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I have always had an interest in old mines, mine sites, and the history that surrounds them. Up until recently I have never questioned the "Stay out and stay alive" philosophy that was drilled into me by my parents and public information commercials. I limited my activities to reading, 4x4 trips to mine sites, and photography. Then I found Mojave Underground....
Exploring the insides of the mines has completely changed my interest in old mines. I really enjoy exploring the inner workings and seeing where the men toiled at their efforts. The surface structures are interesting, but the mines were the reason that everything else existed.
As I am starting to explore mines in the local area, I realize just how limited I am by not being able to use ropes to gain access to various areas of the mines that I want to see. When I was in college I did quite a bit of climbing with friends from school. I was never became a good climber, but I did have a good working knowledge of knots, basic rigging, rappelling, belaying, ect. That said, it's been a LONG time since I did any rope activities.
In preparation for renewing my skills (and learning new ones), I purchased the National Speleological Society's book, "On Rope". I have to say that I'm very impressed with the contents of the book and how well written it is. There are a ton of books written on climbing, but caving and mine exploring are quite different from rock climbing and warrant specialized training. This book is filled with clear explanations and great illustrations. The book is focused on readers without technical climbing experience but would be a good read for those who have more experience and want to make certain that they are using proper technique.
The book covers all of the topics you would expect, including how to set up your personal gear. (great information for new explorers). One chapter that I really am impressed with is the chapter on Training. It lays out a training plan that specifies the various skills and techniques that a caver (or mine explorer) should know at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.
True to it's roots when caving gear was hard to find and often had to be home made, throughout the book are sections called "Home Workshops" where they show you how to make or assemble your gear.
My only complaint about the book is that it's getting a bit old. The last revision was in 1996 so there may be technique changes or hardware advances that aren't included in this book. That said, if you are thinking about learning how to use ropes in an underground environment, this is a great book.
Joanne
Exploring the insides of the mines has completely changed my interest in old mines. I really enjoy exploring the inner workings and seeing where the men toiled at their efforts. The surface structures are interesting, but the mines were the reason that everything else existed.
As I am starting to explore mines in the local area, I realize just how limited I am by not being able to use ropes to gain access to various areas of the mines that I want to see. When I was in college I did quite a bit of climbing with friends from school. I was never became a good climber, but I did have a good working knowledge of knots, basic rigging, rappelling, belaying, ect. That said, it's been a LONG time since I did any rope activities.
In preparation for renewing my skills (and learning new ones), I purchased the National Speleological Society's book, "On Rope". I have to say that I'm very impressed with the contents of the book and how well written it is. There are a ton of books written on climbing, but caving and mine exploring are quite different from rock climbing and warrant specialized training. This book is filled with clear explanations and great illustrations. The book is focused on readers without technical climbing experience but would be a good read for those who have more experience and want to make certain that they are using proper technique.
The book covers all of the topics you would expect, including how to set up your personal gear. (great information for new explorers). One chapter that I really am impressed with is the chapter on Training. It lays out a training plan that specifies the various skills and techniques that a caver (or mine explorer) should know at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.
True to it's roots when caving gear was hard to find and often had to be home made, throughout the book are sections called "Home Workshops" where they show you how to make or assemble your gear.
My only complaint about the book is that it's getting a bit old. The last revision was in 1996 so there may be technique changes or hardware advances that aren't included in this book. That said, if you are thinking about learning how to use ropes in an underground environment, this is a great book.
Joanne
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