Rappelling 900 Feet To Uncover Lost History!

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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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

[GhostTownLiving]

I'll be adding to it and hopefully allow everyone to experience all the different levels of the mine in time.

[youngmodulus]

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.

[amariebfree]

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.

[tombjornebark]

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.

[AvanaVana]

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.

[BryanJohnson-qbse]

As a retired, Union construction worker of 28yrs, climbing a ladder that was nailed together a hundred yrs ago is insane!

[brentseely]

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)

[developerdeveloper]

Be careful down there, Trent. You are getting comfortable with this and this is when it becomes dangerous.

[warbirdwf]

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.

[OfficialReggarf]

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. <3

[xx_gaming_xx]

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 💯

[Cpl.Punishment]

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.

[NWRefund]

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. :)

[ericcarr]

It so awesome to see Brent back in the mines again. It really seems like that's his happy place.

[Paul]

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!

[larrykaminski]

Brent, don’t let this obsession led by passion be the death of you. Damn, that was scary just to observe

[Kevakazii]

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.

[davidwolfe]

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.

[EngineeringMindset]

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.

[formallyknownasj.a.]

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.