I think the fans of this channel are just as intrigued by the characters who narrate than by the stories they tell. They have all led interesting lives and have done things many of us only day dream of doing. Larry, Jack, and Hank are great. And of course we all miss our pal Charlie.
James Smith - I would definitely agree. Rather than some self proclaimed expert. Larry, Jack & Hank are Living experts, founders of the Superstition Mountain Museum, read about every piece of literature on the subject and as mentioned in this video have a lifetime of boots on ground experience in the mountains. Hearing these tails from the mouths of literal subject matter experts is something that should be valued and cherished by everyone.
My dad took me to the remnants of a rock house in the superstition mountains back to the 60's, every since than I have ventured up there. On one of my trips in the early 80's I hiked halfway up on a nearby mountain from the rock house and sat down to take in the view. Across the valley two-thirds up a mountain in the distance I saw what appeared to be a cave entrance, I took my binoculars out and saw what appeared to be a mine. I hiked over to the base of the mountain and started up, got almost to the top and I knew that I had gone to far so I started back down zigzagging my way across and down the mountain and after about an hour or so I found it. The entrance was small I had to crawl through it but on the inside for the most part I could stand up. There are quartz veins running crossways and in one of the veins about halfway in the tunnel almost at eye level I saw a piece of gold, I took my pick out and was trying to get it out but when it broke free in fell down in the crack next to the vein inside the wall. When I came out of the mine I scouted around the area and ventured up to the top of the mountain directly above the mine to see if I could find any remnants of other mining, I found a couple of prospects but nothing else. When I was hiking out I kept looking back to see if I could spot the mine but couldn't. I've been back there several times and I think on my next trip I'll take my metal detector with me to search the walls of the mine. The entrance of the mine faces West and you can see the trail below. I thought I would share one of my stories about the superstition mountains with you, I would like to hear what your thoughts are about my adventure. I know most of you are going to ask how do I know it was gold, I've been mining and prospecting from an early age starting with my dad and gold has a look to it like no other.
Interesting story, you could of found it, one of the clues is that the setting sun shines on the entrance, would put the mine on a west facing side , it's always fascinated me to good luck 👍
Don't let the rangers catch you bringing in a metal detector. Is illegal in the wilderness and carries a big fine plus confiscation of you detector. P.S. I've seen black gold, red gold, grey gold, white gold. In my experience refined gold is the only gold that looks like no other.
@@StevenHanover yes,it's at 33.1x by 22.666 east,next to old goat trail l,and across from dead owl rock. Knock 3 times and you'll meet Death Valley Gabby ( the burro whisperer) for a snoot of fireball, he'll show you the mine!
I lived in the Valley since 62. Lived at the west end of the Superstitions since 75 on Prospector. My two brothers and I used to hike all over the mountains. Have read a lot about the mountains. I expected to hear the typical BS from your guys but I was wrong. You have some of the most accurate info I have heard. Thanks! Kollenborn was a teacher for one, or maybe both, of my brothers at Ap Jct school. Can't remember that well.
Just completed a 2 day 18 mile trek with my son into the Superstition Mountains. The commentary in this video has so much more meaning to me... It was a very challenging trip.
Just stumbled upon this. What a great trip down memory lane. I grew up playing in the Superstition Mountains especially Paralta. I don't think there's a better playground in the world for a kid to grow up in.
I was always hoping Charlie would make this very video, thank you for this video and thank you men for keeping this history and channel alive for all this time. Rip Mr. LeSueur
Hiya guys, I just wanted to say.....I love hearing all the stories yall do tell. One day I would like to meet you guys, but I probably never will be able to. Please keep the stories coming for all of us that can't make the trip. Stay safe and healthy and have a blessed day. Cya!
I climbed the face of Superstition Mountain. West side. Stayed 2 days on top. Incredible experience. I could see all the way to Phoenix. We went looking for the Peralta Gold.
I commented once before and I have to say it again. Charlie had fire and energy and he put as much as he could into every show. Then he assembled a team of helpers and sources of first hand accounts to interview. Most of the time the drive the founder had wanes when the founder moves on because to most who become a part of the show after its inception think of it more like a job. You men have picked up the ball and are charging forward and to me have lived up to the dream Charlie had when he was alive and have built on his intensity. I want to take this time to give you a big Howdy from Texas and say Thanks too all of you who work so hard to bring the Superstitious Mountains into our homes and lives. One day I hope to make it back out there and shake all of your hands and say thank you in person. Keep up the Awsom work there is alot of us out here hanging on every word and every show.
