As raw ore descended through the mill, stamps crushed it into smaller particles which are treated with cyanide or mercury. Stamp mills were often located on a hillside as they relied on gravity. Each beam is a “stamp” lifted by cams on a horizontal rotating shaft. Stamp mills have wood or metal beams that crush the ore. In 1883 the Sawyer Act outlawed hydraulic mining, and stamp mills became popular. He continued to work the mill until 1917. He hobbled between the stamp mill and Ward Mine, over 2000′ feet, mostly vertical. Ed had legs that were crippled, and he created crutches from sticks. Ward Mine and Mill changed hands frequently. Hayes and Steve Kavanaugh, pictured above. Eight years later, the property and stamp mill came under the ownership of H.P. The mill processed ore from local claims. Thomas Ward developed a small settlement and constructed a four-stamp water-powered mill in 1892. They discovered promising ore around Green Creek and founded mining claims including Castle Peak, Ironside, and Bulkhead. While Munckton was suffering multiple issues, miners explored the area around the town. Miners and merchants moved on to more prosperous mines, and the post office closed in 1872. Due to high sulfide levels, processing ore was complex, and soon the mill ceased operation. A post office opened in 1871, and the town contained saloons, general stores, assay office, livery, boarding house, and a drug store. The settlement of Munckton grew above the beautiful Upper Sinnamon Meadow. Word of Snyder’s find spread, and soon additional mines were claimed. In June of the same year, Snyder established the Castle Peak Mining District to protect his claim. While his payout was only $150, it was enough for him to continue working the claim. He found quartz veins on Kavanaugh Ridge, dug a 40-foot tunnel, and transported three tons of ore to Aurora for processing. The nugget was the largest discovered on the eastern slope of the Sierras, fourteen miles west of Bodie. In 1867 Charles Snyder explored Dog Town Creek to locate the source of a placer gold nugget. We spent the bulk of the day exploring the ghost town and flying the drones. It is rare to find many standing structures, especially of log construction. Ward Mining Camp was the highlight of the day. Despite a late start, we visited nine sites around Conway Summit between Bridgeport and Mono Lake: Bridgeport Poor Farm, Ward Mining Camp, Kavanaugh Ridge, Dunderberg Mine and Munckton, Jordan, Conway Ranches, Monoville, and an unnamed site. I pinned locations on a map, Jared planned the route, Austin navigated and Shonna kept us all laughing and well-fed. We worked together and ended up with an amazing day. Road Between Ward Mining Camp and Munckton I was afraid Jared would question the sanity of hanging out with us and bolt, but he stayed. Our first stop was for gas in Bridgeport where he caught us mid-conversation about a museum displaying Custer’s codpiece, sized small. I should have warned Jared what the three of us are like together. Friends Austin, Nevada Expeditions, and Shonna decided to join us on the trip. We decided it was a good time for fall leaves around Conway Summit. Jared of Great Basin Exploring and I had been talking about heading out to explore and fly our drones. Thinking the road dead-ended in the brush and not wanting to run into a very large cat, I turned back. The hike seemed like a good idea until thoughts of mountain lions started running through my mind. On one trip, I began to hike up the overgrown road while my travel partner stayed below. On other visits, I traveled to Dunderberg Mill and Upper Sinnamon Meadows but didn’t go beyond the bricks at the mill site.
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