Exploring the Mountain Chief Mine - The Upper Workings (Part 1 of 2)

In this video, we find a 1920's era mine located high up in the desert. This mine produced copper, silver, lead and zinc. Total production is unknown. The mine was worked on three main levels. The middle level is showcased in this video. The lower adit is shown in Part 2. The upper adit is very short and uninteresting.
The middle adit has many interesting artifacts including the remains of a hoist and an ore car. The mine has seemingly not seen much attention since closing.
In the next video, we explore the long lower crosscut and associated drifts. Part 2 will be released in one week!
#urbex #abandonedmine #mineexploring #abandoned #mining #exploring #desert #travel #history #adit #shaft #underground #minerals #silvermine #goldmine #exploringabandonedmines #orecars #ore #artifacts

[@MinesoftheWest]

Part 2 will be released next Monday! Also there will be only two parts (the title animation says 3 by mistake).

[@ruksharkhatoonhjh7627]

I

[@charleskey2842]

At 1:22 when you look into the collapsed opening. Is that somebody there with you standing in the opening or what? I can see a set of glowing eyes and it looks like they turned around. Or is that something else?

[@Audion]

Great quality video & lighting.

[@tinytattoomike7943]

How the heck did they dig the ore shoots?

[@huntereury1585]

why didnt you get into the ore cart

[@1976ceaust]

The round things on the shelf that you mentioned have a powder in them are the remains of dry cell batteries. They were used with an induction coil to create a spark for the Fairbanks Morse engine sitting there.

[@DFDuck55]

I appreciate that you take the time to photograph the highlights. The photos are so much clearer and truer color than the video.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Duck Landes I appreciate your continued support!

[@TVRExploring]

He puts some work into getting those pictures too, I can assure you... I would not want to be hauling that tripod he uses around to some of the mines we've visited together!

[@JohnDoe-bf1fw]

@@TVRExploring My first attempt at mine photography was using a Pentax 67 medium format film camera and a steel Bogen tripod. Lee and I repelled to the bottom of the Waterman mine while I had a ton of photography gear on my back. After that I bought a Nikon D700 and a carbon fiber tripod. I love painting with light. I haven't been out in years. It breaks my heart, but its cool to see videos like this.

[@thomasbeck9075]

Great video. All of the miners who worked there have passed on and now are forgotten by many. But their work will live on in video form as long as this video is here. It's hard to imagine how hard they worked in the darkness day after day. They were the generation that made America

[@MinesoftheWest]

Thomas Beck Well said! Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@MrJimbo777]

I still cant get over the Amazing preservation of all the wooden supports & beams! I mean they look like they were only just chopped up & put there last week! :)

[@patterdaleminecave3545]

Ours are totally different in the UK

[@enochbird3862]

Its crazy to think the only time light ever gets there is when people are exploring it.

[@Vingul]

I often think about that.

[@bearvanwolvelaere7196]

Did anyone else notice the eyes glowing in the upper shoot at 1:24?

[@cyberleaderandy1]

The ire cart is amazing. Still runs and works. Sounds echoing in the mine not heard there for decades 🙂

[@johncarold]

WOW you just have to love those NV. mines, and that has to be one of the best mining cars I've seen in a long time. Thanks again for the show, Can't wait for part 2

[@dougcarnahan4228]

Beautiful relics frozen in time! Makes one appreciate the hard work these workers did! Excellent coverage!

[@southdownsway]

This is great and we all love your high quality still photos. So atmospheric. How cool to find a riveted ore cart with grease still on the axles and push it along the adit. I bet that flywheel is heavy too. Many thanks. Looking forward to the next episode!

[@SpectrumRob]

Nice well preserved mine. The ore cart was awesome as well. Thanks again for taking us along :)

[@Oldpolcat]

Those artifacts are in pretty good condition given their age. 100+ years. I love seeing these older mines. Thanks!

[@MinesoftheWest]

Oldpolcat I agree, 100 years is a long time!

[@scdevon]

It's dry down there with constant temperatures. This high desert stuff holds up great.

[@qldabandonedmines]

It's videos like yours here that solidify the importance of documenting these old beauties. So much history left lying in the dark underground from a time almost forgotten

[@snipsnorpsmorble]

Glad there are people who do this kind of stuff so I can see it from the comfort of my own home lmao

[@577buttfan]

This mine is the best west mine I've seen.I just love this one.Most of them all look the same out west.

[@waynesmith3002]

always appreciate how much time you allow to show the detail of hoists and other items of interest rather than just passing by them.....nice job...!!!!

[@kristinasullivan9436]

My 2x grandfather I found his death certificate on Ancestry and it says he died due to a fall in a mine in 1908 in Pennsylvania. My Mom's father, his father (my 1x great grandfather) he also worked in the coal mines in Pennsylvania for 44 years and some of his sons my great uncles were also miners. So to see these tours is really fascinating.

[@barrychuckle5565]

Amazing! I love how you stop and let a slideshow of high res photographs play. Your narration is excellent also - not everyone knows what all this stuff is (me), so it really enhances the experience when it's being explained as the film progresses. Thanks for sharing!

