Hello /out/ it's me again. Maybe it is time for another abandoned mine exploration thread. I have posted these for over a decade; this will be the last one. AMA. I'll answer what I can. I hope you enjoy.
>>2856623>>2856635>>2856636>>2856637Thanks OP! Always love your posts. I’ve mentioned a couple times that the history behind pictures like these amazes me. Just trying to imagine the people that made a living with this kind of equipment and buildings. How come this will be your last one?
>>2856612What's the biggest loot you've found?
>>2856627Amazing minerals
>>2856612Thanks for doing this anon. I've seen a number of your threads going back almost to the first one. TVR exploring is a good youtube channel for anyone interested.
>>2856716I'd rather not say. I have enjoyed sharing and all the feedback over the years.The history of these places is amazing. The hardships these people endured is lost on modern times. We truly live in a blessed part of history.
>>2856726We have found all kinds of stuff. The largest being ore carts. We don't take anything, so it is hard to call it loot.
>>2857164thank you for your service, mineguy.
>>2856902I'm glad to hear you have enjoyed the threads. There are only a handful of explorers that post on YouTube that I respect, but TVR is high up on that list.
>>2857168i'm the guy that posted the blue picwe've been having serious issues with "influencers" (we call them CLOUTbexers) absolutely BTFOing the mines here in colorado. it's fucking shameful. i assume you get the same trash down your way?
>>2857169Great pic. I always wanted to explore in Colorado. You guys have some great structures still standing in those remote high elevation areas. Learned early on to keep cool mines a secret. even before the youtube channels and all the popularity over the last decade or so. I hate going back to mines that got popular because location was given away. Artifacts stolen. Burned timbering, spray-paint on everything. Findind unmolested mines gets harder every year. This mine here was heartbreaking to see what had been done to the main level. Luckly lower levels require rope, so they are still mostly untouched.
>>2857171i remember when abbynormal posted an untouched mine on youtube and within months every single artifact was looted and destroyedabsolutely heartbreaking. it's hard not to blame her but I don't think she knew the consequences of her actions.
>>2857172Between the feds sealing them up and assholes ruining them, I dont imagine there is much time left to see the history of it all,
>>2857164Understood. Hope all is well anon. >>2857169>>2857169That is shameful. Makes me sad that people can’t at least not be assholes. >>2857174>>2857174Awesome pic.
>>2856627Any idea what this is? Some kind of chromium oxide maybe?
>>2857191I hope you keep exploring, and don't get too discouraged. You are walking in the footsteps of great men
>>2857192I believe so, possibly copper sulfides as well. we took a few small samples that deteriorated quickly once exposed to sun light and air. Most wet areas in the mine had a lot of leaching of blue and green colors. All were fragile crystals. I know that was not what they were mining so I imagine when they ran into those ore deposits, they treated them like waste.
>>2857192the mining in this area started in the 1860,s and were mining gold. it was later reopened in the 1940,s as a tungsten mine. This mine was massive with what we believe to be several 1000,s feet deep and approximately 25+ miles of stopes and haulage tunnels.
Nice pics, what camera are you using?
>>2857329I have wanted to learn how to use cameras, but due to the difficulty of reaching these places I have only used whatever cell phone I had at the time.
>>2858027I've occasionally enjoyed your threads for the past decade. The phone picture quality is part of the appeal, making it all feel much real. Framing and subject is what matters the most anyway. You've shown us raw glimpses into a bygone era. That's worth more than any shock youtube clickbait with live reactions. Stumbling upon the thread and clicking on pictures one by one always felt like going down some undisclosed tunnel. This whole barren website feels like an abandonned mine nowadays. We used to dig for comedy gold, but the vein has run dry and the fever has struck elsewhere.Stay safe out there old cowboys.
>>2858090I'm glad to hear you have enjoyed the pics, and I couldn't agree more that this place is devoid of all humor it once possessed.
Hey man this is kind of a long shot, but in your travels you might've seen something like this.Any idea what these are for? Found on a hillside outside of Smith Valley, Nevada. They were wrapped around a tree. You're the expert on old shit in the desert so I figured I'd ask.
