Unbelievable Location For Gold Mine In The Alaska Wilderness
The incredible location of this mine in the pit (I would just love to see historical photos of the network of platforms and trestles that supported the gold mining operation) with the river smashing through the workings at the bottom distracted me from the mine itself. However, the abandoned gold mine was pretty incredible in its own right, even without its location taken into account… Come on, steam boilers! How often do you see steam equipment - especially steam equipment frozen into an underground mine? And that winze with the giant skip car? Throw those two examples in with the location and I can say with some confidence that this must be one of the most unique mines in Alaska, if not the whole United States.
Obviously, the mine complex of the next day wasn’t as visually stunning or as unique as the mine of the first day. Ha, that is an unfair competition though because the mine of the first day would blow anything away! Having said that, I wish that a boat or something had been floating in the “lake” where that flooded stope was! That was a stope of a massive scale (The closest I can think of was that underground lake at the lead mine in Kazakhstan that was so big that we couldn’t even see the edges). Calling it a “ballroom” as large stopes are sometimes called is an understatement to say the least… Interestingly, the map of that mine from the second day shows an adit running almost straight in and then the mine essentially consisted of just that giant stope. Well, that was according to the map I found. The very last adit in the video was a part of that same mine and it wasn’t featured on the map at all!
This was our first mine exploring trip to Alaska in the winter. Yes, it was cold. Very cold. And the shorter days apply constant time pressure. However, it has its pluses. For example, it is actually easier to reach some sites because one is able to simply walk right across frozen lakes and rivers. For those of you that live in a warm climate, that may be difficult to process. However, in these cold climates, bodies of water essentially become roads and trails in the winter. Imagine a nice, flat surface with no brush blocking your way! Another plus for winter mine exploring in Alaska is that one also avoids Alaska’s ferocious mosquitoes.
On a completely unrelated note, the flights to and from Alaska were surprisingly full. Who are these crazy people visiting Alaska in the dead of winter? They can’t all have been mine explorers trekking in to remote historical sites across frozen rivers.
I sure miss how it was traveling during the months of peak 2020 Covid fears… We took a flight to Anchorage, Alaska from Seattle, Washington during that time that had four passengers on it. Four people - and we were two of them! So many wonderful examples like that… We drove across the country then as well, which was also a great experience.
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You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD and here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help cover some of the many expenses associated with exploring these abandoned mines. Inspired by their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. So, if anyone would care to chip in, I’m under TVR Exploring on Patreon.
Thanks for watching!
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Growing up in California’s “Gold Rush Country” made it easy to take all of the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mine sites have a lot working against them - nature, vandals, scrappers and various government agencies… The old prospectors and miners that used to roam our lonely mountains and toil away deep underground are disappearing quickly as well.
These losses finally caught our attention and we felt compelled to make an effort to document as many of the ghost towns and abandoned mines that we could before that colorful niche of our history is gone forever.
I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring
Пікірлер: 97
As an Alaskan I always appreciate your coverage of our mines
It's so beautiful to visit Alaska, where the invincibility of Mother Nature is on full display. It does make one pine for the warmth and buzz of towns and cities "on the Continent" in a different way. The men and women who built and kept those mining nexuses alive were of a different breed.
That last scene just exudes coldness, wilderness, unforgiving harshness.
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
I think that all of those are quite accurate.
@vapormissile
4 ай бұрын
Amen. Show up for the gold. Stay for all the rest. Positive waves.
@krockpotbroccoli65
4 ай бұрын
Utter bleakness
That was awesome. You really do find obscure and interesting mines. Fantastic job you guys.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Fab explore Justin & buddy's in beautiful Alaska! The colours, artifacts & echo in those mines is great. Love seeing the rails too. ❤😊👍
Interesting to know this location has been around for lifetimes and will be for many more i’m sure it’s hard to say who were the last people to explore it but it probably doesn’t get too many visitors what a good explore and thank you guys for sharing
Woooow...those boilers were AH-mazing! Thank you for taking your time the way you do. I appreciate you so much.
Those boilers along with the age of the mine suggests the steam was used to generate electricity. If and when the ice thaws, steam powered generators may be found close to the boilers. Very interesting. Thanks Justin and Crew!
