Risky Underground Exploration of the Abandoned Valdez Mine

[@W7DSY]

Hey Frank, what's that blue/black object in the upper-left corner at 8:38? And also, that shoring that's still in place holding back all that rock at 9:47 doesn't look all that secure, what with a wedge making up for a too-short log there. Looks like a good place for someone to become a permanent part of the mine! Excellent video.

[@AbandonedMines11]

I’m not sure what that blob is at 8:38. It’s on the rubble pile that’s right there that both Jeff and I climbed over to go further into the tunnel. The rational side of me says that it’s just a freakish shadow of something. The irrational side of me says it’s some kind of ghost or supernatural apparition. Did you see the part of this video where I mentioned you by name?

[@AbandonedMines11]

I took a closer look at that footage of the object you pointed out at 8:38 in this video. I still have the original video file which was somewhat longer in length. I believe that blob is Jeff’s backpack that he left laying on the rubble pile while he was checking something out. If you watch his video of this mine, there was a chamber on the backside of that rubble pile with a tunnel leading off of it a short distance. I didn’t even show that in my video nor did I go down there myself like he did. So I’m pretty sure that’s Jeff’s backpack laying there because it was a pretty tight entrance to squeeze into. Maybe Jeff will chime in here and confirm that it’s his backpack. I’m pretty sure it is.

[@W7DSY]

@@AbandonedMines11 I did! I think I got that term from when I worked years ago for the power company in northern CA. The term at that time referred to the little pegs that some ancient power poles used for electrical or telephone wires.

[@AbandonedMines11]

I actually looked up that word “standoff” in the dictionary after you told me about it. Wasn’t sure if it was a single word or two separate words with a hyphen between them or what. That’s exactly what those are supposed to be called. Seems there is a word for everything and anything these days. What do you call somebody who constantly loses flashlights?

[@W7DSY]

@@AbandonedMines11 Um...I dunno, I was going to try and be cute and find some term in my thesaurus but I must have misplaced it.

[@Mike-tg7dj]

California Poppies are in bloom, I bet it's beautiful out there. Great video.

[@AbandonedMines11]

They sure were in bloom! I didn’t even realize those were California poppies until somebody else mentioned it in their comment on this video. Thanks for stopping by and checking out the video. I appreciate it.

[@Winqi]

You’re so wholesome, you don’t really care for fame. You just like to explore mines and upload them on KZbin, it’s rare to see these types of channels anymore. Hope you have a good life!❤

[@GerardoCastillo-u5x]

THANKS SIR.NICE VIDEO

[@AbandonedMines11]

Hey, Gerardo! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@ryanmartie1244]

Glad you played it safe and not take the chances, especially without safety gear. Good call.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, Ryan! If you want to see what was beyond that shaft where I stopped, check out Jeff’s video. He went way past that and found some cool stuff like a flooded winze with a windlass above it.

[@dimebagdave77]

Wicked cool..THNX!🔥

[@AbandonedMines11]

Sounds like you enjoyed the video! Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment.

[@theminejunkie]

Awesome mine! That was a cool portal with the metal & timbers. Plus all of the California poppies blooming. I liked all of the unmilled timbers inside the mine. Lots of colors as well. That was sketchy at the end! I'd probably pass on that as well.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! I didn’t even realize those were poppies until somebody told me afterward in their own comment. Yeah, that portal was pretty cool with the portico sticking out and stuff like that. One thing I didn’t show was part of an old, 12-inch ruler that someone had stuffed behind the timbers in the right hand wall of the portico. That was kind of an unusual find! That inclined shaft near the end that I was too scared to go past reminded me of that area in the mine you explored in northern California where you encountered the rattlesnake underground. There was a similar inclined shaft there with loose rubble that you were able to get past successfully despite the presence of a pissed-off rattlesnake.

