A TUNNEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT?? - Abandoned Mines in Nevada

Exploring some abandoned mines near Pyramid Lake, outside of Reno, NV.

[@oldhawkins]

OSHA called and they want their music back.

[@aleisterlowenstein9526]

Is this Intel ppe training

[@richardhutchings921]

The music sucks.

[@jml11158]

Alien encounter lurking music.

[@0ppastopa]

Sum gloopy ash music😭

[@davidelack8809]

It's very cool that a young man is interested in our history while getting some good exercise and respecting whats left enough to not destroy it. Your parents raised you right! thx

[@RRConductor7]

The Walker portal and the Burris are(were) owned by the University of Nevada, Reno for use as a student field lab for the Mining Engineering and geology departments. Permitting and insurance have been an issue from what I remember when I was a student there. there are a bunch of things that are considered historical resources to the state on the site and that makes the process to get up and running much more complex.

[@joen7xxx]

I attended my summer mine surveying class and drilling and blasting class at the Burris Mine in the 1970s while attending the Mackay School of Mines as a mining engineering student.

[@curtbilyeu8701]

no more music, no more music. but i do love the mines.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Great video! Looks like the first few mines in your video were prospect pits. That tunnel with the concrete and rebar was interesting. Like you said, that was probably going to be a mine entrance but they never finished it. That vertical shaft that was partially covered by a grate looked really dangerous! I bet that grate at one time covered the entire shaft but after years of erosion, the shaft has only gotten wider as the sides continue to slough off. I like the music you played in the background when you were zooming in with your camera and stuff like that. A couple of tips: when you come across a gate like you did in that one tunnel, be sure you check every bar in the gate because sometimes you will find that one has already been cut open by a previous explorer, and the bar is just resting in place. You simply lift the bar out which allows you to enter the mine tunnel. When you’re done, you simply put the bar back in place and no one is the wiser. Also, I would be more careful about inadvertently showing your vehicle’s license plate in your video. Nice vehicle, by the way! Those Rubicons will get you anywhere. I totally agree with what you said at the end of the video about enjoying the peace and quiet and getting away from the crowds. The desert is perfect for that!

[@zebraactual4699]

Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places - Fascinating. Thank you so much for your comment and all the great info!!

[@donmarion8808]

Awesome video and really nice t shirt where did you get it? Can you post a link please.

[@royalkannon3805]

i know Im asking the wrong place but does anybody know a tool to get back into an instagram account..? I somehow forgot the password. I love any assistance you can offer me!

[@briansonny3415]

@Royal Kannon instablaster ;)

[@royalkannon3805]

@Brian Sonny thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@johnsmart964]

This video is greatly appreciated, thank you so much for sharing this with us.

[@Uriel_222]

Awesome thanks for taking us along. Really enjoyed it!

[@bambikisstoby]

REALY enjoyed this!

[@mtcannon2541]

This area is next to my valley. There was actually an old mining town you missed. Plus huge history in the area. My valley is where Rocketdine tested their engines to go to space. There are active mines near by so be careful. I can show you around if you want to do part 2. youtube - Save 92,000 Wild Horses

[@zebraactual4699]

Oh, cool! So I assume your either off Axe Handle or Whiskey Springs Rd.? I know there’s a lot still left out in those valleys. I’m off of Calle De La Palta, so I’ll definitely be doing more exploring and videos in that area! 👍

[@marksimons6491]

@MT , Say as soon as I saw "Rocketdine." The hairs on my arm stood up. Did you see the video these guy's made about that secret installation east of Reno that was not on the official site list those guy's posted on video. You think they were connected?

[@airsoftjosh5724]

@@zebraactual4699 Just like MT Cannon said, I grew up driving around those mountains and used to live off calle del la plata. There is so much stuff in those mountains to explore.

[@zebraactual4699]

Absolutely! I’ve wanted to delve into the Rocketdyne testing sites. Unfortunately it’s all privately owned and quite inhospitable… I can only imagine how much else is out there waiting to be discovered…

[@securityteam1697]

The post with the bottle wired to it was marking for a mining claim.

[@zebraactual4699]

Very interesting, thanks for explaining that! I have seen them here and there and was never really sure what they were for.

