The Andrew Curtis Tungsten Mine

Post by **HikeUp** » Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:29 am

jeko1034 wrote: I’m down to go back! It was definitely a memorable trip but it’s also super gnarly of a hike up that wash. No trail and just boulder hopping for miles while completely exposed. @charlescurtis1984 wanna join us?

March 2009, there was an excellent road all the way up the canyon to the mine! I turned around about 1/2 mile below the mine because I didn't want to bother the people that were there (they passed me in a blue pickup while I was walking down the road from Cow Cyn Saddle).

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Post by **Uncle Rico** » Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:29 am

Whew! For a moment there, I thought maybe I'd breached some protocol on forum decorum.

David R · Post by **David R** » Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:33 am

I think a video of me next to the highest grade tungsten in the world would really trend well on Only Fans.

Brianc · Post by **Brianc** » Tue Jun 11, 2024 6:23 pm

This area has always intrigued me . I have not been up there for 12 years. The under video camera surveillance sign off of cattle canyon trail has been there forever, before wifi. B.S. if one thinks a cable was run all the way up to Glendora ridge road for camera. What about the mysterious "property owners" of Thompson ranch or Widman ranch. They would be like 100 years old. Maybe if anyone was up there they are just squatters growing. I wonder how come the owner of Tungsten mine lets the vehicles on property rot and not sell them. People who own places like these, have money and it is clearly documented. My theory is its the haunted house story. "Don't go there, the boggie man will get you".

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Tue Jun 11, 2024 6:54 pm

Brianc wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2024 6:23 pm This area has always intrigued me . I have not been up there for 12 years. The under video camera surveillance sign off of cattle canyon trail has been there forever, before wifi. B.S. if one thinks a cable was run all the way up to Glendora ridge road for camera. What about the mysterious "property owners" of Thompson ranch or Widman ranch. They would be like 100 years old. Maybe if anyone was up there they are just squatters growing. I wonder how come the owner of Tungsten mine lets the vehicles on property rot and not sell them. People who own places like these, have money and it is clearly documented. My theory is its the haunted house story. "Don't go there, the boggie man will get you".

Not quite sure but you can just walk through there and avoid all private property if you're paranoid, android.

Brianc · Post by **Brianc** » Tue Jun 11, 2024 7:20 pm

It's been over 4 years that you reported on this area. I have never been able to find proof of ownership of these ranches.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Tue Jun 11, 2024 7:34 pm

Brianc wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2024 7:20 pm It's been over 4 years that you reported on this area. I have never been able to find proof of ownership of these ranches.

Use this: https://app.regrid.com/us?utm_campaign= ... t=property

also the LA County assessor map will have that info: https://maps.assessor.lacounty.gov/m/

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Sun Jun 30, 2024 6:04 am

I love these threads with people bringing their unique historical experiences!

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Sun Jun 30, 2024 9:48 am

Ze Hiker wrote: Sun Jun 30, 2024 6:04 am I love these threads with people bringing their unique historical experiences!

It's the whole reason why we keep exploring!

Sewellymon · Post by **Sewellymon** » Sun Jun 30, 2024 6:40 pm

I used to hike and camp above Widman Ranch in Coldwater Canyon all the time in the late 70's.

On this thread a few years ago, the mine owner Charles Curtis chimned in. I actually called him soon after just to get a sense for what is going on.
I do not think he will be starting operations back up again? Lots of FS roadblocks, etc.

rdwieting · Post by **rdwieting** » Wed Oct 09, 2024 7:26 pm

Fascinating for sure. My BIL has stories about weekends during his teen years in the '60s working at his "dad's gold mine" up Jail Canyon in the Panamints.

Kkelsey · Post by **Kkelsey** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 10:05 am

Hello! Thank you for posting this, this was my grandfathers mine. He died a few years ago and the mine claim was never renewed by my uncle whom he left the claim to. The road regularly was washed out by floods and he would repave them. The ranch you trespass to get to the road used to be his as well. All the roads past the gate were made by my grandfather. The entire road to the mine was made by him. The ranch used to be our families RV park called RV Baldy, you may be able to find info on it as well. Reach out to my email; kelseykeagan@gmail.com if you have any more questions!
Cheers!