AWESOME views in this video, Justin!! THANK YOU As for the mining infrastructure, all I could think was BOOYAHH at 3:21 & at the boilers!! Those were freaking COOL! Makes you wonder how extensive those works were to require that amount of steam. Only that river knows now.
Thanks for sharing the meaningful description and awesome video! As a boiler guy, I can really appreciate the underground powerhouse! How cool is that??
Great video, thank you for making the video
Excellent as always! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
That must have been quite the operation back in the day. Serious effort and engineering went into that mine.
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
I'd love to have seen it...
That skip area was interesting, it went down a long way tho but i guess that was nicely flooded, very nice big boilers wow, nice cliffhanger back in 10 years lol That last mine was indeed a mystery wow.
What a amazing location, worth the trip alone! Loved that huge skip car, that was massive and I wonder how and why it ended up in the level like that...
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
Yes, it was very cold, but the views were phenomenal. We were left very curious about that skip car and the workings down that winze. It'd be miserable to get down there with the freezing water pouring on you, but there has to be some good stuff down there.
Incredible finds. What a beautiful river scene! Thanks a bunch 🙏 Ps. I don’t mind if you leave the camera on through the boring sections. 👍
Spectacular!
Really dark rock 🪨 that last mine!!
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
Yes, it was almost completely black.
Very cool explore
You visit some stunning locations. Thank you for sharing them
WOW sweet find!
every time he say's "INFASTRUCTURE" take a drink. great vido's.
Very interesting to see!
Those huge boilers may have run a generator . Likely it is encased in the ice now. Nice scenery. Thanks for the pictures of it.
@fuzzwack1
4 ай бұрын
It could have been used to melt the perma frost so the could dig...
Being as I live in Alaska I've always wanted to see you do some Alaska mines! And finally you did! Please do more Alaska mines in the future!!! Much appreciated! Would love to know what part of Alaska these mines were in?
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
I've done many mines in Alaska if you go back through the past few years of videos...
Awesome
Hey Justin, WoW what is great spot to explore,
I bet that backfill at 7:30 is the material they had to move to put the hoist in the side of the pre-existing working.
That is crazy!!!
The views from the car! Nice to find some compressed air tanks.
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
Yes, this was a cold one, but the views were fantastic!
3:38 IDK why but this scene reminds me of the video from a few yrs ago where there was a tunnel w/a sluice box in it packed w/material.
nothing about the mines is boring mate all awsome..
Those mines were pretty insane 🇺🇸
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
The location of the first one was unlike anything that I've seen before.
The mine with the steam boilers and electring wiring must have been a huge operation back in the day, too bad you couldn't explore the other levels
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
Yes, this is one of those that I particularly would have liked to see when it was in full swing.
That winze station was sensational. Maybe worth a rope down that man way if that location has a dry season? Thanks for sharing Justin. That last one was odd. Doesn't add up.
@OGRocker1
4 ай бұрын
Howdy Eb... G-day mate
You continue to impress me with your fantastic travels
That is awesome I would love to be there with you guys so sweet.
Cool
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
Literally, it was.
Great explore and video. Do you have an approximate date the first mine was active? Early 1900's?
As I've come to expect from you and the crew, another excellent video into the unknown depths of the earth.. What's there is next to impossible to determine, due to the nature of the subject of what probably started as a hobby, but has morphed into something entirely way past that concept for obvious reasons at least for myself, and I'm sure most of the long time viewers you've earned over the years. Any idea on how much was brought out of the first mine, and what fuel they used to fire those large boilers? Wait, because by now you know that's not the only questions I have that has my curiosity peaked. How in the heck did they get all the timber to support all the workings, and equally as well the very large vessels boilers, and other equipment to this location. Especially so about the trams cable, power systems. As I didn't see any forms of generating power other than steam for the electric system they had, which appears to have come from the outside going by the power wires that were on the back of the adit the entire time? Too many unanswered questions left unsolved in there truthfully. Such how deep does the map, site plan indicate that they reached ? See I've always got a need for more information about what the whole picture was during the time it was in full operation, but I understand that information at best is very limited from historical records.. It'd be great to talk to someone who worked in many of these different locations back in the day. Yes Sir, I fully understand that there's probably not anyone alive except maybe a kid of some of them, and they would be like myself getting up there in years too. As always young man, y'all be careful, be safe, and keep doing what you love doing as long as you are able.