>>2858201wish I knew, but I cant even guess what those may have been used for.
>>2856615did you stop and poop?
>>2858227not in this mine.
>>2858027Really? A lot of them are remarkably good. If you want something that's super easy to use there are a few out there. My go to pocket camera is a Panasonic TZ110 (known by other names depending on market.)It's basically a small DSLR you can point and shoot, but has 99% of Big Boy camera functions. You can put a MagFilter on if you want to use a polarising lens. I honestly use it 10x more than either of my big cameras just because it's so easy. Doesn't have mic input, if you want that, check out similar Sony. Has a big sensor for a small camera, so great quality. 1" if I recall. ~20mp. Of course you can get more MP now, buta) how big you wanna print that shit?b) less MP on a larger sensor = better low light which is obciously what you want.About ⅓ the price now of when they were the latest, but I've zero plans of replacing it. (Other cameras I have include a Sony Alpha Something and a Lumix S1R, so I hold it in high regard to some heavy-hitters.)
>>2858346oops picugh range blocked because fuck knows. Here's a link.https://www.ebay.com/itm/177514163904
>>285834680% of pictures I take underground dont turn out well. For multiple reasons. Dust, light sources, confined spaces that dont allow the viewer to grasp scale. With everything I already pack with me underground cameras just end up being unnecessary weight.
I've always really enjoyed your pictures, OP. One of the few actually interesting threads that ever gets posted to this shithole of a site. Thanks for taking the time to over the years.
>>2858357Happy to share my hobby.
We'll all miss you mineanon. Happy to see you've stayed alive all these years. Will you still explore and simply not post, or are you calling it quits altogether?
>>2858449 Thanks, brother, I will miss the people that enjoyed these pics. I hope my exploring days aren't over, but it is tough to say for sure. I often think about how many people said I was going to die doing this when I first started posting these threads.
>>2858467I am sad to hear that you're leaving. Your posts over the years have inspired me to visit some mines. As a result I've gotten to go to really cool places and see some unique things. There is a lot of history out there, just buried and forgotten beneath the surface. Have a picture of the first ever mine I went into; I revisited it last year only to find the it had collapsed more. I had to reduce this picture to get it past the filesize limit.
>>2858470That is awesome! I love hearing that. I'm glad you are getting out and seeing some of these places. Even if you never go underground the amount of cool stuff you will find on the surface is worth the time and effort. I hope you keep going out and enjoy the history as much as I have.
>>2858331did you poop in any mine?
>>2859037Yes, i pooped in this mine.
>>2858349Why the gun?I like your harness. I don’t cave, but fairly regularly find myself ascending or descending with whitewater gear. PFD has a built in harness and I clip on a couple of leg straps. Uncomfortable af but I only ever wear it for a few minutes at a time. Not worth bothering with all the reascue shit I already carry - I don’t take a camera on the river either except on very rare occasions.
>>2859088to self-delete if I ever get stuck in a mine. Also never a bad idea to have a gun when exploring remote places where there is no cell service.The harness is heavy, but I can stay on rope for a long time without circulation issues. The comfort is worth the extra pounds.
>>2859088I'm not OP, but we were hiking in the desert and went in the a horizontal shaft that was about 50 feet long. unknown to us there was a 5 foot rattle snake in the cave. we walked by it on the way in and it didn't make a sound. on the way out it had moved from a little alcove to the center of the shaft and blocked our exit.pop pop pop. dead snek.
I've ran into 100's of them over the years. I've never been in a situation where I had to kill one. Once in southern Nevada I ran into a super aggressive side winder that actually chased me. He was just a little guy, but he was pissed.
>>2856612Awesome content thanks for what you do. If it's the last I was lucky to see it. Good job getting it done without incident. Securing a sidearm while wearing a saddle seems tricky. But it's better to have it and not need it...Dreadful fascinating about the minerals and leeching, and what a cool environment to explore. Good luck and thanks.
>>2856612>Maybe it is time for another abandoned mine exploration thread.No it's not, come back tomorrow.Jk, thanks for posting Anon.
Did anyone archive past threads? The image mine too will crumble in time.
