Perfect Gold Mine & Mining Camp On The River
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- čas přidán 12. 10. 2021
- The canyon where this gold mine and mining camp are to be found is one of my favorite places... Sure, it is the ultimate bug out spot with its remote location, abundant water from the river and the infrastructure that is present, but, at least for me, there is more to it than that. I think the natural beauty of this canyon is unparalleled and there is just so much going on here... Every time we visit, we discover something new.
Mining in this canyon dates back to the 1850s. So, this was one of the earlier areas that was worked following California’s famous Gold Rush. The first prospectors up this canyon would have simply been using picks and pans, but the physical layout of the canyon and the amount of mining activity here convinces me that they must have done very well. I’d love to know how much gold the earliest miners simply picked up and panned out of the river! It’d probably break a modern gold prospector’s heart… The number of buildings, Pelton wheels, electrical equipment, rock terracing, stamp mills, etc. are evidence that those miners that came later weren’t messing around either though. This was quite the developed, prosperous hive of activity more than a century ago.
I’m sure many are curious about the interiors of the cabins (as am I). This may all be located on public land, but I’m not going to break in and damage historical sites like this to satisfy my curiosity or that of someone else. And I'm not trying to come across as "holier than thou" with that statement, but the reason I started doing these videos in the first place was to try and share how much was being lost, not to contribute to the problem. As such, destructive entry on a perfect mining camp like this wouldn't sit well with me... Obviously, the gold mine is not being actively worked at this time (the last mining I am aware of that took place here was in the 1990s), but it seems that at least some are still coming up to enjoy a great spot along the river.
I’ve done videos on other parts of this canyon, which I know that some of you will recognize, and can, therefore, add to the mental folder documenting more of the amazing stuff back along this stretch of the river. And there’s even more! On our most recent visit, we found three additional adits, including one that punches back almost to the next canyon over. We also discovered more infrastructure supporting these mines - and the canyon does such a good job of hiding things that we know there is still plenty waiting to be found. So, there will be more videos from here.
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All of these videos are uploaded in HD, so I’d encourage you to adjust your settings to the highest quality if it is not done automatically.
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD
As well as a small gear update here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help cover some of the many expenses associated with exploring these abandoned mines. Inspired by their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. So, if anyone would care to chip in, I’m under TVR Exploring on Patreon.
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
For those that didn't read the description of this video, if you would like to understand more of what his perspective and sentiments are toward preserving this site, please read it. Being a California Gal myself that has spent a great deal of time in the woods exploring and have seen a few sites buried with earth or water, in the name of progress. Other sites were vandalized for scrap and relics, The (Ingot Mine) is a prime example of that. I understand his concerns and hope you do also.
Thank you, California Gal... I'm glad someone gets it!
Thanks to the Burrro of mismanagement!
This is my claim I can tell you more about it but don’t know how to contact you
LMFAO for those that didnt read the description, read the description for more info.
@@ilei5846 Hardly anyone ever reads it...
There was a broken low energy light bulb on the gobin just as you went into the mine. Thank god not many people know where this is. I hope with that abrupt ending there is a part 2.
I find it amusing that you won't go into an old cabin with a rotten floor but you'll go into a collapsing mine good job guys
This is idyllic. I'd spend my days working on all that equipment, fixing up the cabins, hunting, reading, writing, hiking. Maybe sit on the porch after dinner, watch the sunset, sip some whiskey, play my guitar - perfect.
Oh yes!
Agreed!
Forgot to pet the dog, I don't see anything else.
Hey Wes, If you haven't already discovered "Ghost Town Living" then you need to subscribe, lickity-split! It's right up your alley!
Exactly what was on my mind. With this Vax mandate it would be a great place to create a income without having to work for the man.
I am 10 seconds in and I haven't been this excited to watch a video since I learned that I could power a hidden bug out camp with generated electricity from a little creek and modied common washing machine
What video was that?