[@theminejunkie]

@@AbandonedMines11 Oh yeah that totally reminds me of that as well. I actually did slip on the loose rocks while crossing that part with the rattlesnake. Luckily I didn't slide down into the shaft below! That shaft in your video had a much more sudden drop-off. That was smart to not attempt to cross that lol.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Jeff made it across and checked out what was further down the tunnel. He found a winze with a windlass over it. But the winze was full of water! According to the map we had of the mine, that winze was a separate, cut-off feature in the mine. That’s pretty much all that was down there. I think he found another inclined ladder going down to the lower level but it, too, was not safe to descend without a rope. The lower level we didn’t get to was less extensive than the level we did explore, so we weren’t too disappointed about not going down there. It’s cool when you can find a map of a mine’s layout in one of those old mining reports like we did for this one!

[@theminejunkie]

@@AbandonedMines11 That's sick Jeff was able to check out the rest of the tunnel. What's a good place online to find some of those old mining reports? Typically I'll find mines on Google Earth or search some of those mineral databases but I've yet to find one with a map of the underground workings. That sounds really cool!

[@AbandonedMines11]

I just went to Google and typed in the words MINE, CALIFORNIA and the phrase “MAP OF UNDERGROUND WORKINGS.” A lot of returns came back with good links. One was a mining report titled “Mines and Mineral Resources of Monterey County, California.” Substitute any county name in that title and you should find old mining reports with maps of mines in them as well as detailed descriptions of the workings of various mines in the county specified. Most of them are online for free. I’ve bought a couple in the past, too, from a USGS website or something like that. Sometimes it’s nice to have a hard copy in your hand. Plus they’re kind of like collectors items in a way although they aren’t monetarily valuable.

[@eric81872]

Thank you for the video ! ☺♥

[@AbandonedMines11]

No problem, Eric! Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. More videos coming soon!

[@Unit38]

As always, enjoyed it.

[@AbandonedMines11]

That’s great! Thanks for letting me know. And thank you for the support.

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

Good call at the end, Frank. COme back to explore another day. ;)

[@AbandonedMines11]

We actually had a map of this mine with us, and that lower level wasn’t as extensive as the one Jeff and I explored. Therefore, we weren’t too disappointed about not going down there. Jeff didn’t make it past that incline shaft where I stopped, so he got to see what was down there at that end of the mine. He posted a video on his channel, and I think it’s his most recent one. He found a flooded winze down there! None of the other workings that we could see from where we were were flooded, so that was a totally separate, cut-off winze that filled up with water! It also had a windlass above it.

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

I love how the wood is often preserved in your mines with the dry environment, dint stand a chance in our wet ones, spent the day chest deep in mine water today :)

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for your comment! Yes, whenever I am in a flooded mine over here, I think it’s a big deal. Then, however, I remember just how flooded YOUR flooded mines are over there, and I realize ours are a piece of cake. LOL Your mines also have a lot more history because they are much, much older than the ones over here. I’m always fascinated by the stone masonry work in your mines, too. Never see that over here.

[@wholeworldisonefamily.]

Hey lots of love from india 🇮🇳🇮🇳 your video is awesome i enjoyed it full of adventure

[@AbandonedMines11]

So nice hearing from a fan all the way over in India! Thanks for spending some of your time here on my channel. I appreciate it.

[@RockerRed]

Another great video Frank! 👍🤘Thank you! Thank you!👍🤘💙💚💙💚 I love this part 03:43

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for checking out the video and for commenting! I appreciate it. Yes, those ladders at 3:43 were quite intriguing. They do lead to a lower level that wasn’t as extensive as the level Jeff and I stayed on. I thought it was cool how those ladders undulated as they went downward from the level he and I were standing on.

[@lilcah253]

Honestly im so glad he is still making videos i hope he dosent stop any time soon

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks! I’ve been posting videos here on KZbin for 16 years - and I’ll keep posting videos here for at least as many more years as that if not more!

[@lilcah253]

@@AbandonedMines11 glad too hear

[@richardmcgrew2167]

Nice colors. Better to be cautious than sorry.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Agreed. Safety first! This is why I do as much research beforehand as I can. In the case of this mine, I knew exactly what the lower level looked like because I found a map of the mine while doing my research. Therefore, we knew there wasn’t much to see down there to begin with and didn’t feel bad about not going down there.