>>2859351just for you /k/ommando. Guns and mines.
>>2859265Glad you enjoy.The pistol goes in the bag while in harness. No need to carry one more thing that can get tangled up while suspended.
>>2859407Most of this history will be gone in the next 50 to 100 years. It is alarming how fast it is being destroyed, sealed off, reclaimed.
>>2856612First time I come to this board and I catch the last of these threads.What's the most common danger in the mines?
>>2859667The biggest danger by far is falling.other things to be aware of:Collapsing sectionsFalse floorsBad air wet and decaying timberingloose rocks falling when disturbedUnexploded dynamite and blasting capsunstable structuresdilapidated ladders
>>2859667 I forgot to say having multiple light sources and extra batteries is a must. If you lose your lights in these places you are fucked.
I remember the first time I saw one of your threads a couple years ago I asked about advice in getting into mine exploring and since then I've been discovering some out here in AZ. Thank you for the photos and guidance anon.
>>2859859Hopefully I wasn't an asshole and gave good advice.I'm glad you are taking the time to get out and explore. Stay safe and have fun.
Op you are one of the best contributors on any outside related forum I’ve ever been on. 3 questions for ya 1. How do you find the mines? They are pretty remote and off the grid as you said. Do you go to libraries / state archives / etc to try and find old mine sites and locations? Or just hike in remote areas in mine country til you find one2. What’s been your biggest “oh shit” moment. Can be almost getting caught, stuck, etc3. Why are you quitting? I completely get it , but just curious. Anything you’re going to replace this with to get the same thrill?Much appreciated
>>2859896I'm glad you appreciate the posts.1. I grew up in a part of the states that has a lot of mining. I spent a lot of time in the hills hunting, shooting, picking pinenuts, and just fucking around. I also spent a lot of time learning the history of these areas. 2. I have had a few close calls. Tangled up on rope while ascending a 300-foot vertical shaft. I got tangled up at about 250 feet. Found what i thought was a newspaper in a bore hole, once i grabbed the bottom of it i realized it was a deteriorated stick of dynamite that didn't go off. Ive had rungs of ladders give way while climbing. 3. I'd rather not say.
>>2859896As far as what I will replace this hobby with I have no Idea. I have sailed completely around the world. Visited 6 of the 7 continents. I have been sky diving and swam with sharks. I've skied in the Andes mountains, rode elephants and pet tigers. There are few things left in the world that bring me joy, but I will say the time spent in the western United States camping out by myself and exploring the history were some of the best days of my life.
>>2859913damn, you sound cool as hell. I want to live a life just like yours one day. how do you afford all that travel??
>>2859892You weren't, which was surprising because it was definitely a lame question like "what should I bring with me" lol. Thanks again
>>2859913> As far as what I will replace this hobby Perhaps write a book? Sounds like an amazing life OP. I’d like about a week to browse your “photo album”.
>>2860022I'm not cool at all. I actually have a hard time relating to most people. I worked a job that required me to sail the world.
>>2860039Do you go in the ones like that that show obvious signs of collapse, or are those an immediate no-go?
>>2860033Glad to hear. I hope you enjoy yourself in AZ, There are more than a few spots I wish I had the time to explore down there,
>>2860037The world has been explored. All I have done with my life is to walk in the shoes of great men that explored it first. No need for a book.
>>2860040most every mine I have explored had signs of collapse. Head frames and audits are usually pretty rough, Then good haulage tunnels and stopes and spots that have failed or are going to. Timbering is a good indication of unstable ground. They didnt waste wood just for the sake of using it.
>>2860039I think that's okay. I'm a really sociable person who really enjoys being around people like that. they usually have a lot of interesting things to say if you know how to listen, so you seem doubly cool :-)also, my friend had a hole like that in her front yard before. we never figured out what was in it... but this is making me wanna go back and take a look lol.
>>2860050 I'm not trying to be rude, but I think you misunderstand. I am personable. I have been described as "spmeone who never meets a stranger." If you and I were sitting together having a meal I would let you talk. I would act interested in everything that you tell me. I would laugh and nod accordingly. I may add o few snippets of my life to keep the conversation flowing but ultimately, I will never tell you the details of my life, I will know that you I and I have very little in terms of shared experiences. You will walk away feeling like you met a "cool" person and I will walk away feeling numb to the whole experience.
