Rappelling 900 Feet To Uncover Lost History!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ค. 2023
- Check out drinklmnt.com/Brent for a FREE 8 sample pack of their electrolyte mix with any purchase. I bring LMNT with me everywhere (including 90 feet underground) and it's a game changer when it comes to keeping hydrated and avoiding cramps.
This week, I finally did it. I rappelled 900 feet down the main shaft here at Cerro Gordo in search of 5(!) MORE levels of the Union Mine. It feels like every week here I learn something new and that sends me on amazing journeys.
Thank you all so so much for following along!!
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More photos from around town and in the mines! / brentwunderwood
Cerro Gordo t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more: store.cerrogordomines.com/
Mailing Address: PO Box 490, Lone Pine, CA 93545
THANK YOU!
#GhostTownLiving #UnionMine #Exploration #ForbiddenRealm #UndergroundAdventure #Rappelling #HistoricalExploration #MineExploration #HiddenDepths #ThrillingAdventure #UnchartedTerritory #DeepIntoTheMine #HistoryUnveiled #BraveExplorers #GhostTownExplorers #AbandonedMine #Mysteries #Adventure #HiddenGem #Exploring #Discover #UndergroundExploration #UrbanExploration #AdventureSeeker #Spelunking #MiningHistory #MineTour #DarkandMysterious #AbandonedPlaces #IndustrialHistory #HistoricalSite
![แข่งแลกของ 1 วัน!! ของใครแพงสุดชนะ!! [Ver.2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/joRT59ilPHg/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for checking out the video. If you want to see the start of the 3D model I took at the end of the video, you can see that here: poly.cam/capture/444A4136-784B-49A6-8691-F7CB7C129E22
I'll be adding to it and hopefully allow everyone to experience all the different levels of the mine in time.
love how you bought the mini blaster!
I bet a wheelbarow would be a huge help down there
look into a prussic loop
i'm surprised how level the floor looks.
was it really that level or is it just the software that does that ?
What happened to Johnny? He was your guy for adventures like this
Hey mate, I'm an industrial abseiler, I actually abseil off skyscrapers like you were talking about for a job. A good tip for doing big descents like this is to have your rope in a bag, attached to your harness, that way you don't have excessive tail weight so your descender will work better. Also eliminates your rope snagging on things when you lower it down, as it just feeds out of the bag as you descend.
Keeps it clean too. If there's wet patches down the road, you won't be getting into them if it's in the bag. However, in a cave, it's good to have the last feet of rope marked clearly at intervals of decreasing distance to make sure you don't end up without rope unawares (obviously, the end should be properly knotted to prevent rapid acceleration followed by instant deceleration.
Excellent advice!
I was thinking the same thing but wasn't sure if I was on the right track or just remembering something from a movie lol
we use the same trick rapping waterfalls when Canyoneering
Also, if you need to dig out those collapses, use a tool you can pull with and let gravity help. Shovels would be useless for the bulk of it. Not sure what this kind of tool is called in english but in Norwegian we call it a "krafse" no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krafse
Narrower and pointier variations also exist.
In an earlier video you used shovels for this and it was enragingly inefficient. In that case it was completely dry gravel which is the best case for what im speaking of. If its completely caked together the difference is maybe smaller but please consider this
I dont think enough is said about the physical effort this all takes. Not just the mine exploration, but living in cerro gordo and working to restore the town. It really makes me more aware of the men who worked these mines 150 years ago and how amazing their work and lives were.
How much physical effort does it take to CLIMB 900 feet. Amazing fitness to do that.
Not just that, you also gotta think of the less air down there, the less air quality. You don't just need to be fit, you also need to be healthy and go to a doctor now and again. Because who knows what your inhaling.
They had some amazing framers back then, the work has stood the test of time
@@markfish8403 agreed, now what repair man would go down there to fix half of this calapse, besides this thrill seeker?
I think you got it twisted! The life of a miner back then was not "amazing" - they had 10-12 hours of back breaking labour for shitty pay (so I guess in that regard nothing much has changed, ok the hours got a fewer unless you have several jobs), their entertainment consisted of bad booze, smokes and maybe local brothel! So nope, that is/was not amazing, it is interesting from our POV, but that's about it!
Aside from the significant hazards encompassing factors like structural instability, toxic gases, oxygen depletion, floods, unstable ground, wildlife encounters, contaminated water, hazardous materials, and the lack of escape routes, I believe that these mines might be suitable for novice exploration.
Hey Brent, Im also Brent. First and foremost, you've got it going on! Im more than a little jealous. As i mentioned in a previous comment, ropes access is my life. This actually stemmed from getting talked into joining a mine rescue team in 09 (team Edgar). I too owned a couple claims myself above Leadville Co. I finally got the opportunity the descend down into one of them after a makeshift plug gave way opening the hoist shaft. Terrifying, but incredibly awesome at the same time. I too was solo (VERY dangerous, especially without a 4 gas meter to test for H2S or even just low O2)
Anyways, if you were at all interested, id love to assist you in any capacity needed, even just stand by rescue, at no cost obviously. I would also at the very least like to discuss the type of kern mantle ropes you're useing both in safety and your efficiency (900 ft = 90ft of rope stretch on static rope, i noticed you also had dynamic rope in use). In a nutshell, if you're interested in chatting, let me know. In the mean time, keep up your hard work, enthusiasm, and passion. Makes my heart race watching your vids (something im usually hearing, rather than saying)
Agree with @brentseely6113 - you need use gas meter! (toxic gas detector). Think about ventilation system in mine! So many people died from toxic gases. The main toxic gases released in a mine are CO and CO2. Sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, cyanides, halogens, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are other gases that occur in the mine environment. As minimum gas meter is must!!!!!