Now that is a cool find .....amazed at how you find all these incredible abandoned areas with so much left behind..... the Pelton water wheels in tack really brought it home ....they were so smart back then using water to power everything ... so glad you are getting it all on film before its gone forever ....incredible find .... can't believe it does not belong to anyone or has no trespassing sign everywhere ..... first time I have ever seen an ATC powering a Old Jaw crusher ....how cool....love that old flume line ....great place to run a dredge....great explore my friend .....we smashed that like button so hard we new a new keyboard hahahhahahaah ...keep'em coming and be safe out there
You're not kidding! One of those rare ones! Glad it's still as intact as the years and weather will allow!👍
Hey Jeff is there gold in Kentucky
It's government property he said. Plus it's not been destroyed it's so hidden away.
AND YEAH! THEY GOT WET!
@@justagreenthumbhillbilly106 There's diamonds in Arkansas. Give us gold from Kentucky. Wait, you have Fort Knox already.
Wow, what a Jewel of a find, no broken windows, no graffiti, nothing stolen away > Just left behind !
Fantastic . . . . or even Euphoric !!! * Well done, just keep the location unadvertised !!!
Just wanted to say, i just noticed how you keep us oriented in the cave. Most of the others just swing that camera and I'll be danged if i know where im at or where im going. Thank you ! Love the channel!
Justin is a proper professional!
Cool video! The cabin at 5:13 looks like it might be in use. The porch is pretty tidy and there's a recent looking (water?) hose coming down the hill to it.
Awesome episode mate. Love the old miners cabins. Great to see vandals have stayed away and history preserved like that.
It is a true Joy to see existing pieces of history like this, it is like being able to time travel and an Absolute Joy to see that the Methbillies have yet to discover and destroy this piece of our history!!! 🤠👍
It’s because I own the active mining claims to that land and I go up there frequently
@@michaelwilcox9524 Thank You for your due diligence!! 🤠👍
Beautiful place. That would make a great vacation spot. Love the water falls. Thanks for sharing
Ok, that one was beyond cool. Agree with you on the original workings being well over a hundred years old. The reworking i think probably late 90's or early 2000's. Small time operation, romex electrical, pvc pipe, no sign of vent pipe. Pretty ingenious repower of that jaw crusher. That first hoist beside the trail is complete enough I could easily repower it and use it again. Really cool place, thanks for sharing it with us.
Where is this located? I’d love to go see this place next spring
I’d say the 2000s was the last time this mine saw use judging by the light bulbs. The coiled type didn’t come around until after the 90s.
Good point mr cabe, i didn't catch that.
@@CreatorCade That style bulb was introduced in 1995 by a Chinese company if that helps. I got bored and looked up the history of fluorescent light bulbs.
As an automotive guy, that vehicle @2:58 is a 1929-30 Chevrolet pickup.
With a title like this…you know it’s gonna be good. Never seen Justin oversell anything.
Thanks for finding such a neat spot. Looks like someone just walked away and never came back. 👍
🇺🇸🦅🌏⚓️🇺🇸
Dude, Your doing all the exploring I did back in the late 80s early 90s with one exception I never thought of documenting anything I did. Awesome and thanks for your uploads! So damn cool!
Another great video. Thanks Justin. So great to see a mine camp that is so complete and untouched by the vandals or your forest service.
Yes I would have to say this Entire Site is more valuable than anything it was pulled out of the mind, Thank God the Methbillies have yet to find this!!! 🤠👍
Exploring the Gold Country has been my favorite hobby the last 3-4 years, I'm from the Bay Area but I've been addicted to the history of gold mining in California since 4th grade lol. I spend hours on Google Earth looking for places to explore. I love looking for old roads that are no longer used and might have been old gold rush roads. I have a google earth file that contains 1000s of old mine locations and I love looking for old history. I spent 2 months living in my car going gold mining and exploring every day in the Coulterville/Sonora/Greely Hill area and the La Porte/Quincy area, just every day driving where ever I wanted, I only had to stop because my engine on my WRX blew up lol My goal is to get my WRX as Offroad capable as possible and have a dirtbike rack in the back I have been working on making an electric gold dredge too .
Really cool spot! Amazing that the tram is still suspended over the river.
Great Place thank You for showing Us . It is amazing that It is not visited , that shows how remote the location is .
At 4:30 those pipes are riveted. Definitely an old, old, old camp. Amazing find!
Certainly old. Spiral riveted galvanized sheet steel piping lasted into at least the 1930s. A low cost alternative to standard wall thickness piping.
