I first learned about this mine's existence when I was driving up the Glendora Mountain Road with my Dad. I looked off to my left into Cattle Canyon to see 2 tractors parked about 200 feet from each other on the bank of the river. I decided to check the MRDS and found a page on the Andrew Tungsten Mine. I learned that the claim for the mine stopped being paid around 2012 but just to make sure everything was actually abandoned, I took photos of the mill site from the GMR over the next few years to see if trucks moved, which they didn't.
I planned 2 routes to the mill which both were 16 miles round trip, one starting at the junction of east fork and cattle canyon, the other at Cow Canyon Saddle. Honestly, I procrastinating making this trip earlier last year since the road is washed out in cattle canyon to the mine which meant it would be like 4 miles on no trail and maneuvering over small boulders.
My first attempt was with @LobsterTelephone from East Fork mainly to see if it was possible to climb the canyon on the road there. We gave up within roughly 40 minutes due to too many river crossings for our patience. Later that day, we tried from the Cow Canyon Saddle and only made it 4.5 miles down 2N09. Refer to a previous post on the details of the property and trespassing since I won't get into it on this particular post.
My second attempt was successful and was done with @LobsterTelephone .
We started at the Saddle and dropped down into Cattle Canyon within 1:45 hours. Next time, I would definitely bring a bike and stash it somewhere in the canyon. The first tractor was fully intact minus some of the cushion gone and a few dinged up windows.
We stopped for tea and to fill up water bottles.
At around 11 am, we finally made it to the mill site! That shed in the foreground has some generators, a vibrating table for separating the ore, and some helixes spiraling downwards (can't figure out what they are for)
Behind the shed is the mill followed by the office and a work hanger.
The mill is still standing with all of its catwalks intact and stable to my knowledge.
Some fun facts
- There was cell service at the mine. 2 bars LTE so enough to FaceTime my dad.
- We hiked 18.4 miles in 10 hours without seeing a single person.
- We did explore 2 out of the 3 tunnels. Didn't go to the last one since getting to it was an extra 1/2 mile and we were exhausted.
- This was the longest and hardest hike of my life and I will only do it again if I were paid.
