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A few weeks ago a number of underground explorers from across four states gathered to visit the mine known as "The Widowmaker". The mine is large, complex, deep, and in some areas, quite dangerous. We have located and explored a number of shafts deep inside the mine. Every time we think we've seen it all, we come across a connection to another part of the mine. We've even had to dig our way into "lost" sections of the mine.
I didn't get photos of some really interesting areas. One section is filled with wooden connections from one level to the next. A 2'x 2' ore chute one one side and a 2'x 2' ladderway for people. The boxes are so tight that you can't wear a backpack and sometimes your knees get jammed trying to lift up to the next ladder rung. Oh yeah, they are 40 to 60 feet vertical, so no claustrophobics allowed.
The mine starts at the very top of the mountain and descends hundreds of feet below my trailer.
There are a number of ore cars in various sections of the mine. Usually these cars are removed by collectors, but these remain because they are so difficult to reach.
This is the junction between a couple of drifts. Most of the main level of the mine has been heavily graffitied. Some of the markings have dates back into the 1930s.
The mine has examples of the most common ore chutes. Most are controlled by wooden planks that slide into the chute to stop the flow of rocks and ore. This chute is controlled by a long pivoting lever arm.
This mine has a number of chutes that are lifted with a rack and pinion. The rod would have a large wheel on the end that the operator would turn to open and close the chute.
This is a pretty common scene in the mine. A drift with timbering in various stages of decay.
At some point many of the drifts give way to the forces of gravity. Unfortunately some of these drifts were they only connection to deeper sections of the mine so they are forever lost.
A collapse had broken the top off of the wheel. There are a couple of intact rack and pinion chutes in the mine.
This is one of the winch rooms. The shaft may not look like much but it is over 250' deep and connects with three levels. Two of those levels we can still access. At the top of the photo is the ore hopper where the skip would dump its cargo. From there the ore would be loaded into an ore cart for the trip out of the mine.
This is the other end of the winch room. The timbers at ground level are where the winch was mounted. Amazing timber work.
Ore traveled through this drift on its way to the surface.
Now we've entered another winch room. The shaft drops about 250 to what I believe is the main lower level. When we first started exploring the mine, this was the only way that we knew how to get to the lowest level.
This shaft has rails (tracks) as well as a set of ladders.
The timbering and ladder goes down about 175 feet. It used to go all the way to the bottom of the shaft, but a collapse had taken out the last 60 feet. At that point we have to rappel the rest of the way to the bottom. A bit scary!
Just like the prior shaft, the ore was dumped into a ore bin located right next to the shaft. The ladder will get you up into those workings.
There are a lot of double chutes. They have partitions inside the ore hopper when makes me believe one was used for valuable ore and anther for the waste rock.
This area has been heavily compressed. Almost certainly it would have been lost if it were not for the wood and stone cribbing that is still holding up the overhead timbers. I just can't imagine the loads that would cause a 14 inch diameter log to split like that.
This mine dates from the 1890s. Back then their compressed air hoses were made of rubber, canvas, and wrapped with wire to hold the pressure. So different than what we have today.
Over the course of the weekend we watched two wild mares and a foal graze their way across the valley. Just before leaving they were just above camp. Such majestic animals!
Joanne
I didn't get photos of some really interesting areas. One section is filled with wooden connections from one level to the next. A 2'x 2' ore chute one one side and a 2'x 2' ladderway for people. The boxes are so tight that you can't wear a backpack and sometimes your knees get jammed trying to lift up to the next ladder rung. Oh yeah, they are 40 to 60 feet vertical, so no claustrophobics allowed.
The mine starts at the very top of the mountain and descends hundreds of feet below my trailer.
There are a number of ore cars in various sections of the mine. Usually these cars are removed by collectors, but these remain because they are so difficult to reach.
This is the junction between a couple of drifts. Most of the main level of the mine has been heavily graffitied. Some of the markings have dates back into the 1930s.
The mine has examples of the most common ore chutes. Most are controlled by wooden planks that slide into the chute to stop the flow of rocks and ore. This chute is controlled by a long pivoting lever arm.
This mine has a number of chutes that are lifted with a rack and pinion. The rod would have a large wheel on the end that the operator would turn to open and close the chute.
This is a pretty common scene in the mine. A drift with timbering in various stages of decay.
At some point many of the drifts give way to the forces of gravity. Unfortunately some of these drifts were they only connection to deeper sections of the mine so they are forever lost.
A collapse had broken the top off of the wheel. There are a couple of intact rack and pinion chutes in the mine.
This is one of the winch rooms. The shaft may not look like much but it is over 250' deep and connects with three levels. Two of those levels we can still access. At the top of the photo is the ore hopper where the skip would dump its cargo. From there the ore would be loaded into an ore cart for the trip out of the mine.
This is the other end of the winch room. The timbers at ground level are where the winch was mounted. Amazing timber work.
Ore traveled through this drift on its way to the surface.
Now we've entered another winch room. The shaft drops about 250 to what I believe is the main lower level. When we first started exploring the mine, this was the only way that we knew how to get to the lowest level.
This shaft has rails (tracks) as well as a set of ladders.
The timbering and ladder goes down about 175 feet. It used to go all the way to the bottom of the shaft, but a collapse had taken out the last 60 feet. At that point we have to rappel the rest of the way to the bottom. A bit scary!
Just like the prior shaft, the ore was dumped into a ore bin located right next to the shaft. The ladder will get you up into those workings.
There are a lot of double chutes. They have partitions inside the ore hopper when makes me believe one was used for valuable ore and anther for the waste rock.
This area has been heavily compressed. Almost certainly it would have been lost if it were not for the wood and stone cribbing that is still holding up the overhead timbers. I just can't imagine the loads that would cause a 14 inch diameter log to split like that.
This mine dates from the 1890s. Back then their compressed air hoses were made of rubber, canvas, and wrapped with wire to hold the pressure. So different than what we have today.
Over the course of the weekend we watched two wild mares and a foal graze their way across the valley. Just before leaving they were just above camp. Such majestic animals!
Joanne
Love to camp? Love to eat? Here's the place! www.camp-cook.com
View my ghost town & mine exploration photos: http://www.mine-explorer.com
View my ghost town & mine exploration photos: http://www.mine-explorer.com