Cabins look recently used. Lots of fresh cut wood within vincinity and modern items here and there. Great stuff Justin. This looks like in your backyard.
The paths around them would be grown over too but they’re clear like they’re regularly walked on.
I also noticed the well maintained buildings with intact window screens with no cracked or broken glass and the fresh cut wood!
Plus that rope swing!
Alright, this is the most legendary location of all time.
Wow that is a cool site I could live my days out there thanks for sharing
At some point in time your going to run out of finding these wonderful places. But not yet.
Small cabins like these really bring back memories.
Just when I thought this mine couldn't get any better (really loved the angular cleaving and the old pump), we got the see Mother Nature at her finest! The features in that canyon were just stunning! From the granite cliffs to the huge slab boulders to the color of the plunge pool... that was just magnificent. Thanks for sharing that last part, Justin. It was absolute California gold.
I might have missed the part where Justin said if it was in California? But regardless of where it's at this is truly a Beautiful Place!! 🤠👍
@@worldtraveler930 He mentioned it in the description box. Also, it just _looks_ like California's gold country, to me anyway. 😁
Again as I've followed you through these mine thinking I've seen it all you top it great content great job filming and narrating thanks again love thi channel
Oh man - do I ever want to go into the mountains and spend the night next to a river... (I hadn't realized its been 2-3 years since I've done that until now.) It is impossible not to have the best sleep ever listening to nature at its best. What awesome cabins! That site is a gem!
Sleeping out in the wild's of nature can be a great way to get some rest unless a mob of raccoons decided to break out into a Fight in the wee hours of the night then Yeah that pretty much ruins ones sleep for the rest of the night.
Wow,this was super duper fantastic! Watched earlier on a big 4K television… can’t recommend that enough 🔥🔥👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@Kara Smith aww,bless you. Definitely avoid for your health dear xx
@Kara Smith oh gosh,no way !!
Don’t be embarrassed.you genuinely can’t help it,it’s a condition xx
@Kara Smith and de-stress eh
Kick them off and throw it off,is always fantastic 😀
You are an amazing teacher I think ! X
@Kara Smith funny enough,I’m looking for someone to do mine …I would say the same,I’d pay well x
@Kara Smith lol.your very kind
That massive boulder wedged into flume tunnel is nuts!!! That musta happened during a Spring snow melt I bet or heavy heavy rainstorms one year. Crazy.
Yes mother nature can Perpetually amaze!!!
That is a old piston type water pump realy cool haven't seen 1 like that in a long time. Happy exploring from new Zealand
At 26:00 with the 2 PVC pipes running down into the winze, it looks like they were running a deep well injection head pump down there. The bigger PVC pipe is the water being pumped out and the smaller PVC pipe is the water injection down to the jet head, which means it is pumping from deeper than 30'- 50' level. The actual pump should be a little bit back down the drift and my only drain to the tunnel drain ditches.
Ah yes, it did either drain to the ditches or maybe had a fabric hose on it as there is a one way/anti-siphon valve (Blue disk thing) visible on the bigger pipe around 10' from the 90° where it goes back down the winze at around 24:20.
Thinking about it, it was probably an air injection lift with the smaller pipe carrying compressed air down and a U bend at the bottom where it then went up the lower opening of the bigger pipe. I've used them before, particularly when clearing bores and areas which have a lot of detritus in the water which would also damage an impeller pump.
Would've been cheaper to run and not require power if it ran of the compressor line.
I wonder how feasible it would be to run a trumpe to compress air then use the air to pump out the excess water. Basically free dewatering for the mine, just the setup cost.
Comments like this is another reason I come here
Awesome video!!! I’m sure this gold mine was in California. If it had been Nevada everything wood be peppered with more bullet holes. I noticed several cords of wood stacked under that one cabin, like they left yesterday. All left in remarkable condition. I noticed the absence of ore cars, drill steel and dynamite boxes. A sure sign the relic hunters had been there. Lotsa neat stuff to still explore. It must’ve been a lucrative mine with several employees. Max output must’ve been in the 20’s and 30’s. Again, I really enjoyed this video. I’ve seen them all and this is in the top 10. Thank you so much!
When he was riding in on the bike, I thought California as well.
