Colorado’s mining-skills competitions aren’t for the weak

CMC Leadville’s Jenna Hinds Dokken a perpetual contender

This article was originally published in the August 8, 2011 Denver Post. By Claire Martin.

Jenna Hinds Dokken of Leadville competes in the Nederland Minering Days hand-mucking event in Nederland last month. Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post

One of Colorado’s most demanding athletic competitions is hand-mucking — a timed contest to fill an ore cart with 1 ton of three-quarter-inch gravel.

“Someone who does shoveling in their backyard might think it doesn’t look too bad, but when I competed, I know I felt like I was going to cough up a lung — especially at this altitude,” said Dominick Patti, a former miner who is now general manager for Leadville’s K.W. Construction & Restoration.

You don’t have to be a miner (though it helps) to compete in the Colorado circuit of hand-mucking and drilling contests, including Idaho Springs’ Tommyknocker Days, Ouray’s Highgrader Holiday Mining Contest, Creede’s Days of ’92, Nederland’s Miners’ Days and (Click here for full Denver Post article)