August 24, 2011
In late August, the staff of Pala International visited the newly acquired Esmeralda Mine in the Mesa Grande District of San Diego County. John McLean, Jason Stephenson, and Bill and Will Larson (who all contributed to this report) drove to the U.S. Forestry Service gate about a mile and a half from the mine, only to find they’d been given the wrong key. In 95-degree heat in the middle of the day, they trudged uphill, arriving at the mine an hour later. After recovering from the heat, they started to inspect the pegmatite and surrounding area, seeking shade at every opportunity.
The pictures below tell the story, but for a written description, be sure to see the Sinkankas Notebook from 1956. And check back for more information as progress begins on opening the mine.