It was a pretty splendid but difficult day. We hiked an hour in and out, from ridge down to stream and back, maybe 2.5 miles. I struggled to keep up with men in better condition with longer legs, a few thousand feet higher up than I am used to. Slowed them down a bit on the way up, having to stop here and there.
But, great weather, great day to be out, golden cottonwoods following the streams, etc. Went in a few old mines, not very far. Harvested a few good rocks, and a bucket of shiny chalcopyrite which may make a lot of good thumbnails and micro-mounts, and got some black stuff which may test out for silver, or may not. A nice change of pace to spend the day with prospectors-for-fun. I would go back at my own pace to fish through the tailings pile we did not get to at my leisure, but apparently black bears and mountain lions are a thing up there, so it was good to go with armed companions.
The older one was good enough to point out landmarks the casual tourist would never hear about--he had worked for the Forest Service and also at the historic NAN ranch, close to where SRS' kin lived.