Posted: 5/9/2010 6:59:19 PM EDT
I have been meaning for years to get out to the ruins of St. Thomas at Lake Mead. So I headed out early this morning with my best friend and, thanks to a change in the gun laws for the better, my SIG (with Dragon pimp grips). 
For those who do not know St. Thomas was a small western town which was founded in 1865 by Mormon settlers. In 1938 the town of about 500 had to be abandoned to the rising waters of Lake Mead. 
The road to the trail head is dirt and a little rough in spots but easily travelled, though I was glad I picked up the "4wd" CRV .
The trail is well marked with heavy vegetation on either side. 
The ruins are quite extensive for something that's been under water for almost 70 years. 
My Best Friend. 
...and my SIG with Dragon pimp grips. 
Dave |
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My great great grandparents and great grandparents helped settle the place. It was a rail stop and for awhile was the largest town in southern Nevada. My grandfather was born and raised there, left to go to Germany on a mission for the LDS church, and when he came back, the town was underwater and his family had relocated to Boulder City. I believe some of the capt's family also hails from St. Thomas, but they only came around in the 1890's. Stinkin' transplants.  Cool pics. It's a neat place to hike to. I have a map somewhere that shows all the homes and buildings that were there. I think it's cool that you can see the main street, and the steps/foundation to the schoolhouse are still standing. From there we were able to find the foundations to my great grandparent's home. (eta: That is the schoolhouse where your dog is standing, on the steps) I haven't hiked out there for several years (not since it was JUST uncovered from the Lake receding). How bad have people trashed it? 
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I haven't hiked out there for several years (not since it was JUST uncovered from the Lake receding). How bad have people trashed it? Not too bad just alot of broken bottles in some places. What I found funny was there are oyster(?) shells everywhere. Thank for the info of what the building with the steps is. Dave |
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I haven't hiked out there for several years (not since it was JUST uncovered from the Lake receding). How bad have people trashed it? Not too bad just alot of broken bottles in some places. What I found funny was there are oyster(?) shells everywhere. Thank for the info of what the building with the steps is. Dave Those were not oyster shells...... those were mussels which have 'invaded' Lake Mead. |
| My Great Grandfather's neighbor was born there. She was in her early teens when it finally flooded. The last time the water receded enough to uncover it (IIRC, my grandpa said it was in the early 80's) he went out there with a metal detector and found a whole bunch of goodies which he has stored away. I need to get out there before it gets too hot. |
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he went out there with a metal detector and found a whole bunch of goodies which he has stored away. Interesting, there's a sign saying "no metal detectors", I guess I know why now. Though the whole time I was there I was completely alone, including the drive in and out. Dave |
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I haven't hiked out there for several years (not since it was JUST uncovered from the Lake receding). How bad have people trashed it? Not too bad just alot of broken bottles in some places. What I found funny was there are oyster(?) shells everywhere. Thank for the info of what the building with the steps is. Dave Those were not oyster shells...... those were mussels which have 'invaded' Lake Mead. Freshwater clams are all over the lake and have been... I don't believe they are invasive either. What you may be talking about are zebra mussels. Those live in colonies and are the invasive ones making all the news. |
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I haven't hiked out there for several years (not since it was JUST uncovered from the Lake receding). How bad have people trashed it? Not too bad just alot of broken bottles in some places. What I found funny was there are oyster(?) shells everywhere. Thank for the info of what the building with the steps is. Dave Those were not oyster shells...... those were mussels which have 'invaded' Lake Mead. Freshwater clams are all over the lake and have been... I don't believe they are invasive either. What you may be talking about are zebra mussels. Those live in colonies and are the invasive ones making all the news. You are right RDP, the clams have been out there for a very long time. The invasive mussels are called Quagga Mussels (also African Zebra Mussels), and the clams are Asian Freshwater Clams. I used to see the Asian Freshwater Clams while scuba diving all the time at Lake Mead. The Asian Freshwater Clams are about a 1/2" to 1" if I remember correctly, and they were always buried in the sand/silt during my dives. The Quaggas start out very small (not always visible to the naked eye) and they attach themselves to anything they can adhere to (especially pipes, boat hulls, and even water skis). Just my experience from my diving days. |
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I call bullshit, Ishoot! I couldn't see my hand at the end of my arm the last time I dove in Lake Mead!  You're diving the wrong spots. I've found 70 ft vis at 130' depth before. No need to dive in that silt by boulder bay. Lake Mohave is even better, especially with a spear gun. |
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I call bullshit, Ishoot! I couldn't see my hand at the end of my arm the last time I dove in Lake Mead! You're diving the wrong spots. I've found 70 ft vis at 130' depth before. No need to dive in that silt by boulder bay. Lake Mohave is even better, especially with a spear gun. Is that up by the river? I haven't been diving in a couple of years.... I gotta get back into it |
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My favorite dive spot in is the narrows up above Callville bay. Look up wishing well cove; there are great rock formations, and lots of treasure from the drunk people above... Depth to around 300'.
My diving buddies do the hoover dam area often, and they say it is great over there too. There is a submerged school bus on lake mohave just above the dam in laughlin, and the vis stays good there also, unless a diver bounces off the bottom and stirs up the silt. Wear gloves though, the quaggas are sharp. |