I may have missed exactly where he said this was if he did, as for where it could be I've seen places that look just like this here in Texas! 🤠👍
@@worldtraveler930 No kidding? I didn't know y'all had country like that. Very cool.
@@DeepOwl1073 Quite Alot actually. 🤠
Excellent find y'all have discovered, and I can't imagine the labor it required to get the water over to the storage tank that drops further down slope.
The tank had to be to control the water going to the wheels, but I didn't see a way to divert the water when it was shut down to the wheels.
The cabins remaining intact even since the last miners that were there, what with the nature of some people to destroy everything they come across in out of the way location.
Mine definitely dates back to the early 1940's based on the truck left to behind, and it almost appears that some was coming back, because of the tarp on the truck, and everything appears to be left in suspension waiting for whomever to return.
As if they went home for a few days off, and for whatever reason never returned.
Nice ride to break out the bikes for too, although if that is designated as national forest, I thought especially in California motorized vehicles were prohibited from going offroad.
Either way great adventure for sure, and as always appreciate the ride along.
One of the best mines I've seen! Even with the modern equipment scattered around it was still one of those well preserved places that you just don't see anymore. Great job of locating that historical site!👍
That is one cool mine you are so lucky getting to look around these amazing places and see the history thank you for sharing 👍🏴
The waterfalls, cabins and scenery here are fantastic!
This was totally awesome bro!! Thanks so much for uploading!!
Im still praying for peace for your family.
26:10 That is a bucket plunger sinking air powered pump. The pump would be mounted on a wooden cart with wheels and lowered down the winze, notice the eye loop on the top of the pump.
Big rocks 🪨 cool cabins hunting for AU must have been some for sure!!!; )
Nice that it's in pristine shape , not vandalized .
THANKS
That was a picturesque entrance to the mine. Beautiful!!!
@ 3:37 Quincy , Ill. My birthplace 65 years ago!
We like to think we are smart today but those old timers sure knew how to do things. Hard to imagine the work to make that flume tunnel to make things more efficient. Then to tie it to the peloton wheels is crazy
Watched many mine videos of yours over the years and others on yt. This has got to be the most picturesque mine site I have seen.
Yes Justin thanks for documenting this one!
4:47 someone's been cutting wood recently-ish the faces on those logs aren't severely weathered.
You’d think the footpaths around the cabins would be weeded or grassy but it’s clear like they’re used regularly!
I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice that.
What an adventure back in time, through so may periods. You explain what you know and understand so well, what a cool place, thank you for taking me there.
That was the best spot, ever! How'd you like to spend a week in the summer there? Fantastic place. Must have been a patented mine, with the cabins. Nice swimming hole out off the front porch. Man! Imagine renting that place for a week at a pop? Cater food for the clients. Quad in all the comforts of home. What a place!
Wow!! The very next video after becoming a Patreon I am rewarded with this jewel of a mine to Enjoy!!!
Thanks Justin for being the Consummate videographer that you are!!!
I’ve been so desperately waiting for a video of yours to be posted!!! I’ve watched 98% of your past videos.
I’ve had to watch one of your explorer friends channel to satisfy my thirst for underground video.
You my friend are my Main mine exploring channel.
Stunning! The preservation is incredible! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
Wow! that camp and the scenery surrounding it was amazing.
What an amazing location! I am jealous! Thanks for sharing!!
very cool! have watched most of your vids within a month. Recently we have been exploring a superfund area in the Rocky Mts. What a mess, really not a lot left. We did a 5 mile bushwacking hike last week into a basically roadless area, only to find orange water and boulders strewn everywhere. Did find remnants of wooden ore carts. going to explore non superfund areas from now on.
Good one the first bunkhouse was standing few yrs ago. more cool stuff upstream good to see no one has messed with the place
Thank the Great Architect of the Universe for that!! Let's hope it remains for many more years to come!! 🤠👍
We can judge the most recent workings from the coiled compact fluorescent bulbs throughout the mine. The compact spiral design was first manufactured in 1995, but I wouldn't expect them in a shoestring budget mining operation until the early to mid 2000's due to cost.
Likewise, the condition of the ratchet straps being used on the three-wheeler to hold its rear wheel against the belt wheel if the jaw crusher indicates the same time period. Same for the tarps on the dozer and compressor (?) trailer from the beginning.
