This place has been on my list of sites to go to for 2, maybe 3 years now. Ever since I got really into exploring I have wanted to go here. Just so happened that it was close by the sites we hit in the morning when we went out, so we finally made it here. And to say it did not disappoint was an understatement. I already have to go back at least one more time because it is that good. Hell, I am half chubbed up just thinking about it, it is THAT good.
I have wanted to go here for years. We almost made it out in November, but due to the bullshit that is shorter days in the winter, we did not make it as we were checking out some other places north of here. I stared at the headframe in sadness as the sun was going down and we went home. Fast forward to Monday and we finished some other sites just in time for us to make it here, and it was awesome to put it lightly.
Based on my research this mine was first worked in the 1940's, and depending on the information you find, it was worked last in either the 1950's or 1970's. Tungsten was the primary commodity, and we also found some super white chunks of Quartz that were even whiter than I am in the winter months.
When you get here there are two adits, one with the headframe over it, and one to the right of it with what appears to be a base to mount a winch to, and tracks coming out of it. The right side adit is collapsed about 20 feet in. The left one? Well that one is awesome.
Based on my research this mine was first worked in the 1940's, and depending on the information you find, it was worked last in either the 1950's or 1970's. Tungsten was the primary commodity, and we also found some super white chunks of Quartz that were even whiter than I am in the winter months.
When you get here there are two adits, one with the headframe over it, and one to the right of it with what appears to be a base to mount a winch to, and tracks coming out of it. The right side adit is collapsed about 20 feet in. The left one? Well that one is awesome.
Going in the adit under the headframe, the ceiling is nice and tall. Being 6'3" is something to flex on dating sites, but not for mine exploration. The ceiling here had to be 10 feet tall, and even Rob who is 6'6" appreciated the tall ceilings. Inside there was track for the ore carts to be winched up the headframe. The cool part is they were winched up from an incline shaft. A most impressive incline shaft. If the mining report is to be believed, it is 97 meters long, and goes down at about a 30 degree angle. The ladders on the manway going down are still mint condition, and we will be exploring down there in the near future, it has me VERY excited.
Going all the way into the adit and to the right, it has a pass through to what I thought was the other adit since we could see daylight. Boy was I wrong.
Going through the pass we found an absolutely awe inspiring ballroom. The ceiling was probably 60 feet overhead, with the far wall being probably over 200 feet from the pass. Several passages continued down, and down so far that my 1600 lumen flashlight could not even see the end. This is the most impressive thing that I have found, and I fully intend on going back and exploring this section also. Unfortunately pictures and video do not do this part justice, but here is a try.
Final thoughts
This place is amazing, and exceeded my wildest expectations. In the near future we are planning on going back out here to explore the incline shaft and lower workings, along with the lower passages of the ballroom. Pictures do not do this justice, as it has been the most impressive site I have visited based on the shear size alone. This place will now haunt my dreams until I visit it again and explore it fully.
EZ
EZ