I sure enjoyed your video. The underground boiler room was impressive! What was under the ice?
a very wintery explore...hows your foot? There just seems to be so much potential left in these mines now. but the last one is mind boggling. thanks for sharing
Great mines and scenery. Thanks for sharing. Bigger mozzies than OZ ??? [at anytime]
Those are awesome. Where up here are those ?
An amazing trip to beautiful country. They don't do things by halves up in the land of the midnight sun.
@johnross775
4 ай бұрын
Alaska sadly is part of the usa.
@OGRocker1
4 ай бұрын
@@johnross775 Sorry bro, but if you don't like it, ........... Alaska is a part of America, and will remain so. Edit; Sorry Justin, but I am getting a bit tired of all this anti-American crap!
How is the mine developing? Hoping to see more videos on that subject.
Hi Justin, your back must have really been shouting at you down that drift, the boiler was awesome to see, I cannot remember when I last saw one inside an adit. Wow, that mystery mine as you rightly said has so many questions, I'm guessing they took all the tailings and ore with them because they may not have had a permit etc and that's why it abruptly ended because they may have got caught. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
Miners mining without a permit? Unthinkable. Something like that could never happen... LOL, yes, that could well be the answer.
@SueGirling68
4 ай бұрын
@@TVRExploring Haha yup. xx
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Imagine whats down in the lower workings of that winze, only mysteries
@TVRExploring
3 ай бұрын
We'd love to know... That one has really stuck with us.
Very good video you gentlemen did a beautiful job. ✌️❤️🍺
Are the Bremner Mines still explorable? Tons of artifacts at the camps when we packed through. Only way to get there is bush plane.
At 4:00 into your video, you hear a high-pitched voice exclaim "Hey!" Was that a buddy of yours?
Sweet view man 🤩 brrr.. nice Eskimo mine
Im thinking that last tunnel was soot black from using steam haulage underground.
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Where is the cable or "rope" for the winze?
Hard to imagine dragging those boilers into the bush to put into the mine. Have you ever tried or thought about a laser range finder to try and get some scale on those bigger stopes or deep winse
How the hell did they get a boiler down there? Or did they build it in place? Was the steam used to run an engine? Or drills?
So woukd you assume tyhe "ghost mine" was world war 2 era & shut odwn for the war? Maybe everything was taken outy for anotgher mine?
Why would there be boilers inside the mine?
The darkness of the last mine was unforgiving.
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
Yes, it was wild how black it was.
Good afternoon from Southeast South Dakota
That's Bob Ross country.
some of these mines... it must of felt like working on the moon with how remote they can be. Would larger operations have doctors or hospitals? I cant imagine getting a serious injury out there
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
The wellbeing of the miners wasn't a big priority with the older mines. I've never seen or heard of a proper medical facility at any older mine like this one.
My brother I hope people know we’re you are? Plz be safe.
What did they burn in the boilers? Coal? Where is the rest of the coal?
That last mine was perhaps an illegal prospect. That would explain why it was picked clean and perhaps great care was taken to not be all too visible from the outside.
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
It may have been illegal, but it was a huge, full-scale operation. That was much more than a prospect.
Anyone who wants a extended mining season on alaska should hit me up i have concepts on how to do that and want to.
The old electric wiring is called knob & tube .
@bruceflaws3213
4 ай бұрын
Just knob. No tubes. The tubes were for safe passage of wire through floor joists.
It's unbelievable what they could drag into mines in the past. Those steam boilers didn't look light at all
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
No, they definitely were not.
I'm even more curious where that river goes, it just flows straight into the dark abyss but must be coming out somewhere right? Tack on the ghost mine (lol, I love that term) and this is quite the video of mysteries, so many questions. Per usual thanks for sharing :)
Your voice reminds me of another channel on youtube,and if youre both then 🫡 fighting from the shade
It you light the boilers back up I'm sure it would melt it
@TVRExploring
4 ай бұрын
That is definitely true.