Was gonna say... Shouldn't he have more breathing equipment? Granted, I'm no miner. I like to spend my time ABOVE ground, thank you very much! However, growing up in the Pennsylvania coal region, the history of mine accidents is something I'm acutely aware of! Gas, collapses, explosions, floods... Some bloody bloody history there. Playing around in old mines is not something people should take lightly, I think.
I would be very cautious about shoveling away those collapses, and especially about the blaster. The collapses occurred in the first place because of instability and poor competence in the rock, and the collapses themselves might be the only thing holding up additional parts of the tunnel, meaning that clearing the collapse might cause more collapses to occur. I would suggest you not just “clear” collapses, but buttress them with structural braces as you clear them out.
I came to comment this to I know how hard it would be but he need to put more structural support especially if he’s going down more
Yep, get that woodwork up against the walls and ceiling! Think like a miner! Instead of blasters, get some woodwork tools.
He knows.
@@Megasaurusify I would assume by now he knows what's up
Be careful down there, Trent. You are getting comfortable with this and this is when it becomes dangerous.
Complacency is dangerous…
His name is Brent not Trent
Complacency kills.
@@Covid-19LabLeak no its brett
Whatever his name is he should have been wearing a gas and dust/spore mask for anything that he may be breathing into his lungs that is lethal or potentially slowly deadly throughout the Long haul
Make sure you always file a flight plan. What I mean by that is before you set off alone down the mine, let others know what you’re doing, where you’re going, when to expect you to contact them again. That way if you get stuck, rescue starts sooner. Before you’re a Skelton. :)
I literally remember when it all started with "i bought a ghost town" episode. Then it appeared like a just great but unknown adventure. It's unbelievable that its all gone this far. 3 Years gone like just one little day and there's still much much much more to discover. I would love to get there someday, stop worrying bout my job and just do adventure things.
Except he burned down a historic hotel on site out of naïveté
@@twonulatorExcept if not him it would be decaying to the ground within few years. One burned hotel vs restoration of whole site.
Who doesnt make mistakes? We all do.
And how many people decide to sacrifice their lifetime to throw a new life to the whole sites? Not many.
And lastly: Who would complain about someones mistakes, while squishing buttocks in front of screen and getting dirty of taco sauce? Guess it.
I think the key to further success in consistently exploring the lower levels is retrofitting the main lift/hoist. We don't know the costs associated with doing that. However, it makes the most sense in lowering equipment and people to those levels in probably the safest manner. The other option would be to round up some local retired volunteers. Train them to work the winch in its existing configuration. Lots of retired guys are always looking for something to keep themselves busy and to have places to socialize and get away from their wives. lol.
Even just renovating the ladder could make a huge difference. If you could just climb down with a safety rope it would be a game changer.
@@GamePlague Getting a hoist would be better, if just to lower kitbags and equipment. Also a lot safer than running the main hoist and could be run with a smaller crew. Anything human-rated would need proper engineering, safety and probably certification. It would make expeditions a lot simpler and safer if Brent could just radio up for stuff to lower, and stage food, water, medical supplies etc for longer exploration trips. On which point.. Eyebaths and some packs of sterile saline! Getting dust & grit in your eyes is no fun.
Yeah, let's casually install a commercial grade lift that can handle 900 ft, and put it on a mountain at 10k feet elevation. Then we hire three guys full time to service it. It sounds so cheap when you say it!
@@temper44 with that mindset, nothing gets done🎉
i bet those old guys in town who he brought his rocks to would love a chance to help out.
I'm really excited for the exploration of the deeper levels but make sure when digging the collapses you are putting timbers in to secure the ceiling from further collapses. We want you alive and well as much as the exploration Brent.
Absolutely...,💪
Brent my husband and I are in our 80’s and we love watching your adventures at Cerro Gordo. We grew up in California but moved to Idaho 35 years ago. Just know we appreciate you and pray for you as you do dangerous things!
As a tower climber with 10 years of experience, having a ton of knowledge regarding getting a either a whole lot of items, or very big items, or both, up 1000-2000ft towers using nothing but ropes, and having tons of descent/ascent experience using ropes, this right here is a task that I would absolutely love to participate in. Looks like a ton of work but a TON of fun and extremely rewarding. I can pretty much feel that feeling you have of it eating away at you what's down there. The unknown treasures, memories, and history. Wow.
It so awesome to see Brent back in the mines again. It really seems like that's his happy place.
I wonder how many people couldn't keep watching halfway through with the claustrophobia effect. ie 21:24 Also old dynamite sitting there gives me the jimmies.
It's a safe(r) space.
Brent yearns for the mines
@@uhohiateasbestos1535you beat me to it!
