I Try Not to Hurt Myself

In August of 2013 we volunteered with HistoriCorps on the Golconda Mining project.  The mine buildings sit at about 12,500 ft. in the mountains outside Lake City CO, a spectacular site above tree line.  Work had already been done on the boarding house and our group of 3 volunteers and 2 project leaders spent the week working on the compressor house, or what was left of it. We started every work session with a stretch or yoga pose and a safety tip.  Our fellow workers all had degrees in archeology or historic preservation and we learned a lot from them.  I was very proud of myself. I didn't bash my fingers with the hammer or do any damage with the ax or draw knife.  Definitely  good week!

Bruce cleaning up the notch. 

Logs had to be chosen for length and size, debarked, notched and lifted into place. 

Chinking the new logs that we put up, sort of like doing  a puzzle. You have to find a piece that fits then nail it in.

The drill sharpener in the blacksmith shop. 

Compressor House

Bruce built new door frames and repaired the doors.

The blacksmith shop after I cleaned and raked it out.

Securing the joint 

The walk home to our campsite at the end of the day.

One of Bruce's doors.

Moving logs into place

Lifting and placing

Happy in our hard hats

Inside the Boarding House

The Kitchen Tent in our campsite.

Boarding House

Bruce's skills were very valuable on this trip and I learned some new ones.  Our week at Golconda was  the hardest physical work I have ever done.  We were all so tired at the end of the day that dinner was a pretty quiet affair.  Bed by about 8PM. 

It was interesting living at 12,000+ ft.  It took us a few days to be able to breathe and walk at the same time, our propane stove was balky and we didn't sleep very well. By the end of the week we were getting used to the elevation and we loved living above tree line.

I challenged myself and loved it.  We are going to sign up to volunteer for this project again in July 2014.