Some buddies and I went out off roading in 1992, my senior year, and we went exploring those mines. It was a really fun night! Now I want to go back there and visit it again.
Did you make it up to the Noble Mines in Pine Valley that night? Back in those days they would’ve been wide open with a lot more equipment there to see than what is there now.
@@AbandonedMines11 I don’t know the names of all of the mines that we went to in Pine Valley but we had to go through a locked gate that my buddy got the key too, down a dirt road, through a deep creek about 4’ to 5’ deep (the trucks were pretty lifted), and then up this crazy steep hill to get to the mines. The one had a wooden shed looking thing over the entrance. We got in through the roof of it and found a generator. We got it running with gas from the trucks and it turned on a string of lights in the mine. We then went several hundred yards in and came to a collapse right as the lights died. Fortunately, we had flashlights and explored several other mines that night including an air shaft that was crazy deep. We had 100’ of rope, tied off to my friends trucks front bumper and descended into the air shaft. We ran out of rope, shined our flashlights straight down and still couldn’t see the bottom. We then dropped a rock and it took several seconds to hit the ground so that air shaft had to have been several hundred feet deep. It was about 10’ across in a circle with no barriers either so had we not had our flashlights we could have fallen into it and literally stumbled upon it by accident. When we went almost 100’ down the air shaft it remained the same circumference as far as we could see. My one friend and I descended down into it but then coming back up was a pain in the butt. We didn’t consider that part but my other friend slowly backed his truck up to help us out of the air shaft since we literally only had the 2 100’ ropes tied around our waists and legs. There was still lots of old mining equipment everywhere too that had long been abandoned. This was in either January or February of 1992 and it was freaking cold that night too. That was a fun night even though we did some pretty dumb stuff that there is absolutely no way whatsoever that I would ever do now.
Yeah, they are definitely eerie. Despite the shaft's collar being very stable and secure, I did not venture across it to explore the short tunnel beyond.
Just visted this mine yesterday. The old mining road off of deer park road is so overgrown im suprised you were able to drive a truck up. The vertical shaft is still submerged.
You must be talking about the short spur road that takes you right to the mine’s entrance, right? I don’t recall the main dirt road being overgrown at all. In fact, isn’t that a frequently traveled route through that area? I think it’s been eight or 10 years since I was last there, so my memory might be fuzzy. Did you post any pictures or videos of the mine? Post a link here if you did! Would be cool to see it again
@@AbandonedMines11 yes im referring to the short offshoot road to get from deer park to the mine entrance. Deer park road has been closed to motorized traffic since 2020 due to a washout, but I was able to drive pine creek road up the hill to the junction with deer park and walk the rest. Pine creek road is slowly eroding away, and may be impassable in the next decade if no work is done on it. Love your videos! Im a long time viewer and get inspred to explore whenever I see one of your videos. Cheers!
That is interesting about the road closure. I vaguely remember somebody telling me about that washout but had forgotten about it. That’s a shame they didn’t repair that because that route seemed to be used by a lot of people. I might have to go out there and hike it like you did just to see what’s going on out there. Thanks for the info! And thanks for supporting my videos! I always enjoy hearing from fans like yourself. Did you ever get up to the Noble Mines? There was a major collapse that occurred in the main one six or seven years ago. We were in it the year before when the main tunnel went back pretty far. When some of us went back nine or 10 months later, a big collapse had occurred and sealed off those innermost workings.
@@AbandonedMines11 Beware of ticks if you plan on visiting before the winter season! I mustve picked over 20 off my pants. I also visited Oak Canyon mine, which is about a mile south of this mine off deer park. I didnt bother going in since I was by myself and the entrance is a steep decline. I wanted to hit Noble mine too, but didnt want to brave a particularly bad section of pine creek road thats just up the hill from the junction with deer park. Maybe ill hike it next time we get some cooler weather!
Isn’t this mine really called the Expansion Mine? From what I remember, I think it was. This video was back in the day when I used to put the real names and locations of mines in my videos. Most of us found out around 2012 or so that government agencies were using our videos and pictures to target which mines to close up next. That’s when most of us started to use fake names or not reveal the real names and locations at all. It sucks it has to be this way, but that’s how it is. How was the hike in? Didn’t they close that road off to vehicular traffic several years ago? I thought I remember reading that somewhere. Really not much to this mine - unless you jump into the flooded vertical shaft and check out the lower levels! LOL
@@AbandonedMines11 yes, that is Expansion mine. Wild to learn the government did that with ur videos. The main road out is still open.l depending on the season. But the road UP to the mine is long gone. I was shocked to see you drive up! And the putter most fence/gate is half way buried. The door doesn’t open anymore. That door in ur video is now partly covering that vertical mine shaft. I had to slowly back up as I was risking a fall. After the fire hoses how far back does it go? Someone to. Me there other mines very close by. Is that true? One with a bathtub near it. Also one called something like mineral mine?