@@Justme-jt1efthat’s what’s I’m saying 😂😂my n-.. 🤝
Hey Brett, the thing that you keep bringing up as an issue is communications. The priority idea would be to run some telephone cables down that shaft you've got your rope and lights in, splitting them off at each of the levels you've explored. The amount of danger you're in without some form of reliable connection to the surface is gut wrenching and I think that beam incident highlights it. If you had dislocated your shoulder, it would have been difficult to ascend back up, and it might well have been a time critical injury. I'd also suggest getting some MREs, spare batteries and cans of acidified water that can stay down there long term in case something happens to the rope while you're down there and you end up trapped for the few days it'd take to get to you.
Maybe he'll find the old phone mentioned on the vintage metal sign...
How did the miners connect the phone?
Any visible phone cables anywhere?
@@4seasonspix i think the random lengths of wire we see tangled up down there is what's left of the telephone system
@nopetrainconductor9840 it'd be cool I'd he could find and restore one of the original phones then use it at Basecamp 900.
@@krockpotbroccoli65 that would be cool to see but i suspect it would be a pain in the ass to do though
Watching that beam fall on him could have been the last video. Trapped no phone. Need a phone line ran down.
Brent, don’t let this obsession led by passion be the death of you. Damn, that was scary just to observe
Brent, I've watched so many episodes of your explorations over the last couple years, always thought how amazing it would be to 3D map it and now you actually did! Was so cool exploring the model, thanks for sharing, gives such a different perspective and experience to your videos. Really quite innovative, well done.
Do they make scanners that are drones and will fly while mapping the area for you?
@@Outlawstar0198 They do make lydar drones for 3 mapping but not for going down caves lol
@@Outlawstar0198 just need the imagery (3d photogrammetry)
@@Outlawstar0198 Yes we need the drones they used in Prometheus.
What is bill burr doing here?
As a tree climber who spent many days on rope my hat is off this guy, takes some real conditioning to go up and down repeatedly like that, no way I'm going in those tight spaces either, mad props!
Yeah Tree Climbing is hard but you can kind of move around and do it so safely. Going down a mine however is a different thing altogether....
As a retired, Union construction worker of 28yrs, climbing a ladder that was nailed together a hundred yrs ago is insane!
if he is on the rope and climbing ladders he should be safe enough,,u can't free climb ladders that deep,
@@BearwoodBrown it still scares me! Lol
@@BryanJohnson-qb1se I do not think i would or could doit unless there was there was a nice pile of gold down there ,,,
They don't build 'em like they used to!
@@BearwoodBrown It's amazing how motivating a pile of gold can be.
Hey Brent, are you monitoring the atmosphere in terms of O2, CO2, and H2S at the lowest levels of the mine? Probably a good thing to do if you aren't. Also, from a professional vertical rescue perspective I would attach your rope to two seperate anchors even though I'm sure you think your primary rope anchor is secure. Prevention is better than cure.
Daddy Chill, You must not have seen the times he was playing with TNT like it was not old and perfectly safe. You do have a good point on the two points, Sounds like you know know your way around the ropes, can you show me 4 point restraints?
Suggestion....Set up ropes at each of the known levels. Then they could be used to descend one level per rope at a time. Might eliminate the rope weight problem. Use the hoist to transport large supplies down to the 900 level as well as setting up some rest areas with caches of supplies at other levels. Then you can use the ropes for ascending and descending when hoist is not available. Hard line communications & electricity would be a good idea as well. Maybe you could find a small-ish winch system for using ropes to get supplies down as well as lifting Waste and other items out without using the main Hoist. Once all set up you could be more free to explore with less ascending and descending.
Can Dave Sparks get you a modern winch for the cage so you dont need the crew? He's probably got a crane or something he could adapt, just his kind of thing
All those cranes they rescue just to scrap because they're too old to certify 🤔 spool up 1200' of cable and go... Maybe Brent should do a fundraiser for this
I think one of the most important things I think you should be installing in this mine is a communication system, and I think that a wireless system for the elevator/hoist unit that can connect with intermittent modules wired into the main system and then have hard wired com boxes at each of the main levels you visit regularly so that you can keep people appraised of your condition and situation and increase the amount of information you can relay if you need to alter your preplanned expeditions into the mine. the fact that you have LED rope down the shaft is fantastic and this shows how easy a hard wired com system is to put in to the mine. the bonus to this is that you can use old phones and phone box systems that are now obsolete but are perfectly fine for you to use inside of the mine and they are relatively simple to use and install, all you need is the proper lengths of wire. and of course the best part of this kind of system is that it is still quite common to find old items that would comprise the entire system and because it is obsolete and no longer in demand, the price for it all would be quite low to purchase the needed materials. all then that would need to be done is to install it. As always, thankyou for sharing with us the adventures you have in this incredible historical site. I love the location and the impressive amount of history that Cerro Gordo has. To call it RICH in history is merely adequate and there is a distinct lack of a more appropriate word that isn't' cliché and over used by today's young crowd. Until next time, thanks and stay safe and keep hammering away at your goals for your mine!
Its required by mining law.
Is the air quality something that should be taken into consideration when going down into these mines? Stay safe!
I love it! Thanks for droppin in mate!
Thinking about the fact that those ladders where considered to be climbed without rope is insane
Yeah I was wondering if people free climbed those ladders back in the day?
You know they free climbed back in those days, OSHA wasn't invented yet for any kind of safety standards. And any rope they might have had was being used at Lola's Place in town lol
another thing to keep in mind is that the wood was still solid and new when the ladder was put in. So although the risk of falling was still pretty dang high, it wasn't as high as it would be right now
@Gamingdragon618 and there would have been places to stop and rest
It blows my mind that men were able to get 900 feet down and work… especially during that time period. Some SUPER tough men back in the day.
