2020-12-08, 07:40 PM
Ah, right, you would not have seen it because you took the north fork. If you go up the south fork, not far beyond that confluence, there is a low saddle on the south side, and IIRC some visible evidence of a foot trail going over it. Turns out that is the most direct route to that point from where the road ends - cuts off a couple of meanders in the canyon - and appears to have been the route the miners used, back in the day. I didn't find this info anywhere; just eyeballed it on the way in and based on the topo it looked worth a try on the way out.