Comments on: PhotoJeeping: Off Constellation Road

By: Allan Hall

Allan Hall — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:50:16 +0000

Maria,
In addition to the aforementioned points of interest, a hike in this area could include visits to the Copper Belt and/or the Copper Blossom mines. There are several others in the vicinity as well. Once you get out of Slim Jim Creek, there is some fairly steep ground in the area, but Mahoney’s trail into O’Brien Gulch is a good path that would take hikers in viewing distance of other old mines as well. It would be a function of how ambitious a group wanted to be.

Another option would be to hike all the way down to O’Brien Gulch. In that case, I would recommend having vehicles staged at both ends of the hike. That route would involve passing through some private land and someone should contact the owner in advance.

By: Maria Langer

Maria Langer — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:06:15 +0000

Allan & Allen: Thanks for this information. I guess what I should have said it that I’ve never been able to find any identifiable ruins from Constellation. There are plenty of signs of past habitation up there, but no buildings and very little in the way of foundations. Mind you, I haven’t taken my Jeep up Slim Jim or hiked up there. Most of my observations are from above, while flying helicopter tours in the area.

I’ll look up “Deep Enough,” which you both mentioned. I like looking at old photos and comparing them to what’s now visible.

Do either of you think it’s worth a group hike up there? We haven’t done one of those in a while.

By: Allen

Allen — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:57:30 +0000

Maria:

You mentioned in your latest article “PhotoJeeping: Constellation Road” that you cannot find the old Constellation townsite. Dana Burden has identified the townsite as being approximately one mile up Slim Jim from the intersection of Constellation Road and Slim Jim Gulch. I have been there several times. It is rough going up Slim Jim via Jeep but it can be done. I have done it. The best is to drive a few hundred yards, park the Jeep and start walking with the dog Jack. The site is very near a standing windmill that I believe is owned by the William’s Family. In the vincinty, you will find evidence of old foundation sites and the old road into and out of the area. The foundation would be very difficult to see from the air. Another good reference is to read Frank Crampton’s(sp) book called “Deep Enough”. He was in the area many decades ago and took pictures of a few of the buildings. I have the book and would be happy to loan it to you but I loaned it to “someone” and they have not returned it. The book is out-of-print and I found an old used one on eBay.

By: Allan Hall

Allan Hall — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:00:50 +0000

Maria,
The remains of Constellation are located at the following coordinates:
N 34 03′ 48″ by W 112 33′ 55″ (WGS84). The easiest way to reach it is by hiking one mile upstream in Slim Jim Creek at the point where Constellation Road crosses. Although ATVs can usually make the drive, regular 4WD vehicles cannot. The creek has a tendency to reinvent itself after heavy rains and even ATVs can have difficulty.

There isn’t much left at Constellation anymore – a few dry stack foundations and a couple piles of broken glass from the saloon. There is an old stage coach trail the descends into Constellation from the southwest and the famous trail built by Mahoney to reach the Gold Bar Mine via O’Brien Gulch begins near the corral.

A bit farther upstream is the remains of the Cavannass goat ranch, which was prominently mentioned in Frank Crampton’s book “Deep Enough”.
Allan