Also, I’ve been through many old mines myself, but the whole claustrophobic nature of crawling would make me tap out.
Honestly how do they get down there just tnt and a will? 😂😂😂🇺🇸🇺🇸
@austincarter4452 with multiple bucket steam powered pullys and 24/7 operation it did not take long actually. One method is to drill
.blast.muck. andy should also cultivate the drill and fill with expanding cement puddy for more controlled ore removal in cave collapse areas.
Last but not least, there should be a rock crusher down there that feeds smaller material up the 900ft vaccum tube for easier retrieval on the surface. All that clay backfill he encountered is PAY DIRT.
The woodsmanship & carpentry around the 18/19th century was insane! I adore my 19th century tableware cupboard for the fact how it's still holding up after more than 100 years and who knows how many moves it made. But those ladders are something else! I don't think you could make 'em better even today :O
True that, I inherited a baroque-era wooden cabinet from 1780 from my late grandmother and it is the best carpentry I've ever seen. The whole construction is ingenious, not a single nail is necessary to assemble it, yet its rock-solid.
Brent, you should really get in touch with some miners from some other parts of the nation and educate yourself and get some assistance on this project. I appreciate your passion in a way i don't think you can really know. I know it can be very hard to trust others with your life, i would highly recommend you build those relationships and build that community. Use this community you have worked to build. An entrenching tool and supplies (as well as by your rock blaster) should be standard equipment for these expeditions. Would highly encourage you to build that infrastructure to allow safe exploration with bastions. (fiber optic with strain relief anchors for communication. conduit with strain relief for power). build the infrastructure you need to do what you plan.
you sir are a passionate obsessives i admire and identify with to no end. be safe and keep doing what you are doing. it is worthwhile and amazing. Keep doing what you are doing and be safe.
If it took you 3 hours to descend. I CANNOT imagine how long it took you to ascend back up. I’m glad you made it back up safely 💯
In another video he talks how itd take mere minutes to ascend and descend when the hoist was in full working order. I dont know if thats more or less terrifying. Descending slowly but safeish, or zooming up and down so you are dangling over a hole as short a time as possible
3+ hours underground is common place to ground (cave or mine explorers). Like a decently big cave will take you even 7 hours to fully coop. And it only goes up if you have to crawl ala "superman crawl" into a section of it. If you don't have that kind of fortitude, you're not in the right spot. You're either committed and fully prepared, or you're exposing yourself to severe dangers.
It's like operating a table saw. Either your head's in the game, on the moment,... or walk away, because bad things can happen. He's clearly in the zone, clearly in the right mindset, and clearly devoted to the quest.
@@everythingsalright1121 believe this is because, while the actual hoist is still the same, it was originally powered by steam. That would mean it needed even more people to operate, also steam boiler can take *many* hours to heat up, not a huge problem as long as it is never allowed to cool down often. But these days it's of course not realistic to keep a boiler going 24/7.
THIS.
@@4x4_Adventures lol this entire vid is 39 minutes. maybe wildly guessing, 10 minutes of it is him speaking on the way down out of a 3 hrs trip? great reasoning and math skills you'll go far
I think it would be a massive benefit to have some sort of RC that could fit past collapses to determine the viability of digging it out as well as do the full polycam mapping.
Too much debris in the tunnels for any RC to drive (even the ones with tracks)
@frank-t6857 I was thinking there's got to be something more all terrain that's not a traditional 4 wheeled RC vehicle.
@@davidwolfe8116 Fiber optic cord might work better than an RC vehicle, but I'm not sure on how accessible those are.
@@thecharmingplatypus3208 nowdays a literal camera on a stick with wires, and screen (the digital boreoscope) is very cheap, robust and easy to use, its practically replaced fiber optic cord, , the way of use is the same, and i agree that the guy should get something of that manner
Just use one of the cameras they use to look in pipes
Please get The Diesel Brothers back. Not only are they extremely resourceful but they are also dedicated to hard work and a crazy adventure. Also them coming to help your problem with the foundation of the hotel was the coolest series I have seen them do! @HeavyDSparks . Amazing video's and progress Brent you're doing an awesome job.
I would either fix the winch to be faster and add more guide rails down to the 900, or remove it's man basket altogether and use a separate winch setup which is fast, and can be used to haul materials down that shaft by rope. Only one choke point on the ladder....saw it out and add replacement out of the way. Next, spend a day repairing that ladder . Replace rungs, add new rails as needed. Much faster and easier to be climbing a ladder than climbing a rope for 900 feet. You should have a dozen military shovels down there and a few buckets to move that clay out of the way. Also, I would stockpile every level possible. The 500, the 700, should have anything and everything you may want at the 900+ levels. Permanent,200 foot ropes need anchored going down the ladder chute to ease rope weight defending. Love the vids, can't wait for the next.
Brent its absolutely insane to see how far you have come from the start of this channel.