[@spacetravler8461]

Its called a location notice or discovery notice. In a lode situation its 600 feet by 1500 feet per claim in a large grid with a 2x2 post on every corner and a notice 25 feet in usually on the end center line of the claim block. This has been common practice in exploration law for many years. It does very from state to state on post size and some states allow the notice on a common corner. Some states also have a side center line. Every post has a metal tag showing the claim number, claim corner and the name of the block with a north arrow and sometimes distance and bearing of said claim. Hope that helps a little without causing confusion.

[@PACK-xx4ey]

@@spacetravler8461 The old claims were usually put into old tobacco tins

[@spacetravler8461]

@@PACK-xx4ey yah the real old ones were

[@allen2331]

A man and his jeep. What a beautiful thing.....

[@mikecarr1484]

The floor used to slope downward. The guy who filled it in raised the floor to incline upwards and about 4 feet of cement blocking the manhole. So you are only seeing half .top half the entrance. I think the guy was pissed when he got his job for the day and it was way out there. He used all the cement on the truck. I get goosebumps thinking how cool and creepy that mine was . Before cell phone cameras and google maps we just found these places by accident. 4 wheeling.

[@zebraactual4699]

Interesting! It used to slope downward? Up towards the top are drilled holes for dynamite so I assumed that was all the further it went…

[@jcee2259]

Yeah, I know 4-wheeling also nose dives. Into shafting when screened by brush. Good dives are short and you step out.

[@aleisterlowenstein9526]

Came for the mines stayed for the music.

[@robertspecht1911]

The capsules on the post you saw was lode claims, describing the claim dimensions and the material they were mining. Most miners will claim all minerals as they dont want others to know what they were claiming until they got the permits to start mining, and it also protected someone from over stacking your claim, if you claimed only gold and it turned out to have silver.

[@davidsul7052]

It shows the danger of unstable ground at the edges of shafts. You can see how much caved in beyond the size of the top when the grate was installed.

[@Rusty.1776]

I've been inside the concrete covered one and many others in the area before they blocked them with steel gates, filled them with concrete etc. I've found a lot of neat things in them oar carts, tracks, tools, bottles, wooden boxes, dynamite and clothes. I even found a geo cash in the surrounding area lol.

[@Rusty.1776]

The concrete lined mine did go in every bit of a mile before they poured a concrete wall blocking it off. Last time I was inside any of the mines that are now blocked off was 2008-2009 time frame.

[@jtheprospector.1458]

Precious ore and paydirt were brought out through what's called an "aditt" which is the lower horizontal shaft. The tailings up top are just from whats pulled out to make those vertical shafts when they chase a drift. Generally it's just waste Rock. All the smaller piles you see down below are most likely dry washer tailings. Also the tunnel in the mountain is most likely a de-commisioned government/military lab or bunker. There is something in that mountain. That was made to drive a car into. Possibly a nuclear fallout bunker from the cold war era? I Know of many underground bunkers in our Area. I'm from Dayton area. Some weird stuff out by ft Churchill as well. Good video.

[@zebraactual4699]

That’s what’s so interesting! It looks like a vehicle entrance, but the back wall is 100% rock, so it definitely didn’t go back any further. I think someone commented that there was a diagonal shaft that originally went downward, but it’s so backfilled now it would be impossible to know

[@kickthatmulelee1245]

@@zebraactual4699 💪

[@kathy6679]

Cool video love seeing old mines!

[@ExploringWithBonnie13]

Awesome video. I'm from ohio never been out west this is amazing. Thank you.

[@phillipprior71]

This guy has only scratched the surface of exploring in the west, Nevada is a very interesting State when it comes to exploring, same as California, But in California you have to get away from the cities and towns to explore.

[@ExploringWithBonnie13]

@@phillipprior71 keep it up

[@cowboygeologist7772]

Great adventure; thanks for posting. Like to find others that enjoy exploring too. I think I may have met you at Red Dog in Virginia City, NV once.

[@zebraactual4699]

Yes, I’m pretty sure you did. Glad you found my channel!!

[@suze6of6]

Really? Sound is aggravating Thanks tho tour!😁

[@nakha9123]

You guys are amazing. Deserve reward for this time you are spending for your investigation. God bless

[@robertsnyder5149]

A pill bottle or jar on a post means it's under valid claim so don't take anything.