[@NoelleParris]

Thank you for the great work

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, Noelle! Sounds like you enjoyed the video.

[@adityadwivedi8798]

Heyy thanks for being active here!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for taking the time to check out the video and to comment! I appreciate it.

[@adityadwivedi8798]

@@AbandonedMines11 Keep hunting these creepy places and I would suggest to go different countries and explore mysterious places there too

[@michaelhurn05]

Better safe than sorry Frank, another cool adventure

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Mike! If you want to see what was past that shaft that I was too timid to walk past, check out Jeff’s video. He found a flooded winze with an old windlass above it.

[@Paulman50]

Always a good call to keep it safe. Beautiful colors in there.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Definitely agree with you on the colors! Looks like this mine was a dual producer of both silver and gold.

[@johnsmart964]

Thank you for bringing us more magnificent mines. One hopes that those who did some recent work in the mine found something that interested them or it may be that they considered that it was not worth pursuing. It certainly looked that there is quite a lot of instability in the mine, maybe the area suffers from seismic activity which even a small event could cause problems for these older mines. You were very wise not to pass that deep opening there, one slip and you would have gone, it is always good to live to see another day.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Hey, John! Thanks for the comment! Yes, it’s apparent that somebody worked this mine more recently - probably in the 1980s or something like that. Official records, though, say it was worked only in 1903 and then again from 1911 to 1913. People do come along and reactivate a claim for a year or two to see if they can make a go of it, but I would tend to think most of those people give up in vain because it’s just too difficult to turn a profit considering all the expense involved procuring the supplies and gear as well as dealing with all the regulations that go along with mining these days.

[@mtamech535]

Beautiful mine Frank! I’ve been missing your videos!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks so much! I’ll be uploading more regularly here now that warmer weather has finally returned.

[@mtamech535]

@@AbandonedMines11 thanks. You’re an old friend I love seeing pop up.

[@rolfsinkgraven]

Very interesting explore Frank, a few things too explore left there, but it is on its last legs by the looks of it.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Rolf! Yes, this was an interesting little mine. Not much left after 120 years or so.

[@EggnogonthebogProductions]

Interesting mine. Even though I'm subscribed I've not been getting notifications of your uploads. Had to search you up to watch this. Weird...

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for checking out the latest video! Regarding notifications, go to Settings in your KZbin app, scroll down to Notifications and click it, and then make sure SUBSCRIPTIONS is turned on. Additionally, you also have to go into your iPhone Settings and scroll down to Notifications there. Click that, scroll down to KZbin, and turn on ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS. If you have an android device, it’s probably something similar. I hope this information helps! As you can see, it’s not a matter of just clicking on one single thing in order to receive notifications from KZbin. It’s a multi-step process involving several clicks both in the KZbin app and in your phone’s Settings app. Let me know if this helps and if you start receiving notifications!

[@EggnogonthebogProductions]

@@AbandonedMines11 Thanks for the info. I shall check my settings on my gadgets. They might have changed. I do have the bell ticked but I will check anyway. Thanks Frank.

[@AbandonedMines11]

I forgot about the bell! Make sure you have that selected for ALL and not PERSONALIZED. If you inadvertently select PERSONALIZED, you’ll only be notified of some of my uploads, if even that. Selecting ALL means you’ll be notified of all of my uploads - hopefully!

[@kimbra1132]

Good to see you put exploring again. Man the yellow, green and red rocks were pretty.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for spending some of your time here on my channel - I appreciate it.

[@AbandonedMaine]

Certainly one of the more colorful mines you've been in. Makes you think that they've only pulled out a small percentage of the ore that's probably in there.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, Drew, for checking out the video! Yes, considering this was mined from 1903 to 1913, I’m sure they missed a lot of the ore that is probably still underground that would be easily detectable by today’s modern mine equipment and mining technology. The only problem is the mine is relatively remote as you well know (LOL), so getting access to it with big trucks would be difficult.

[@williamwintemberg]

Cool mine! You mentioned iron deposits. I once heard iron was a Trojan Horse for Gold. Have you ever heard that? Good call at the end Frank. One thing I have learned over the years. If you don't feel comfortable with a situation, stay away from it. Good for you and thanks for showing it. A good lesson for much in life!