Brent you were born for that place! Every ghost town needs a historian and story teller. Brother I could listen to your stories all day long. I'm always totally captivated in your adventures. I wish you all the luck in the world
Brent...I hope you realise what an absolute legend of a man you are! A true modern day Cerro Gordo miner, reviving the intense effort those men of steel made all those years ago...its an absolute nervewracking treat watching you unveil the history of that place, all the while taking a serious risk doing it....thank you!! And also to your friend Robert who carried out so much research! Your channel is fascinating...so much history and adventure! Do you have the real concern of collapse whilst you're down there?? Its amazing what you're doing...
I fix fighter jets for work, right now I work in tank bay (diving in the fuel tanks to repair whatever is wrong). Claustrophobia is no joke but you can learn to over it come it and find a way to get "comfortable" while feeling squished, That being said I would love a chance to go on an adventure like this. Thanks for letting us join you on all your adventures!
Brent, Couple of ideas, 1, put a trap door in the bottom of the lift, that way you no longer need to climb thru such small space and you can lower larger equipment down and yourself.. 2. install a CAPSTAN WINCH-HOIST LIFT that a one man on top can operate to pull you out of the shaft or any equipment.
You might talk to Gly of "exploring abandoned mines and forgotten places". about winching out of shafts and his experience with his hoist. It would be good to have several exit strategies including at least 2 hoist systems and a couple manual climb outs. Food, supplies including rescue gear at your base camp is a good idea. The more supplies you have the better you will feel. It helps to be skinny to get through tight places and climb out. Hope you fine lots of nice things and maybe find one of the exits from the lowest levels.
Also there are a variety of sound powered phones than can transmit 30 miles with only the power generated by a voice, some are on Ebay. Drop a couple wires. down the shaft, one for power and one for phone and you will have better communication than radio. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound-powered_telephone .You might get search and rescue to "train" in. your mine and give you a hand also.
Hi Brent! We watch every episode! We are just a couple of retired people who think you are so cool! We will be praying for your safety during the big rain coming with Hilary. We are reading Psalm 91 over you and Cerro Gordo. Please be safe!
Very nice to have the map overlays when you do these mine explorations! Gives us some idea of where you are in that massive maze. Would be great to see that part of the video developed even more (e.g. add routes/issues etc visually for a moment?) especially with this big mine project ahead! And as many folks have commented, please remember your own safety!
I know there may be an aversion to this given the history, but I think it would be wisest to work to restore the hoist system and rebuild the ladders and passage down to make it safer for generations to come. It might be time to investigate hiring a hoist team sometime in the future as well. We all want you to be safe and for this place to come back to life in a safe way.
I'm interested to know what the issue is with the hoist. Any mine hoist I've seen can be operated by a single man, including modernized hoists built over a hundred years ago.
@@Porty1119I don’t think it’s ever been modernized is the thing. A secondary electric hoist with a bosun’s chair would probably be a good addition though.
That sounds like a tomorrow project. A smart and necessary one, but one not too high on the list.
@@Porty1119 Mostly the age and how long there hasn't been profitable mining. The hoist hasn't been probably completely fully maintained for decades, likely the last full maintenance to really go through every piece was closer to the 50's maybe as far as in the 20's. Tells a lot about the state of the hoist that it seems the mine phone has been removed or at least doesn't work since Brent uses walkie-talkies to communicate with the surface and while the hoist has been used, it has been scheduled to minimize the need of communication.
The hoist would probably need to be completely rebuild. The mechanical parts taken apart, checked, remade what has serviced their life and added modern safety features and all that. The hoist shaft would probably need whole new timbering so the hoist box can be replaced with new or even rebuild one, only the installation for remote controlling from the box would need a lot of work and with MSHA, a lot of expensive work. Only getting a mine phones for couple most used levels could be a huge project if it was to be done "the right way".
Wow! One of Brent's superpowers is persistence. This is one of the best videos to be produced by this channel. The exploration of the mine fascinates me. I love, love, love the LIDAR map! I can't wait until we can explore the mine virtually. Keep it up and stay safe!
I think it is the best video too...i been with him since the first video! love love this adventure!
Brent! I think we need a “proof of life” video! You make us all nervous around those collapses!
It seems like an endoscopic borescope with a decent length of relatively stiff cable (the kind used for inspection inside walls, pipes, etc) would be extremely useful when trying to look at and determine what's past some of those cave ins. Would definitely help determine their length and how to address them. I'm also surprised he hasn't left a stash of hand tools on each level of the mine that he would have easy access too already , considering they are relatively inexpensive. It's great to see he's developing plans to get power and hard communication lines down there. Get some power down there, drop a 1000ft spool of Cat5e down the shaft, and then put repeater switches on each level that he can either set up a wireless connection on, or run more hardlines deeper into the mine tunnels. Before we know it, he'll be livestreaming from the mine lol.
Also.. Once he get's the 3d mapping of of the mines done, it would make a killer map for a video game.
I had the same idea but using fibre instead as cat5e (or any other copper ethernet cable) has a maximum of 90m before signal attenuation occurs, depending on the distance between each level then it might be possible for copper.
@@Greenie416agreed that fiber would be a much better transmission medium... Was gonna say it is super expensive, but just checked pricing and it has come down significantly, and is comparable to 5e now for the cabling. It is still more expensive for swit he's and transceivers though. Those mines are also loaded with dust which could be a significant issue with keeping the optics clean.
Not sure if the economics makes sense, but upgrading your main hoist to a safe and reliable 1 man opp would give you a lot more resources. You still have your rope for backup. Thank for the vid Brent.