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 1:21 pm

Kkelsey wrote: Mon Apr 21, 2025 10:05 am Hello! Thank you for posting this, this was my grandfathers mine. He died a few years ago and the mine claim was never renewed by my uncle whom he left the claim to. The road regularly was washed out by floods and he would repave them. The ranch you trespass to get to the road used to be his as well. All the roads past the gate were made by my grandfather. The entire road to the mine was made by him. The ranch used to be our families RV park called RV Baldy, you may be able to find info on it as well. Reach out to my email; kelseykeagan@gmail.com if you have any more questions!
Cheers!

Thank you so so much for the information! I will be sure to reach out to you eventually

minexplorer207 · Post by **minexplorer207** » Sat Aug 30, 2025 8:13 pm

Just made the trip up to the mine a few weeks ago. My group ended up biking from the sunset peak south trailhead until the bottom of the wash, and the rest of the hike was on foot. We did see some of the vehicles uploaded in the original posts.

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The hike was very long and very hot.

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At last we finally made it to the site.

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I have lots more pictures and various drone footages so if anyone is curious I can share more shots of specific locations.
Cheers!

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:52 am

Duuuuude! I’m gonna digest these photos a bit later but that’s amazing that it’s that destroyed after the fire and floods. Impressive pics man!

minexplorer207 · Post by **minexplorer207** » Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:13 pm

No way, the legend himself responded! It's great to hear from the guy who inspired the whole trek. We were unable to find the break room with the expired coffee and such, where exactly was that? I thought we searched every building and we scoured the place on satellite imagery but maybe we missed it? If you remember where it was that would be very helpful and give us quite a bit of closure.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Mon Sep 01, 2025 6:55 am

minexplorer207 wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:13 pm No way, the legend himself responded! It's great to hear from the guy who inspired the whole trek. We were unable to find the break room with the expired coffee and such, where exactly was that? I thought we searched every building and we scoured the place on satellite imagery but maybe we missed it? If you remember where it was that would be very helpful and give us quite a bit of closure.

Yo! I wanna go back there and check it out post fire to see how much stuff has been buried. I believe the office got crushed because I remember it being to the right of the generators. if you’re on instagram, send me a message so we can connect and plan something! @maaatthewjackson

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Mon Sep 01, 2025 7:02 am

I don’t know how I didn’t look at that drone photo closer enough but the whole office building is under all the debris just to the left of the rusted stairs that’s above the conveyors. If you look at google earths previous satellite dates, you’ll see a building that over time got covered in debris.

That’s insane…

Post by **Taco** » Mon Sep 01, 2025 9:17 am

I just wanna see the ridge to the east. Very steep face. Didja take any photos of that?

Post by **dima** » Mon Sep 01, 2025 9:59 am

I want to know about the ranch by the gate and the ranch down at the river. Does it look like they survived the fire and are still populated?

minexplorer207 · Post by **minexplorer207** » Mon Sep 01, 2025 9:22 pm

Hi everyone! https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... ZXNlZ3bTVR will take you to an album containing a lot more pictures and all of the drone footage from our excursion. I wasn't exactly sure what you wanted to see regarding the ridge to the east, but I hope there is some drone footage which can get what you want. We didn't hike up to the mine entrance as we were exhausted, but there is some footage of the drone flying up to the opening and poking above it for a minute. I biked pretty fast past the ranch by the gate and didn't get a good look, but my friend recalls that it all looked burned down except for possibly an RV. I'm also not exactly sure of any ranch down at the river, we might not have gone that way. This was our route: https://caltopo.com/m/3P6C66Q. Interestingly, on the bike ride down the fire road to the wash, we saw a smaller car/atv that looked as if it was used to get down to the wash and back. Despite this, there was no other sign of any recent activity.