Expeditionhighway Enjoy Creative Wild Adventure

From the moment gold was first discovered, man has admired its lustrous beauty, From Egypt to America and around the world.

When the ancient Egyptians captured men in their war battles or imprisoned unruly citizens, these men were made to work the ungodly conditions of the gold mines.They were made to work side by side  with their owned slaves. Their goal was to retrieve the metal that was sought only for its unmatched natural beauty, power, and the status it brought.  It is unknown when gold first became money.  We do know it was used to trade and barter with for hundreds of  thousands of years . The modern man has found many uses for the malleable substance we call Gold. Gold is still used today in the medical field, to help cure conditions like HIV and Cancer.  Sought after for many reasons, the #1 use throughout history has been jewelry.  Gold maintains its beauty, it never rusts or tarnishes, making gold a very valuable and workable substance. The first gold coin that we have a record of dates back to around 600BC.

      The first Gold found in America by the white man was in North Carolina in 1799.  The Indians knew of the precious metal, but they kept their source tightly sealed and still do so to this day.  I sure wish I could find record of where and when they made their first discovery of Gold.  I do know the Cherokee people panned for the precious metal along the Chattahoochee River in the early 1500s.  I also know Gold was the major reason behind the Cherokee people losing their land.  And the reason behind most Indian tribes through out America being relocated.  Will the truth be hidden forever?  As the true mother lode has eluded mankind for generations, will it ever be found?  If you have the information I seek, please contact me below.

     I have long admired the men and women who have come before me, for their ruggedness and strength to overcome some of the harshest elements on the planet.  The wilderness was all the home they needed. The wild rivers and rain their source for  fresh water, and the land they lived on their provider for  food and life.  In today's world it's so easy to forget where we came from, with everyone looking forward.  Well folks, I'm here to take a step back, and see the beauty of history. One of the largest  gold nugget ever  found was in Alaska weighing in at 20 lbs. North Carolina claims that they found  one of the first largest nugget's weighing in at 17 pounds. They also lay claim to even larger nuggets weighing in at 28 lbs and lower  The largest nugget found in Colorado  was found in Breckenridge, it is said to  weigh in at 13.5 pounds less five pounds from its original  weigh in. Found in 1887 by Tom  Groves,the nugget was infamously named Tom's Baby. When Tom brought it in to town he had it wrapped and was cradling it like a baby.There are other country's in the world that claim to have found large Gold nuggets, weighing in around 150Lbs. Now folks there's a record worth breaking.

 Colorado  gold was first discovered on record by the white man,  in 1858 by William Green Russell.  It is said that his Cherokee wife was the one who put him on the trail to its location.  William only  found  6 or 7 hundred dollars worth, but it was enough to spark the famous Colorado Gold rush.  The first gold rush in history, however, occurred in North Georgia in 1828. In1848, a man named John Marshall, a simple worker building a mill for John Sutter, unknowingly became the father of the California rush when he found the lustrous metal on the work site.  The property owner, John Sutter, was not interested in the find, but countless prospectors flocked to California in his wake, risking everything to stake their riches in the fields ....Man has been on a search for this elusive substance from the moment its enticing glimmer shone from it's hiding places deep inside the earth.

     The oldest treasure map known to man, is on display at the Turin museum in Egypt, it dates back to, around 1320 B.C.  3,300 years in the making ....Now that would be a treasure hunt!  Countless tales of  hidden treasure have been passed down through the ages and lay to this day unclaimed, waiting for discovery.  We have heard of these stories and tales ....Now it’s time to go see the treasures themselves uncovered on film!

     It's time to learn their endless history and share the knowledge we find with the world.  Yes folks, like the men before me, I will set out for adventure to explore history across America on the Expedition Highway.  And you are all invited to go along on the journey.  The stage is set for next summer 2010 in Lake City, Colorado.   I hope to see you there.  Your thoughts, comments or views are welcome.  Please contact us.

                                                                                                             –Jeff Burch, August 2009  

Here's what I found out about Lake City, Colorado and the San Juan mountains,  on a heading for Ouray, Colorado.

When you enter the town, you get the feel of coming home, it's a very cozy little town. She was founded in 1875 to be the main provider for tools to the region's miners.  The town today is set up to bring its visitors and residents enjoyment, with a verity of things to do.  You can rent jeeps,quads or horses for recreation. There is plenty of history for  people that like to expand their brain, while taking in the views. Just out side of town they have a beautiful lake to fish in, so drop your fishing boat's in, and catch em  up boys  or take  a walk around  the  lake ladies .
       

        Now lets talk cabins and accommodations, they have the set up for your stay . You wont go  away unhappy when you visit Lake City Colo. Just out side of town by the Hinsdale museum that's  full of history folks so drop in and say hello. The road that the museum sits on  is the  20 road.This rode will lead you in to some of the most beautiful country I have ever laid my eyes on. With a tour of a mine on the way to the high country. With Henson creek a beautiful treasure that skirts the road on your journey to view of the old lake city mines. Then down in to the meadow  where  capital city was built in 1877.
 

          Here you will come to a fork in the road, yep its time to make a decision which way do you go? Don't worry they are both full of beautiful scenery.  If you stay to the left you head  up to the foot notes  that are along the way filled with history about the men that helped build the future of the country,  and  the events that have occurred in the region. This land is full of beauty  you cant miss the waterfall on the way. You can walk right  down to catch a breath taking view of it's beauty.Then continue on up  to Engineer pass.
Break out the 4x4s, the roads will not allow you on them without one. Grab one of those bad boys in town before you head out at a 135 for a soft top to 165 for a hard top a day, makes a day or two out very enjoyable.  Or rent their quads,Of coarse you can stay out for as long as you like. Your in the San Juan mountains enjoy yourself.
If you should choose to stay to the right you will head up the north fork  on up to  the trail head made for camping and hiking up to the summit. There is adventure all around you. Please respect other peoples property and obey all laws like pack it in pack it out.  This will make your stay something worth remembering. The person that follows you will be able to see it in the same lite . I loved my first visit to the area! It's a place I will take my family. I  recommend it to all families, it's good clean healthy fun.  Ouray was named after a chief of the Utes Indian tribe. Chief Ouray  an educated man  helped mend the bridges between the miners the Government and the Indian tribes. If your thinking vacation I recommend Lake city. I did not make it all the way to Ouray that will be accomplished on my next visit. I'm sure they have similar accommodations.
There is just something about a town that was born out of the historical pages of our past . A almost mystic and  homey feeling.  If you don't know what I'm talking about. Go visit Lake City and learn the feeling for yourself. You will fall in love with it. 
                                                                                                                                                                           Written by Jeff Burch Aug/2009