Resilience in the Desert
Resilience in the Desert
I kind of got away from participating in the weekly Daily Post photo challenges. I’m not sure why, I really enjoy them.
This week the prompt is resilient. Hiking in the desert, and stumbling on old stuff really gives you an idea of how resilient people can be. We are wanderers, and don’t usually go out on real trails. We decide a general direction, and off we go. So we were pretty excited the other day to find several old gold mines way off the beaten path. My first thought was, how on earth did they get anything out of here, and the second is why did they come clear back here and dig that hole, in that spot. Obviously there is more to looking for gold, than I know.
This was one of the more interesting mines we found. You can see a second opening from the top when you look straight in.
This was the view from the top.
I have to tell you, standing on the edge of this freaked me out. I had visions of the old wood collapsing and me and Al plunging to our deaths. Needless to say, I didn’t linger long. (had to get photos though)
This whole area is solid rock. How much resilience, and perseverance would you need to do this? A lot! I only hope they made money and it was worth the effort.
What about the resilience of this old sardine can? All the way from France, I’m guessing 50 to 70 years ago.
A resilient lone tree, growing in the rock.
And of course these guys. Saguaro survive drought, extreme heat, birds pecking holes in them, bighorn sheep eating them, all kinds of stuff. And still, they stand tall.
Even in death they are pretty. The ribs are such a neat color, and texture.
Everywhere you look in the desert there are stories, and remnants of resilience.
I first thought …oooh I would like to crawl in such a mine… but you’re right it is scary and I feared the darkness and that what maybe will lure there while watching it a little longer…
Yes…that. You never know what’s in there.
It might be interesting to get in there and check it out…but you are right…that would be terrifying if something happened and there you are…out in the middle of nowhere! Best to be on the safe side…take the photos and take off! Happy New Year to you two!!
Exactly, better safe than sorry.
It amazes me that many of the artifacts from quiet lives gone by are still there. That some museum curator hasn’t come by yet is mind-boggling. These places are testament to exactly what you are saying. We are wanderers in search of fortune, hope. Awesome shots, Mary!
I sometimes wonder about museums too. Mostly we just find old cans and bottles though.
I think off-the-beaten-path places that aren’t on tourism sites are the most exciting of all. These shots of the mine are both exciting and have a sort of lonely feel of desperation because of all the time and hard, hard work those miners put into trying to strike it rich – and in an isolated place, away from family, in an era when traveling there was extremely difficult. Your photos tell the whole story. And I just happen to be partial to lone trees, lone flowers, lone anything growing in unexpected places, holding their own and standing proud. So those really touched me. :)
You would love wandering out here and finding all this old stuff. I always try to think of who the people were, did they stay long, did they get rich?
Love this post…. not a small space person so wouldn’t go in a mine myself
Oh, that would have freaked me out standing at the edge of that mine too! Love saguaros. They’re so cool!
wonderful collection of photos.
the mind hole going down into the earth is a bit unnerving to me as well, but i like seeing the photo ;-)