Here’s a claim

Mal Sillars — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:19:22 +0000

One of the interesting properties of real estate in the west is the mining claim. These parcels are often in hard-to-get-to places…but not all of them. One of my current listings is on the top of Boulder Mountain at about 13,000 feet. That one is all rock. A newer one that I have recently listed is near Hancock Lakes along the Continental Divide Trail. It was worked to some degree back in the 1800′s, but now sits quietly in an awesome setting. Part of this claim is meadow with lots of wildflowers in the spring. The big draw of mining claim ownership is that they are usually surrounded by public land, which you cannot buy. By purchasing a claim, you have a place to call your own and are often surrounded by thousands of acres of amazing ruggedness and beauty.

Typically, when a prospector found ground of interest, he would “strike” a claim. The standard claim was 300 feet wide and 1500 feet long, creating an area of 10.33 acres. To mark the corners, rocks, stumps, posts and trees were used. Some of the old posts are still findable, as they were on the Dan Allen. Often a nearby tree was used as a marker to the actual corner of the claim and these trees were often marked “BT”, for bearing tree. Many of these trees are still standing.

The tree stump above has the US patent #3328 carved in and still readable. A tour of the Dan Allen is right here. The best features of this claim are the surrounding rugged beauty, the accessibility and being just across the road from the popular mountain fishing site of Hancock Lakes!

It’s climbin’ time!

Mal Sillars — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:04:58 +0000

I’m itching to get the climbing season underway. This past week was a great week weather-wise, but it has been raining all weekend. When the weather breaks, the first thing I need to do is to take a day or so and inspect the portion of the Continental Divide Trail that I have adopted. That is about 8 miles all above 12,000 feet, although a small portion is not yet complete. Once that is done, Casco Peak is the first on the climbing list. I got up high enough last week to spot the route, but the south ridge was still snow covered; however, that should be pretty much snow free now. Once I get that done, there is a long list to take me through the summer. So many peaks…so little summer! (Here in the Sawatch Range there are about 130 peaks 13,000 feet or higher)

Casco Peak - 13,908 feet

Buena Vista Real Estate » mountain climbing

Here’s a claim

It’s climbin’ time!