Day 103 - Saturday, September 11
I have been lucky this entire trip. Yesterday, probably the luckiest. I have chosen numerous times to take a mountain pass off road to save miles, avoid roads and take the route with the best vista. I had the option to go over the peak into Eureka but decided last minute not to. Turns out I took Highway 50 around the peak and I got caught in hail, rain and high winds of 50mph gusts. But looking up at the peak, it was nothing as the route over was ensconced in thick black clouds and lightening visible. I could have ended up in that mess…
We have a 2 day mission to reach Austin, NV. First jump is 35 miles into the desert where we ended up boon-docking on a dirt road that runs between two mountain ranges. Today I felt flat from the start. Thankfully Chris had me eating the entire way so I had enough energy to finish on plan. My joints are hurting today for the first time as I’m pushing to get to Pacific Ocean by September 26th. Fourteen straight days of 35 miles with another 15 to go!
Learned that Highway 50 is closed outside of Tahoe as a result of the Caldor wildfire. This is the route I’m planning on and I will be there in a week. If it does not reopen, there aren’t many good options. The best navigator - Tim - is working on intel and options. Fingers crossed we find a solution…
All for today as I’m wiped out!
Thank you for your support -
Cheers,
David.
The oldest structure in Eureka
Austin - where we will end up tomorrow - drew thousands of prospectors to its booming community, and several silver prospectors made their way east, uncovering rock laden with rich silver-lead ore in what is considered modern-day Eureka. And just like that, Eureka sprang into existence as the next big mining boomtown, but this time slightly different. While nearby boomtowns primarily achieved success through gold and silver claims, Eureka thrust itself into the mining world with its lead-rich hillsides.
While Eureka was substantially more successful than Austin, the township had more of a conservative outlook, while Austin was a tad bit rough and tumble. The history here is plentiful, but perhaps slightly sheltered due to its modest approach. And, while other communities’ success was short-lived, Eureka continued to prosper, and still does…in a big way. Eventually encompassing a whopping fifty mines yielding lead, silver, gold, and zinc, at its height, this astounding operation could produce more than 700 tons of ore per day. Within ten short years, Eureka gained more revenue than had ever been invested in the entire county combined. The town was the second-richest mineral producer in Nevada, behind only the Comstock Lode at Virginia City.
Like most mining communities, mining production began to dwindle, and by 1891, most of the major mines had ceased. Several families have remained in the area throughout time, but the current population has declined to 610.
Running through a canyon on the way out of Eureka
Highway 50 - straight shot to Austin from Eureka of 71 miles. The clouds were laden with rain and random showers appeared across the expanse. I ran into the shower ahead and the droplets were cold in the desert valley