So once again we headed up to the Widowmaker in search of some adventure, and we weren't disappointed. Along the way I joined up with YouTube gold prospector Jeff Williams for some more exploring fun.

My friend and I headed up to the mine to see what we could turn up. On a previous trip a couple of us found an interesting lead. We identified what appeared to be an ore pass (ore chute) that had been buried under a collapse of large rocks. We were just able to shine our lights down into the void, but no way to climb down. We decided to change that.

Tony and I headed to the ore pass to see if we could make an opening big enough to slide through. After a lot of moving large rocks and digging we had made an opening just wide enough to squeeze through. A tight squeeze. We decided that we had stirred up too much dust so we headed back to camp to let things settle over night.

The next morning we packed up our ropes and climbing gear and headed underground. A quick look down the hole to make certain that the dust had settled, and it was time to see what we could find. The little hold opened up into the top of a chamber with about an 80' free hanging rappel down onto a large pile of rubble.

We had found our way into an area of the mine that no one had been in for 50 years or more. It was pristine. No graffiti, no trash, artifacts still in place. As we explored around we came to a large stope (chamber) that still had perfect square-set 4 sets high and hundreds of feet in each direction. It's the nicest example of square-set I've ever seen. It even had ore car track running all through the area. More interesting, there was another ore pass in the floor of the stope that dropped another 70' or so into another lower level. We believe that that level remains unexplored as well. Who knows what we may find there. We had not brought another rope down with us, so we couldn't rig a second drop into the next lower chamber.

After about 5 hours we decided it was time to see if we could fit back up through the hole to get out. On the way down, gravity helps pull you through the opening. Climbing up, it's all strength and technique. While it may not seem like a long climb, climbing up 80' of rope while free hanging from the top of the chamber, and having to climb up through a tiny opening is physically and mentally challenging. Although it was a strenuous effort, it was able to make it without crying or whining.

Somehow karma was against me though. Honestly, this was a once in a lifetime discovery for most mine explorers, me included. As I was photographing Tony descending down through the opening, it seemed like the photos were out of focus. The pictures of me rappelling down the rope...out of focus. Sure enough my camera wouldn't focus at all. Waaaaaaa No usable photos of any of the new level.

Tony had to head back to Vegas on Friday, but YouTuber Jeff Williams came up with his wife, and another friend named Kris. They filmed a few hours of our explorations and released part 1 of a three part series.

If you want to see the famous "Zig Zag Ladder of Death", you want to watch this video! The areas that he films in part 1 are the more tame part of the mine. We got to some of the more 'interesting' areas in part 2 and 3. None of the video was in the area that Tony and I discovered.



Enjoy!

Abby Normal

Very ice cube chilly cool
A red (535 nm) laser pointer will get you a rock solid AF lock on every time.

Posted by blackhawk Very ice cube chilly cool A red (535 nm) laser pointer will get you a rock solid AF lock on every time.

In this case it is a mechanical issue with the camera. Now it won't focus above ground either. I suspect there is dust and grime in the mechanism. Underground is terribly unforgiving to cameras. Time to replace it. Lots of good used cameras on Ebay.

Abby

"Maybe that's the gene pool being weeded out" he says as he explores the "widowmaker"

Awesome explore, great video (I learned a lot!). I know you're the expert but just wondering if its a safety concern to be shifting large rocks in a previous collapse?

Can't wait to see part 2 and 3!

Wow that is definitely a zig zag ladder of death! The scale of some of the parts of the mine is crazy! This mine is definitely an amazing find.

Posted by Xiketic "Maybe that's the gene pool being weeded out" he says as he explores the "widowmaker" Awesome explore, great video (I learned a lot!). I know you're the expert but just wondering if its a safety concern to be shifting large rocks in a previous collapse? Can't wait to see part 2 and 3!

Yes, that is always a concern. In this particular mine levels are often a honeycomb, so there are often multiple ways out of any given area.

Abby

This is probably number one on my bucket list. I've always been so fascinated with mines, but every time I head out west I'm always solo and I know nothing about mines except what I've read while researching locations and places like UER. I wish you guys weren't so far away from me! I would totally crash y'all's party just to be able to explore one of these mines.
I just drove back to DFW from Colorado where I had been exploring the above-ground portion of a huge mine and wanted so badly to explore the actual mine. I just don't want to be the idiot that ends up being the butt of every local joke for the next ten years due to my ignorance, or worse.

That sucks about your camera. I've lost count of the cameras (or electronics/phones/etc ) I've killed in action through various forms of death since taking up this hobby. I don't think any kind of real exploring bodes well for the life of something like a camera, unfortunately.

Time for me to watch the video and live vicariously through you once more!

You guys are insane! This made my night (:

Posted by Dee Ashley This is probably number one on my bucket list. I've always been so fascinated with mines, but every time I head out west I'm always solo and I know nothing about mines except what I've read while researching locations and places like UER. I wish you guys weren't so far away from me! I would totally crash y'all's party just to be able to explore one of these mines. I just drove back to DFW from Colorado where I had been exploring the above-ground portion of a huge mine and wanted so badly to explore the actual mine. I just don't want to be the idiot that ends up being the butt of every local joke for the next ten years due to my ignorance, or worse. That sucks about your camera. I've lost count of the cameras (or electronics/phones/etc ) I've killed in action through various forms of death since taking up this hobby. I don't think any kind of real exploring bodes well for the life of something like a camera, unfortunately. Time for me to watch the video and live vicariously through you once more!

Dee,

If you happen to get out Vegas way, let me know ahead of time and we can see what we can set up. I have extra gear and would be glad to introduce you to the mine exploring scene. There are some great mines around Vegas, and others a bit further west at the south end of Death Valley. It would be fun.

Here's one that we did out in Death Valley.



