Arizona: Goldfield Ghost Town

The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Mine had been circulating for a few years when high grade gold ore was found in the area in 1892.

The town of Goldfield was started that year and boomed for five years, at one point having a population of 1,500.

But the gold soon played out. By 1898 the miners had moved on and Goldfield was a ghost town.

Practically nothing remains of the original town but authentic looking buildings have been built near the original site. Wandering through the replicated town is free and enjoyable.

Arizona: Lost Dutchman State Park

My first adventure in Arizona was at the Lost Dutchman State Park. It is named after the fabled gold mine of Jacob Waltz (actually a German but "Dutch" was a common term for Germans, as in Pennsylvania Dutch). He kept the location secret until he was on his death bed. It is supposed to be located in the Superstition Mountains, seen here, about 40 miles east of Phoenix.

Each year many still search for the illusive mine.
The park includes a native plant trail that introduced me to many of the desert plants.

My Arizona adventure was off to a good start.

Olympic Mountains from Oak Harbor

The Olympic Mountains from the east side of Oak Harbor in early summer. The Garry Oak trees in the foreground are the trees for which the town was named.

Mt. Baker at Dawn

A recent view of Mt. Baker at dawn from the west side of Oak Harbor.

Cascade Dawn from Oak Harbor

The North Cascades at dawn from the west side of Oak Harbor.

Salish Sea Sunset

A recent sunset from West Beach, on the west side of Whidbey Island.

Mt. Baker at Dawn from Oak Harbor

A recent view of Mt. Baker at dawn from the west side of Oak Harbor.

Full Moon

Cascade Dawn from Oak Harbor

A recent dawn view from the west side of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. The Cascade Mountains are on the horizon with Oak Harbor Bay in the foreground.

Olympic Mountains from Oak Harbor

Signs of the end of summer on Whidbey: the Olympics have lost most of their snow, there is fog on the Salish Sea and one lone boat in Oak Harbor Bay.

Mt. Rainier from Oak Harbor

This view of Mt. Rainier is from above the Sno-Isle Library parking lot on the east side of Oak Harbor.

Smith Island Lighthouse

The lighthouse on Smith Island guides those on the Salish Sea. This view is from the west side of Whidbey Island.

September 11

Olympic Mountains from Oak Harbor

A thundercloud over the Olympics as seen from the east side of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island.

Oak Harbor Dawn

A recent dawn from the west side of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. The Cascade Mountains are in the distance.

Olympic Mountains from Oak Harbor

Olympics Mountains from the east side of Oak Harbor. Oak trees are in the foreground for which the city was named.

Growlers over Ebey Prairie

Growlers from NAS Whidbey do landing practice at OLF.

Mt. Baker Dawn

Recent photos from the west side of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island.

Skipper Moth on Lavender

Each year at the end of summer, I see these Skipper Moths on the lavender.

Thanks, Larry for their identification.

They remind me of the design of a fighter jet.

This fellow seems to have one bad eye.

Salish Sea Sunset

A recent view from Joseph Whidbey State Park after the sun had set over Vancouver Island.

Salish Sea Sunset

This is a view from Joseph Whidbey State Park on the west side of Whidbey Island as the sun sets over Vancouver Island.

Mist

A bird contemplates a misty morning.

Olympics in Spring

This photo is an end of summer reminder of how much snow the Olympics had this spring. I was at the Fort Ebey State Park on the east side of Whidbey Island.