Just throwing this out there, but has anyone ever thought about exploring any mines around the Seattle area? I haven't had the guts to go into any I have encountered (alone underground makes me nervous) but ever since me and an ex went on a failed expedition for the abandoned Kromona Mine near Sultan I have wanted to try going inside one to see if it's something I would enjoy.

We have some pretty good ones around here, and for the most part they seem fairly safe- there's always the normal risks like bad air, but it seems like the rock many of them were dug into is pretty solid

Any interest in this?

Lots and lots of interest from me, I have tons of locations from mines and was just waiting until summer time to tackle them.

Be wary of covered or open hellholes in the form of vertical shafts on the shaft floors. With no knowledge or mine map you literally don't know what you're walking into. Bats are another potential risk if presence; rabies.

I have been tempted myself but the ones I've come across were either sealed fairly well, had beaucoup bats, or were vertical shafts.

I believe I'd indicated my interest last spring, but as I was in the midst of a move (now residing somewhere in Skagit County), there was simply no time. I'm still very interested in this, but I'll be waiting for warm weather.

And, thankfully, I've already gone through the whole rabies immunoglobulin thing--from a bat encounter, no less--so those little buggers don't scare me! (Just wear a turtleneck or other high-collar shirt when you're with me, because for some reason I can't resist an exposed neck now. *shrug*)

I would be down, but maybe later in the spring when it gets warmer. There has been a lot of snowfall in the mountains and most of the mines are flooded or collapsed.