The High Country around Leadville is dotted with mines. The remains of most of them are almost gone but here and there enough remains to pique the curiosity of what they must have looked like when in their prime. With names like the Matchless, Julia Fisk, Young America, Painter Boy one wonders what significance those monikers had to the miners of those days. Some evoke sweethearts, wives, and loved ones. Others reminisce of countries, States, and towns hailed from or left behind. Others are aspirational while some make you scratch your noggin wondering what were they thinking.
The decaying wood and stone remains silent, giving no hint as to how meaningful those names were in the hearts of those men (and yes, a few women) who gave their blood and sweat in hopes of striking it rich. This time of year wildflowers share the stage with the remnants of mines that made Leadville the richest square mile on earth at its peak. Not so wealthy today though there still are active mines operating. One of the newest, just 
south of town, is the Box Creek Placer Mine. This site saw dredging in the early twentieth century and the new miners, using modern techniques, are going through millions of tons of dredged up rock gleaning the gold that older technologies could not. Their claim lasts until 2044 and from watching the size and scale of the operations grow in the last year there is enough gold to be had to justify spending a lot of money and effort. Dreams of striking it rich are alive and well to this day.
For me, I'm content musing on once was as I sit among the beauty and solitude at 10,000 feet. Here's some of the view...
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