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UER Forum > US: Pacific Southwest > The War Eagle (Viewed 1618 times)
Abby Normal 


Location: Las Vegas
Gender: Female
Total Likes: 843 likes




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The War Eagle
< on 5/14/2019 1:53 PM >
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The adventure continues!

I'm not sure if any of you know of a YouTuber named Jeff Williams. He and his wife make videos about gold prospecting and gold mining. About six months ago he came up to our mine and shot a video for his channel. This past two weeks my friend Tony was here from England, so we all got together and headed out to the south end of Death Valley to explore a large mine.

Of course I had to get a few photos of Lila, Tony, and Jeff before heading underground.




Looking down a winze full of wood and other debris. Ironically, later in the day I climbed up from a lower level and found myself coming out this opening. I thought it looked familiar as I climbed out, but it took a couple of moments to realize where I was. Rather than climbing back down through the mess, I hurried back down the same way we had just came in and snuck up behind them.




The mine is really extensive, but one of the really interesting features in the main incline. It goes down six levels in total. There are also levels above the main haulage tunnel. It's really a great mine to introduce new folks to mine exploring. There's a lot to see, and no need for ropes and technical gear.




At each level along the incline is a lift-up section of rail that allows cars to exit on a level or continue down to a lower level. Quite ingenious! At this level the incline has two side-by-side tracks. Further down they only used one track.




As in many old mines, we find various bits of equipment scattered around. We think this is probably the head off of a large air compressor.




Looks like someone pushed an ore car down incline. It ended up crosswise in the incline. Fortunately it didn't destroy all of the timbering along the incline. The wheels were stripped a long time ago. My first visit to this mine was over 10 years ago and they were gone at that time. Still, it's neat to see.




We can't tell if they were pulling track up a storing here as the mine was closing, or if they were using this as a staging point as they dug new drifts.




Here's another view of where a level meets the incline. This would have been the center of activity for each level. I wish I could have seen this mine in action. It would have been dusty and noisy, but it would have been interesting to watch.




This picture is a good example of how they ventilated a drift. These would extend the entire length of the drift, sometimes hundreds of yards long. They are made of heavy metal so it would have been a real effort to get them up in place.




It appears that the miners decided to dig underneath the rail. The rails were hanging over the edge and then continued at the other end of the hole. We didn't figure out whether they had a bridge over the hole, or whether they dug down it after they quit mining at the far end of the drift.




For you rail fans, this could be interesting. I'm not sure if this is considered a "frog" or not. We generally don't find prefabricated pieces like this in the smaller mines. We usually find ones that are built on-site by the guys who laid the track.




Another uncommon find is this rail switch. These are usually taken out by collectors or the miners when they shut down the mine. This one wasn't working so Jeff spent a few minutes getting it operational. It's fun to find operational relics.




I'm not sure of the dates that this mine operated, but the incline workings were electrified. We found a main power panel on almost every level.




Another level on our way down to the bottom. Every level had something of interest to look at. Jeff is heading into the drift to see what he can find.




Tony climbed up to see what he could find. It's amazing how often you you make interesting finds behind, or on top of, the timbering. Nothing this time though.




What mine exploring trip would be complete without finding some dynamite? It's a good reminder of how dangerous it was to work in these mines, as well as a reminder to us to be careful where we step and where we touch.




I've always loved this level. This looks like something that Knotts Berry Farm or Disneyland would build for an adventure ride. The picture doesn't do it justice. It's really neat in person.




On the way out we came across this old dynamite locker. We find these in most mines, but this one is one of my favorites just because of the neat timbering.




Another section of the mine has a serious collapse that the miners shored up with heavy cribbing. The cribbing makes a tight little passage that reminds me of a corn maze. Surprisingly, air and water lines are routed through the passage as well suggesting that they mined beyond the collapse. I need to get back there and explore that area some more.




As we headed out, Jeff, Lila, and Tony posed for one last picture. Of course Tony was too busy looking for artifacts to pose.




The day had started out a bit cloudy and while we were underground the thunderheads had started to build. By the time we exited the mine, the sky was threatening a thunderstorm. During the drive home, we stopped for about an hour and watched a lightning storm roll across the Pahrump valley. For those of you who don't live in the desert, watching a heavy storm roll across the desert floor is an amazing site.



I have included links to Jeff's videos at our Shamrock mine and of this trip to the War Eagle. I'm not very comfortable on film, so don't make fun....

Shamrock Mine:
https://www.youtub...atch?v=Sl2yC29iOtM

War Eagle Mine
https://www.youtub...hEMd395tHNQ&t=218s


Abby Normal






[last edit 5/14/2019 1:54 PM by Abby Normal - edited 1 times]

"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan
becckeez 


Location: 804
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trippin.

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 1 on 5/14/2019 2:19 PM >
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Too cool. Thanks for sharing and showing!




Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
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Meow Meow Fudder Mucker!

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 2 on 5/14/2019 2:24 PM >
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Beyond effing awesome.... Thank you SO much for the tour!




Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

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Pearson 


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You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 3 on 5/14/2019 2:40 PM >
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Incredible stuff as always, great write up and description. Really takes me into the mine with you and I would most likely never do mine exploring.




Xiketic 


Location: Bay Area, CA/ATL, GA
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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 4 on 5/14/2019 4:16 PM >
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Very cool! I'm wondering how someone "gets into" mine exploring? I'd love to try it out but it seems like a niche and potentially dangerous hobby.




