#124

[@georgerendeane3886]

Thank you for allowing me, from my warm bed, to explore places I can never in a million years be able to get to. I'm constantly amazed at how much volume of ore the old miners had to remove to extract the small percent of pay dirt and all using hand tools. Cheers for all your wet underground wanderings. Be safe

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Some had machines as well!

[@georgerendeane3886]

@@exploringabandonedmines I understand that, but there was still a load of manual graft. They used far less machinery that miners use these days.

[@jbrobertson6052]

Hey Frank I was missing watching your old videos of you on a exploration so I decided to watch your old videos. Cheers

[@GoldenNorway1]

I love your optimism, no matter how cold or wet you might get

[@Seat1AJoe]

That was a beautiful mine. Thanks for another journey Frank.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I have never seen an ugly one!

[@stacywinslow4065]

Stumbled on your videos a few weeks ago! 1. Never knew this was a thing 2. Never knew this was my thing! I have been hooked, line and sinker ever since. It's crazy to think how the miners worked. Love seeing the graffiti. A little piece of that miner makes it even more real. Thanks for braving the elements for us

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Glad that I could get you excited about "my thing" !

[@jessereedpaintingsvmatador7009]

Frank your a maniac, I can't stop watching your videos.. Cheers !

[@alurquhart701]

That main mine was surprisingly large, they certainly used a lot of timber in there. I could feel my feet getting cold ! Frank, thanks for taking us along, another terrific video!

[@gregg3356]

That was a cool find!!!! Bet, Craig was glad he went along for the adventure

[@gimiesome]

That was some adventure you took Craig on. He will remember that forever. Thanks for sharing Frank.

[@Fearls1]

That was an amazing mine!! It's good to see you with a partner/cameraman love seeing you in action.

[@andyw513]

And I thought finding a random fossil in a coal mine was neat...this stuff is awesome! Thanks for the new video and stay safe!

[@mikehuth6486]

Love the colors all over these mines!! I sure would like to go through them and see it first hand!! Keep the videos coming!!

[@DeBoswachter]

Great of Craig to go in! Sweet video again!!

[@sharichambers7333]

Thank you for the awesome video! What a cool mine! Loved the colors in the walls.

[@barbararobinson7980]

Thank goodness your a serious adventurer Frank, who doesn't mind the ice cold water going over the top of his boots, brrr! The mine was amazing and there were some vivid colours. I loved the ore bucket and cart they were cool. I bet Craig was real glad you went back for him. Thank you 👍 ❤️

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Craig And actually went back in a few weeks later to check out the parts we hadn't explored!

[@TheDisabledGamersChannel]

Great video Frank, well done, i hope one day you can do an explore with TVR exploring, that would be amazing to see you two pair up for an explore.

[@nefariumxxx]

I agree TVR is one who goes where most would not and films it very well!

[@577buttfan]

@@nefariumxxx Yeah,I see that dewd go into places only a rat would go,hes a badass!!

[@jburritt426]

Beautiful sulfides. I love this mine too.

[@johnterry8890]

That is a badass mine for sure. I wouldn’t be worried about getting my feet wet! It would be a pleasure to actually if it meant I could see something like that in person! Awesome stuff Frank. Thank you!

[@johnterry8890]

I just can’t believe that gentleman didn’t want to go in because of the water......missed out big time

[@rumblertag8933]

Sorry for the long story Every summer we go way up into the mountains in California and our family’s been going there for generations and its gold city up there i spent 5 minutes in the water and already got a sizable piece of gold even though the creek had been dredged down to bedrock theres also some amazing mines and I’m thinking about exploring them the place is called canyon creek

[@STEVEARABIA1]

Too cool. I'm amazed at the drastic color changes. Would be interesting to grab some water samples and check the range of metals.

[@cannibus78]

Another amazing story

[@jburritt426]

Thanks for sharing this. How fun to see all this history Love your videos Frank. Love the looks of the sulfides in this one.

[@Aethgeir]

Awesome! Most of the mines you explore are pretty much mined out. It's really cool to see one with lots of minerals still inside. One can almost imagine what it must have been like in operation.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

True there was a lot of Lead and Silver left...........but it isn't worth a lot of money!

[@GERRYMALONEY47]

One of the best tours ever thank you

[@ClaytonCountyHistoryHound]

That old iron bucket would have been a nice piece to save. Thanks for sharing another awesome mine adventure. Take care and be safe.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I have one very similar in my museum.

[@benbradley7028]

Wow, superb -- as ever. Thank you!

