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Hey Everyone!
Did this explore with @WindsorSB on a road trip a few weeks ago. This was our first real mine explore, minus some short tunnels that don't have much to show for. This place is pretty known in the exploring world and has been mentioned here before, but thought I would share my photos and some info we learned about the possible changing future. Towards the end of our explore we ran into a group of people on the way out who didn't really fit the "look" of explorers. We put two and two together after talking to them and realized it was a realtor showing off the place to some investors. Not 100% sure, but the interaction was very strange. I really hope this isn't true because this place is just way too cool to see be shut down and turned into some tourist attraction. Anyways Thanks and Enjoy!
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Just dropping these photos here...
This one was an awesome explore. It would suck if this land was purchased, but I would still plan to come here regardless. Fences come down with a truck and a chain 
**The part about the chain is a joke, I wouldn't blow up a spot like that in case anyone was wondering, but there is always a way in!
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Pretty sick! I especially like #10 with the tracks
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These are some awesome pics; great work y'all! Looks like a wild explore. Thanks for sharing!
"When you've truly done something right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." |
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Exploring a mine like this is one of my unrealized dreams.
Someday...
Great set, thanks for sharing! 
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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Posted by Dee Ashley
Exploring a mine like this is one of my unrealized dreams.
Someday...
Great set, thanks for sharing!
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If your ever out this way, this spot is well worth it! I might do a return trip sometime in the fall this year.
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Wow, this insane! Great photos, that place looks like a blast to explore. How dangerous is it, do the tunnels seem stable? Also, is that blue device in your hands a air quality monitor?
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I have so many great memories of that mine. The whole area that includes a number of great mines is up for sale. The clock is ticking...
Abby
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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Posted by WhiteAlbin0
Wow, this insane! Great photos, that place looks like a blast to explore. How dangerous is it, do the tunnels seem stable? Also, is that blue device in your hands a air quality monitor?
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Yeah, this is the coolest mine I have been in so far. All the shafts are in great condition and appear very stable. The Stopes however seem very loose and not very safe without proper gear. And yes, that is an air quality monitor. Good air when I were there, never tripped the meter.
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Posted by Abby Normal
I have so many great memories of that mine. The whole area that includes a number of great mines is up for sale. The clock is ticking...
Abby
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We ended up in a lot of those other mines trying to find this one. We actually ran into a group of people that seemed to be looking at the property to buy while we were in the mine. So might be sooner than we think.....
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Posted by Goste
Yeah, this is the coolest mine I have been in so far. All the shafts are in great condition and appear very stable. The Stopes however seem very loose and not very safe without proper gear. And yes, that is an air quality monitor. Good air when I were there, never tripped the meter.
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That mine "breathes" really well since it has at least one ventilation shaft towards the back and connects to another major mine. I've only gotten into a couple of areas that were a bit humid and stale.
One time I was there with some friends who hadn't been to the mine before. We had gone down the incline to the first level and worked our way back a ways. I climbed up into a sketchy stope thinking that maybe I'd find something interesting. I finally popped out on the main haulage level that we had came in. I decided to give them a little scare, so rather than climb back down, I followed our original path down the incline to the first level. They were taken a bit off guard to see another light coming down the drift, not knowing it was me. We all got a good laugh when they realized I had made a complete loop and snuck back up on them.
Fun memories.
Abby
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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A couple of fun pictures...
Up in one of the upper stopes
We had found a stash of drill bits and stacked them up on a beam. Not a single one was left on our next trip there.
Lots of these around. The dynamite may be old and inert, but these are probably still dangerous.
My friend descending down into some lower workings.
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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Thanks for sharing! These are some great photos. We knew because of your earlier post about the dynamite and were freaked out about accidentally stepping on it throughout the explore, but didn't really notice any until we were packing up to head back up the incline when WindsorSB said to be in a panic "um... what is that?" A few feet from where we thought it was a safe spot to pack things up and take a break was 1 lonely stick just sitting there waiting for someone to accidentally kick it. We quickly packed up and headed back a little more carefully after that. Good times...
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Posted by Goste
If your ever out this way, this spot is well worth it! I might do a return trip sometime in the fall this year.
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I used to live in Monterey and I go back every Thanksgiving. I’ve made my annual pilgrimage back out there every year for like 15 years, but with this corona crap, who knows?? Provided I’m still not on lockdown and travel is safe (enough) again for my mom (healthy but 60+), I plan on returning in November. I had hoped to make a road trip out west before summer, ...but that was pre-covid. 
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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Posted by Goste
Hey Everyone!
Did this explore with @WindsorSB on a road trip a few weeks ago. This was our first real mine explore, minus some short tunnels that don't have much to show for. This place is pretty known in the exploring world and has been mentioned here before, but thought I would share my photos and some info we learned about the possible changing future. Towards the end of our explore we ran into a group of people on the way out who didn't really fit the "look" of explorers. We put two and two together after talking to them and realized it was a realtor showing off the place to some investors. Not 100% sure, but the interaction was very strange. I really hope this isn't true because this place is just way too cool to see be shut down and turned into some tourist attraction. Anyways Thanks and Enjoy!
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Nice, that looks pretty cool. I've been wanting to go into some of the "local" mines near where I live, but I feel pretty uneducated on avoiding suffocation and such. Was just going to buy a canary and go down there like in the old days (kidding, but it worked)
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Posted by Dee Ashley
I used to live in Monterey and I go back every Thanksgiving. I’ve made my annual pilgrimage back out there every year for like 15 years, but with this corona crap, who knows?? Provided I’m still not on lockdown and travel is safe (enough) again for my mom (healthy but 60+), I plan on returning in November. I had hoped to make a road trip out west before summer, ...but that was pre-covid.
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I'm 60+, so bring her along!
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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Posted by Abby Normal
I'm 60+, so bring her along!
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Hahaha, it's getting from point A to point B that worries me (i.e. the dangers of traveling, or even getting stuck in another quarantine)! Once we get to our destination, my whole family (all 3 of us) are quite effective when it comes to keeping to ourselves (we're pretty low key). That part's easy.
I'll explore one of these mines eventually, damnit.
It will happen!
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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Posted by Dee Ashley
Hahaha, it's getting from point A to point B that worries me (i.e. the dangers of traveling, or even getting stuck in another quarantine)! Once we get to our destination, my whole family (all 3 of us) are quite effective when it comes to keeping to ourselves (we're pretty low key). That part's easy.
I'll explore one of these mines eventually, damnit.
It will happen!
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I really hope that I can be there! I usually try to step back and let people explore rather than giving a tour. Same location, different experience. I tend to nudge people towards interesting stuff.
Abby
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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Posted by Dee Ashley
Hahaha, it's getting from point A to point B that worries me (i.e. the dangers of traveling, or even getting stuck in another quarantine)! Once we get to our destination, my whole family (all 3 of us) are quite effective when it comes to keeping to ourselves (we're pretty low key). That part's easy.
I'll explore one of these mines eventually, damnit.
It will happen!
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Road trip should be safe, just keep the vents on recirculate air in populated areas, and I assume your car has a filter for that, unless its pre 2000's 😁
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Posted by Heisenberg2JZ
Road trip should be safe, just keep the vents on recirculate air in populated areas, and I assume your car has a filter for that, unless its pre 2000's 😁
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Actually, we usually fly into Monterey. That’s why I consider it a high risk activity, especially for my 60 y/o mom.
| I really hope that I can be there! I usually try to step back and let people explore rather than giving a tour. Same location, different experience. I tend to nudge people towards interesting stuff |
I sure hope so, because I’m not exploring my first one alone! 
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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