EXPLORING A VERTICAL MINE SHAFT IN THE ARIZONA DESERT

[@bobfred123100]

I'm i the only one hoping for a body

[@rvann1212]

What a coincidence, me, my dad, and my dad's friend were riding our dirtbikes last weekend and decided to go check out a mineshaft. We didn't know it was vertical and it snuck up on all of us. My dad's friend fell in and lost his life. So please be careful when you know your in a mining area

[@Denaligirljodie]

I’m so sorry. That’s tragic.

[@jk-76]

My father in law and I were hunting in the Zuni mountains (northern New Mexico) and we came across an old mine that was sealed off with metal grating. It was a big shaft straight down with a horizontal shaft at the bottom. I wish it were still open, it would be cool to explore...

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I wish it was still open also. Unfortunately there closing them up, as fast as they can.

[@williamarmstrong7199]

@@mainlineprospector3813 good far to unsafe both for local wildlife and rambling humans.

[@jamesbehrje4279]

@@mainlineprospector3813 if they werent so dangerous then theyed be fine, but they are far too unsafe. Wandering people and animals can fall in them. Maybe if they were closed off with limited access to experienced cavers and climbers that would be one thing, but when you have in expeeienced people just trying to explore with no caving or climbing experience you are asking for trouble. If an a accident happens it would take alot of resources to save someone. Whoever owns the lands is responsible for any accidents that happen on their land. Im sure land owners do not want to be sued by someone's family who died in a mine that wasnt adequately secured.

[@DJcyberslash]

I'm sad imagining all the people and animals that died because of fools not closing up their vertical mines. They should be held accountable for all the deaths and missing people. Heartbreaking.

[@TVRExploring]

I really wasn't expecting that one... My first thought upon seeing the shaft was that it was an air shaft given the lack of waste rock around it. I could be mistaken, but it looked like there was a big pile of dirt filling the shaft at the bottom, but that it dropped off a bit on the sides. In other words, a drift may have run off beneath it, but was almost entirely filled in with dirt that had come down the shaft. That could explain how the rattlesnake got down there because otherwise how in the hell did it get down there or how does it get out?

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I AGREE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE COULD BE A DRIFT LEVEL BELOW. I CHECKED THE AREA AND COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER ENTRANCE, I THINK HE FELL IN AND ISN'T COMING OUT.

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, in other words, he'd probably be a bit cranky and all the more inclined to have taken a strike at you had you ventured down there...

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I'm surprised he didn't strike at the camera. He might be a little to cold down there to move much.

[@TVRExploring]

He was probably more curious than anything else... I'm pretty confident he had never seen anything like that before!

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I think there is rats living in those pockets about 15' down that's probably what he was after.

[@tinytattoomike7943]

See even the rattlesnake fell in that hole ! Dangerous!

[@mainlineprospector3813]

One less rattlesnake doesn't hurt my feeling.

[@johnnyblade2052]

I had to be your 1000th subscriber! To good of a video. Love to see more. Thanks!

[@mainlineprospector3813]

THANKS SO MUCH. MANY MORE ADVENTURES COMING SOON.

[@andyamysarizonaadventures5450]

Cool video😎☺

[@jeffreysheldrake3243]

My young nephew would gold prospect on his own til he had a good think About it. Previous miners from up to 100 years ago would only lay down timber and roofing iron at times so you can guess why a couple of lost souls were never found in that area

[@davebeckley2584]

Where is the waste rock? Never seen a vein that was the exact size of the miner who had to dig it out. Bet that rattlers meals are few and far between and while it wouldn't have eaten you it would surely been upset at the intrusion. Nice video. Thanks.

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Blimey, that was a nice surprise!! I nearly had something similar when going down a 90ft shaft, looked down a short tunnel and thought I see what looked like a badger, but we later confirmed it as a dead pig that fell down there.

[@TVRExploring]

Rattlesnakes, dead pigs... The only wildlife I've seen down a shaft is a ground squirrel that fell down and was killed. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I'M SURPRISED THAT MORE ANIMALS DON'T FALL IN THESE VERTICAL SHAFTS.

