Roping Down Into An Old Mine About To Be Lost Forever - Part 1 of 2
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- čas přidán 24. 03. 2020
- This great old mine was in operation in the early 1900s (1909 to 1916 per the official records) and was primarily a producer of lead, silver, zinc and copper with gold as a secondary. At one point, this mine was actually a publicly traded company and historical share certificates for the company can still be found for sale online.
Unfortunately, as I mentioned in the beginning of this video, this mine is set to be sealed permanently in the very near future. So, I am glad that we were able to get in and to document it before its destruction. However, I feel it was terribly bad luck to have not one, but TWO cameras taken out of service while trying to do the important work of documenting a mine about to be lost forever (as far as I know, this represents the only public documentation of this mine). In other words, it isn’t as if this a mine that I’ll be able to return to in order to re-shoot with the best cameras and equipment. This was a one-shot deal. I know the shaky footage and rough audio can be somewhat annoying at times (trust me, I know, it took me a day to edit this video), but, hopefully, the merits of this mine itself and the fact that it will be gone very soon make up for that. And, after all, my primary purpose with this mine exploring project is not to entertain, as many mine exploring channels focus on, but to document. If my goal was simply to entertain, I’d cut out a lot more from the videos to make them shorter and faster-paced and I’d dabble in a lot more sensationalism. Haha, instead, you’re getting almost every nook and cranny!
Despite the technical difficulties presented by trashing the cameras, it was a great trip. Good friends, good adventures, great sights = not possible to have a bad trip… So, please don’t take that as “poor me” complaining. I am simply frustrated that I couldn’t do an even better job documenting this one since the stakes are higher with a mine about to be closed.
Getting through some of those stopes and drift levels that were full of waste rock was not easy as the footage with the GoPro hopefully revealed. Normally, I will show an obstacle and then resume filming once I am on the other side of it. The GoPro gives a better sense of what it is like to actually overcome those obstacles. So, I’m glad I was forced to experiment more with the GoPro as I see other uses for it now. I have been critical in the past of its shakiness and performance in low light settings. The shakiness I can correct for by simply attaching it to my helmet and the low light can be overcome by not using it in abandoned mines with exceptionally dark rock. So, I’ve revised my opinion of the GoPro upward based on my experiences on this trip (And, no, it would be nice, but I am not sponsored by GoPro).
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All of these videos are uploaded in HD, so adjust those settings to ramp up the quality! It really makes a difference.
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD
And a small gear update here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
Thanks for watching!
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Growing up in California’s “Gold Rush Country” made it easy to take all of the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mine sites have a lot working against them - nature, vandals, scrappers and various government agencies… The old prospectors and miners that used to roam our lonely mountains and toil away deep underground are disappearing quickly as well.
These losses finally caught our attention and we felt compelled to make an effort to document as many of the ghost towns and abandoned mines that we could before that colorful niche of our history is gone forever. But, you know what? We enjoy doing it! This is exploring history firsthand - bushwhacking down steep canyons and over rough mountains, figuring out the techniques the miners used and the equipment they worked with, seeing the innovations they came up with, discovering lost mines that no one has been in for a century, wandering through ghost towns where the only sound is the wind... These journeys allow a feeling of connection to a time when the world was a very different place. And I’d love to think that in some small way we are paying tribute to those hardy miners that worked these mines before we were even born.
So, yes, in short, we are adit addicts… I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring
Don't apologize for the adventure or the results. I know everyone who watches you guys understands your situation. Keep up the good work.
Balls of steel going into that mine! You provide a vicarious experience (thrill) for all us armchair explorers!
You, Sir, are absolutely bananas! Thank you for taking me down to places I would never, ever go. And take care of yourself when you are down in these hell holes.
This is the craziest mine I have watched yet. Some times I think you have a death wish. No way in hell I would repeal down a shoot like that. But the video is amazing 👍
There's no way I could have repelled down that shaft. Ever since I jumped out of airplanes in the Army I'm absolutely terrified of heights. Even watching videos of people on high things freaks me out.
It's crazy how well preserved the timber is. It's also hard to tell what's up and what's down when watching these vids. You guys are insane.. thanks for the adventure.
Bless you for taking that on. And it’s sad it’s being closed up. Thank you for all of your efforts.
Another outstanding video, keep up the great work. Trust me, your true viewers don't look at this as a "poor me" video.
Appreciate y’all’s tenacity and willingness to risk everything anytime an exploration is made. Also look forward to more vids and continue to enjoy what you put out. :-)
Of all your videos, this is my favorite for timber workings. Highlights the importance of documenting mines for historical purposes. Tells the story of how it was employed and how resourceful these miners were in that area. The native timbers are just plane cool looking in those large chambers!
Wow. Just amazing how it goes on and on. Thanks for documenting this. Looking forward to part 2...
This mine is very interesting! I'm happy you got to it before it is closed. Can't wait for Part 2!
Thanks Justin I would think the most of us that watch your videos appreciate the efforts you go to, Considering where you got to the footage was good. Cheers.
What a great mine to explore. There are enough pockets, shafts, stopes and drifts to keep it interesting. Thanks for the excellent video sir! Looking forward to Part II.
Wow that mine looks so crazy inside, its like they randomly just went all around looking for stuff. Most seem to follow a vein, this looks like the whole place was a deposit. lol
This didn’t look like much from the beginning but it turned out to be massive once you got inside. Nice explore!!
What an amazing mine. It's extensive amount of timbers and woodwork is fascinating. Thanks for sharing this one.
Great explanation and video, really enjoyed every minute, thank you!
The engineering is amazing ... A little closed in for me... Thank's for the ride
Thanks for sharing your adventures. I love watching your shows.