Abby

Awesome! I might just have to start working on hollowing out a couple weeks in my schedule sometime between now and before the summer temps shoot back up next year...

Posted by Theninjalobster You guys are insane! This made my night (:

Thank you! I enjoy being insane...or Abby Normal

I finally got around to downloading my photos. Here's the guy that I almost stepped on. He wasn't in a particularly good mood having his nap interrupted.





This little guy was a bit more friendly about the whole thing.



Abby Normal

Posted by Abby Normal I finally got around to downloading my photos. Here's the guy that I almost stepped on. He wasn't in a particularly good mood having his nap interrupted. https://i.postimg....XFzYs/DSC-2663.jpg[/eimg] This little guy was a bit more friendly about the whole thing. https://i.postimg....cFzH/DSC-2662a.jpg[/eimg] Abby Normal

He was all camoed out, good spot

Posted by Abby Normal I finally got around to downloading my photos. Here's the guy that I almost stepped on. He wasn't in a particularly good mood having his nap interrupted. https://i.postimg....XFzYs/DSC-2663.jpg[/eimg] This little guy was a bit more friendly about the whole thing. https://i.postimg....cFzH/DSC-2662a.jpg[/eimg] Abby Normal

Its a baby! I miss horned lizards (horny toads) theyre almost extinct in Texas even though theyre protected and designated as the State Lizard! Awesome little creatures Ive watched them sitting in a bed of red harvester ant snapping them up like popcorn.

Posted by Theninjalobster You guys are insane! This made my night (:

OMG you guys (gals) be careful its no secret Im am a rural explorer now and don't do much urban anything anymore but going down in mines out in the middle of nowhere? Just the thought of that increases my pucker factor by 10.

Not saying y'all are insane I know youre taking prper care but that's still scary to me. Scary stuff.

Everyone comes back Ok?

Posted by Dee Ashley This is probably number one on my bucket list. I've always been so fascinated with mines, but every time I head out west I'm always solo and I know nothing about mines except what I've read while researching locations and places like UER. I wish you guys weren't so far away from me! I would totally crash y'all's party just to be able to explore one of these mines. I just drove back to DFW from Colorado where I had been exploring the above-ground portion of a huge mine and wanted so badly to explore the actual mine. I just don't want to be the idiot that ends up being the butt of every local joke for the next ten years due to my ignorance, or worse.

If you do I hope you go with somebody like Abby Normal that "knows the ropes".

You have about 3 times more courage than I do please be careful thats nothing to mess around with. Ive explored exactly one mine and it was an old Spanish prospect you had to crawl in. Only about 60-70 feet in and no fall hazards just rattlesnakes LOL!

Posted by 2Xplorations <snip> OMG you guys (gals) be careful its no secret Im am a rural explorer now and don't do much urban anything anymore but going down in mines out in the middle of nowhere? Just the thought of that increases my pucker factor by 10. <snip>

Rural explorers rock! There's lots to find out there.

Abby

Posted by 2Xplorations If you do I hope you go with somebody like Abby Normal that "knows the ropes". You have about 3 times more courage than I do please be careful thats nothing to mess around with. Ive explored exactly one mine and it was an old Spanish prospect you had to crawl in. Only about 60-70 feet in and no fall hazards just rattlesnakes LOL!

I've never properly explored an underground mine - mostly because I don't know anyone that is both willing and knowledgeable in this area!

Posted by Dee Ashley I've never properly explored an underground mine - mostly because I don't know anyone that is both willing and knowledgeable in this area!

Hi Dee,

Although you can learn the basics of mine exploring without a experienced coach, it does help to have someone guide you through the first few trips. Plus, they can generally explain the different things you see underground and how they were used. Moreso than many forms of UE, underground solo exploring isn't the best choice. Needless to say I've broken that rule, but I do so in mines that I have been into before and know their condition. Still not the best idea.

I've introduced a number of folks to underground exploring, both horizontal and vertical with ropes. I enjoy bringing folks into the underground community. Without trying to be over dramatic, in the United States the window is closing on mine exploring. State and federal governments are spending large amounts of money to close as many mines as they possibly can. One can debate the merits of these actions, but the bottom line is that the next generation will probably not have this opportunity. Abandoned buildings come and go over time, but when these old mines are gone, they are gone forever. Even today, in many cases our photos are the only historical documentation of these mines. It's not uncommon to go back to mines that we've previously visited only to find them gated or bulldozed shut.

My understanding is that some mines are gated since they represent bat habitat. Otherwise they would be blasted or dozed shut. There seems to be no concern for any historical value. It's a bit ironic that if I pick up an artifact in an old mine, I can be arrested under the antiquities protection laws. On the other hand, the government can doze the mine shut destroying everything inside. :-/

I'll get off my soapbox now....

Abby Normal

Posted by Abby Normal Although you can learn the basics of mine exploring without a experienced coach, it does help to have someone guide you through the first few trips. . .

I wouldn't be at all comfortable trying to explore a mine solo for my first few adventures (or maybe ever). That just sounds really unwise - not to mention, I've used ropes all of one time in my life and pretty much know nothing about that aspect of mine exploration either. I explore lots of things solo, but I don't think this will be one of those things!

Posted by Abby Normal . . . Without trying to be over dramatic, in the United States the window is closing on mine exploring. State and federal governments are spending large amounts of money to close as many mines as they possibly can . . . Abby Normal

I'm a bit of a nerd and spend far too much time looking at things like google satellite imagery and starring various potential locations, mines included - when I find them. The expeditious rate at which these mine entrances are being destroyed certainly has not escaped me. The government, or whomever, seems to be filling in the entrances (this seems to be the most common means that can actually be seen from a satellite image) very quickly. Every new set of images has more of them filled in it seems like.