Since the squatter that used to guard the Klau Mine area is dead http://pasoroblesd...-postponed/13939/1
, I decided to go check it out up close for the first time. I know everyone has been here before, but it was great to see it for myself finally. Also, I managed to get a few shot of the work shed where they keep the powered rail trolley(?) I don't know what it was, but when I got access using my patented S.B.D.B* POE technique, my mind short circuited and I took as many crappy photos as I could.




Also, I saw three cases of glass bottles filled with sulfuric acid. For this place being some EPA cleanup site, they sure don't know how to secure it when they leave.

Enjoy!


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I read a magazine article on it, I'm good to go!

Man, that place looks pretty harsh to live in... How did that squatter survive before he got killed? Anyways, cool pics! Oh and just by curiosity, how did you find that article anyways?

The EPA is better at making a mess than cleaning up.

The squatter actually lived in a ranch house right next door to the mine site. A couple of years ago, my boys and I had a run in with him and his girl friend. We parked about a 100 yards away from the mine site to do some walking out on the country roads out there(I don't usually UE with my boys). Him and his lady friend roll up on an ATC and give us crap about crossing fences, and he made some claim to being the caretaker for the site since the EPA left. He then proceeded to do a wheelie, nearly tossing off his drunk girlfriend in the process.
I heard about the whole shooting thing about a year later. I still do a training run out in that area, so when the news article came up, it caught my attention. I can't believe that the guy got 10 rounds pumped into him! After looking at the ranch house yesterday, its apparent that the only source of water is a hand pumped surface well. I think that maybe the occupants that lived there got a healthy dose of mercury from that, since... its a mercury mine they were living next door to. The thing that pissed me off the most was when I found out he was just a squatter there. He was trespassing more than I ever could!

The EPA was there for years cleaning up the site, as well as making a holes of themselves. I didn't take pictures of all the crap they left behind, because the mine stuff was way cooler. It just makes me mad that the EPA left out hazardous chemicals in plain view. They also ditched a bunch of nalgene specimen bottles and other lab stuff as well.

The main work building was pretty well locked up, but someone had managed to wiggle one of the corrugated metal panels up close to the door. Once in, it was clear that the building was sealed by the EPA and left alone. It was really pristine in spite of being such a high traffic area. I know that Lost America has done a photo set there, and there are some other shots of Klau back in the thread archives. I just didn't see any from inside that building yet.

I will also be getting a better camera soon. There is something wrong with the lens on mine that is washing out the edges in high contrast photos. Plus, having an SLR rig will be a much better credibility prop : )

Thanks for looking!

I know that Lost America has done a photo set there, and there are some other shots of Klau back in the thread archives.

Wow, yeah, that was in about 1990. One of the first places I ever night shot. I went back in 2000 too, my pics were pretty crappy tho: they'll never see the light of day again. The place still looks pretty much the same.

I went here a little over a year ago and was chased off by that same guy...perhaps I'll have to go back now. Looks like a fun place

Posted by LostAmerica Wow, yeah, that was in about 1990. One of the first places I ever night shot. I went back in 2000 too, my pics were pretty crappy tho: they'll never see the light of day again. The place still looks pretty much the same.

It was your shot of the upper building that made me want to go there in the first place. I am a huge fan of your work. I'll bet your crappy shots are far better than my "good" shots : )

The cool thing is that this place is still relatively virgin as far as abandoned mines go. The EPA, and the squatter chased all the scrappers and vandals away. TEH fear of poisoning keeps everyone else away