[@jojocono4887]

Right on patty mayo is back

[@wendybray2324]

great video i have only just come across you in the last few days. i love the mine videos, my partner worked in stockton coal mine here in new zealand until they had the lay offs a few years back,i used to love exploring the abandoned coal mines .be careful you have another egar viewer congratulations

[@prestonforayter2584]

I read where there are approximately 250,000 mines in Nevada.

[@Repackrider84]

People don’t realize how cool the desert is…..

[@karengallienne7446]

You like investigation of remote and unusual sites. I was a civilian air force employee in the 1980's and 1990's. I had reason to be at Kirkland air force base and sort of got lost while driving my R&D lab. Vehicle there. We came upon a NORAD type entrance into a mountain. There were serious barricades to prevent entry. We felt uneasy being there as it seemed out of bounds. Turned the large vehicle around and never returned. Recently I was. Viewing Google map of Kirkland and could find the NORAD type entry to a mountain facility. It couldn't have dispersed, to large.i mean large with a joining buildings and barricades. There was a main roadway as wide as an interstate that led up to the entry. We were driving on this roadway/ interstate up until it stopped at the entrance to a mini NORAD!? Any idea?

[@jerribales2842]

Keep people out/ or in???? Trafficking is a new subject we all must think about. Keep looking and sharing Thank you!

[@arienadventures236]

I will be in that area in a couple weeks and will have to try to check this out!

[@mikecarr1484]

It used to be a hole bottom left side. I have a pic. They filled it in with cement because some dude got hurt . It was 12 years ago it was open. People cut the bars so they filled it in with cement. It was a weird entrance . Big opening little hole to enter. Off set hole it was really weird . But you can almost see the different color cement in the left lower corner.

[@zebraactual4699]

Wow, thanks for all that info!! Very interesting. I’ll definitely examine that portal a little more closely next time I’m out there.

[@markharder3676]

That first butte you show has been heavily mineralized. I'm surprised there weren't any prospects on it. The wooden stake with the bottle is a claim marker at one corner of a mining claim. The bottle contains a document that attests to the registration of the claim, with the claimant's name and information on it.

[@almontepaolilli7531]

Great video. It looks like old mines and open shafts are all over the place.

[@user-tk2jy8xr8b]

The shaft is not partially opened, it's collapsed beyond the protective grid

[@mikewinings4120]

That post with a bottle is a claim post,looks old and could be historical,love the video

[@mikewinings4120]

The other aluminum post cap was an blm mined land surveying marker,ty place those when they reclamate old mine sites

[@MGZig]

Bro... I liked the video. It wouldve been cool-er if you had someone else with you, plus what you needed to climb down into the mine. That music/tune that kept playing...reminded me of watching an episode of NightRider. Not sure if you remember that show because I dont know how old you are. I liked the show for it's time, but it was cheesy as hell. Thanks for getting out there and exploring. And thanks for posting your video. No disrespect, just constructive critz.

[@zebraactual4699]

Lmao!! I remember Nightrider, and you aren’t wrong!! 😂

[@Cajundaddydave]

That whole area between Sparks NV and Pyramid lake is filled with history from the early native American tribes, 19th century gold and silver rush, and then the Rocketdyne space exploration testing site in the 1960s. Some of these sites are pretty contaminated and dangerous even today.

[@jessejames5643]

A fishing real and very heavy line would be nice to let the GoPro down the virtual shaft. Cool video no mask needed nice

[@zebraactual4699]

Smart idea, I may just do that!! 👍

[@mikecarr1484]

Walker mine Nevada. They had a big entrance there. Is hard to picture but it was only a manhole on the left bottom corner.

[@denisnelson4250]

that mine that had the partial grate over the top, well it was a full grate until the side gave way and slid into the hole. That is why they put up the wire and the sign. If you are going to ignore the warnings, at least tether off with a rope so that you don't turn into a rescue or a statistic.

[@clsybear]

The concrete was reinforced for dynamite storage to keep it cool

[@anthonywstanton]

Thank you for the informative content sir!

[@awtull]

Nevada Field Laboratory Rocketdyne established and operated a 120,000 acre rocket engine test and development facility nearby Reno, Nevada from 1962 until 1970.[15] The Nevada Field Laboratory had three active open-air test facilities and two administrative areas. The test facilities were used for the Gemini and Apollo space programs, the annular aerospike engine and the early (proposal-stage) development of the Space Shuttle main engine.[16][17] This is what you found

[@GlobeExplore]

wow great video.interesting explore

[@mikecrow8294]

The little white plastic bottle contains the paperwork for who has the claim for that section.