[@robertlyman9789]

One like that almost got me riding years ago, scared the crap outta me!

[@jeffgoetz6885]

Yeah that would be a little Scary to repel down and find a Small Western Diamondback Rattlesnake right there where you would land. I've seen vertical holes out in the middle of the Desert around Southern Arizona and I had No idea that they were there

[@20PINKluvr]

I lost it when you showed the snake 😂😂

[@georgehuesler9561]

There's no waste rock (not tailings, those come from a mill, mines will have what's called a mine dump which is full of waste rock) because this is a stope, which means the portal is elsewhere and they mined upwards till they hit the surface.

[@greenspiraldragon]

I would still want to go down there. Just be careful. I totally couldn't see that mine until you were right on top of it.

[@mainlineprospector3813]

YES THIS ONE WAS HARD TO SEE.

[@20PINKluvr]

Even with the rattlesnake and cactus pods?

[@robertwolfe2971]

Lot of people just drop their cameras down the side.If they had a PVC pipe and put a strong line through the middle.they could extend their camera out to the middle then lower it down by laying the pipe down on the ground and weigh it down over the middle of the shaft.

[@darrenmarchant1720]

good idea to put up a fence and a sign.

[@Tom-cy5em]

WOW that one definitely needs a fence big time one wrong step and thats it.

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL HAVE A COUPLE STRADS OF BARBED WIRE AROUND THEM SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE THEY ARE THERE.

[@20PINKluvr]

Not to mention rattlers and any other venomous snake can be in there

[@maikailoa808]

This is me Ron on wife's computer. 😊

[@AdventuresWithNimby]

He was probly like WTF is that light! Lol must be another opening somewhere for him to get out.

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I LOOKED FOR ANOTHER OPENING IN THE AREA BUT THERE ISN'T ANY THAT I COULD FIND. I DON'T THINK HE IS COMING OUT.

[@j.aurich679]

I have found many snakes down mine shafts, except, they were dead from the fall.....

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS STILL ALIVE! GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW LONG HE HAS BEEN DOWN THERE.

[@j.aurich679]

Maybe there is an Adit on the hillside that drifts to the bottom of that shaft.....

[@DJcyberslash]

Should of rescued him if you could safely

[@cornbeanbuttersquashthe3rd416]

At -1:27 there some kind of creature looking up. An it darts off like a bolt of lightning.

[@olddoggeleventy2718]

I'm curious about the cactus... Were they growing there, pieces placed there as a deterrent, or perhaps packrats...they can take over small caves with a colony and may have collected the cacti, they collect all kinds of stuff. What was your take on that?

[@olddoggeleventy2718]

The pack rat idea...could be that was why the rattlesnake was there...num nums...lol

[@tristanhunter6357]

All those cactus needles are placed there by a certain type of desert rodent. They build their nests out of them and use the thorns as a way of protection from predators.

[@lucatriet575]

What animal places the cactus there? I mean i has to go up and down there??

[@maikailoa808]

Looks very dangerous. Ron

[@Denaligirljodie]

Did the snake fall down there or is it there on purpose. It seems weird to see a snake in a cave.

[@PackRunner3]

Is this in Bumblebee?

[@nofortunatesonII]

Good man caring about other people's safety by putting rocks around it. It should be fenced off.

[@oxskirra]

Tuscon? There plenty of them around there like that in the saguaro national forest

[@azironlungz2145]

Location coordinates????

[@jeffreysheldrake3243]

Be real easy for people to go missing while hiking in this area

[@liammcintyre8970]

Found one on the top of Scarlet Canyon in North Phoenix. (SW corner of Cave Creek and Deer Valley Rds) you should go and get a video

[@jason4750]

how'd cactus grow down there in that dark hole?

[@viralvideo171]

well it does still have access to dirt light and water.

[@tristanhunter6357]

It doesnt. Theyre actually placed there by a certain type of Rodent. They build nests out of the cactus thorns for protection from predators

[@boostedz6670]

looked like the hole Gale and Evelle came out of in Raising Arizona

[@jamesseesholtz6060]

Near Bumble Bee?