[@pauloneill9965]

Ur so lucky to have so underground sites to explore film bring us along. I love watching but to go deep in to depths of earth I be hesitant to. I know you claim be no expert but a guide like you the a amount mines you been down explored you know ur stuff I would went in heart beat. Cool watching but the smells cold damp colours fears expierencing make it trip you tell ur kids grand kids even better show them. Loved it as always Frank take care see you on nxt adventure explore👍☘🇮🇪

[@DaleDuffy]

Wow, that is some mineralized rock. Not sure you'd get me out of that mine for quite some time - excellent Frank...and thanks again....!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

You bet

[@Virtue740097]

Awesome mine with pa dirt. Thanks for the show.

[@thewolf3889]

What a great mine find looks like you were the first inside in a long time. I'll bet there's more and i hope you find them. Thanks Frank...

[@exploringabandonedmines]

WE found a lot of mines and some really big ones in the area. You will see them in the coming weeks.

[@CobaltOntarioadventures]

I'm wondering if the green could be annabergite? It's hard to tell in videos, but we have lots around here because of the nickeline and it's different shades of green to almost blue (maybe depending on other minerals associated with it? Here is mostly silver, cobalt, nickel, pyrite and bismuth. Of course in different combinations) Another sweet video, Frank. Its always cool to meet a random guy that can take you on an adventure! Now back to the video lol

[@exploringabandonedmines]

You might be right, I haven't seen it before.

[@hillsidehillside3095]

!!!! Thanks Frank !!! Ordered my Shirts Today !!!!!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Great thanks I appreciate the support!

[@danielbarrows7144]

Visually stunning mine, great find thanks for sharing your adventures with everyone!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@frequencyfluxfandango8504]

You were absolutely right. It didn't look too inviting with all that water, but after all that, what a Dutch cheese of a mine.

[@Dam_Cali_breed]

I used 2 go caving when I was a teenager in. I live n Missouri. I enjoyed exploring n enjoy watching ppl explore. ☺️ Be safe!

[@seanbelhumeur3840]

Glad he caught up in the action wicked vid

[@bereal74]

Thanks for the adventure

[@Live.Vibe.Lasers]

That's cool you convinced him down there. He'll never forget it. I know I'll remember my first mine explore for the rest of my days.

[@kevinbrennan2004]

The ants pants of mines Frank. Great explore.

[@mollyquinn9120]

You guys are fearless!! I love going along with you for the explore but in real life I would never go in those narrow tiny tunnels. Stay fierce & safe.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Its all good so long as you don't get stuck!

[@infinus5]

the mines at Ainsworth were mostly silver / lead. That vein at the beginning of the vid looks like pyrite but it could be argentite, which is a high value silver ore. Later in the video you can clearly see the argentite vein mixed with the sulfides

[@harrickvharrick3957]

argentite.. that sounds as if it has a golden colour or shine to it

[@BIGBADWOOD]

Always great to watch ... More 5 star videos ... Thanks and stay safe !

[@exploringabandonedmines]

You are welcome Al!

Awesome channel.

[@SnerkleBurger]

Frank, I believe you may have found another good one ... wow. Too bad that other one a couple years ago was already owned by "she who shall not be named" -- the one with that big flake gold and all the quartz at the top level. Thanks again for another great installment!

[@Awsahybell]

I want to go on one of these expeditions ! That be awesome!!

[@ipaddlemyowncanoe.7441]

That was a good one boys looks like a lot of fun you're not finished in that area you'll be back. 👍👍🇨🇦

[@exploringabandonedmines]

You bet!

[@Oldpolcat]

Thanks for another insight to the past. Personally I'm just amazed at the shots of all the strata in the ribs. Titanic forces that created them. Great stuff!

[@MIB-iy6qq]

Amazing stuff, keep up the great work

[@leehilton9932]

Another great video man. Good lookin material in there too. Fire up the water pumps, the air compressor, and the generator and lets get some pay out of that mountain.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Interesting video Frank....ty

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Lots of galena

[@derekwaszkiewicz8338]

How did I know Frank would sit at the bar in mining areas looking for tips and stuff. I kept picturing him doing it and now it's confirmed. I would definitely join him.

[@dwightstjohn6927]

Note for visitors to this area of the Kootenays: there are homesteaded, unknown, and various hot springs all along this mountain run. You can see what rough country it is, but there are radio controlled logging roads, and old mine/log roads all through this area. I think they're cordoned off the "wild" source for Ainsworth and another developed hot spring, as the water in these springs are NICE AND HOT . i'D do the run in the winter, the best time to visit the WILD springs. Obviously a great mineral area!! Ask in Nelson, BC and the locals and they know where the interesting springs are that tourists don't visit. They're not even on the net, yet. Ask them about the one with 300 steps down into an "Eawock" valley of poison ivy!!

[@jonbos2876]

That was great thank you

[@Dust599]

Sometimes I really wish your camera had some form of level, so we know what direction you pointing it!