That guy Mike who I was with in this video went down the tunnel past the vertical shaft. He said it only went for about 100 feet and was a dead end. I didn’t bother going down there to film that. I really don’t know of any other mines in the area, but there may be some. I’m not aware of a bathtub or anything like that.
That’s strange that RUclips is recommending all of my old videos. You think they would recommend the newer ones that have a lot more views and are of a better quality. Strange how that algorithm works. LOL I sometimes get recommended some of your old videos, too. Ones from like three or four years ago. RUclips also recommends videos of yours and other people that I have already watched. I guess the algorithm doesn’t keep track of what we watch.
@@AbandonedMines11 I've been getting recommendations for videos from all kinds of small channels that I have never heard of, plus, those older ones of yours and others.
That’s a great idea! A little on the expensive side but a great idea nonetheless. Based on other mines in the general area of this one, this particular mine probably isn’t that extensive below the waterline.
It’s been so long since I’ve been to this mine. I believe you go out Pine Valley Road and then take the branch to the right which continues on through and turns into a different road. Wish I could be more specific, but it’s been a long time since I made this video. I really can’t remember exactly where this mine was. Edit: I think this was the location of the mine 32°55'04.4"N 116°30'43.3"W Don’t quote me on that, though!
I can’t remember what the name of that road is. If you punch in those coordinates into Google earth or Google Maps, it will take you right to the main entrance. You can then figure out the names of the roads from that. Doesn’t that road turn into Deer Park Road once you pass the Noble Mines? I believe you take that road past the Noble Mines and keep on going. Use those coordinates I supplied you. That’s the best way to figure out how to get there.
as always, a very nice video...just a thought, when ever I go exploring, I always carry a weighted rope with 1 foot increments marked, and every 5 feet I mark the number, such as 5, 10, 15 and so on...thanks
That's a great idea! I don't normally carry rope with me, but the guy I was with happened to have some in his truck. I probably need to invest in a length of lightweight rope.
A question I've been meaning to ask for awhile: where do you obtain the topographic maps? I can find some online, but its hard to search for specific areas.
I have an app on my iPhone called Topo Maps by Phil Endecott. The maps are free to download and keep after buying the app. They are the regular USGS topo maps in high-resolution. I have a few hundred saved to my iPhone so they are always ready. Don't need an Internet connection to view them, and they work in conjunction with the phone's GPS -- even when there is no cell signal in remote areas! It's an awesome app!
Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Yeah I looked into it. Too bad I have an Android phone, there isn't as good of an app for us, but I'll figure it out.
I downloaded that app for Android. I found 7 gold mines about 7 or 8 miles from where I live up in the mountain, I researched them one is a vertical shaft that goes down about 100 feet, another, the entrance you can barely fit any person into it. I might invest in a drone and explore these mines using a drone. Would be kinda cool.
That "winch" is actually a fire hose reel. Most the fire engines up into the 60's had the hand-turned ones like that over the powered ones they use now.
We figured that after looking at closer. You can see on the left-hand side a fitting or connection for a hose. We think the coiled hose that was near the vertical shaft was used on this reel, and that's how they kept the shaft from becoming flooded when the mine was in operation..
Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Yip That's how I recognized it. It may have been used for an air hose as even under perfect conditions you can only lift water to a height of about 33 ft. by drafting from the top. Otherwise they'd have to have pumped it from the bottom of the shaft.
+Exploring Abandoned Mines do you think the pump had a dual use such as to pump out the water from the table enough to work the flooded mine and also to power the diamond stone drill bit, while the shed im sure was a secure high explosive container. can you tell us what was mined there?
Some buddies and I went out off roading in 1992, my senior year, and we went exploring those mines. It was a really fun night! Now I want to go back there and visit it again.
Did you make it up to the Noble Mines in Pine Valley that night? Back in those days they would’ve been wide open with a lot more equipment there to see than what is there now.