[@theogdirkdiggler]

thank you, it must have been an air shaft

[@irishnurhd3288]

You promised a surprise and boy did you deliver.

[@scottytoorottie]

That's wild, wow!

[@shealarson2635]

What were they mining out of there?

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I BELIEVE GOLD AND SILVER.

[@pychohobo1832]

So how do you get the rattlesnakes out?

[@mainlineprospector3813]

IT'S HIS NEW HOME.

[@pychohobo1832]

@@mainlineprospector3813 tell me where it is. I'LL get him out. I want the shiny!!!!!!!!

[@wdwerker]

So is the snake starving or does just enough prey fall in for it to survive on?

[@mainlineprospector3813]

I BELIEVE RATS MUST BE FALLING DOWN TO KEEP HIM ALIVE. HE LOOKED PRETTY HEALTHY TO ME.

[@pychohobo1832]

Plus a snake doesn't have to eat much to stay alive. I agree on the rat's. They probley packed the cactus in there. Ones around me collect cactus, dog food and any feces they find. You seen 1 rattler. That doesn't mean there isn't more in there.

[@W7DSY]

MY GUESS: The rattlesnake is still there.

[@cornbeanbuttersquashthe3rd416]

Its only there for a 1 tenth of a sec. Just as u start to see the bottom.

[@Hidden_Destinations]

Now he has no one to bite. 😜

[@NyuuMikuru1]

Hello Mr Pockets.

[@camronbitzer3159]

What were the purpose of these shafts/mines?

[@TheShockwaveDragon]

There were a very large number of mines in this region of the country back in the 1800's and early 1900's. Most of them were gold or silver mines.

[@camronbitzer3159]

@@TheShockwaveDragon how many people do you think would work one at a time?

[@TheShockwaveDragon]

@@camronbitzer3159 It depends on the size of the operation. Some of the smaller ones might only need 10 or so men to operate. The industrial ones may have employed a hundred or more.

[@camronbitzer3159]

@@TheShockwaveDragon thank you for the information. I was curious how small an operation could be just imagining it in my head.

[@sonnydayz2118]

Where are the tailings?

[@homefront3162]

I have been bitten by a Rattlesnake, almost lost my leg

[@Impailer67]

hey homefront..i'm lucky i live in a snake infested hell and have only been chewed on by copperheads. we kill (yes KILL) an average of 24 rattlers a year on about 10acres..i've been adopting indigo and king snakes as fast as i can catch them..i live in a very rural place in GA, sorry bout your leg, i've seen the recovery process..i'd like to hear more about your experience if you have the time..thx

[@lilsigh6415]

Where is this located? Coordinates?

[@hachi-rokuperformancegroup3987]

OG JAYSEE are you in cochise county? It looks like brunckow cabin off charlston road

[@tommybokelman5565]

Just ride fast you'll fly right over

[@mainlineprospector3813]

OR PUT A JUMP IN FRONT OF IT.

[@richardhelit3840]

Be safe

[@garybauer7574]

Rattlers in a lot of abandoned shafts

[@johnhunt731]

Thats it, i thought you found Atlantis thats 5 mins of my life gone

[@plutoroxx]

That is no mine shaft, that's just the momma rattlesnakes den.

[@DetroitLove4U]

I am a single near 42 year old man looking for Mrs. Right but it just dawned on me that perhaps a lot of discombobulated men may have thrown their ex wives into shafts like these? It just makes me wonder. I certainly will not want to be looking into holes of this size into the ground

[@journeyman2003]

They should have to put barriers up

[@G3Lato57]

journeyman2003 well welcome to az. No officials here really give a f about safety

[@ronniecardy]

Thanks never ate any snakes.

