Exploration of the Crystal Spring Mine, the Western Talc Mine, the Billie Mine, and the Columbia Mine < on 7/27/2011 5:06 PM >
Spent a few days camping out near Death Valley recently. Explored some new abandoned mines as well as some other ones we've already been in numerous times. Mines in this trip included the Western Talc Mine, the Columbia Mine, the Crystal Spring Mine, and the Billie Mine.
The Billie Mine was unusual because it closed down in 2007 or so. It is a modern mine. The main shaft there supposedly went almost 2000 feet deep. The grounds were quite extensive, and all the buildings were accessible. We spent three hours going through the abandoned buildings and looking at everything. It seemed that when the mine closed, everybody just simply walked away. So much material was left behind -- documents, clothes, office machines, filing cabinets, medical supplies, etc..
The video below concludes with an attempt to explode a small propane gas tank at our campsite -- but it didn't exactly explode. There were flames, oh yes, but not the big explosion we were hoping for. A shotgun and sparklers were used to detonate the propane tank.
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information. location: North of Chicago, IL Gender: Male
*Therrin puts on the penguin-suit
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Re: Exploration of the Crystal Spring Mine, the Western Talc Mine, the Billie Mine, and the Columbia Mine <Reply # 2 on 7/27/2011 9:06 PM >
Good videos Frank! Matt and I both got some EXCELLENT footage of propane bottles exploding after I revised the methodology a little bit.
I like the video stuff from the Billie =) That place was awesome. Give a person a match and they'll be warm for a minute, but light them on fire and they'll be warm for the rest of their life. =)
Re: Exploration of the Crystal Spring Mine, the Western Talc Mine, the Billie Mine, and the Columbia Mine <Reply # 3 on 7/27/2011 9:09 PM >
Looks like you guys had a blast, good finds too! I guess I might upgrade this from a dirt hole trip Therrin >=) hehehe
BTW Nice climb on the header there, my out of shape ass would of took 3 hours due to multiple rest stops hehehe "Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die today" http://CurtisNoblePhotography.Com
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information. location: North of Chicago, IL Gender: Male
*Therrin puts on the penguin-suit
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Re: Exploration of the Crystal Spring Mine, the Western Talc Mine, the Billie Mine, and the Columbia Mine <Reply # 4 on 7/27/2011 9:23 PM >
Piffle! If you're out of shape then I'm a jelly donut.
That place was awesome. I should've rigged a nice rappel off the top, but we had to walk in a bit of a ways.
I'll throw up some pictures later on. I think we plugged at least 3 tires on that trip. The guy at America's Tire was like "we really prefer that our customers not plug tires, and having done so we can't repair them, so it must be replaced".
Me: "since there's no cell reception in that area, and ya'll didn't come out to repair it for me, I wasn't just gonna sit out in the desert cuz ya'll don't prefer that I put plugs in the tire"
Him: "be that as it may, you had to plug it in 3 different spots, and we can't repair that"
*grins* Hey I've got that full replacement insurance plan, so that means I get a $200 tire for FREE right???"
"well.... yes"
SCORE!
Super-confined-space rappelling.
[last edit 7/27/2011 10:25 PM by Therrin - edited 1 times] Give a person a match and they'll be warm for a minute, but light them on fire and they'll be warm for the rest of their life. =)
Re: Exploration of the Crystal Spring Mine, the Western Talc Mine, the Billie Mine, and the Columbia Mine <Reply # 5 on 7/28/2011 1:19 AM >
Hahah, great stuff. Love the music choice. And I really want that ADM dumb terminal. I've no sense, I lick electric fence; I put barbed wire in my pants and do a Celtic dance. - My Canon 300D is beat to hell, a bit finicky, and a 'lil loose, much like everything else I own... http://www.youtube...atch?v=IvN10-n1NBc
Re: Exploration of the Crystal Spring Mine, the Western Talc Mine, the Billie Mine, and the Columbia Mine <Reply # 6 on 7/28/2011 4:42 AM >
Posted by Therrin Good videos Frank! Matt and I both got some EXCELLENT footage of propane bottles exploding after I revised the methodology a little bit.
I like the video stuff from the Billie =) That place was awesome.
Glad to hear you got some decent explosions after I left. Looking forward to watching that footage!
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