More of my photos: https://www.instagram.com/xiketic_urbex/
Abby Normal 


Location: Las Vegas
Gender: Female
Total Likes: 843 likes




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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 5 on 5/16/2019 3:02 AM >
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Thanks for the kind words. I really do enjoy sharing my adventures with folks who appreciate these old sites. Most of my "normal" friends just shake their heads. They just don't get it.

Abby




"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan
Abby Normal 


Location: Las Vegas
Gender: Female
Total Likes: 843 likes




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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 6 on 5/16/2019 3:14 AM >
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Posted by MonkeyGang
Very cool! I'm wondering how someone "gets into" mine exploring? I'd love to try it out but it seems like a niche and potentially dangerous hobby.


I've written a bit of an essay on getting started in mine exploring. I found myself being regularly asked about it and sending off emails that basically said the same thing. I finally wrote something a bit more formal to send when people asked for information. I have a bit more editing to do and a few more topics I want to cover before I post it here on UER. I think it might be an interesting read since we all like to explore.

Abby




"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan
blackhawk 

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UER newbie

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 7 on 5/16/2019 3:38 AM >
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Looks like that was a lot of fun.
Lots of cool relics.
It always amazes how well the timbers are preserved in many of these.
What a lot of work it was to create.
Thank you for the peek




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
und3rlie 


Location: The Bay Area, California
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i explore things sometimes

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 8 on 5/17/2019 7:07 PM >
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Amazing stories as always! I've always wanted to explore a mine but never had an opportunity. One day...




A collection of my explores:
https://www.instagram.com/und3rlie/
Smurf 


Location: Salt Lake City / Saint Paul
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Sanitary sewers are smarter than the ghetto in spring time

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 9 on 5/20/2019 6:11 PM >
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Just a heads up - certain (explody) things found in mines that happen to be private property shouldn't be posted online. It tends to get both you and the property owner in trouble with the ayy-tee-eff or one of those three lettered federal agencies. (Yes this actually happens).
This mine in particular is open because the property owners have an interest in preserving it, but if there are a ton of random people going there it becomes a liability.. Maybe consider taking the names down for the sake of keeping them open and explorable. Currently the property owners let groups of explorers come out and see the place if they sign a liability waiver but that's not guaranteed to stay that way.



[last edit 5/20/2019 6:19 PM by Smurf - edited 2 times]

Abby Normal 


Location: Las Vegas
Gender: Female
Total Likes: 843 likes




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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 10 on 5/20/2019 8:03 PM >
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Posted by Smurf
Just a heads up - certain (explody) things found in mines that happen to be private property shouldn't be posted online. It tends to get both you and the property owner in trouble with the ayy-tee-eff or one of those three lettered federal agencies. (Yes this actually happens).
This mine in particular is open because the property owners have an interest in preserving it, but if there are a ton of random people going there it becomes a liability.. Maybe consider taking the names down for the sake of keeping them open and explorable. Currently the property owners let groups of explorers come out and see the place if they sign a liability waiver but that's not guaranteed to stay that way.


In recent months I've started catching a bit of heat for posting mine exploring photos. I'm not certain what's changed, but it makes me wonder whether I should continue to take the time to resize all the photos and write a bit of a story about our adventures. I've completely quit posting any photos on Facebook. Maybe it's time to quit posting anywhere. I'm certainly not the one whose going to miss out on the experience. I'll keep finding new mines and exploring them. It's the folks here who will miss out. :-/

As you probably know, this is the mine where the annual Underground gathering has been held for the last few years (but just cancelled for 2019). It's one of the best known mines in the southwest with thousands of photos on the internet. I don't think I gave any secrets away...

Abby Normal




"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan
Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
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Meow Meow Fudder Mucker!

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 11 on 5/20/2019 8:30 PM >
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Posted by Abby Normal
Maybe it's time to quit posting anywhere. I'm certainly not the one whose going to miss out on the experience. I'll keep finding new mines and exploring them. It's the folks here who will miss out. :-/



NNOOOOOOOOoooooooo!!! I don't care what it's called or where it's located, but puhLEEEEZE keep sharing them! There are so many mines in the SW, I think even history could be shared without giving anything away. But even if that's a no, I still enjoy the stories of your adventure. Long live Tales From a Mine Adit Chuckwagon!!




Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

Lifetime member of The Anti-MyInstaTubeTweetFace consortium.
Smurf 


Location: Salt Lake City / Saint Paul
Gender: Male
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Sanitary sewers are smarter than the ghetto in spring time

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Re: The War Eagle
< Reply # 12 on 5/20/2019 9:31 PM >
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Posted by Abby Normal


As you probably know, this is the mine where the annual Underground gathering has been held for the last few years (but just cancelled for 2019). It's one of the best known mines in the southwest with thousands of photos on the internet. I don't think I gave any secrets away...

Abby Normal

Sucks about the cancelling of 2019. I didn't get that notification. Looking at the reason why makes me think there could be even more reason to keep this place off the radar... assuming California is as crazy about sealing mines as the state of Utah is.

In general I'd think you can get by posting whatever photos you'd like if you keep entrance and location details as vague as possible. In this case, having the specific name is all you need to find the place. I haven't tried looking up this one on the internet so I don't know how known or unknown it is. I DO know that when I was at UG2018 they made a point to tell people not to post photos of dynamite.

Again, I don't think there's a problem with making mine posts if certain extraneous details are left out.




UER Forum > US: Pacific Southwest > The War Eagle (Viewed 1618 times)


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