[@scottbaker4314]

A laser will show depth, distance and give direction for camera to see

[@cannibus78]

Always amazing

[@johnbluebeard4355]

Peter Ellens I agree. In the Second Relief Mines Part One, there were places in minutes 4-6 with all those stulls where I often couldn't tell if we were looking up, down, etc. It's sometimes difficult to keep a perspective on direction and sometimes difficult to figure out the size of what you're looking at. Otherwise, the vids are perfect, and the sound is back!!

[@naui_diver9290]

Me too

[@edd6113]

Was good you having a second person, gives good perspective as to the size of the mine, camera made it look small by itself. Could you carry a couple of bin bags to slip over your legs to keep your feet dry? Light enough to slip in a coat pocket. Keep up the excellent videos all of us with small balls really appreciate them

[@exploringabandonedmines]

It's a good idea.......mind you wet feet is not something that bothers me too much.

[@Aethgeir]

Yeah definitely good having another person for perspective, and not just for size. The way all those supports are in there diagonally it's hard to tell on camera if that's the way the mine looks or if you're just holding the camera at an angle.

[@edd6113]

@@Aethgeir it was the size of the stope (if that's the word) it looks like Frank is crawling round then Craig walks up and it huge. But I wouldn't want Frank to have to set up a camera and walk to it each time, think that would double his film time.

[@johnizitchiforalongtime]

Rubber boots, getting common attire. Some people aren't ducks. Wondering, what might be the percentage of silver through taking of samples. Would it be productive adventure. You're going to have to show him this video, he will be impressed. They took quite a bit of ore out of here. Surprise, you got an awesome mine here.

[@Bushguyrocks]

Good one!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Thanks!

[@oxskirra]

Wow that was awesome. Mine it Frank

[@RetroGamerVX]

Wow, that mine was lovely :o)

[@Cjchass77chassagne]

Another nice one Frankie!!hey do you have to worry about mountain lions or any other wild animals having a den in mines?

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Nope I have a steel toes boots I can kick them!

[@DFDuck55]

One Chinese gold mine I explored here in Northern California as I was coming up to the portal I noticed the water in front of it was freshly disturbed. I was about 100 or so feet in when it started drying up and I noticed big fresh mountain lion tracks. Lucky for me the lion heard me coming and left just before I got there. I was wearing a pistol but shooting in a mine isn't something you really want to do :>

[@rdamp2374]

HI Frank It pays to get your feet wet.Another great video.So you think the rats are forecasting a bad winter.They may be better then the weather forecasters.Keep it up.

[@rg3412]

Bring a black light and turn your flood light off and you should be able to identify the rocks better as they become fluorescent under UV light.

[@moparchallenger749]

R G A bright idea 😀

[@simonwalters6733]

Another great one Frank BUT u gotta get a gimbal it will improve ur vids 10 fold, be safe

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I haven't seen anything that would work on my camera.

[@nefariumxxx]

@@exploringabandonedmines Maybe ask the TVR guys what they are using. It must be a pretty sweet setup to have such clarity/resolution. However yours is very good too.

[@TheDisabledGamersChannel]

16:52 Beautiful Mine, Look at the sulfides and the copper and the silver, i wanna move in here, HAHAHA, you crack me up Frank, that literally made me laugh out loud lol.

[@davebeckley2584]

Was that first mine about 3 feet of cross cut and a mile of paying drift? Did that mine follow a fault, or faults, pretty much right to the face or was that just the makeup of the rock, that it sheared in rectangular blocks that looked like a fault if it broke a certain way? I found myself tilting my head to the right as I followed along. Did you grab anything to have assayed? I'm really curious as to why they would have quit on this mine if there was so much pay exposed and it was truly ore that paid. I've seen fools gold but I've never seen fools silver. That was a fantastic mine. Thanks for sharing it!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

It was a very rich area. I would assume the assay came back low and they moved to richer areas. They did remove a lot of ore above and below the main haul level.

[@colk45]

Did you happen to go up the old Loon Lake service road? There is an old mine that collapsed underneath the road and shut it down. It's pretty neat to see. I have found a bunch of old adits up that area.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

That is the Highlander the biggest mine in the area......stay tuned we go there!

[@colk45]

@@exploringabandonedmines Great! Excited to see it!

[@davecox1402]

great video Frank, good to see the kibble ore buckets still there,you should buy some wet socks to wear under your boots.

[@Dave_9547]

Do you ever take ore samples? This one seems to have a lot of ore still present although it might not be very rich.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Lead and Silver aren't worth much and them old miners were pretty smart they wouldn't have left much behind!

[@TheSWolfe]

Ha! Ainsworth petered out before u did, Frank! Looks like u've found yr summer (winter?) retreat. While everybody else is cozying up by the fireplace or in the hot springs below, u'll be schlepping thru mud & rock, & under rotted collapsed timbers in search of dynamite boxes, fresh adits, & higher levels. Some frilly curtains, a couple throw-rugs, a decorative pillow here & there, it'll be yr new home away from home!

