Two Nights at Benton Hot Springs - December 2019

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A Break in the Weather

Thanksgiving came in like a lion with our first real snow storm of the new winter season. Wednesday we awoke to a foot of snow overnight. Thanksgiving morning we woke to an additional fourteen inches. Between running the tractor and snowblower, shoveling off the deck and sidewalks, carefully tending to the twenty pound turkey on the grill outside, and having everything ready when our guests arrived - it was a busy day. Friday morning rewarded us with another two inches of snow. It was a five gallons of diesel through the tractor Thanksgiving celebration.

The storms continued into the first half of December but turned warmer with rain up to pass level. Weather forecasts on a Saturday night gave us a glimmer of hope finally for a sunny day - the next Monday.

A Monday would  give us a chance to drive down to the north bay area and see our niece's and her partner's new baby girl. Alas, they were unavailable for a visit. How could we then make use of a sunny Monday?

A quick check at Benton showed most campsites were available Sunday and Monday nights. You've got to love the thinning out affect cold winter brings!

The truck and camper were packed before we turned in Saturday night as the rain continued to hammer down on our roof. A sunny day would be so nice.

We started out Sunday morning with the storm ebbing. It had turned colder. Chain controls were up on all the mountain highways along with the mandatory 25 mph speed limits. On the east side we left snow and ice and chain controls at Woodfords as highway 88 dropped us into Nevada's Carson River Valley. To avoid chain restrictions on highway 395 south back into California, we moved east over to highway 95.

We watched the storm clear over the White Mountains at sunset Sunday from our wonderful private tub of restorative hot spring waters at Benton.

We took a long walk in the early night.

We, of course, checked the spot weather forecast for Benton beforehand. Day time highs were predicted to be 44° with overnight lows of 19° - pretty darn nice when lows are often in the single digits. We were shocked to see the low Monday morning was only 33° when we awoke, nice and comfortable.

How should we start our day?

Benton is an easy decision because there is so much to explore in the area. We can always find something fun to do. On the list for awhile was climbing up to the Sacramento Mine on the flanks of the White Mountains above Chalfant Valley. The mine was worked up to the early 1940's.

A rough 4x4 road climbs the steep alluvial fan. We followed our topo map to access the road. The map did not show the recent addition of a new transfer station - dump - that now blocked the way. A faint road detoured around the fenced dump but ended before linking back up with the original road up to the mine. We stopped at road's end. With it only a couple of miles up to the mine, it would take less time to hike up to the mine than to drive back and search out another way to access the old mine road. Hiking would make for a much healthier day anyway, and a good way to earn all that decadent soaking ahead for us upon our return to Benton.

The day was absolutely beautiful with crisp clean air.

Alluvial fans are always steeper than they might appear. In short order we gained elevation and earned spectacular vistas.

There is one remaining mine associated building that sits just up from the canyon bottom. There is extensive rock work and remains of stacked rock foundations throughout the mine area.

The vistas continued to amaze us.

The trail continues up the canyon where a water source was developed to supply the mine.

The mine is high on the mountainside to the north of the building. We hiked over to the main ore processing area.

Tramway cable led high up the mountainside to the main shafts.

We enjoyed climbing higher.

And we enjoyed working our way back down.

We checked out the surviving building.

Clues as to what the miners were after littered the ground.

Sacramento Mine turned old to be a nice little adventure.

The weather forecast was correct. Monday was a sunny day! We returned to Benton mid afternoon. Ours was the only occupied campsite. We had the place to ourselves!

We walked at sunset. We saw one of the resident great horned owls high in a tree. We watched the near full moon rise - December's Cold Moon. We walked up and visited the small historic cemetery. We were awestruck and so very happy.

It was going to be a colder night. No matter, hot spring water would shed our cares and years away.

It was cloudy when we woke Tuesday morning for our return home. The overnight low had only dropped to 28°. Another storm was on its way. We had made the most of this break in the weather.