Experiences With Jets

[Kauri]

The most amazing jet sighting was up near home here in the 1980's. The Royal Gorge of the North Fork of the American River is a not well known, but tremendous canyon. Snow Mountain at 8014 feet sits on the north edge of the canyon. The river is 4400 feet below. Julie and I spent many many trips backpacking in the canyon and this is where I first learned to flyfish. A much younger friend was extremely interested in abandoned mines. He enlisted our help in reaching a mine that was in a side canyon on the south side of the gorge. I located the old trail down. It was a hard, rough, descent, but the kid was thrilled with how intact everything was at the mine. It was like walking into a museum. The view down the "V" of the side canyon into the Royal Gorge was stunning; what wild rugged country. We were a thousand vertical above the American River. Relaxing at lunch, our feet dangling off the edge of the mine tailings, we were astounded by a growing roar of jet engines, not above us, but below. The ground began to shake. We stared down the "V" and watched a B-52 bomber fly down the Royal Gorge at least 500 feet below our elevation. I would have loved to have been in the Royal Gorge that day to have gotten a better view.

I think I actually may have heard of that mine in the Royal Gorge area. I have family who own a cabin in that area, and they've talked about nearby hikes locals have told them about. Is it near the petroglyphs?