[@trevorparnell3735]

Don't know how much I would trust those wooden toms after 100 odd years

[@fucktardmst3kfan144]

I don't care if the water is chest deep, I'd trek with ya, Frank!

[@jessieshoemaker1580]

I should be doing homework right now! But this way more interesting. 😛

[@shewolf5098]

Did anyone else hear a voice right after he says cool at 9:33? And then the gravely chitter right after he says “i almost broke my camera” at 9:32

[@markg3947]

I am looking for some chert. Do you ever see any? I want to do some flint knapping.

[@nefariumxxx]

I see a bunch on feebay.

[@targusmack2302]

Have you had your gas monitor bump tested lately?

[@exploringabandonedmines]

You don't test disposable monitors. You turn them on they run for 24 months and then you throw them away.

[@targusmack2302]

@@exploringabandonedmines I've never heard of disposable monitors. What is the make and model of yours?

[@exploringabandonedmines]

@@targusmack2302 It is a BW they are very common these days for a single gas monitor.

[@TA-xj5we]

damn cool mine guy!!! ☠⛏🐿😀🕯

[@hudsonrobert49]

I wonder if the dynamite boxes would hold 12 inch Vinyl LP Records or 7 inch vinyl records, that would be cool, especially if I had some.

[@colk45]

Was the big mine the Highland mine?

[@exploringabandonedmines]

The Highland and the Highlander were separate mines. the Highlander is the bigger of the two. The Kootenay Florance was a large one there as well.

[@typicalrockhound9887]

awesome ! :)

[@robertclarkguitar]

Awesome mine. Hell I'd spend a year in there hammering out ore. Lol

[@Buck1954]

Craig just wasn't prepared to get his feet wet, especially if he has been in dry mines. But it seems the best finds are those that are wet.

[@giantss2007]

Thanks for getting your feet wet again for another great video

[@bingsballyhoo711]

If you panned out a handful of that level 1 muck you might pay for the gas on this trip! Good mine!

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I doubt it, very little Gold there it was a Lead and Silver mine.

[@summercoulman6850]

"Its like being reborn again"

[@letsgivenutrialove]

25:47

[@summercoulman6850]

@@letsgivenutrialove beer

[@BNSFFur]

Hello mister bear

[@justintime753]

Knee deep but cold as shit

[@johndoh5398]

What would you do one day if you saw big bad John at the bottom of one of these mines.

[@SPFDRum]

Makes a guy wonder how rich the ore in them stopes was considering what they bypassed on the way in...

[@exploringabandonedmines]

The area had some of the richest Lead and Silver ore anywhere!

[@hike2]

Awesome

[@daystar4909]

My last name is Ainsworth! hey great video guys :)

[@BestBuddies.]

I swear I seen Craig before did he ever work at Ainsworth hot springs I used to a long time ago

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Yes he did!

[@BestBuddies.]

That's funny I used to work their at the same time as him lol

[@niccarter284]

Would love to have one of thoese dynamite boxes

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I have lots of them but it is a lot of work to get them out......the easy ones are all gone!

[@niccarter284]

Exploring Abandoned Mines I can imagine! Sure looks like a lot of work even to haul in some ropes

[@Lalunabreeze]

Nice

[@speedshift5792]

I like to soak my bone anywhere anytime lmao great vid frank like always thumbs up

[@auyemra1331]

What a beautiful mine. Have you ever run across a bear?

[@billseymour-jones3224]

"I don't want to go swimming today." Really Frank, have you no sense of adventure? Hehehe.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

I have a shower every day.......this is just a little colder!

[@NickRanger]

Hey. Frank. Hey ty Olson. First comment

[@CobaltOntarioadventures]

Take a screenshot and frame it, Nick

[@williamsburgkavanagh1710]

so the deal is when you get out of the mines go fer a hot dip and warm dem bones in da hot springs. no one would fault you fer that mr frank

[@caseyhogan2142]

YESSS

[@victoria653]

just think of the weight of all the rock above you

[@KowboyUSA]

My monitor is crap; can't tell if all those dead *looking trees in the opening shot were deciduous trees that have only lost their leaves, or dead conifers waiting for an ignition source.

[@exploringabandonedmines]

Neither they are Larch, conifers that shed their needles in the fall.

[@KowboyUSA]

@@exploringabandonedmines I'm living a little to the southeast in the same forest as you, I recognize the larch turning yellow-orange and dropping their needles. There's quite a few trees that don't appear to be larch but look dead on my monitor. Maybe they're just aspen, cottonwood, tall alder brush, other species that thrive on wet; there's likely a lot of near the surface water and in springs on the hills over the hot springs business.