Wow, I didn't realize this video is barely an hour old. I just discovered this channel a few days ago and have since watched damn near every video on it. Glad to see you guys are still producing new videos, and can't wait to see what you put out next. Thanks for such an interesting, informative channel, and hopefully one of these days in the near future I will be able to make it out there and check out the Superstitions in person, and when I do the museum is definitely on my list of places to visit. Thanks again guys, keep them coming.
I am a native. I am 70. My great grandfather always thought Walsh high graded the ore from the Vulture mine and created the fiction of his mine to explain the ore he was selling in town. He also said that Walsh claimed he always obscured his mine by planking and burying it deep. If there was never a mine, this fiction saved a lot of labor.
Yeah, but the assayer that was very familiar with all the local mines said absolutely no way was the Dutchman gold came from any of those mines! It was far richer! So much so it was used as jewelry still in the ore state!
Hiya guys, I just wanted to say.....I love hearing all the stories yall do tell. One day I would like to meet you guys, but I probably never will be able to. Please keep the stories coming for all of us that can't make the trip. Stay safe and healthy and have a blessed day. Cya!
Love your channel. My dad was fascinated by the lost Gold of the Superstitions. He had many books on this region. He passed in 1999. I inherited one of his books by Frank Dobie. Apache Gold and Yaqui Silver. My favorite line from that book, " The Apaches made me forget"
Always love a great mystery and you guys kept this story bright and intriguing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insight on one of the world's most interesting mysteries of lost treasure!
What happened was this old military trail became forgotten about after 1880 when Indian Wars ended. This is why on this very year of 1880 the two soldiers left to find work using this trail. Climbed up a seasonal waterfall into this canyon, same one doctor Thorne was taken to by Indians blindfolded called “the mouth of hell” waltz was at the mine from 1860s during the dangers of Indians. After 1880 there was no danger in this desolate canyon and only people at the time new about this trail. On this trail in the hidden canyon that does flood in winter due to rain there are rocks shaped like people, (water shapes rocks) and here he would make a left up the hill to a PIT MINE that can only be seen once up the hill up close in the ground. From this location the trail is visible for about a mile in this north south canyon, but a person can’t see the mine from the trail cause it’s in the ground with NO LEDGE in sight. To the south on the hill a person can see the tip of Weavers Needle and to the north a person can see four peaks lined up. A person can not see in any other directions in this canyon. It’s dark with steep walls hidden. Shaped like a Box canyon (natural defense and must go to mouth to enter) and it’s a slot canyon that is very rough with boulders, brush, unkept, forgotten about there is waterfalls in winter.
Jacob Waltz told about a 3' thick vein of milk quartz at his mine. That can be found at the base of Picacho Butte. When your at La Barge springs at the head of the springs you can look at the butte you will see 3 caves on a ledge. In those caves is low grade ore. On one of my trips from the Quarter circle U out there we took a ladder that i tied up in a crevace at the base of the butte. After leaving the crevace i passed by that vein of quartz leading back to where we just came from. I've seen pictures of the area taken from the air that shows a vertical mine above the crevace that had been filled in with trees and rocks. In that crevace was a mine that i wanted to climb into but the guy in charge of things that day wouldn't let me. Those clues about the sun shining on his mine are true and it happens at Picacho Butte. The 3 red hills are in Hewitt canyon as well.
I spent 6 days in a crack in the stone there in 1987. Can't really call it a cave. But you are totally hidden at the bottom of it. Repelled myself in. It opens out at the bottom about 15 feet on both sides. I was not the first person to find this space in the mountain. This became very evident the moment I turned on my flashlight. On the east wall there are carvings. On the west wall a very large stone unlike the surrounding stone is blocking a cone shape in the wall. The stone is about 12 feet tall. Shining my light at the edge I could see that it continues behind the odd stone, and it is narrowing slightly. I could see maybe 8 feet back behind the round stone. The gap is just wide enough for my hand to barely pass. Cool air blows in from the wall around the odd round stone into the crack/cave. The soil on the floor of the place is covered in light sand about 7or 8 inches then the earth is packed so hard It can't be dug. At least not by a 27-year-old, 6 foot tall, 225 pound man, rippled in muscle. I know this because I tried to uncover more of the carvings on the east wall the next day. This is the most silent place on earth! Day or night. The air is damp and cool. It was 89 outside when I descended. I slept with my sun cover around me there. Paper thin, but helped. I found other things there. Things I will not comment on. The time I spent there has had a profound effect on me, lasting to this day. I'm an old man now, yet I can still smell the air there and hear the silence. I've never felt so not alone in a totally alone space ever again. Likewise, I return there in my mind/spirit when meditating to this day. This place was a doorway to learning inner peace for me. A place to think. I was looking for a place to think when I climbed the mountain. I found so much more...
