We left the luxury Baumgartner campground with its water faucet and picnic table to the primative Phifer Hot Springs but first we had to get over another pass. It was
We rode through the historical mining camp called Smoky Bar. I tried to picture it in it’s heyday.
Near the top of the pass we came upon a herd of sheep guarded by two protective dogs (Great Pyrenees). We talked to them like they understood english but they eventually decided we were not a threat and went back to their flock.
Brent was disappointed to see the hot spring was no longer functioning but there was a shower nearby.
Brent met a colorful local hobbiest miner named Derek. He spun many a yarn including a cougar attacking his german shepherd and fixing the wound with super-glue. He had a mining claim and said he recently earned $4000 in one week.
Next we go to Cottonwood Campground – hopefully less primitive. I’m running kind of low on food but I have lots of peanut butter which should help.