[@wifighostcruiser9665]

You shouldn't use that kind of a lens, it makes everything look distorted and you can't tell how far away you are from anyting those things suck

[@zebraactual4699]

Yeah... 😕 Love that camera, hate the fisheye. Luckily I recently upgraded cameras 👍

[@nickelmickel4170]

Possibly that tunnel was going to link into a larger mine but the larger mine closed down for whatever reason hence no need for a haulage tunnel.

[@soylentg6270]

OMG the music... great vid though. I explore much the same as you in Utah.

[@gingerbread6614]

Enjoy your video but please no music, you don’t need any music. Thank you

[@Sepia36912]

That gate looks robust.

[@robertjenkins8043]

Love your video and your music 🎶

[@sonnydayz2118]

I hate it when they put those cages to keep you out.

[@taylormansfield6309]

I grew up in Spanish springs and have explored many of them!

[@DWBurns]

I know it is a year old but a list of things you need: A 6-8 inch lift, 35’s or better on that Jeep. Lockers front and rear. Dump the bumperettes plastic things on front bumper. A winch with poly line min 125 feet out there in the land of no trees. Kewl video, you did good work.

[@Big_John_C]

It's a Rubicon, it has lockers, in their stock form they can complete the Rubicon trail.

[@definitelydipper595]

There is nothing around this area that requires anything near that. I’ve been many many many miles in this area in an open diff 2wd on some cheapo 29” mud terrains.

[@prospexican]

Great places, the one u said is partially open it actually collapsed

[@isaiahgray3057]

Cool video but ditch the music. It breaks the immersion.

[@rg3412]

Great video! The background beat is loud and annoying though...

[@eddyhans5365]

Indeed-it is useless!

[@williamalbee918]

In the late 80’s and 90’s Nevada. Authorities filled in most open mines to stop bodies being thrown in and accidental injuries

[@johngeary8534]

I just watched casino again

[@mudslinger995]

at 33:16 that was not a partial grate, it looks like the open area was a collapse after they originally covered the opening. Great Video/production. Lee

[@MrDavercadaver]

33:16? You sure?

[@ericmattinen4728]

Mines have waste dumps, mill sites have tailings piles.

[@MoonRambo702]

It’d be cool if you put some Geocaches out in some of these locations. I’m moving to Nevada in a few months. Making my list of places to explore.

[@sixsixman4052]

Have to be super careful around these old shafts. A few years back a man fell into one and it was so dangerous to rescue him it was called off. They filled the shaft with tons of concrete, him still in it. Sad.

[@JimD77]

Please tell me he was not still alive when they poured the concrete.

[@joemadre9550]

KUATO LIVES!!

[@gregs1027]

That mine was disappointing but there is one up the hill that is really cool.

[@001desertrat3]

For looking down verticle shafts or straight horizontal adits , use a MIRROR ; reflected sunlight is a million times brighter than any flashlight you could carry .

[@swaptrickgaming]

Looks like you had a miner mystery on your hands there.

[@loadedfun4764]

The stake with the bottle on it usually has official paperwork on whomevers clam it is owned by. (Staking claim) often it will have four makers showing its boundaries.

[@jcee2259]

I carry SRT gear for my descent/ascent and avoid the risk of old mine equipment. Stupid is not my companion preference. I also walk with a D-handle shovel. Finding a concealed entry but avoid hand injury from broken glass, rusty nails, or wildlife. Use fall-arrest rigging so if my footing falls away I can make a safe ascent or go see where the footing went to. I'd rather see otherwise useless people find quality time with their personal mobiles..

[@DR_SOLO]

That PILL BOTTLE was the Claim Owner's Claim Papers. 😉

[@mikecarr1484]

We used to shoot there all the time . Blew up a propane tank inside that mine. Was really dumb but I was young.

[@spudnikholyghostroller7314]

As it is in the area I'm in they would find the main veins and set up the biggest mine off of it. Then all the other ones where like other people trying to strike it rich.