[@andrew_trucker]

Hurray I thought u found a ring that’s not hood throw a rock on it lol

[@Aidancordell]

That poor snakes gonna die down there

[@pychohobo1832]

I really don't think so. Here is why. Snakes can go a very long time not eating. This is because of thier slow metabolism. Which is also why you can't poison one. It can live on one mouse a year. And I would bet that all its food fall in. It probley been there for years. Also, it highly possible there is more then one in there. Then there is the matter that that's all the cave that was seen. There maybe 100s of feet or even thousands. I was thinking of why you don't see tailings or other waste. This could well just be a vent hole. The mine could be down a shaft behind the snake. Also, if you look at the bottom. There is a big pile. Maybe? This was not dug down, but dug up. And the last few feet caved in.

[@waxinwaxout1495]

We habe to sabe the snabe

[@i_am_grutzius-_-828]

4:09

[@tycho3301]

Snakes... why did it have ti be snakes...

[@Cramblit]

wow a snake in a desert! in a mine shaft! what a surprise! said nobody ever...

[@scorpioslingshotschannelsp1581]

A bit shit really I was hoping to see a smashed up dead body or something not just a dam snake, I could go my local pet shop if I wanted to see a snake, but then again I could just dig up my back garden if I wanted to see a dead body lol only joking ;)

[@TrollextheTroll]

Hey Scorpio Slingshots ..... you want to see a ded body? Keep talking punk and you'll volunteer for it.

[@kcinaz7719]

Have you called Az BLM? I believe they would be responsible to secure that! Dept of Mines is there. Would hate for a jeep or Motor cyclist to fall into that. Or even a hiker!

[@jacecoppock9277]

Lol bobwire

[@williamarmstrong7199]

Why not close them up? Makes absolutely no sense to me. In the UK all old shafts like that (and we have many 1000's of them) are all covered by steel grids. You can see down them but nothing much larger than a rabbit would end up falling down them. There are horizontal entrances that then become vertical drops that claim many sheep and small animals (i found a pile of dead animals about 8' high under one in a Welsh mountain side) which adds a certain tightening of the arse muscles mostly because I had just gone over a shaft which had a 35 second free fall sound rock test! The pile of dead things (sheep mostly I did not dig in to find out) was on the same walk in level as I found the drop shaft. These should be sealed. Many times I could have injured or killed myself and put a lot of other people at risk trying to either recover my body or rescue me.

[@johncholmes643]

Arizona is so close to Mexico, we hope that illegal Mexicans will fall in with their families

[@TheShockwaveDragon]

It's an ongoing issue for the state, and it boils down to money and stupid legal doctrine. There are thousands of these mines, many dating back to the 1800's; record management was practically non-existent for all but the largest mines, and many smaller ones were created "off the grid" by smaller operations both intentionally and unintentionally; as a consequence, there's effectively no way to locate them other than by physically going out and looking for them. In the modern era, the state of Arizona only budgets a few hundred thousand dollars a year to the "bureau" responsible for locating and sealing these mine shafts off, which last I heard is operated by a handful of (like five) old men. With such a limited pool of funds and manpower, they don't really have the ability to cover or even find every open mine shaft out there and the state has so far resisted diverting any meaningful increases in funds for a variety of reasons. You would think the easiest solution would be to allow volunteers to board up and seal off or even sponsor the sealing off of these shafts, but unfortunately the retarded legal landscape in this country means that once you begin construction on such a shaft, technically that means you inherit responsibility of its upkeep and all liabilities attached to it forever -- so if someone hurts themselves or dies by falling through the seal you built because it wasn't secure enough (like just a crappy barbed wire fence) or because you failed to maintain it properly, or even if the individual knowingly bypassed the seal to looking around inside, you're the one that gets to have the pants sued off of you since you were the last one to have had a controlling interest over that construct being that most of the companies and people that made these tunnels are already long since dead and gone. It's ridiculous and I'm sure a lot of people disagree with that situation, but absent any major change in legal statutes in Arizona, I doubt the problem will be solved any time soon given that it's been over a century in the making and still effectively no attention has been paid to it.

[@darrellstillsjr7784]

Damn what do you expect to find in the middle of the desert a fish swimming around you just went down in a perfect spot to find snakes and you act like there should have been a fish with legs walking around down there good God man

[@ObeyCamp]

Clickbait as shit.