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During our recent trip out to Tecopa, Ca we re-discovered a stolen diesel pickup truck 180' down a mostly vertical mineshaft.
I had found it last year, and called it in to the Sheriff's office; but they didn't send a deputy out till the next day and he "couldn't find it", so the report was left open.
During this year's trip we managed to gain access inside the truck. I descended down into the bed, then went over the right side, under the undercarriage, came up on the left side by the driver's window, and crawled in through the window. I exited the same way I went in (although, it took roughly 30 mins to get back out, getting stuck numerous times gave me a touch of claustrophobia, which I've never really felt before then). Tony (our token mine explorer fresh in from the UK who was on "holiday"), went out through what was left of the front windshield and came up over the top of the crushed in cab.
We managed to recover 2 backpacks worth of personal paperwork and other items including cell phones, income tax returns, social security information, and other various things which I took up to the Sherrif's office in Shoshone the next day and submitted a report.
I also found the cell number of the original owner, and we had a chat for about 30 mins. Turns out he's (of all things!) a crane operator, and is interested in having me assist by taking him to the location and going down to hook up the cable and prep for the lift.
Pictures to follow!
I had found it last year, and called it in to the Sheriff's office; but they didn't send a deputy out till the next day and he "couldn't find it", so the report was left open.
During this year's trip we managed to gain access inside the truck. I descended down into the bed, then went over the right side, under the undercarriage, came up on the left side by the driver's window, and crawled in through the window. I exited the same way I went in (although, it took roughly 30 mins to get back out, getting stuck numerous times gave me a touch of claustrophobia, which I've never really felt before then). Tony (our token mine explorer fresh in from the UK who was on "holiday"), went out through what was left of the front windshield and came up over the top of the crushed in cab.
We managed to recover 2 backpacks worth of personal paperwork and other items including cell phones, income tax returns, social security information, and other various things which I took up to the Sherrif's office in Shoshone the next day and submitted a report.
I also found the cell number of the original owner, and we had a chat for about 30 mins. Turns out he's (of all things!) a crane operator, and is interested in having me assist by taking him to the location and going down to hook up the cable and prep for the lift.
Pictures to follow!
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