[@AbandonedMines11]

That Trojan Horse analogy sounds vaguely familiar for some reason. Yes, I didn’t feel comfortable crossing that ledge. I was glad Jeff carefully and safely got across it to see what was beyond. Check out his video of this mine if you haven’t already. He found a flooded winze with a windlass over it!

[@williamwintemberg]

@@AbandonedMines11 I will check his video out! Thanks Frank!

[@worldfilmclips1]

Spot On👌. Year round stable temperature. When I used to work as a UNDG Electrical Technician - 'Sparky', hahaha, I loved the comfortable temperature underground. In Winter, relatively warm and in Summer, cool and most importantly, No bush fly's, a annoyance 🙁 here in the Australian Summer. Great info there on those timber 'pins/pegs' for holding up the 'services' and nice images of the nails & electrical insulators. Finally, do you know the name of those plants at the start of the video with the Orange Flowers? Cheers👍.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thank you for your comment! Someone told me those orange flowers seen at the beginning of the video near the portal are California poppies.

[@worldfilmclips1]

@@AbandonedMines11 California Poppies, thanks 👍.

[@AbandonedMines11]

It’s also the official state flower of the state of California.

[@grayhamlopez159]

Are you guys going to be exploring anything in NV this summer? I would love to tag along to learn from your experience.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Most likely so. Nevada is one of my favorite states for abandoned mines!

[@Luminoussound2024]

That Valdez's mine looked really interesting frank , thank you for taking us along 🙏🏻🙏🏻. Always enjoy a good mine explore

[@AbandonedMines11]

Sounds like you enjoyed the video, Alex. Thanks for stopping by!

[@desertrat8322]

Awesome video!!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, Desert Rat! I appreciate your ongoing support here.

[@Ethan54136]

420k subs ! Just in time for that special day tomorrow ;)

[@AbandonedMines11]

No doubt! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, Ethan!

[@Vaalbaara]

Time moves at its own invisible pace down in a mine, years can pass between human visits.

[@AbandonedMines11]

That’s a very good observation! I totally agree.

[@stabbincabbincowbboy3770]

Like 319✨Welcome Back Into The Abandoned Mines Season HeeHawww 👋🤠 Jeff’s Got a Nice BLM Jacket and Is Styling Within The Times Now Days🤣😂.. That Mine is Awesome 🪜 With Rock Colors & Shafts ✨🦇✨Yikes.. 🧨🕯____🔦Lets Go Brother Better Safe Then Chances.. HeeHawww 💫

[@AbandonedMines11]

I thought you might notice that jacket! I bring along a BLM officer for extra security on some of these more remote, risky expeditions. LOL Thanks for the comment and the view, “Tony!”

[@stabbincabbincowbboy3770]

@@AbandonedMines11 LOL 👮🏼‍♂️Your Welcome Brother- ACCP👋🤠

[@otgexploring]

I need this day out thanks !!! Let’s plan something out when it warms up

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for heading out there with me, Jeff!

[@otgexploring]

@@AbandonedMines11 my pleasure Frank !!! Any time I’m always ready

[@royjennison3916]

Great vid Frank , looks a great mine . love all the old timbers .

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, Roy, for stopping by and checking out the newest video here! Yes, lots of old-school timbering in this one with the tree trunks of various diameters. I really liked the portal on this one, too, with that skewed portico that was sticking out of it.

[@aztec9651]

I know a mine you can explore. It’s very secluded. Don’t know the name of it but it’s located in Buchanan east of tuolumne city in tuolumne county California

[@AbandonedMines11]

Sounds interesting!

[@Iabw72]

Four years ago you did a video on a mine by Grand Maris mn. I generally would assume it to be gold in that area but there was some iron mining too. Anyway, it's a large mine and I'd like to hike to it but I don't think it's the mine I thought it was when I first watched this and the few mines there are in that area (that I know of) are quite a journey to get too, in addition usually a hundred years old. The dead give away that I'm thinking the wrong one is in your exploration there a engine from the fifties for the winch. The mine I was originally guessing has been pretty unaccessible since the mid-twenties. So, my point is can you please give me a clue (or exact) as to the where abouts of the one in your video?

