Wow!! Where do I even begin????

[Lone Ranger]

I sent Lars an email asking about the possibility of a mine forum, and he did me one up - added the ghost town part. I like the idea!!!

I think its long overdue and I don't know why none of us have thought about it before (or mentioned it).

I think this is goinna be a great forum and I hope a lot of good information will be shared.

This is a personal request, though: Mine hunting and Ghost Town exploration are two of the biggest interests (loves and hobbies) I have. They're the main reason I own a 4wd truck (that and I do just love 4 wheeling period). Please respect them and preserve them for future use. I also expect the info shared on here to be used responsibly.

One last thing, I think it would be wise to issue a disclaimer considering the inherent dangerous nature of mineshafts and minesites. Just my .02 Cheers

[iroc22]

This is a great idea

now all that needs to be done, is all the mine threads need to be copied into this forum!

[kootenaycat1]

This is a great idea! I think everyone else on here really enjoys pics of old mines/mine sites/old town sites, so I'll start with a link to some of my mine exploration trips on quad. All are in the West Kootenays around Nelson, and a few just south east of Revelstoke.

Let's see some of your own trips!

Trout Lake Area Aug 2003 (http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/album?.dir=7d31&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/my_photos)

Trout Lake area 2004 (http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/album?.dir=810b&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/my_photos)

Canex Mine area (http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/album?.dir=facb&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/my_photos)

Sheep Ck area (http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/album?.dir=1a26&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/my_photos)

This is the link to the main photo album

Atv Trips (http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kootenaycat442/my_photos)

[Randy N]

This is a great idea. I lived the Kitimat area in the 70's and 80's. We did a lot of old mine exploring and I have lots of pictures, unfortunately I will have to scan them. BC's mining and pioneering history are also an interest of mine, so I look forward to future posts
Cheers
Randy

[lars]

Originally posted by iroc22
now all that needs to be done, is all the mine threads need to be copied into this forum!
That's an excellent suggestion. I just went through eight pages of search results for the term, "mine," and moved those threads into this forum. Because a lot of 'em are quite old, you'll need to set your thread display to include posts dating back to a year.

The Caroline Mines were the big topic probably due to the proximity to the Lower Mainland.

I'm looking forward to getting more information from other locations from you backcountry explorers!

...lars

[johnny hendrix]

Mine exploring is my hobby. on my cardomain site there is plenty of pics of beaverdale mines, twin lakes, hedley, etc.

www.cardomain.com/id/dixiebc

[Ride]

There are lots of good palces around Greenwood, Grand Forks, etc. As well as almost anywhere in the West Kootenays. I will try and find all my info and stuff and get it posted up.

[kootenaycat1]

Mine Map (http://webmap.em.gov.bc.ca/mapplace/minpot/ex_assist.cfm)

I am constantly scouting new mines on Minfile. Excellent source of information for old mines/prospects, etc. I have found a few old mines near here that haven't been explored in decades from Minfile.

Do a search in the West Kootenays (Nelson-Trail-Castlegar triangle) and I have explored lots of the mines in that area which would be in the hundreds, and still have a lot more to go!

If anyone wants directions/info for this area, I would be glad to help out! If your in the area, drop me a PM if you want to join me for a ride starting next spring! Way too much snow now for anything but snowmobiling!

[Lone Ranger]

Yeah, I get through Greenwood A LOT heading down to Grand Forks and I've seen tons out in the open down there, just for some reason I've just never bothered to stop. There's a shaft on the east end of town behind the Napa or tire shop or whatever it is I wanna check out.

I'd like to check out the Castlegar area sometime. I can usually stop through for a few hours at a time. That's the beauty of my job, I get all over BC. The only downside is deadlines and limited access due to commercial truck restrictions.

I think its the Kootney or Arrow Lake areas, but if you do a search there's almost 100 within a 10 mile range in one spot!!! Its a blur of pink symbols!
The most recent ones I've checked out while on the highway are the Midway and St Eugene mines around Moyie Lake out by Cranbrook. I'll start putting some mine pics on my laptop so i can start uploading them onto the 'net. LR

[lars]

Originally posted by Lone Ranger
The most recent ones I've checked out while on the highway are the Midway and St Eugene mines around Moyie Lake out by Cranbrook. I'll start putting some mine pics on my laptop so i can start uploading them onto the 'net. LR
Post pics when you visit these places. Not all of us have the freedom to visit 'em! ;-)

BTW, there are some pics from that shaft I explored on the west side of Nickel Plate Mtn here:
http://www.bc4x4.com/tr/2005/whipsaw

It's unusual because I've never seen a shaft that wide before. Also check out the stuff we saw growing on the wall.

...lars

[kootenaycat1]

We do have a lot of old mines in this area. Between Nelson, Trail, and north to Sandon is rich in mining history! Almost every ride out, we find a new (to us!) mine, building, old equipment, etc.

Lars, what was the width of that mine? There are a couple near here that they used modified Uclids to bring the ore out!


Canex (Jersey) Mine

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/kootenaycat/Canexmain2.jpg

Canex (Emerald Jersey) Mine

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/kootenaycat/Canexnorthentrance4.jpg

Limestone Mine

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/kootenaycat/LimestoneentranceWayne.jpg

[lars]

Originally posted by kootenaycat1
Lars, what was the width of that mine? There are a couple near here that they used modified Uclids to bring the ore out!

About 15 ft, I'd say. It was a very old shaft, I think. They definitely used carts and cables to get the ore out (we could see where cables wore grooves into the ties).

The next time I go exploring the Kootenays, I'm definitely going to talk to you first.

...lars

[Lone Ranger]

Yeah, that growth is minerization growth, same as stalegtites and stalegmites (sp?), just in wierd shapes coming out of the walls.

As for pics, I hafta go through some misc CDs I have (regular pics but got walmart to put them on CD as well, a good investment if you use 35 mm film and planning on putting pics on the 'net) and the rest were on my folk's D:/ drive (which crashed recently!!! Our family lost a whole load of photos, probably most from the last 5 years of their travels!!!). That seriously sucked, and a hard lesson learned about backing everything up on disc.

I will try to get the Midway mine photos on here tonight. Cheers