Inspecting the Columbia shaft by carbide lamp

After Hurricane Hilary came through, I needed to inspect all of the mines for any possible damage from rain run-off. I also decided to use an old carbide lamp (success) and a Coleman gas lamp (fail). Come on down!
Bonus dog footage at the end.

[@roseapple8786]

Mr. Ross, thank you for the tour. Be safe. Thank you and God Bless. 🥰💯💯💯💯💯👍👍👍👍👍(🌹🐞🦂🌵)

[@smilingbear8676]

You're absolutely fine, exactly as you are. It's quite obvious you were joking with the dogs, the way you interact with them and the tone of voice. And the truck driver may have been panicked because his load was vitally important, but if so he didn't think it through and failed dismally - more likely just didn't think at all. Anyway that's a view from Exeter, in England, a little over 5100 miles away. You're a great guy with a few rough edges, and the world needs a few more like that.

[@stephenrechtien4567]

Oh my goodness, I don’t know how many times I said I was going to sell my dogs. Not ever going to happen. Keep up the great work you are doing. Keep up with your dog dad jokes, we love ‘em!

[@scampbell3363]

Always good to hear updates Rosa be safe

[@lindzee924]

Thanks for the tour. Hi to the doggies !

[@tecopamines]

Our pleasure!

[@brendtoconnell6119]

That old carbide lamp really shows how hard the mining was 100 years ago before modern day illumination. That's bad ass. But don't take any chances down there for KZbin. Your your own explorer. Thanks for sharing!

[@richellen6855]

Really interesting to be able to document the incremental nature of the deterioration of these mines even in the short time you have been there. I love the carbide lamps, and I love the dogs even more :)

[@tecopamines]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@paulhunter546]

Good tour Ross 😁👍

[@tecopamines]

Thanks 👍

[@craigbrowning9448]

@5:05, I would assume the Track was I stalled first and the Pit underneath was dug out later? I've seen this in other mines.

[@tecopamines]

No, that shaft was on its way down and the drift came later.

[@davidwright9225]

After the "WEATHER"... THANK YOU for the UPDATE! It just "GITs BETTER and BETTER" for those of us who CAN'T GIT THERE to say it IN PERSON!

[@MrRoughknuckles]

Some people don't recognize a sense of humor. That trucker was an idiot, one I saw was trying to go over Sonora pass and stopped all of us from getting home.

[@davegoodridge8352]

I don't think I could go down there the way you do, I'd get lost.

[@GringoLoco1]

Love your sense of humor amigo 👊🏻

[@tecopamines]

I appreciate that

[@patrickschmid3294]

I'm up 395 near Highways 108 & 4. Every year, despite signage saying don't take a Semi up this road, truckers do stupid things. Just last week someone jackknifed a Semi up on 4. One year, crossing over 108 late at night came across a truck blocking the road and the driver lamenting on the cost to get towed. I showed him how he could just back the trailer down this little ridge and then he could pull out heading east and how there were tracks from another trucker who'd done the same thing. One year a driver managed to get a load of scrap iron nearly over the top to Kennedy Meadows. He was on the last steep grade, parked the track, set the emergency brake and got out to have a smoke. As the brakes cooled . . . and the truck went over the side of the hill.

[@davidflamee]

Well there's integrity for you! honestly I never thought you were going to spit roast your dogs. They certainly are family, and that is clear to see. Friends and companions. Talking about you though, serious question. You seem to have mining in your DNA, where does that come from? would love to hear the back story. Or any stories you have about your relationship with mining. You would like the Blue John mines / caverns here in the UK, they are open to the public, and thousands descend them each year. A real treat for school kids. I was one of them. Awesome underground adventures.

[@lloydh1100]

Another cool mine tour! I knew you were joking about the dogs. It's all good, just that some folks don't have a sense of humor. You're alright in my book.

[@FlamingRobzilla]

I knew you didn't really want to sell your dog. Some people just don't get miner humor I guess. Glad you had a plan B ready when the Coleman lantern went tits up. I know you like carbide, but electrical light is far superior. I was wondering something and maybe you know the answer; How did the mine fire start? I know that the timbers burned, but they don't just catch fire by themselves. Did they have oily rags down there or what? I'll bet they were smoking and somebody got careless. Sarah just did a video on an Anaconda copper mine where there was a fire and where scores of miners died. It just left me wondering how something like that starts. If you don't know it's okay. I was just a little curious.

[@tecopamines]

My shaft was an arson fire in the 80’s. The Regulator fire in Butte that Sarah mentioned started when a carbide lamp worn by a miner touched some wire insulation at the bottom of the shaft. In both cases the shafts act like chimneys and powerful updrafts fueled the fires.

[@FlamingRobzilla]

I never would have guessed arson. I hope nobody was hurt. Thanks for the info. Also the fire in Butte seems so pointless, and it confirms to me that miners must all have a great deal of courage. Thanks for answering my question. Be safe.@@tecopamines

[@pamelacapps8359]

Some people just can't take a joke. They always have to be so serious.