[@johnharris7353]

Excellent video from a real vidiographer!

[@frankdalla]

I am forever amazed at the tonnage of material moved creating these old mines. Back breaking work.

[@akawireguy1197]

Your stills are magnificent. I like the extra time they offer to observe details.

[@garywheeler7039]

Yes. Especially with the high resolution we how have available on YT, its great.

[@dougcarnahan4228]

Beautiful relics frozen in time! Thanks for the excellent coverage!

[@blairfaulkner7996]

It’s so nice to be able to actually see the detail and colors in the rock. Finally a cameraman who knows what he’s doing!

[@johnharris7353]

Yeah they're in short supply here on KZbin!

[@hansjacobsen6534]

Those still shots of the ore carts are amazing. The clarity and color! I would love to make calendars with shots like this

[@dirkdiggler1242]

@ 9:56 the craftsman strategically placed the plywood so the knot hole was used for an eyehole on those fantastic 100 year old doors.

[@gcr1]

Nice catch, what a great idea! So Dirk, do you workout? Yeah, you look like you workout! Lol

[@L4M858]

Very cool mine and great video, thanks!

[@amtr4u2c]

Those were dry cell batteries sitting on what was left of the engine in hoist room .the things you said were packed with something. They were used to supply power to the magneto igniter.

[@speedshift5792]

the guy at the end of the tunnel with the light scared the crap out of me for a sec lol great vid👍🏼 just sub.

[@meanboycoins6250]

Awesome mine! Great job on video of it as well!

[@stevetabor4447]

Good stuff love the history of old mines etc as always be safe

[@MinesoftheWest]

Steve Tabor Thanks for watching!

[@gunnyusmc4957]

1st time I've ever seen anyone move one of those carts before, cool video my compliments sir

[@uwesteinki5037]

Thanks for the fantastic journey,and so very informative. Cheers from Australia.

[@TVRExploring]

This was a great mine. I'm glad your video of it is getting a lot of well-deserved views...

[@RioDeLaNorte]

Wunderschöne Aufnahmen !! Vielen Dank !!

[@robertchinnock8017]

Great video, amazing how the mines work back in the old days

[@alanluscombe8a553]

Awesome to watch thanks for showing us and stay safe mate

[@davebeckley2584]

That's really cool especially since it hasn't been cleaned out. Those cylinders at 8:30 look like batteries with the positive terminals facing the wall except for one turned out. Thanks for sharing.

[@tmar8953]

Super cool vid! Like seeing the mine map, too!

[@tylerbuman9877]

Awesome video! Very well done!

[@philliphancock6992]

I'm glad that they are not destroying the historical scenery but being very careful while they are exploring the mines

[@edwardcarrington3531]

That was dope. Copper minerals are beautiful

[@jameshendrickson7382]

Thank's for sharing. Very educational.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi, very cool mine with quite a few interesting features to it, I loved the old mine cart, it looked in pretty good condition. I look forward to part 2, thanks for sharing. x

[@mrnobody5381]

So well preserved. Like they left yesterday.

[@stevenmyrick9492]

Great job and great video! I like the closeups and the fact that you leave it close in so we can read the words and they're in focus. Also you're not clicking a supplemental flash light on and off and pointing it down the mine every five or so steps.. Appreciate the bright lite so we can see everything. Not sure what you did but the tapping noise has stopped. Very enjoyable. Keep up the good work.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Steven Myrick Glad you enjoyed! This one was filmed with my new camera, which is free of tapping noises

[@gingerbread6614]

That is all so cool. Good mine. Thank you.

[@captaincalmag4953]

15:47 wow!!!such good condition and the tracks are still good to push it.

[@mechanicman8687]

Epic exploration all the way from the alien to the ore cart. And always have the best photography out of all. Wonder why your vids just came out. Awesome content pictures

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

5:46 Wow that is so cool to see stuff like that still in a mine.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Vegas Cycling Freak Yep! Not a very common find that’s for sure!

[@passinthru5992]

Fascinating video,thank you.

[@paigelee6321]

Very cool love mine explores thank you 😊

[@adventureswithgoat8515]

Listen at 14:40 minutes when you say "Going all the way up to the stopes"... directly after... it sounds like something says "Here We Go" or something like that. I have played it back at least ten times. I believe you caught an EVP or an OUT OF BODY VOICE. I love It!

[@Vingul]

Probably just a hiking buddy or some other sound.

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

Great job !! Very interesting old mine

[@shirleymatthews2980]

Looks like a lot of fun to me thanks for video

[@ronniecardy]

Love what was left of the old machinery would have loved to see it b4 it was apart and the cart looked like it was in very good shape

[@stefaneisenring2533]

Many thanks for the good video

[@fuzzwack1]

Very Cool!!

[@Lucysdad66]

Not bad your getting better with your viedos that is a awesome mine

[@stevenhigby3512]

Great mine the ore cart is the best I have seen.

