Exploring Eight Dollar Mountain - Josephine County, Oregon

Exploring Eight Dollar Mountain - Josephine County, Oregon

The Golden Valley of the Illinois River again beckoned, as we continued our search along Eight Dollar Mountain.

This is where some say Josephine County's gold rush all started.

Just a short distance upstream from Eight Dollar bridge is where the historic golden Josephine Creek joins the Illinois River for their journey to the Pacific Ocean.

We have followed the mining roads before, as they meandered through the rock strewn valley, which had been devastated by early hydraulic mining. Everywhere in the area are huge piles of rock left by the dredges of the 1800's.

Today we determined to chase the road 'til it dropped! Hiking the road is a pleasant experience, even though it can be navigated by 4X4. Following the narrow road, one is reminded that if driving, you must be extremely cautious, as there are many stones and boulders you must go around and over.

One mistake, and car shopping might be on tomorrow's agenda!

The river is peaceful now, as it whispers through the valley, but now and then it reminds you that it can turn wild!

When it's in a bad mood, the Illinois can take your car for a long ride, as if it were a toy.

Here our journey ends. There is a connection, by climbing a steeper route to join the Illinois River Road up above us.

Today, is not a good time however, as the road above and the skies overhead, are occupied with fighting America's largest forest fire burning at this time.

The "Oak Flat" fire is raging in areas that were spared by the infamous "Biscuit" fire, which scorched this entire area in 2002.

Today's "Oak Flat" fire was, unfortunately, human caused!

Throughout our trip, giant helicopters coursed above us on their way to pick up and carry their huge water buckets to the fire.

As the day went on, the wind changed direction, and most of the smoke was blown away from the area around Eight Dollar Mountain.

We found an area where the river was so calm, and not too cold. We'll have to return another day to take advantage of this "swimming hole."

There are a lot of pretty cool looking rocks in this same area that have been smoothed over the years by the river.

At the end of the trail, we discovered the remains of a large cement and stone foundation.

Huge center concrete pillars must have supported tremendous weight.

Maybe someone out there can tell me what this was, as I know it was too strongly built to have been living quarters.

Since it was at the end of the dredging, I wonder if it could have been an arrastra or a "stamp mill" for crushing rock to obtain the gold?

We can't be sure, but this sure looks like a grave site to us. Oftentimes in our explorations of the old gold fields we have found grave sites similar to this, and it appears that at one time animals had tried to move the rocks and gave up.

This chimney is on a foundation close by. Could it have been a still, or maybeit was connected in some way to another operation, since it is only a block away from the foundation we found?

It has a water pipe at the bottom, but I can't figure it out either.

Everywhere along the Illinois River we found mining claims, and in areas where claims are not allowed, and mining is open to the public, modern-day prospectors are abundant. Here in a short span, of less than three football fields long, there were six suction dredges working. The above dredges vacuum the fine materials that fill the cracks in the bedrock. As the rivers are powerful in the Spring and Summer, the fine gold is pushed along with the current, and gold being heavier than rock, gradually fills the lowest cracks and crevices in the river. These suction dredges bring up the material, and run it over the sluice, pictured above.

If you're looking for a place to live, where you can enjoy the outdoors, and some of the most beautiful county ever seen, start packing for Josephine County, Oregon!