>>2859913>talks about Western United States>posts an obvious photo of Australia
>>2860039>I worked a job that required me to sail the world.what, like a tallship?
>>2860219mistakes were made
>>2860273A little more modern and a lot less sails
>>2860219also solid joke. I'm still laughing about it.
>>2860039what job required you to sail around the world, was it the military?
>>2860311nope
anyone still lurking or should I call it stops for this thread?
>>2860721I'll always lurk your threads, man. Appreciate you. If you got more pics, keep dumping them. How often do ladders like >>2860704 hold up when you climb on them?
>>2860736Thanks ill post till I get limit. Depending on how the ladder was made, how much use it got while the mine was running and moisture in the mine. Some ladders have weak and broken rungs. I absolutely hate the feeling of a rung splitting when I put weight on it. keep your hands on the vertical sections of the ladder and distribute weight across the most area possible. place your feet near the sides of the rungs and not in the middle.
>>2860736ladders with the rungs against the rock face are a little sketchy. It is harder to get a good purchase on the rungs with your feet while descending or ascending them.
when in doubt tie off and rope down,
Happy trails, friend. I’ll hang around until the thread dies.
>>2860986>>2860993I've seen a fair amount of things like this in my state (Nevada). Any idea what this stuff is, beyond ore sorting equipment?
>>2856612I've always loved your threads anon, they're part of the reason why I've now gone on some of my own abandoned mine adventures. So thanks.>AMAHow far do you typically travel to get to some of these spots? I'm on the east coast where it's mostly short gold adits or coal mines with a few exceptions, so I've considered going out West in the future just for this, but I would need to fly into a major city and go from there.
>>2857164>I'd rather not say. I have enjoyed sharing and all the feedback over the years.It's okay anon, we won't tell anybody about the D.U.M.B. you accidentally forgot to crop out of that photo in the last thread
>>2860999It wasn't for sorting it was for hauling ore to be processed.
>>2861010damn that is an old image. I remember when it was posted. Typically travel 500 to 1000 miles to do a true mine exploration trip. I spend a lot of those miles on dirt roads.
>>2861012Thanks
>>2861012You don't realize how real it gets.
>>2861012
Not OP but done some adit exploration a time or two! Good thread OP! Underground photography was actually my hobby for a while (pic unrelated).
I have been on this site for well longer than I want to admit. Mostly on /o/, /k/ /b/ (like 15 years ago) and recently /ck/ and somehow in my drunken stupor ended up here to find and amazing thread and topic that's been going on way longer than I thought only to find it's over and it's terrible it's over but I get to see this at least. When I lived in sahuarita by the mines I used to do the same and I wish I took pictures because I found some wild shit but I was also like 25 at the time and I didn't think about it. Thank you for this swan song if a thread. I need a beer. Maybe I'll explore the ones around here. Shit there's a famous restaurant in a mine a couple hours up north where I am. Well see but if I do, I will document everything
>>2861076most of these pics are recycled from previous posts I've done, so you didn't miss all that much. Glad you like the thread.
>>2861045pic very related, feel free to post more.
>>2861718Would you go in?
how else would I get pics of underground workings?
>>2861720>>2861722forgot pic
Did you work Merchant Marines or a job w/Maersk? If you did how was it?
>>2861889nope to both. I don't think my old job exists anymore and possibly never will again. I took big risks and got lucky. I didn't make a lot of money, but I gained huge life experiences. When I stopped that job and joined the real world, I realized I no longer fit in. I have no advice on how to emulate my life, nor would I suggest trying to. I quickly realized I grew old at a very young age. I'm done talking about my past. Any questions about mines?
>>2861916I grew up in mining country and at least a few of your pictures I recognize from my teenage/twenties. I explored a fair amount of abandoned shafts back then, too. I'd post a pic if I had one on this machine, but they're all on the desktop somewhere. Your pictures take me back, thanks for posting. The American Western states are unmatched in so many ways.
