Select picture to go to page or topic, see a full size image of photo or movie.
Getting to the Crystal Dome
Trail from house to dome rock. Garden rocks line the uphill side of the trail.
"Getting there is half the fun."
On the trail we see a Ute Prayer Tree. Prayer trees were bent to face the sacred Pikes Peak by the Northern Ute tribe.
Looking back toward house.
Garden rocks contain crystals and line the trail to the crystal dome.
Our largest Bristlecone Pine. Approximate age is 2,730 years old.
Homemade rock steps leading down to the crystal dome access bridge.
Approaching the overlook. Watch your step.
In the summer of 2014, George came out with his backhoe and cut out a road to the current bottom of the crystal dome. This made it easier for me to get to the dig and move tools to and from the formation. It also made it easier to get heavy garden rocks to the house. There was also a large volume of overburden (dirt) that George was able to remove for me. This made 2014 one of the most productive years in working the mine.
Interesting side note: George sometimes appears on the Weather Channel's Prospectors show at the Dorris family claim near Lake George and our place.
Cutting the road out of hillside.
Smoothing out the road.
Sometimes those pesky boulders get in the way.
Removing overburden.
Knocking over a tree.
Once down I had to cut it up.
When we found a pocket, we needed to mark it with newspaper so that we could find it again when George pulled a hill down.
Top of the steps.
Side view of steps.
From the bottom 57th step.
Steps empty on to the road's turnaround area.
When George was finished, I built steps to ease access to various parts of the crystal dome.
Looking up at the steps.
The terraced piles of dirt allow for pathways for disposing of dirt and sometimes provide for temporary walking pa ths.
I just added these signs all over the place.
Do you think folks will get the message?