@@AbandonedMines11
I don’t know the names of all of the mines that we went to in Pine Valley but we had to go through a locked gate that my buddy got the key too, down a dirt road, through a deep creek about 4’ to 5’ deep (the trucks were pretty lifted), and then up this crazy steep hill to get to the mines. The one had a wooden shed looking thing over the entrance. We got in through the roof of it and found a generator. We got it running with gas from the trucks and it turned on a string of lights in the mine. We then went several hundred yards in and came to a collapse right as the lights died. Fortunately, we had flashlights and explored several other mines that night including an air shaft that was crazy deep. We had 100’ of rope, tied off to my friends trucks front bumper and descended into the air shaft. We ran out of rope, shined our flashlights straight down and still couldn’t see the bottom. We then dropped a rock and it took several seconds to hit the ground so that air shaft had to have been several hundred feet deep. It was about 10’ across in a circle with no barriers either so had we not had our flashlights we could have fallen into it and literally stumbled upon it by accident. When we went almost 100’ down the air shaft it remained the same circumference as far as we could see. My one friend and I descended down into it but then coming back up was a pain in the butt. We didn’t consider that part but my other friend slowly backed his truck up to help us out of the air shaft since we literally only had the 2 100’ ropes tied around our waists and legs. There was still lots of old mining equipment everywhere too that had long been abandoned. This was in either January or February of 1992 and it was freaking cold that night too. That was a fun night even though we did some pretty dumb stuff that there is absolutely no way whatsoever that I would ever do now.
Those flooded vertical shafts still gives me the creeps. Good experiment with the glow stick!
Yeah, they are definitely eerie. Despite the shaft's collar being very stable and secure, I did not venture across it to explore the short tunnel beyond.
Not far from where i live. I'm looking forward to doing a little looking around in that area myself.
Fun area to explore!
Just visted this mine yesterday. The old mining road off of deer park road is so overgrown im suprised you were able to drive a truck up. The vertical shaft is still submerged.
You must be talking about the short spur road that takes you right to the mine’s entrance, right? I don’t recall the main dirt road being overgrown at all. In fact, isn’t that a frequently traveled route through that area? I think it’s been eight or 10 years since I was last there, so my memory might be fuzzy. Did you post any pictures or videos of the mine? Post a link here if you did! Would be cool to see it again
@@AbandonedMines11 yes im referring to the short offshoot road to get from deer park to the mine entrance. Deer park road has been closed to motorized traffic since 2020 due to a washout, but I was able to drive pine creek road up the hill to the junction with deer park and walk the rest. Pine creek road is slowly eroding away, and may be impassable in the next decade if no work is done on it. Love your videos! Im a long time viewer and get inspred to explore whenever I see one of your videos. Cheers!
@@AbandonedMines11 Did not take any pics or videos while ai was out there unfortunately
That is interesting about the road closure. I vaguely remember somebody telling me about that washout but had forgotten about it. That’s a shame they didn’t repair that because that route seemed to be used by a lot of people. I might have to go out there and hike it like you did just to see what’s going on out there. Thanks for the info! And thanks for supporting my videos! I always enjoy hearing from fans like yourself. Did you ever get up to the Noble Mines? There was a major collapse that occurred in the main one six or seven years ago. We were in it the year before when the main tunnel went back pretty far. When some of us went back nine or 10 months later, a big collapse had occurred and sealed off those innermost workings.
@@AbandonedMines11 Beware of ticks if you plan on visiting before the winter season! I mustve picked over 20 off my pants. I also visited Oak Canyon mine, which is about a mile south of this mine off deer park. I didnt bother going in since I was by myself and the entrance is a steep decline. I wanted to hit Noble mine too, but didnt want to brave a particularly bad section of pine creek road thats just up the hill from the junction with deer park. Maybe ill hike it next time we get some cooler weather!
at 3:42
that pump you found is actually a differential off a fordson model N tractor
Keep posting these videos! I Love them :D
I just hiked to this mine today. Had to ask my friend Jerith Smith the name so I could Google it. This vid popped up.
Isn’t this mine really called the Expansion Mine? From what I remember, I think it was. This video was back in the day when I used to put the real names and locations of mines in my videos. Most of us found out around 2012 or so that government agencies were using our videos and pictures to target which mines to close up next. That’s when most of us started to use fake names or not reveal the real names and locations at all. It sucks it has to be this way, but that’s how it is. How was the hike in? Didn’t they close that road off to vehicular traffic several years ago? I thought I remember reading that somewhere. Really not much to this mine - unless you jump into the flooded vertical shaft and check out the lower levels! LOL
@@AbandonedMines11 yes, that is Expansion mine. Wild to learn the government did that with ur videos. The main road out is still open.l depending on the season. But the road UP to the mine is long gone. I was shocked to see you drive up! And the putter most fence/gate is half way buried. The door doesn’t open anymore. That door in ur video is now partly covering that vertical mine shaft. I had to slowly back up as I was risking a fall. After the fire hoses how far back does it go? Someone to. Me there other mines very close by. Is that true? One with a bathtub near it. Also one called something like mineral mine?