Thank you gentlemen. Fascinating clues. As you said decifer as you will, every one has thought of where it may be. Your videos are some of the most interesting and entertaining. Thanks again. Maybe o e day a story about Larry's found treasure.
OUTSTANDING!!! I've been there a few times I live in Phoenix. I am going to check out the museum for sure I love these guys. They are seriously O.G.. Thanks again gentlemen your work / efforts are appreciated. .. Jaymz from Phx
These guys aren't ever gonna validate a real clue. lol Just to hike through the areas with a Geologist/Geophysicist, and a seasoned familiar Guide, would be so enjoyable. Not just about the Dutchman, but about Arizona and it's Geological History. *I love Arizona and Nevada. They just got good "ju-ju"* BTW, Larry was quite the handsome young man, and he carried that through to present, with great class. Quite well spoken. Must have had so much fun in his explorations!
Since a person can’t see the mines “entrance” from the military and the fact the mine is shaped like a funnel, you just answered your own question to the riddle. The mine is up on a slope called a HOYO or pit mine. Below this slope is a tunnel entrance. And yes the mine is in a canyon that runs into the slat river.
ok let this sink in. any one using the clues from all the books written about the Dutchman mine were by people that were also looking for this mine. do you think for one minute they would give clues so that someone else would find it. let that sink in.
Sasha This is exactly what we are pointing out, the authors of many books have altered the clues and maps. The clues were supposed to have came from Waltz but by reading these many books we see how one author expounds upon on another’s statement and in many cases just flatly makes up or lies completely. Scores of people have died using their information and I and others are trying to point out the futility of using such information, yet we live here and personally know many Dutch hunters, some are close friends and we do not want to blatantly call them any names that could be ascribed to them.
@@larryhedrick254 the only way to prove that there was gold mined in those mountains is to verify that the jesuit order had in fact built a mission somewhere on the salt river and that they were indeed mining in that area using the local indians as slave labor. what i also learned is that, once a year the spanish galleons would anchor either in san diego or the gulf of mexico and the jesuit priest from the area would bring their 300-350 mule pack trains which was the king of spain 1/5th share to be loaded on the ships and brought back to spain. now if those ships did indeed come once a year and the jesuit's mined all year long. they would have had to build some type of vault to hold the gold or silver that they had already processed or gold ore that was waiting to be processed, that is what i think waltz found. as for the peraltas, i belive that after the jesuit's were expelled from the new world by the king of spain, that they hid most of the mines including the vault. then later the jesuit's made a deal with the peraltas giving them a map with locations of the mines, and in return they would share the riches. the key here is to prove or disprove that the jesuit's did indeed mine precious metals in the supperstitions . as for the peraltas having a land grant of the area, one just needs to go to the church archives in spain. they all kept daily journals that were sent to spain along with the king's share of the riches found. but you will have to know how to read latin as that is what the journals are written in. i sure would like to see someone find waltz's source of gold before i pass this lifetime. the last time that i was in the supperstitions was back in 1972. and i have to say thing's were very lively there in those days. they don't call them the Killer Mountains for nothing. good luck to all seeking this treasure, but more importantly be careful and stay safe if you do decide to venture into these mountains.
The clue about "No Miner is going to locate my mine" for me likely refers to how miners find gold. Miners look for float quartz with gold in streams and they follow the gold up the stream until they stop seeing gold. They know that the source of gold is close to the last place they found gold in the stream. "No miner will locate my mine" likely means that the mine is not being subjected to a lot of erosion or weathering so the gold is not washing out of the mine into any nearby waterways. Because the gold is not washing out, it will be very unlikely a prospector will every trace gold from a stream back to the mine.
Myron: Your statements are true and correct but the most logical reason for Waltz’s statement is that most people have been led to believe that gold is not found in the volcanic materials like the Superstitions. The Forest Service tell people this to this day and it is not true. There are several quartz outcroppings in the Superstitions, one I discovered myself quite accidentally and when I told a dutch Hunter about it, that has spent 40 years searching, he was surprised that it was so near to where he had searched all those years.