Brent. PLEASE remember the town is dependent upon you to be ALIVE and HEALTHY. All your plans are for naught if you get into trouble in those mines. I seriously advise you to at least have one other person with you when you go down there - especially with EXPLOSIVES, man!! Love the videos and love the work and the care and the community that has rallied around you. And not to sound like the dad (or maybe mother hen) I am but for crying out loud don't climb without someone else with you. Dude I'm begging you. Imo you've already rolled the dice and gotten lucky a few too many times. Love the videos and love the cave exploration and am also dying to find out what's down below the 900. Just don't die to find out.
theres probably no one else crazy enough to go with him. this looks highly, highly dangerous. im also surprised he doesnt use a mask of some kind. inhaling a ton of dust made up of dirt, mold, rotting wood, animal feces, animal carcasses, and toxic metals cant be good for you
I was thinking that too, but then I wondered who was holding the camera when he squeezed himself through parts of the collapsed area?
@@4seasonspixhe’s probably using some kind of selfie stick. There are cameras that let you edit out the stick from the final video.
Relax
This mother hen agrees❣️
climbing 900 ft up ladders is no small task! i work underground at a gold mine and i climb 2-400 ft regularly up and down escape raises and it really is a workout great work man keep it up love the videos
Prayers for Brent and Cerro Gordo as flooding is forecast from tropical storm Hillary 🙏
Your strength and pure willpower to climb so much in one evolution is wild! I couldn't climb down 900ft let alone climb back up!
Ya getting down is the easy part. Going back up all that rope is a grunt. I have done it in caves but never as deep as he is going.
Your next project should be to get a group of people to modernize that manway. Lighting, electric, communications, fixing the entire ladder system and adding a way to bring items up and down. Especially if you plan on spending more time truly exploring all of the various points of access. As if you do not have enough projects.... ❤👊
I love the use of technology and that you have off-site historians putting in countless hours researching for you. Correcting the existing mapping, and creating maps for the future, is a gem in its own right.
it's cool, and i love this stuff, although "white people stuff" thought keeps going through my mind lol, not that theres anything wrong with that. But, I do wonder how much anybody really cares about an old mine anyway if it werent for this channel, ya know? I dont think the historical part is all that relevant, more like an excuse to explore stuff and do cool stuff on youtube. But again it's all super cool. Like there's probably 50 mines like this across America noone will ever care about the lower levels of ever again. Those mines had their time and it's gone.
But again because it's so easy for a comment like this to come across as negative, want to stress this channel is great!
Where's the bottom of this mine? No one knows! But Brent is sure to find out, or get as close as possible.
I'll keep going until we find it!
@@GhostTownLiving Look into the guys over at TVR Exploring, they're bringing an abandoned gold mine back to life, they're good at working with bad ground. Dunno if you've heard of them. Keep up the great work!
I have to keep reminding myself when watching this that you must have made it back. Amazing footage and great video as always.
Prusik loops for the gear on its own rope so much easier! The climb back up hook the gear rope end back to its own ascender. Fun stuff wish I was closer!
Everytime he uploads a new video I thank god because he is alive. I worry about you Brent but knowing someone is there watching/waiting for you gives me some relief 😊
Especially crawling through the narrow collapsed spaces ... holy crap, what if more came down, he'd be stuck :(
Hopefully Brent is successful in finding & exploring the deeper levels. I suggest using the hoist to haul down equipment, supplies and people to the 900 while working to clearing AND stabilizing the collapses
He does not have the people to move the hoist otherwise he would use it himself
@@barnhardtbrecken3360 he could probably find a team for a one off supply run, he was talking about consistent trips
One thing I would recommend for camping out down in the mine is baby wipes. Baby wipes are perfect for "field baths." Or in this case a "Mine Bath." They'll get you nice and clean again and doesn't require additional water. Just a garbage bag to go along with your other trash.
Elley knows rocks could turn into a fantastic collaboration!
I visited a slate mine in Wales that had been opened about 300 years ago. Miners had to pay for their own equipment and candles. Peeling 1,000 pound slabs from the ceiling was how they did it. Absolutely terrifying and very low pay.
Need a ropetek wraptor for ascending back up the shaft, tree guys use them for ascending up tall trees, they have battery powered ones as well. That would take a lot of effort out of getting back to the surface. Use another rope for a motorized ascender and keep your mechanical one for a safety as you go up and you always have a back up.
So claustrophobic down there….I just couldn’t do it ….so fair play to you Brent…man of steel !!!
What I would look into is getting a big winch to lower supplies down the main shaft (nothing rated for humans). It might seem redundant since you already have a hoist, but if you don't have a cage hanging from it, you could just lower supplies down the shaft and use a remote disconnect for the loads. That way, you could lower supplies solo. Winch might also help you and 2-3 friends remove debris as you begin building the base camp.
The other thing I'd do is try opening up some of the constricted parts of the ladder shaft and maybe even begin replacing runs of ladder. You could then run a safety cable, electrical, and communication lines down that shaft. Some moderate investments but I think if you really want to explore the 900 level and beyond, you need a reliable and safe way of getting down there so you can go more often.
Wow. An actual base camp down in the mine? That is awesome. I remember you spending Christmas or sometime during the holidays camping down at one of the levels. It was spooky because you kept seeing a light in the distance and you were the only one down there. I can't wait for your next video. Until then, take care, Brent! Thank you for yet another exploration video in the mines.
