Mabee Mines
Posted: December 10th, 2020, 7:34 pm
I like poking around old mines. Went looking for Mabee Mines in Skamania County. There's a Mabee Mines Road, so I figured there must have been a mine at some time. Couldn't find any info online, except a mention of a Mabee Mine over by Bluff Mountain (near Silver Star Mountain).
I was going to walk Mabee Mines Road a year or two ago, but gated, so Plan B. Returned a couple days ago armed with a secret weapon (bike).
Parked at dawn, past the gate, down the road, across McCloskey Creek, and to a logging operation. No equipment, but looked fresh. It was about sunrise-ish, and I was looping so wouldn't be passing through later on return, so I knew I wouldn't bother anybody if I rolled through. I may have done that, or I may have gone back to my car and headed up McCloskey Creek Road, then dropped back to Mabee Mines Road, where I then went as far back towards the logging operation as was allowed (and thus passing signs that said non-motorized recreational travel was allowed).
Anyway, after that, I continued north on Mabee Mines Road, until Google said Mabee Mines Road was the spur that headed towards Hard Scramble Creek (i.e. ignore the main road that drops towards Washougal River). At a rock barrier, I dropped the bike and continued on foot. It was fairly brushy, the road was faint, and eventually it seemed pointless. I'll bushwhack if I think there's a reward, but honestly I wasn't expecting to find a mine. That was just my excuse to get out of the house.
So then I headed up towards Archer Mountain and explored a bit, just random fun. Was hoping for snow, but none. I think my high point was about 2300'.
There's a short road on the other side of Hard Scramble Creek that's co-named Mabee Mines Road, but I doubt I'll ever check it out. Not much interesting terrain over there, so no payback in the event I don't find a mine.
I was going to walk Mabee Mines Road a year or two ago, but gated, so Plan B. Returned a couple days ago armed with a secret weapon (bike).
Parked at dawn, past the gate, down the road, across McCloskey Creek, and to a logging operation. No equipment, but looked fresh. It was about sunrise-ish, and I was looping so wouldn't be passing through later on return, so I knew I wouldn't bother anybody if I rolled through. I may have done that, or I may have gone back to my car and headed up McCloskey Creek Road, then dropped back to Mabee Mines Road, where I then went as far back towards the logging operation as was allowed (and thus passing signs that said non-motorized recreational travel was allowed).
Anyway, after that, I continued north on Mabee Mines Road, until Google said Mabee Mines Road was the spur that headed towards Hard Scramble Creek (i.e. ignore the main road that drops towards Washougal River). At a rock barrier, I dropped the bike and continued on foot. It was fairly brushy, the road was faint, and eventually it seemed pointless. I'll bushwhack if I think there's a reward, but honestly I wasn't expecting to find a mine. That was just my excuse to get out of the house.
So then I headed up towards Archer Mountain and explored a bit, just random fun. Was hoping for snow, but none. I think my high point was about 2300'.
There's a short road on the other side of Hard Scramble Creek that's co-named Mabee Mines Road, but I doubt I'll ever check it out. Not much interesting terrain over there, so no payback in the event I don't find a mine.