[@ValRigoli]

Ross you just keep doing what your doing, most of us really appreciate it, and love your humour, and remember, you need all the naysayers too, as it all helps feed the KZbin algorithms, they to are helping you, why trying to put you down😆

[@sharimc72]

Thanks for another fine tour! I love watching mine explores on the weekend. PS...a sense of humor is a good thing. Wanna buy my dogs?

[@Britcarjunkie]

That truck driver deserved to be ragged on! If I were there, I'd walk right upto his windows, point, and laugh as loud as I could! (Gen X-er here, too, so no mercy when people display their stupidity!) And after driving trucks for 23 years, I understand very well that when I'm in the truck, I'm NOT trying to cure cancer by the end of the day - I'm just driving a truck, and there's no load on this planet that's worth my - or anybody else's life. I knew you were joking about the dogs: a buddy of mine used to do that with me, over his kids! 🤣😅😂

[@Keith_H]

If you have more than one working Carbine Lamp, it might be an idea to take one and get the reflector cleaned and chromed so it can reflect more light, keep the others for your museum. Just a thought.

[@williamskk1]

Hi Ross. Love your channel and fun watching it grow. One question. If you lost all light while down in the mine would you be able to find your way out in the dark?

[@tecopamines]

In some areas. And only then with difficulty and risk. That’s why I always carry three different light sources plus spare batteries.

[@MrYoup11]

Hello, if your editing skills get better, you should think about listing your Volunteer Helpers on screen, provided they consent.

[@Andi845]

You are one brave man to go deep like that without a backup at mine entrance! Hope at least you wear a locater beacon like skiers and snowboarders wear! Admire your dedication, drive and commitment!!!👍

[@tecopamines]

When I go down, there’s almost always someone watching a clock.

[@stephenesler1125]

Must be something left behind. Gold, silver, platinum, copper lead. Something my brother-in-law is a cabinet Maker he would love. To get his hands-on some of that old wood.

[@tecopamines]

There’s still some ore but not commercially worth the effort. And wood thieves were an issue until I gated everything and installed cameras and actually moved onto the site.

[@keithrosenberg5486]

We dropped by the place where the trucker got stuck today!

[@tecopamines]

Well you should have come by here!

[@seanyancy1809]

Like a candlebug in the Grand Canyon carbide lamps vs LED.

[@wdjones4735]

Anyone who owns doggos understands the humor👍🏻🤣

[@gsp49]

Old metal bed box spring and frame drug behind a vehicle repeatedly will make it look like a motor grader did it. We've done it on long country driveways in Georgia.

[@highway9974]

I found a beautiful mining cart. A coworker of my wife. They want to use as flower pot in front yard. Trying to talk them out of it. They got it from neighbor that passed. Best cart I've seen .

[@tecopamines]

Sounds great! Love to talk to you about getting it for here if you manage to snag it!

[@DesertNebula]

I love snarky jokes! I make em everyday 😅 No need to apologize Ross to the naysayer hivemind.

[@davec9244]

I fondly call my dog dumb ass love him dearly, but he can be as dumb as his owner! thank you stay safe ALL

[@donnordstrom31]

Is there any chance of getting your best carbide reflector re chromed? Bet there's be a whole lot more output with a good reflector.

[@tecopamines]

I actually have a couple spare like-new reflectors I should just switch.

[@michaelterrell]

My first car in Florida was a retired Chevy Malibu, with the Pursuit Package. It came from the Lake County Sheriff's department. I was driving it one night, to a remote site for a TV station. All of a sudden, I was being followed by a helicopter with the search lights aimed at me. My first thought was to stop and call that county's dispatcher. Then I realized that they wouldn't follow me much further. They turned away wen I went through a double security fence , around a 1700 foot TV tower. By Federal law, they weren't allowed near that tower, especially at night. If they hit one guy wire, not only would they crash, but the entire tower would collapse. Also, since I had the security codes to enter, it was obvious that I belonged there. Our station was only off for six hours a week for maintenance, and as one of the two Engineers, it was my turn. No cruisers had approached me during the five miles, so It was likely a poorly conducted training flight.

[@mikepelz7004]

It's all good Ross Dummys are born every day😆

[@sharimc72]

Hi-ho buddy!

[@BriankSmith181]

love the humor

[@patmccoy9652]

Very nice video!!

[@tecopamines]

Thank you very much!

[@MegaDog555]

🐕

[@davidhudson5452]

Keep joking people can be idiots

[@davidcoyote8921]

👍

[@lisahuff2533]

You usually sing bits of random, obscure songs that no one recognizes. Today-no singing. What's up with that?

[@tecopamines]

Ha! I was a bit task-saturated this descent but I’ll likely be back at it next video.

[@davidkahtava447]

You have old tin and lumber Build a ruff over the shades at an angle too redirect in the water fr I'm going down the incline In simple surface work