Larry, Hank: one item I have never seen addressed in the discussion of the mine was the fact that the Dutchman allegedly said he spent a lot of time covering it up when he left, with timber and rocks. And he said "you could walk right over the top of it and not know it". That's why I'm skeptical of all the claims that the mine has been found, or the ones who claim they know exactly where it is. How did they detect it was there ?
@@LuckyBaldwin777 thank you sir, I grew up in south east Texas and we dont do a lot of prospecting for hard rock minerals. We take adventures like Jed Clampett "Black Gold." As a matter of fact we are hard pressed to find a natural rock we have a lot of mud though. I do find prospecting very interesting and consider it a wishful hobby. I wish I could find some on a journey in the wild. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
It's for shur true that many miners hid there mines really good and when it became illegal to have gold almost all of them hid what they had in hopes of being able to come back to work out the gold
This is all very interesting but I can prove that you are wrong, in a few things. For one thing, there is a hand-drawn map by one of the Peralta's that matches the place that the Sandstone maps lead you to. The map you showed with the man's head tho the man's head is looking the wrong way, that map is correct and I know where this is. The Peralta hand-drawn map can be laid over the topography of the actual location and it fits perfectly, as does the map with the man's head looking the wrong way. Everything that was in Jacob Waltz's deathbed description of how to get to the mine. the last few steps I have found all of them, including the sun shines into the mine at sunset. The old Peralta house ruins, the Old Mexican Arrastra, The natural formation of a man's head looking east, 1 mile below where the mine is located. there is a rock cliff across the north-south running canyon where the mine is located. all this is in place. from the front of this mine, you can see the old military trail, but you can't see the mine from the military trail, there is a small peak above the mine, if you climb above the mine there below the peak you can see weavers needle to the south. There is a 140 foot stone heart with a 110-foot wide cross chiseled into the middle of the heart, the cross points to the Y ridge line indicated by the sandstone maps that is a real place the Y is also on the sandstone horse. What I can show you about the Sandstone maps will stop your breathing and your mouth will hit the floor. All 3 maps I have mentioned lead to the same place. And it is not the place you have mentioned. Weavers Needle is a long way from the location. I know where the Dutchman is located, I have the GPS location of the place. and everything that is indicated by the sandstone maps is present in the location I am talking about. I have proven in every way possible that this is the real lost dutchman. it is on a ridge that is very ruff, it is a place no miner would look because there are too many good places to look in this goldfield The location of the Dutch mine is on a ridgeline near the top under an overhang. Your videos were done well and looks like you have put in many hours. I have seen the location of the Dutchman. The mine that Jacob Waltz found is one of 3 mines on the same ridgeline the Dutchman mine is the one farthest north on the ridge. The Dutchman Mine is indicated by an old Peralta hand-drawn map that fits the true Goldfield perfect. and the Dutchman mine is on that map, it is a small almost neglected mine, it was dug by Monks in maybe the 1500s and mined by the Peralta, and Garcia families, though not much, they had 14 mines on this location and 2 of them were alpha mines, they focused more on those rather than the small mine that is the Dutchman's mine. The biggest treasure on this site is not the Dutchman it is the Gold left behind when the Apache massacred the Peraltas and their workers. They had 100 men working for 9 months digging ore from 14 mines and they had 3 minutes to run for their life. All Of the Gold was left behind except for a few bags of the best ore. The work of 100 men over 9 months time would equal the amount that one man could do in 70 years of hard work. All that ore is sitting in sorted rows on the hilltop across from where the Dutchman mine is located. Jacob Waltz went to this mine location many times and never knew that there were 2 hundred thousand tons of gold ore all sorted and piled in rows 1000 feet across the canyon from his mine. and No one knew about it till I found it. The Apache buried this 150 years ago, but weather and time have exposed it and I have found it. What I have told you so far is not even scratched the surface of all I have found at this location. All the Sandstone maps layout like building blocks at this location. they all lead to one place. I am writing a book to reveal the location but how do you market the location of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine? If I sell the book it will be to one person for some amount of money. I am too old to do anything with what I know. I 100% have the location of the Lost Dutchman Mine but an entire Goldfield with 14 or more mines, and 2 hundred thousand tons of gold ore stacked in graded lines. I am 70 years old I have a hard time just getting there much less carrying 1 piece of ore away. So I have to sell the location. I know the location of the Lost Dutchman mine and much, much more. What I have found is worth from what I can see so far it is worth over 200 billion, But I am retired and don't have the money to do anything with it plus I am too old to do much. I have figured out the entire story of the Spanish gold and the Dutchman. I have the location of all the things I have said. I need help to get it. There is so much I have found there should be a documentary made to show the world. Can you imagine what I am going through I found the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine and 13 other Gold mines that all are bigger than the Dutchman and 2 hundred thousand tons of gold or. and I am too broke and old to do anything with it. Put yourself in my place. What would you do?