[@jondavis4570]

Really cool, thanks for the videos! I used to live in the High Desert near Barstow, CA. Did a lot of off-road cycling and trucking. The adventures were awesome! Found a couple mines. Had other adventures also. Once climbed up a challenging spot and surprise, a big abandoned nest! Glad it was abandoned, lots of small bones around the old nest! Almost fell 20 feet onto rocks below, so you need to be confident to go direct. Took a friend up there, but didn't take the direct route. Found out what was easy for me, was not easy for him. Glad we didn't have an accident on that trip. He got to see the nest. I hope he still remembers it. Finding old homesteads and mines reminds me of the exploring and impossible work the miners did to follow the dream

[@zebraactual4699]

Barstow has lots of crazy stuff around!! Maybe I’ll make it back down that way one day. Used to be stationed in Twentynine Palms with the Marines and I used to love exploring Amboy at night

[@englishelley777]

With the right make up and lighting you resemble Patrick Swayze young man.

[@jerribales2842]

I put NOTHING PAST THE GOVT. AREAS YOU GO ARE UNDERSTAND GROUND IS THERE A WAY TO SEE WHATS DOWN IN

[@MsNevadakid]

we were just there yesterday! keep the area low profile brother! did you go the "franks grave site? just look for the trees and spring.. ...happy trails....

[@zebraactual4699]

Of course! According to local newspapers of the day, ol’ Frank Blondin was quite the character! ...and not always for the right reasons. His homestead is truly a unique find, and a beautiful spot he chose for his rest. I have a very special video planned for that site sometime soon when the weather is a little better. I was disappointed by all the trash and shell casings I saw when I went out there to visit last week. But sadly, that seems to be the way it goes out here...

[@Pwnasaur]

Hey looks like the hill u show at the start had fresh soil turned up n dug all over it? Maybe I’m wrong but might be worth a pan or a peek?!

[@rnsoutherland]

The concrete portal was shot with Gunite. The plug is concrete to keep people out.

[@TimberMoto]

So it goes back much further? Because it looked like it was cemented shut on purpose.

[@rosievasquez4378]

You can tell that it’s got a big old metal door on it so I could be somebody making a Home underground

[@Tahoebronco]

I understand why you have set the camera to wide angle; however, it causes a lot of distortion when the camera moves or you pan around. I suggust you zoom in a little bit to cut out the distortions.

[@joeb3668]

That's called a coyote or wild cat dinner

[@patruddiman4228]

That looks like a typical government agency gate and they probably burnt the building too.

[@smitty2721]

What would have been mined in this area?

[@zebraactual4699]

In this area, mostly silver and copper

[@ArnoldClarke]

Is the little cup where you put your papers to ‘claim’ the mine/land?

[@royrice8597]

The reason they don’t sell spray paint to children. But some “adults”……..

[@zebraactual4699]

Right?!?

[@johngeary8534]

Nevada has hundreds of mines

[@christinawalls3227]

Sence you near pyramid I'm thinking those tunnels could be part of the underground base in herlong

[@patrickvanhoesen9425]

That back wall.in the tunnel is concrete

[@youwillneverguess]

Did you see that camera right next to the fence?!

[@theinfoteam3276]

Nice video, BUT they were mining WHAT ????

[@zebraactual4699]

Mostly silver and copper around here

[@coloradoraptorguy9250]

What gps are you using that has mine overlay data?

[@zebraactual4699]

Just the topo overlay that came with my Garmin. It doesn’t have everything, but a lot of the larger mines are labeled on it. A lot of my info also comes from Google searches or browsing old atlases too.

[@spoogysprouts]

I'm pretty sure they were both silver mines, Cinch might have been copper.

[@duaneantor9157]

There was some sort of equipment with a gauge on it. You didn't bother addressing it.

[@sonnydayz2118]

First one looks like a prospect hole.

[@lalogarcia7172]

What’s all that piping going on in the back ground.

[@scottystacker4660]

Old Gold or Silver mines? I'm in Texas. Our deep holes end up covered or producing.

[@zebraactual4699]

Mostly silver and copper mines around here. Lots of fly-by-night prospecting companies in the late 1800s - early 1900s that just extracted what ore they could from the hills and left the pits and shafts behind

[@johngeary8534]

Go to 7 throughs north of lovelock

[@johngeary8534]

Peavine mtn, just outside of Reno

[@iyaayas200]

looks like an explosives storage bunker

[@tee6611]

Have you come across entrances suspect of trafficking?

[@zebraactual4699]

No, it all looks pretty undisturbed. No signs of recent traffic in or out of any of the portals

[@RalphMantuanoTwinStarMedium]

Thank's new sub