Burns, Auberry CA (I beleive) in the 1960's and Mr. Baldwin (Mt Baldwin) of Coalinga CA also in the 1960's.

[Morrisons]

Hi,
I am Alan Morrison's granddaughter, and I was just sitting around with my father about packing in to stay at the Pick and Shovel mine for a week or so in the summers when I was growing up. Glenn was very close friends and partners with my grandfather. I may have met you when I was young. Our family has some of the passed down stories of when they were working the mine. The funniest one was about the building of the helicopter pad! Get in touch if you are still on here!
All the best,
Heather Morrison and Bill Morrison

[maverick]

Welcome to HST, to the both of you! Small world.

[The Other Tom]

Original post was in Jan of 2012. Don't know if OP is still around. It would be interesting if a mod could get them together.....

[Wehmeyer]

In response to the Morrisons:
Life has had many twists and turns. It has been 9 years since you replied to my post re the pick and shovel mine, but I am just seeing it. Would live to get in touch if that is possible.
Thanks so much,
Heidi Wehmeyer

[oldranger]

Did a little sleuthing and found that there are two structures remaining near the site of the mine!

[erutan]

Yeah, sadly the larger one has been renovated then abandoned a few times over the years - some spray foam, milk crates, detritus. Felt like a packer set up camp there within the past decade or so. There's a well worn horse cut through crossings nearby that fades away pretty quickly.

The mine itself isn't that interesting, just a small cut out gorge. Supposedly mostly a silver mine, with some copper and lead according to a mining site aggregator.

For research purposes, it might help to know it was claimed as the "beetlebug mine".

[oldranger]

Not sure that is a valid claim can't find any records of it, unlike pick and shovel.

[erutan]

One of the plaques list it as a discovery monument (we found a couple and I'm sure there's more demarcating it), so perhaps that's what they called it before making a formal claim?

Or maybe they checked a map later and realized beetlebug wasn't the nearest lake?