My great uncle went into Superstitions over 70 years ago with some like-minded adventure seeking friends. He said they went in so far and the Apaches gave them a clear warning by shooting a few arrows at them. Knowing The Superstitions was sacred to the Apache, they turned around and left. A lot of men lost their lives ignoring the Apaches.
The military trail is now called FSR 1200 and it starts in Hewitt canyon and at the end of that road is where i found the horse carved on a rock face. If your in the right place you can see the 1847 on a bald hill there also. It's there to see during the summer months but only at noon and for only 15 minutes a day.
Also this “stone face” is not the correct words. Because it is a “rock face” which one will pass high steep cliff walls. Rock face - a bare vertical surface of natural rock. Just by saying stone face changes the correct perspective through telephone game.
So, in conclusion. The mine is a funnel shaped hole in the ground that over the years has for the most part filled in. You could be standing in it and never know it. You would have to dig it all out again. Therefore, 99% impossibility to ever find it. I have spent 1/2 My life searching for vertical caves from old folk stories in the same fashion. Dutchs goldmine is long filled in and buried. A man could spend 10 life times searching, have actually found it, but yet never have known. Dutchman just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I to have found vertical caves that way. Open today filled in and gone within a year.
You cannot see my mine from Weavers Needle but you can see Weavers Needle from my mine to the South. Soo the LDGM has't be North of WN and you proximate it somehow from the Apache Trail.
I believe the mine is located somewhere between Boulder canyon and LA barge box canyon, if you look on Google maps in satellite view, you can kinda get an idea of the rock formation and color of the rocks.
Hank you an Larry can tell some good stories i really enjoy them i think i have heard everyone of them at least twice maybe 3 times but i still love hearing you too tell the stories an jack can tell them stories too....but clay has you all beat at telling stories clay can keep me listening to ever word..but i enjoy all of your stories ..
Waltz talked about how the mine was shaped like a “funnel.” This is because it is dug into the ground as a PIT which has a no ceiling for natural light and goes 12 feet down. A person can’t see such a hole from a low level and only up close is this possible. But standing at the hole a person can see the trail that meanders through canyon. Only up close and looking down is this logically possible.
Great talk. Everybody seems worried about finding it. I'm more worried about, what do you do once you've found it? Seems to me, unless you have a foolproof plan to keep the gold once you've found it, there isn't much point in looking for it. Why risk death looking for it, if it's just going to be stolen from you by some gov't lawyer who gives you a piece of paper instead?
@Level3-RC 50%? This is a wilderness area. I've heard you get 0% there because legally it's been withdrawn from location so you can't file a claim. Do you know differently?
@@LuckyBaldwin777 federal land with 100% public access 24/7, I pay federal taxes, part my land accessible whenever I'd like. Don't say a damn thing either if you find any caches of gold and you got not problem.
@@dustanhoffman7956 Problem is in the Superstitions, there's a lot of other guys looking who are packing heat. If one of them follows you to the mine, there's a good chance you'll end up dead in the bottom of the shaft with the old Mexican miners' bones that Waltz and his partner tossed down there 150 years ago.
To get to my house in Los Angeles, you go by a fire station. It's on a street that runs north and south and you can get to main street from my street. You'll see a sidewalk near my house, and there are two trees in front of it. And you can see a freeway from my house, but you can't see my house from the freeway. My house has a roof and walls. I'll expect you all for dinner.
@Hank Sheffer My intention was not meant to express angst in regards to the ambiguity of the clues. My intention was to rephrase the clues in terms that are familiar to most people today in order to show how ineffective they are. The video did a great job of making the clues known to folks, such as myself, who have not looked into the lost Dutchman story before. All the best to you.