Seriously? I'll have to look for that one.
@@SinkyYT th-cam.com/video/WYs-1m0YSKQ/w-d-xo.html
it was the Mole People and those were not lights it was there Eyes Glowing.
@@SinkyYTshe even set up a raft to lounge on I believe.
I'm getting claustrophobic just watching you climb over those collapses! What an effort.
Not smart to do alone.
Not smart to do AT ALL
I'll bet Brent is in much better shape than 3 years ago. Still, I wouldn't be able to decend. It's too scary. Yup I'm 🐔! Lol
Thanks for taking us on your adventure. Doing all that without a selfy stick is a challenge and you did it all with one.
That’s honestly the most subtle but badass ad I’ve ever seen
I get so emotional watching this channel. I never wanted someone to succeed so much. Brent is a special person doing amazing things. Distance dictates I'll never see CG, but man i want it to rise again. Awesome ❤
I like your way of thinking about the 900ft level. Bringing supplies to dig out the collapses and possibly set up a direct communication line. That'd be huge. Thinking *years* ahead now.
He does'nt look like a digger. He looks like a boss man. He will need workers comp, liability ins, State mining inspections and permits, maybe Federal permits. OSHA. He will be negligent and liable even with volunteer workers let alone employees. Hes looking at joining the big boys and it will cost. Anyone he lets go into the mine could sue his ass off.
There's no problem until something bad happens!
Brent, Echoing other people in this comment section, running power/fiber down the shaft would be incredible, allowing for easier communication and potentially, even uploads and livestreams from inside the mine.
It is my favorite part, when you discover the deepest levels and what thing you can find down there.
I hope that I can go through the 3D model of the mine in VR one day.
I wouldn't be doing that in RL even if there was a tour nevermind talking about blowing through blocked routes! He's got such passion.
And I've only just got to the bit he says they might be living down there for days!!
Astounding... all of it. The men who dug and blasted through creating these tunnels, the beam structures.
Then you, Brett, taking us with you...
A nail biter..
Looking forward to the coming tunnel clearing.
Hey Brent! Awesome video!!!
A few suggestions just for safety (especially solo). I’ve climbed for a long while and also do high angle ropes rescue as a SAR medic. Redundancy, redundancy, redundancy. Make sure you’re backing up you anchors and knots. The double 8 you had is a great knot, but make sure you back it up with an overhand or bowline into itself. Think of not how far you’re going down, but how far you have to fall. It might not be a bad idea to find another anchor point and back up your main rope with a prusik attached to another, stronger, rope. This way your rope has play but you still have a backup just in case something were to happen. Reading some of the other comments as well I agree that rope stretch is a huge deal (900ft=90ft of rope stretch) and definitely keeping your ropes on you and not hanging. It’s an old access and multi-pitch climbing trick and keeps weight off and reduces wear and tear on those expensive ropes. I’m assuming you’re using a grigri the way you explained it or some other smooth friction descender, and these work great with this trick.
Keep exploring and stay safe!!
i have been here since this story with Brent which I found by chance. My hat off from respect to the way Brent has grown and faced so many challenges without giving up but gaining strength forever moving ahead. This 900 foot "descent" and scaling back up would not have been possible without his determination and drive to make this a continuing new adventure. When the old hotel burned I thought Brent would give up but it lead to all these new stories that I will continue to follow and support .
I'm so impressed that you have used 'double rope' techniques. Having redundancy can be a life saver.
He's descending srt, there's no redundancy with the other rope as he's not using them both at the same time
@@stuartcommon4651 Which is my point, There is redundancy. He is not using them at the same time. 'As you said'. He rappels on one rope and the other is there as a backup. Redundancy. Something to catch you if your main rope 'fails'.
@@peromo9397 in srt (which is what is mainly used in mine exploration and caving) there is only one rope, there is no backup, if that rope goes then you go with it. That's why there's extensive training available to enable it to be done safely. He initially sent down the long rope but with the weight of it he was unable to put it into his descender. He put down a shorter rope to descend the first part so that when he got to the bottom of the short rope the rest of the long rope should be light enough that he could swap to the main rope. Neither rope is a backup
Get yourself a figure 8 ab device and some cord for a prusik, you could descend that length on a figure 8 easily. Never use one without the prusik though, thats your backup in case you slip or let go. You should get in touch with Frank from the Exploring abandoned mines channel, I'm sure he would love to come explore and do some mining with you. He has so much knowledge he's like a walking museum. Edit: I think you've already spoke to him if I remember right.
Praying for you during this very strong and powerful storm. Hopefully the rain doesn’t wash out your roads
🙌🙌
@@GhostTownLiving Glad you’re OK. Get some good footage for us.
Echoing the pro-rope-workers: Rope bags are awesome. Additionally, a deep-expedition caving technique would both add safety and make your rappel device work better: Rebelays. While we here in the States do tend to prefer longer free drops, most everyone else breaks things down into segments between anchor points (bolts). These intermediate segments are the core idea of Rebelays.
Gosh that PolyCam thing is sooo cool. Imagine showing that to the OG miners! Brent you’re amazing. Please don’t stop, unless it’s ridiculously unsafe. If it’s just regular unsafe, you have to keep it up now.