[@normaramirez3971]

ke hermoso reportaje me encanta todo esto de las minas felicidades es de los videos mas bonitos ke hevisto

[@moonstruckmoth]

Very good camerawork, very steady. I esp like the high res stills. Keep it up

[@thatportlandguy8593]

Funny how accurate the minecart sound is in Minecraft after watching this :)

[@lindalee7322]

Totally beautiful. I loved all of this. I appreciate your knowledge and narrative. Great video. New subscriber. God bless you and keep you safe.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Linda Lee Thank you Linda!

[@andermac1]

Anyway to get that cart out? Museum piece for sure. Great video👍

[@kennethbarker852]

great video to watch thanks

[@danmiller6051]

Great video. I, like the others, appreciate the extra time you take with the machinery as I also love the old stuff. The stills are a nice touch.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Dan Miller Thanks Dan!

[@rdamp2374]

Great Video. At 8:32 the round tubes wear batteries for the host single. Or for blasting.

[@garywheeler7039]

Buzzer for hoist maybe like you say. Or flashlight maybe.

[@Warmachine817p]

11:16 is a weird "yes" lol i know alot of people by the sounds of it but still weird. great video!

[@sanddabz5635]

I just assumed it was his mining buddy behind him, voicing his approval of what they've just found.

[@tangledshoelace4726]

Love it!!😁😁💙💚

[@aants.kawisar1420]

thanks. nice video and lots of great information

[@GabeCangelosi]

Holy shit that chain was moving

[@rhiannonhall7036]

How did he just casually walk past it

[@Ferreal92]

It's as if they just recently put their tools down and left. Eerie but fascinating.

[@verticledomain4210]

Excellent photography. Glad there are people like you because I couldn't do this. Yikers, you kidding me? not me.

[@KingdomHeartsFan-mu9cf]

This is how it feels exploring Tailfin Pass in Cars: The Video Game.

[@blueleader2187]

I hate how I exactly know what that feels like. “Kachow”

[@dagopulido5952]

Really spooky and claustrophobic

[@farrellsdopesht]

Do you see the eyes looking at the camera from inside the inside of the mine? When you first start filming the mine hole. Check it out starting video from 1:05 (min and 5 sec)

[@d2sfavs]

waiting for part 2.thanks

[@davewait4066]

The old in days are. Fasinating. !!!!! Iv been into most all the mines up here in washington state. Eastern wa.

[@HighlanderNorth1]

🌈(1:43) Wow, I just bought one of these for the front door at my Miami summer home! It's the the Kwikset Classic Series, model 247-1396c front door security latch! {Schlage also makes a similar model}. It has the aged pine finish, the patented "Easy-Open Slide Lock System", and the faux old-timey nail fasteners! They say it's impossible for a burglar to pick the lock and access the home(or mine) with this model! 😁👍

[@Rambogner]

Good work my man, thanks!

[@MinesoftheWest]

David Seager Thank you!

[@aaronsmith5600]

Those tubes on the Shelf look like some old batteries I have found in the mines here in Arizona

[@mk3ferret]

nice walkthrough

[@bcomorosky1021]

I didn’t know you were with someone else at first and when you go into the tunnel at 1:20 I looks like a ghostyboi is at the entrance with glowing eyes 👻

[@R00RAL]

Wow, I like your new intro !

[@peterfordf250]

That’s a Fairbanks morse Z I actually just got rid of a fully functional restored version of that.

[@dirkdiggler1242]

@ 1:23 Spooky eyes peering eerily out of the darkness! Have a safe Halloween!

[@boxingelk]

Dirk Diggler that scared me so bad

[@jadeempire3054]

I thought I was the only one who seen it while I was scrolling thru the comments

[@Vingul]

Dayom

[@TheHandyAndy]

How do you get such great still shots in such a dark room as this. That is just amazing great job.

[@MinesoftheWest]

TheHandyAndy Thank you so much! I use a light painting technique with long exposure!

[@danwilsey5010]

Makes me feel at home. The 🏜 gets warm. I could Stay IN for a time but if your on it, long days ARNT a problem.

[@halinagwozdz5371]

The piping is unusually still intact; neat

[@Nicolas-ki3dl]

Interesting video and very nice still pictures. As a hobby photographer I use a very heavy tripod but I understand some people need light tripod to haul around !!!

[@laurieabrams7046]

Great job with "Stills"! (Pics)

[@thuvanlethi6696]

I like this video thank you

[@stevenperry2157]

Your stills are beautifully shot.

[@RageKage1776]

I really wanted to see that blower😔. Amazing job once again.

[@runzelstilzchen8392]

Love the Intro Sound👍🏻

[@jameschang8122]

that was a bad ass video and all the videos are cool

[@muhammadridwanasshiddiqiea6647]

Mantap 👍

[@Justme85857]

I enjoyed the video

[@holophile777]

Those photos are beautiful! What camera and lens combination do you use, if you don’t mind my asking? Can’t wait for part 2!

[@MinesoftheWest]

Olivia Zimmerman Thank you! I use a Sony Alpha a7III and a Sigma 14mm F/1.8 lens.

[@willcrosbie8806]

That ore cart reminds me of donkey Kong 90s🤘🏻

[@MrJimbo777]

I think he should use that levels music in his vids :)