If it hadn't been for the low water levels and area wild fires this year, we would have taken another rafting tour over Father's Day weekend. The Jeep tour, however, turned out to be a fabulous alternative and we are so glad we had the chance to experience it. There are so many old mining areas tucked around the mountains, and each Jeep tour takes its own path. The experience revolves around your individual guide's knowledge and enthusiasm. We adored Jared, who talked fluidly about the flora and fauna of the region, the geology, mining processes, and the history of the companies in the region -- how they lured workers to cross the country (and in some cases the world) to join the mining effort, as well as some of the famous strikes and famous disasters. Over the course of the trip, he picked wild flowers, identifying each one and arranging a bouquet for us to take back to the hotel. I loved that we could get out and walk around the ruins -- nothing was fenced or roped off, so you could stand right on the foundations, say, of an old the miners' boarding house. What a tremendous walk through history. As we got higher up, the scenery became spectacular. My daughter "borrowed" my camera and never gave it back! It was a wonderful day.