Brent is at the top of the world at the bottom of his awesome mine!
Yep with a dash of insanity.
Our minds are funny things. We are very curious. I won't go into a old mine. Collapse is always a reality, and I don't have the luck to chanse it, Murphy is my cousin.
Because you make these videos I get to explore with you,satisfy my curiosity and have a screen adventure. THANK YOU!
I really respect your dedication and passion for exploring and discovering lost history. I truly believe you’re going to uncover some amazing things down there that humans haven’t seen in 150+ years
Your transparency of your videos conveys the personal struggle you have taken on. I admire your tenacity. It is inspiring!
I've been subscribed and kept up with this channel pretty much since the very beginning, every single video has blown me away since. It's amazing how many new things there STILL are to discover about Cerro Gordo. I wish I could be one of the people who was able to help fund this amazing project, or even put my hands to work to help rebuild it, but just know that I am part of a HUGE community who is watching intently and with great interest in this whole project. Keep it up, Brent! I am absolutely enthralled in everything you do here
i can not wait until he finds the Mole People Down there.
true that.... amazing that this is more interesting than lot of extreme sports and adventurer stuff... to rediscover 100 year old human constructions underground.
Brent what's obviously about you is that you walk your own path. I respect that.
Have you thought about taking a LIDAR mapper down with you so you can make a 3d map? It also might help you find hidden stopes. I think it would be cool to see a 3d map.
After finding the cigar tin and the 900 level sign, it makes me really curious what other cool findings might be under possible collapses or under Timbers. Great job as always Brent can’t wait to see what is in the future!
When you’ll camp down there, definitely bring a CO2/ CO gage with you
So much better than watching tv. I can’t wait for the next episode
Hey, just a few quick tips for potentially making your life easier in regards to the ropes:
- You could look into the Petzl Stop, Simple or Rack descenders as they may by easier to handle if the rope weight is high.
- To make the ascend easier you could have a look at the Petzl Asap, which is a device that runs along the rope and locks in case of a fall. You could put this on the rope and climb up, without much additional hassle.
- Setting up Bolts may make the process of fixing the ropes easier, but it would require access to strong rock, which i think is covered by wood in the chute, so probably not feasible.
If the hoist is unusable, I can't imagine a fixed line isnt the next step (speaking as a climber)
I agree the rack is the way to go for very long descents but I always used a petzel stop even on long descents in caves. And the a frogger coming out or rope walker.
I used to do rock climbing photography (before drones) and I have some tips which might help in the future.
1.) The golden rule when rigging / changing over ropes is to always be certain you are connected to something solid before you disconnect yourself from your current gear. Realizing that this is really the only danger and implementing it as a conscious check every time you unclip really helps with the anxiety.
2.) Get a rack, they are designed for dealing with rope weight and will let you do the whole descent in one go.
3.) Hang the rope down the center of the shaft so that it never touches the wall if possible. This is much safer because you do not have to worry about rope abrasion or navigating obstacles. It will also let you go much faster.
4.) Gas powered ascenders exist and may be nice in stead of the hoist. I have never used them but I know they are marketed towards arborists.
I'd be scared shitless going down there on my own.
I'd suggest getting something similar to the old US Army Field Telephones to use for communications down there, a land line like that will work no matter what you do to it, and if it's not, they're pretty easy to diagnose and fix. Also, with it being a historic area, I'm sure there's universities that would love to send some teams in with you to explore and clear up sections to make it safer and easier to explore around as well.
Good to see you have redundancy on the rope but I still think you should NOT be alone!!
I’ve been wondering how you have been surviving the recent heat on the surface. And please take care down there, on your own, going through horrendous squeezes, and no one really knows where you are and where you went if you don’t return to the main shaft
Yeah, that freaks me out a bit. I couldn't do it with the church choir, let alone by myself lol
Brent, would it be possible that HeavyD could create a winch to get you down and up, even if not 900 feet long? . I realize there are very narrow spots that could be an issue, but at least it would be of some help climbing back up, Great content for both of you if it is possible!
I can only carry on watching as he obviously survived. Hes on another level spiritually down there.. Uplifting to watch!
The only question is will he survive the next one?
@@grandpied I know it's insanely dangerous what he's doing I couldn't believe what I was watching and his plans.
Watching this video, gave me some idea's you could consider. Winches on a sailboat can pull very heavy loads, but the ropes don't stay on the winch. With some pulley's you could hand drop loads down to the bottom. They do have hydraulic and electric winches as well. Maybe you could figure out a way to adapt something along that line, to help make being shorthanded easier to move things up and down. I go up a 68 ft. mast. We use winches to do it! Wrap a rope around it 3 or 4 times, and you can hold heavy loads with ease! Maybe you can figure something out. I will do some research about this idea as well!
I would suggest you start building an inventory of new ladders set at a preset length that that is maneuverable in the mines by yourself. For any long term preservation of your mines you need to make access quick and safe for you and potentially tourists in the future without ropes. Overtime you can replace the old ladders, ladders that are missing, and providing access to hard to reach areas. I imagine there are a ton of carpenters that would donate their time and skills to build up that ladder inventory.
You can preserve your favorite part of cerro Gordo. Once you have safe ladders which make moving people faster and provide a feasible means of moving materials you can begin shoring up destabilized ground. I really hope you consider that crucial step re: pre made ladders