[@AbandonedMines11]

Hey, Mike! I have no idea what you are talking about! I think you might be getting me confused with another abandoned mine explorer. Can you give me more specific details about which video of mine you are referencing?

[@ronniecardy]

Glad you don't take changes

[@AbandonedMines11]

Believe it or not, I sometimes don’t have a good sense of balance so making my way across that ledge that had all the loose dirt and rubble piled on it might’ve been disastrous for me. Jeff is obviously more balanced and able to easily maneuver over things like that. In fact, most of the explorers I’ve gone out with would have no problem going past that ledge. I just don’t trust myself due to balance issues. Nice hearing from you again, Ronnie! Thank you very much for watching and commenting.

[@ronniecardy]

I have virtgo so you know how hard it for me. Good to see you again Frank! I love all of your videos ! Keep up with you. How many miles is on your car now ?

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, Ronnie! The old Corolla just turned over 430,000 miles a couple months ago. I posted a video of it here on my channel. I’m not driving it as much because I now have a second car that’s much newer and has a lot less mileage on it. The main reason why I haven’t been using the Corolla for trips anymore is that the charging port in the dashboard wore out, and I haven’t gotten it replaced yet. Therefore, when I’m on a trip like I was last summer a couple of times, I was unable to charge my phone which is how I shoot all my videos. So I’ve been using my newer car for trips. I’ll get that charging port in the Corolla replaced one of these days pretty soon and will go back to using that car almost exclusively like I had been doing all along.

[@contractlandino5991]

You walking into scary almost falling mines reminds me of working on scary about to fall Gambrel roof barns 40 feet high, keep on trucking brother!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, man! I appreciate your comment.

[@1javalama1]

um salve para o brasil

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thank you for watching and commenting all the way from Brazil!

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good morning from Southeast South Dakota

[@AbandonedMines11]

Good morning! Thanks for checking in!

[@jasonbrody8957]

How often are you scared when entering these mines?

[@AbandonedMines11]

Not at all, really. However, when I first started doing this back in 2008 or whenever that was, it was quite the adrenaline rush.

[@jasonbrody8957]

@@AbandonedMines11 Very interesting, thanks for answering ✌️

[@ZiaMountainAdventures]

Nice explore. Some sketchy ground on some of that stuff.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for checking out the video! It would’ve been cool to have descended that one ladder system to the lower level, but without a rope it’s just not a good idea.

[@travisoverton8393]

I don’t blame you for not crossing on that loose rubble. That’s a big drop!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Travis! I probably should’ve kicked some of that loose dirt and rubble out of the way so it was more of a level surface to walk on. Jeff made it across, though, and he filmed what was down there. He found a flooded winze! Check out his video of this mine.

[@travisoverton8393]

@@AbandonedMines11 will do!

[@lincolnstovall9471]

👋

[@AbandonedMines11]

Good to see you again, Lincoln!

[@FictionalRen]

Frank, this mine looks so dangerous. Please be very careful entering mines with entrances that might collapse. You clearly are very experienced but it still makes me worry. The mine is itself looks really cool. Do you think it is so narrow because of time pushing things together or because miners preferred using the least amount of space necessary? (I'm joking)

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for your comment! Mother Nature certainly is reclaiming that entrance gradually.

[@biofall38]

ah a fresh video

[@AbandonedMines11]

Enjoy!

[@DataDeleted937]

面白い 好き

[@AbandonedMines11]

Hi! Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment!

[@purenatural5736]

Thank God you didn’t climb down the ladders, it just not worth it.

[@AbandonedMines11]

I agree. The ladders weren’t that long but there were a couple broken rungs and without a rope it’s just not a good idea. If the ladders had been closer to a 45° angle then, yes, we most likely would have climbed them. Anything steeper than 45° is getting too risky.

[@mrtimo3822]

Batman music

[@AbandonedMines11]

Or caveman music! Any kind of music!