I'd live out there.
this one was EPIC! thanks for sharing!
They must have been making some money out of that mine to build all that infrastructure. What a gorgeous place.
Another amazing video!
I also wanted to thank you for the effort you put into keeping us oriented underground. I’ve watched all the mine explore channels and with most I have no idea where I am in the mine after a bit. With you taking a moment to explain where you are and where you’ve come from I can keep a mental map in my head and it really feels like I’m exploring with you
This one took me back to days gone by! Thanks for the trip!
Watching this makes me miss the mother lode? I grew up in Columbia (shp)haven't been there in a long long time! There were a couple of spots on the river , similar, but smaller, that were flooded out when new melones reservoir filled in the '70s all there is is what I remember, so this video is great archiving!
You can tell this is in the middle of no where because the way the world is today that Honda atc would be long gone already great video like always bro 👍
Nice one! Those cabins are so cool!
Spectacular! Great mine and amazing setting.
Pretty awesome mining camp.
The first thing to catch my eye was how much firewood was stacked under the one cabin. I think even more amazing than the place not being vandalized, shot up, and all the windows broken, is that the Forestry Service has not come in and totally wiped the place from existence. Looks like an awesome place to go camping and trout fishing, but let's hope the general public never finds this site, because they would destroy it in short order. --- Honda started making the 3-wheeler in the U.S. in 1970, and made them till 1987. That one on the jaw crusher looks like an early 80s model to me, though I'm no expert.
If you look there is a Harbor freight camo strap holding it down to the frame those straps will completely disintegrate in about 2 years under any kind of direct sunlight!
What an awesome place.
Model T, my Grandfather had a Model A with a rumble seat. I remember riding in the back of that old beast as a child, no seatbelts back then just hold on!
Good afternoon from Southeast South Dakota
Amazing stuff as usual!!!
Cool old cabins. Must have been fun camping there back in the day.
I've been to and seen some of these old mining camps, in the woods of Wyoming and elsewhere... to see an old Truck or car like this.. dang they really worked those vehicles hard to get em up there. These "roads" or "trails" nowadays are hard to navigate today. Let alone 100 or so yrs ago!
Very cool. Rare to find such an intact mining camp. I started covering gold mines, ghost towns and abandoned places. I do it all with my motorcycle so it was nice seeing you using a bike.
Awesome site and awesome job bringing it all to us.
i will admit, that was very cool. Thanks.
VERY VERY COOL from the start! Great mine inside, and stunning area! Loved the cabin!
Beautiful location and amazing mine! Thank you for the great video.
That was a serious operation, wow!
Wow. A day to remember.
That place should be preserved, way to cool!
Absolutely awesome site!
Woah, thanks for documenting this.. So awesome.. Thanks to you I can see things I never would have without you. From the Netherlands, you are great.
Super neat area
Worth the watch!
Awesome!
LOVE this one!
Always love these sites you share TFS ... not one for long g'byes hey ... 🤣
Love this thanks
Most enjoyable vid!
Grandma house sure has changed. Over the river through the woods. Hanging walls to foot walls standing strong. High graders workings to boot.
AWESOME!...thanks 4 video. be kind.
Wow such a cool spot enjoy 😊
Wow! Awesome place!!
👍👍👍👊😎
Amazing location!
Nice research great finds you all took us on .for 3 plus cabins that is a good size operation lots of good old hard work was done here and a lot of rock moved .May your batteries Never run low .thank you for the discovery and the awesome adventure .⛏️🇺🇸
Jolly good show!
Just wow....
AWESOME!!!! GREAT PLACE O METAL DETECT AS WELL
Just dropped in aid in identifying the truck on site. Using the hood in part which is difficult cause it could of been changed, places it at 1931 Chevrolet. The fact that the cowling dose not have air vent and dash cluster is exverted determine it to be more properly identified as a 1930 Chevrolet. A help. After viewing this broadcast for a third time I wanna edit previous comment that this site to be the best you produced. The tunnel is fascinating, though not deep, all the redirected exploring directions, up down and sideways are amazing. The artifacts are the real treasure, dwellings, hoist house, transfer line, working aids , hardware, and equipment are rather exciting to see. Thanks again for venturing out and taking us along, well appreciated. All the best for continued success to ya.