Why would you label a trail as being "The Military Trail"? Because trails have to be maintained just like roads. Regardless of whether the military is regularly traveling through an area, the military would still want to maintain access to the area. My guess after seeing the trails in person is that the reference to the "The Military Trail" is referring to a trail that was known to be "Created" or "Maintained" by the military. If the military is regularly using any trails, then they would likely pick the one with water for travelling and they might have people spending some time maintaining the trail. Doing things like removing brush from the trail. It would be interesting to know if there were any work detail records showing work being done to cleanup or maintain any trails in the area. Back in the day, the military may have played a significant role in opening up access to country by creating trails.
Myron: The point of the story is that the military only went into the Superstition Mountains on search and destroy missions and did not travel through this rugged mountainous areas that wore horses and pack mules down very quickly. The military maps plainly show that they went around the Superstitions except when chasing down hostiles that have been raiding. There were only three canyons in the Weavers Needle area that could be used as a trail all the way through and the military used all three when pursuing hostiles, showing the myth of placing too much emphasis on such a clue.
@@larryhedrick254 I completely agree that there was likely not a regular route through taken by the military. The trails it walked over were pretty rugged. I think though that his referring to the military trail was more a referral of ownership or preference based on common knowledge of use. Example. You can see the Larry Hedrick trail or the trail most people know to be the one Larry prefers or maintains. If you used a trail more often than others then you might be seen cutting back brush on the trail. That's why I think it would be interesting to know if the military did any work on trails and if they kept records of work details having to do with trail work.
They never talk about the salt river canyons that are now dammed up. the water is filled up hundreds of feet above the canyon floor but ya see caves all over the cliffs sides from the lakes I bet there's a ton of underwater caves and probably the gold is underwater now forever lost till the canyon gets retaken by nature.
I want you guys to know that I absolutely love this Channel and these stories about the superstitious mountains I would like to know if anybody found gold would it be theirs or somehow would it be the government's I am way too old to go looking for it but I was just curious as what the answer would be keep on telling your stories guys
Let's imagine that someone has deciphered the stones, found the "eye" and found the rubble of the two columns (they have collapsed). Let's also imagine that this place is just outside a federal historic conservation area... How and what could be done? Who to contact? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you very much
I specialize in solving mysteries and profiling from problems. I am a man of my word 1st and foremost, and I operate on a system of assumed secretary unless specifically told otherwise. I have solved 2 mysteries for men who spent their entire lives searching. 1 man was just the current living member of a long line of treasure hunters. I was so inspired by the love of this small town and the honorable commitment this man had to his ancestors i didn't feel right about taking payment for solving a mystery that just required a fresh pair of eyes. After a back and forth the man demanded to pay me 10 times the agreed upon price or else I would be insulting him for refusing his gift. I had no choice But to accept, so as I headed back home I stopped at a small church in the middle of town to relieve myself of my new found fortune. I would love to solve this problem for you, and your town as well. You will get full credit for the discovery, and I will ride into the sunset with another feather in my cap...
Find the closest commercial Gold mine to the mountain. Thats it. My theory is it was found, and commercially mined a long, long time ago. It may even be a long closed mine by now.
yeah this is one thing that occurred to me many years ago when I first heard of it. why would you WANT that fame if you can just prospect enough gold to make your grandchildren rich?
TJ Thank you for you great response for that is exactly what Mysteries is trying to do is separation of the fiction from fact. Many do not catch that. I am trying to give rhyme and reason to all the distortions involved with the legend.
I, Joshua Jordan, solved the Peralta Stones. (Forrest Fenn may have too.) The map leads directly to Weston Pass just below Leadville Colorado. I have solved the exact location of "The Lost Dutchmans Mine."
@Hank Sheffer For my curiousity I was researching prices from 1860- 1870. The prices are all over the place. $200 was at the upper end of any horse prices listed, but the range was from $20 to $200. A Ranch hand might make $25 a month plus a bunk. Im thinking few working people had $200 horses- they would have been simply unaffordable. This topic does bring into perspective though, the severe penalties for horse thieves, right? An interesting note- that $25 a ranch hand might make would buy buy 1.5 ozs of gold at $16 an oz. I don't know if a ranch hand today can buy the same at $2000 oz., but it is interesting to see how great a durable storehouse of value gold has been.
No, but there are horse stables that one can rent horses for a ride on the fringe areas. If you have a small fortune one stable would arrange for a group to go in to the interior usually from one end of Superstition Mountain to the other, about a 11 mile journey.
