The Pentultimate School Tour

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Photograph of the Smith Sherlock Company Store taken from the back of the store, South Pass City State Historic Site, Wyoming 
 
A view of the Smith Sherlock Store from the the back of the store, just inside the counter, looking toward the front of the store.

As usual, I walked down to the office/archives at 8:00 AM and did a little research and writing. At this point, I am just trying to wrap things up so there are as few loose ends as possible before we leave.

Today's tour arrived a little late, around 10:20, as they have all week. They came from Rock Springs, about 90 minutes away, but could not leave the school until 8:30 and have to leave almost as soon as the tours end. This was another of the larger groups, so I got to repeat my stories about the Smith Sherlock Company Store another eight times today.

The tours went well and I went to the trailer for lunch and to pick up a USB cable so that I can transfer some images and documents. 

We have been discussing our departure date. Connie spoke with Jeannie- Glen's wife last night- and we are invited to dinner at their house in Lander next Friday. School tours end tomorrow,the site officially closes Saturday, and the weather is starting to lean toward winter. We will leave next Thursday. 

South Pass City weather for the next two weeks.  
 
Our predicted weather through the 17th. Morning temperatures are always lower at out trailer! 
 
I briefly discussed this with Joe and we'll follow up on a few final details. 
 
After the tours, I went to the trailer for lunch and then went up to the Carissa to take some photographs (a few are shown below).
 
I went back to the archives for a bit then talked with Joe Ellis until about 5:00 and then came home. Connie and I are dinner and then I fired up my smoker to smoke the corn I had bought Monday. With the weather projected to be wet and cold next week, this could be the final smoke of the season (at South Pass City).

We have begun the process of putting things away and closing up camp. My hope is to have everything outdoors stowed away by Saturday- including the smoker and our propane grill.
 
We'll see.
 
Hoist at the Carissa Mine, South Pass City State Historic Site, Wyoming 
 
The hoist at the Carissa Mine, you can see the cable running from the motor up to the top of the mine shaft.
 
 
Gyratory crusher at the Carissa Mill, South Pass City State Historic Site, Wyoming  
 
Gyratory crusher (basically a big mortar and pestle) in the Carissa Mill that crushed baseball size pieces of or to the size of golf balls.
 
 
Ball mii in the Carissa Mill, South Pass City State Historic Site, Wyoming   
 
Ball mill (think of it as an industrial-size rock tumbler) in the Carissa Mill that pulverized ore to a fine powder.
 

 

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