That guy Mike who I was with in this video went down the tunnel past the vertical shaft. He said it only went for about 100 feet and was a dead end. I didn’t bother going down there to film that. I really don’t know of any other mines in the area, but there may be some. I’m not aware of a bathtub or anything like that.
Frank is in a flooded mine...say it isn't so. A couple of nice artifacts laying around this one.
You are certainly going back into the vault with this video, Tom! Thanks for checking it out. This mine wasn’t that exciting.
@@AbandonedMines11 These old videos keep getting suggested to me. At least you get a view out of it.
That’s strange that RUclips is recommending all of my old videos. You think they would recommend the newer ones that have a lot more views and are of a better quality. Strange how that algorithm works. LOL I sometimes get recommended some of your old videos, too. Ones from like three or four years ago. RUclips also recommends videos of yours and other people that I have already watched. I guess the algorithm doesn’t keep track of what we watch.
@@AbandonedMines11 I've been getting recommendations for videos from all kinds of small channels that I have never heard of, plus, those older ones of yours and others.
You should use a mini rov submarine to explore those tunnels
That’s a great idea! A little on the expensive side but a great idea nonetheless. Based on other mines in the general area of this one, this particular mine probably isn’t that extensive below the waterline.
@@AbandonedMines11 but it would be useful in huge flooded mines in the future.
i live in alpine. can you describe the location of this place? kinda wanna check it out!
Mike Turner get a topic map and look it up
What road do you take to get to the mine.
It’s been so long since I’ve been to this mine. I believe you go out Pine Valley Road and then take the branch to the right which continues on through and turns into a different road. Wish I could be more specific, but it’s been a long time since I made this video. I really can’t remember exactly where this mine was. Edit: I think this was the location of the mine 32°55'04.4"N 116°30'43.3"W Don’t quote me on that, though!
Thanks for replying to me. Is it off Pine Valley road or pine valley creek road towards the noble mine.
I can’t remember what the name of that road is. If you punch in those coordinates into Google earth or Google Maps, it will take you right to the main entrance. You can then figure out the names of the roads from that. Doesn’t that road turn into Deer Park Road once you pass the Noble Mines? I believe you take that road past the Noble Mines and keep on going. Use those coordinates I supplied you. That’s the best way to figure out how to get there.
Cool
as always, a very nice video...just a thought, when ever I go exploring, I always carry a weighted rope with 1 foot increments marked, and every 5 feet I mark the number, such as 5, 10, 15 and so on...thanks
That's a great idea! I don't normally carry rope with me, but the guy I was with happened to have some in his truck. I probably need to invest in a length of lightweight rope.
how do you find the places?
I look over topographic maps, satellite imagery, and then do a lot of driving and hiking.
A question I've been meaning to ask for awhile: where do you obtain the topographic maps? I can find some online, but its hard to search for specific areas.
I have an app on my iPhone called Topo Maps by Phil Endecott. The maps are free to download and keep after buying the app. They are the regular USGS topo maps in high-resolution. I have a few hundred saved to my iPhone so they are always ready. Don't need an Internet connection to view them, and they work in conjunction with the phone's GPS -- even when there is no cell signal in remote areas! It's an awesome app!
Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ
Yeah I looked into it. Too bad I have an Android phone, there isn't as good of an app for us, but I'll figure it out.
I downloaded that app for Android. I found 7 gold mines about 7 or 8 miles from where I live up in the mountain, I researched them one is a vertical shaft that goes down about 100 feet, another, the entrance you can barely fit any person into it. I might invest in a drone and explore these mines using a drone. Would be kinda cool.
That "winch" is actually a fire hose reel. Most the fire engines up into the 60's had the hand-turned ones like that over the powered ones they use now.
We figured that after looking at closer. You can see on the left-hand side a fitting or connection for a hose. We think the coiled hose that was near the vertical shaft was used on this reel, and that's how they kept the shaft from becoming flooded when the mine was in operation..
Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Yip That's how I recognized it. It may have been used for an air hose as even under perfect conditions you can only lift water to a height of about 33 ft. by drafting from the top. Otherwise they'd have to have pumped it from the bottom of the shaft.
+Exploring Abandoned Mines do you think the pump had a dual use such as to pump out the water from the table enough to work the flooded mine and also to power the diamond stone drill bit, while the shed im sure was a secure high explosive container.
can you tell us what was mined there?
Awesome!!
It would interesting to pump that water out and see what it has done to the mine.
pretty neat winch, what is below the water ?
The water is about 25 feet deep. Looked like there was a tunnel going off under the water.
I noticed the jacket. It looks like a county road worker jacket
sick