Welcome Miners, Muckers, and Powder Monkeys to the Boom Days mining events!
All Leadville Boom Days mining events take place behind the Elks Lodge on West 4th Street on Saturday and Sunday. (See Adults and Kids Schedules below.) Spectators are welcome to watch from the bleachers.
Mining competitions include jackleg drilling, team jackleg drilling, hand mucking, single-hand steel drilling, and double-hand steel drilling. Cash prizes are awarded to winners!
Mining Events that you can compete in
Single Jackleg Drilling $40.00
Spike Driving $20.00
Single Hand Steeling $30.00
Men’s Single Hand Mucking $30.00
Women’s Single Hand Mucking $20.00
All registrations are done on the day of the event, cash or check only.
Boom Days Mining Event Descriptions
In the jackleg events, drillers use a mechanical drill to bore two separate holes within a three-inch square, and the fastest time wins! The jackleg drill weighs 135 lbs. and must be carried to the rock and back when done.
The hand-drilling competitions involve one or two miners using a drilling steel and a sledgehammer to drill a hole in a set amount of time. These drilling steels are generally handmade by the miners. The deepest hole wins. In Single Jack, one miner holds the drilling steel in one hand and pounds with a sledgehammer in the other hand. In Double Jack, one miner holds the drilling steel and the other swings the sledgehammer. Legend says if the sledge operator hits the man holding the drill, the holder is allowed one free swing at the other miner. Ouch!
In hand mucking events, the men competitors shovel one ton of 3/4” crushed rock, called muck, into an ore cart and then push the cart along the track to the finish. The fastest time wins. The women’s division shovels ½ ton of the same crushed rock, and the fastest time to shovel wins!
The last event is spike driving. In this timed event, each competitor drives two 60 penny spikes in an up position and three 80 penny spikes in a down position. This is accomplished using a 2.5-lb timber axe.
Mining competitions are part of Leadville’s history, with competitions dating back to 1885. Come watch or compete in the fun!
Schedules for Adults and Kids Mining Events
Adults Mining Event Schedule:
Registration Opens:
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- Saturday: 8am
- Sunday: 8am
Event Starts:
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- Saturday: 9am
- Sunday: 9:30am
Kids Mining Event Schedule:
- Registration Starts: Sunday 9:30am (Behind Elk’s Lodge at Mining Events table)
- Events Starts: 11am after Team Jackleg Drilling
Please contact Sandy at 970-389-9297 with any questions.
