Gardner Mine Trail #1122

Gardner Mine Trail #1122.
Today's Adventure begins at the Vulcan Lake Trail #1110A Trailhead. After barely getting a chance to stretch our legs we'll turn north on the Johnson Butte Trail #1110. A brief moment later we'll turn east again on the Gardner Mine Trail #1122. Funny thing, are we actually on the Gardner Mine Loop Trail #1122A? Going clockwise around a ridgeline we'll finally turn left for our intended target the Gardner Mine Trail #1122. Yea! We're on the right trail now.
Located in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. This basically moderate grade old mining road through rugged serpentine rock country offers a glimpse into the history of old chrome mining operations at Gardner and Rosie mines.
The Gardner Mine produced over 200 long tons of high grade chromite beginning in the 1950s. It was purely a family enterprise. The ore was driven out via a jeep road, created with a four-foot dozer blade, to O'Brien, Oregon. The jeep road is now the route of the Chetco Divide Trail.
The claim remained valid after the Kalmiopsis Wilderness was created in 1964 and mining operations continued for some time.
Keep in mind, from Brookings, it's a two hour drive to this trailhead.
I have no idea how long this trail will take us, so I just put a late in the day ending. I'm sure we'll be done before that time.

As always,