This is an alder root that was most likely covered in dirt before the Dec 2010 storms. The reddish tint is what happens when it is scrubbed by rushing water. It’s an easy indicator of how high the water got. Another interesting aspect of these is that these roots smell like leather.
Old mine attempt
Ellen is standing in front of one of two mine shafts about 10′ apart and about 6′ above the stream. Both were no more than 5′ to 6′ deep so whoever dug these gave up rather soon. Looking at the stream bed with strata indicating a possible silver vein and realizing that on the other side of the ridge from …