Welcome Miners, Muckers, and Powder Monkeys to the 2023 Boom Days mining events! All events take place behind the Elks Lodge on West 4th Street and take place on Saturday and Sunday. Spectators are welcomed to watch from the bleachers.
Mining competitions include jack leg drilling, team jack leg drilling, hand mucking, and single hand steel drilling, and double hand steel drilling. Cash prizes are awarded to winners!
What are these events?
In the jack leg events, drillers use a mechanical drill to drill two separate holes, staying inside a three inch square, and the fastest time wins! The jack leg drill weighs 135 lbs. and must be carried to the rock and back when done.
The hand drilling competitions, either one or two miners use a drilling steel and sledge hammer to drill a hole in a set amount of time. These drilling steels are generally hand made by the miners. The deepest hole wins. In Single Jack, one miner holds the drilling steel in one hand, and pound with a sledge in the other had. In Double Jack, one miner holds the drilling steel and the other swings the sledge hammer. 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 history with competitions dating back to 1885. Come watch or compete the fun!
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.
Adults Mining Event Schedule:
Registration Opens:
Saturday: 8am
Sunday: 8am
Event Starts:
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.
