Canyon Blog sat down with a Little Cottonwood Canyon icon this month to learn a bit about the canyon’s history. Many don’t understand that for the first century of its occupation by the largely European stock who entered Utah in the 19th century LCC was primarily a mining endeavor.
Dick Fleue is the last surviving miner to have actively worked in some legendary workings in the canyon including the Flagstaff, Columbus Rexall, Columbus Consolidated, and Wasatch Drain Tunnel. For a time in the late 1950s and early 60s as a teenager and twenty something he explored many others including some ill-advised forays into stretches with names like Death Valley.
There’s no one left who’s plumbed the depths of the mountains surrounding Alta and Snowbird. His written history is to be published by the University of Utah Press in spring of 2025 and your correspondent has the distinct honor to serve as editor of this fine memoir.
Canyon Blog: Tell us a bit about yourself.
Dick Fleue: I was born in LDS hospital on 2 July 1938 and my early times up until I was ten years old were tough. My education, such as it was, was scattered throughout the valley. High school was a disaster. Somehow I ended up with a diploma.
CB: And the rest of your family?
DF: On 10 September 1956 I married Janet Lewis. We were eighteen years old (barely) at the time. That enterprise lasted until 12 October 2022 when Janet went end of watch. We had two daughters Lisa, Denise and a son Scott. I got my feet slightly damp in the Military but spent the bulk of my working years involved with the heavy truck industry.
CB: How’d you come to be involved in mining here in Alta?
DF: From a young age I was always interested in tunnels. I was mad for mines. In my high school years I began exploring the mines here by myself and was fortunate to meet one of the true old time hardrock miners named John Campbell who went by the name of Swinger.
CB: He got you interested further?
DF: If anything he got me hooked permanent. Swinger taught me how to work a mine and I spent several years in the 50s doing work on the side in them. Mostly the COL-Rex and Col-Con. But I got to spend time in the Wasatch Drain Tunnel when they were still driving that into the mountain in the 60s.
CB: What would you say about the men who worked in the mines that you knew?
DF: That their likes will not be found on this earth again.
Watch for updates on Dick’s book, The Last Miner in this space as we near publication. In the meantime, here’s a challenge from your correspondent to see just how well YOU know your canyon above ground. If you can identify where on the mountain this image was taken send an email to [email protected] with your answer in exchange for a 5% off promo code for 3 nights or more by December 15, 2023.
