MU FEBUARY EXPEDITION

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:43 pm

THIS EVENT HAS CONCLUDED!

A trip report can be viewed here:
http://mojaveunderground.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3160#3160

The First Annual Mojave Underground February Expedition

TECOPA CALIFORNIA
-WAR EAGLE- -NOONDAY- -COLUMBIA- -GUNSIGHT-
-HOT SPRINGS- -GOOD FOOD-

FEBRUARY 5th-8th 2009
MEETING: 5:00am February 5th at the Walmart parking lot in S. Orem.
COST: $70.00, will cover gas, food, and a custom Mojave Underground February Expedition T-Shirt.
RSVP: On Meetup only
DEADLINE TO RSVP: February 1st

Will be provided:
-Meals
-Trip T-shirt
-Entertainment
-Rides will be assigned upon RSVP, driver discounts apply if you wish to take your own vehicle

You must provide:
-Helmet/hardhat
-Lights, including backup lights and batteries
-Sleep gear
-Clothes for three days, prepare for 30-60^o weather
-Snacks
-Hygiene supplies, YES THAT MEANS YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER
-A tent, tarp or other reasonable shelter for death valley conditions
-All other applicable mine exploration gear

We look forward to meeting our brothers of the Underground Explorers down in California. They have spent many hours exploring the mines around Tecopa and will be showing us around.
Visit their website for more pictures and information.

YOU MUST BE 18 OR OLDER

WATCH THIS THREAD FOR MORE DETAILS AND TRIP UPDATES
RSVP NOW!!

Photos courtesy Mike Schriber and the Underground Explorers

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:34 pm

Information has been updated for this trip.
RSVP NOW.

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:53 pm

so is the agenda filled up all the way with mine exploration? any death valley exploration or anything?

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:19 pm

Well, our focus primarily will be mine exploration, but I imagine we will do some poking around outside a fair amount.

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:22 am

Just as a heads up, our nominal plan for the weekend is to explore the Gunsite on Friday and then go over parts of the War Eagle, Noonday and Grant on Saturday. I expect we could be in the Gunsite for eight hours or more. There is plenty of non-technical exploring to be done in the War Eagle and Noonday for those interested as well.

There is not really all that much else in the immediate area to explore except talc mines and the China Ranch.

We're really looking forward to this trip!

Mike

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:29 am

That sounds great Mike. I am also looking forward to this trip! Thanks again for all your help!

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:05 pm

The area we are going is littered with mines around the Tecopa area. The image below is a snapshot or our California KML file, which has over 65,000 mine in the state.

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:52 pm

Mike Schriber wrote:

There is plenty of non-technical exploring to be done in the War Eagle and Noonday for those interested as well.

Does this mean there is also some technical exploring? Any of that on the agenda? Will you need technical gear?

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:54 pm

I believe there will be ropework and the like involved. So if you make it, plan on bringing your gear.

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:49 pm

Okay, more info!

The first thing everyone should be aware of is that there is no cell coverage in there area at all. You have to go most of the way to Baker or Pahrump to get coverage. Tecopa and Shoshone are dead areas too (there is a pay phone in Shoshone). We'll be carrying our Spot Satellite Beacon for checking in and emergencies.

We do try and use masks in the mines. Some parts are dustier than others but all the mines are pretty dust prone. Add in a bunch of people and it can get pretty nasty. We use them to play it safe. These were lead mines but that shouldn't be an issue in ore form. Even with the masks we end up cleaning out some pretty bad junk from our noses (sorry for the bad visual there). The masks get really dirty too.

There should be something for everyone in these mines. The War Eagle has 7+ levels that you can walk with no special gear. The Noonday is also very interesting and goes all the way through the mountain (and then connects to the Grant mine). The Columbia offers two 100+' vertical ladderways on the way to the lower levels. Most of us rappelled down and used Croll ascenders while climbing the ladders on the way back up for safety. However, one of our guys just climbed up and down so that's possible as well. The very bottom of the Columbia is more than 500 feet under the mean surface. We don't know about the Gunsite because we haven't been in there yet.

We'll be bringing all our vertical gear. We have PMI 11mm static pit rope in 50', 200' and 300' lengths. We also have a good selection of slings and webbing for anchors along with steel carabiners for top connections. We all have harnesses and descending gear and three of us have Frog type ascending systems. That's in addition to slings, carabiners, etc.

There are a lot of mines in the area we haven't been too but it is a very big area. We're be on our third trip to Tecopa and we haven't even been in all the mines yet. Most of the talc mines are open pit and I've never heard anything interesting about the others (although we've been meaning to take a look). I see some on that map that I've never heard of and are not in any of the records for the Tecopa mining district. One thing that may be worth looking at are the two California State Mineralogist reports you can find on the links page of our site. You can look for some of the mine names there which is a big help in gathering information. I'll also be bringing out a great book on the Tecopa mines that everyone is welcome to look at.

It's going to be a fun trip!

Mike

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:53 pm

Thanks for the information, Mike.

Is it February yet?

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:04 pm

Great. Rob and I are all set-up for ascending and decending, and I'll throw-in my 150' of BlueWater 11mm static for whatever it's worth. I'd appreciate doing some vertical... Any thoughts or suggestions on campsites / stores / gas?

Thanks

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:34 pm

It looks like our plans for camp have changed so I wanted to edit this older post so no one got confused.

We're going to camp at the rear haulage adit of the War Eagle Mine. It's easy to get to and has plenty of room for cars, tents and trailers. More info can be found on the Google Map link later in the thread.

I'm guessing you guys will come in via the 160 from Las Vegas. You don't have to go all the way to Pahrump but you can if you want to hit last gas and stores (including Wal-Mart). Out in the mine area there is pretty much nothing. There is gas if needed in Shoshone but it's at a premium price.

Mike

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:35 pm

Great! Thanks!

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:37 am

I've got another 300' static rope and bunch of webbing.
Wow, I am getting excited! 7 levels in the War Eagle! The hundred foot ladderways sound fun too, I like ladders Smile

Thanks for the Info! Sounds like we will have virtually unlimited exploration opportunities!

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:57 am

Ladders are my favorite! Can't wait! Looks like we've got a fair bit of adventure ahead of us.

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:33 pm

So will everyone need a harness and full technical gear? We have full gear and 3 extra harnesses, but not the best ascending gear...

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:47 pm

Well, I guess it depends. If you're okay doing ladders without any sort of safety then you don't need a harness. I don't know what we'll find in the Gunsite but other than some inclined shafts that would be nice to have ropes on there are no free descents or climbs that we've found in Tecopa so far.

Mike

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:45 pm

I put all the key locations into a map on Google Maps.

Tecopa Map

I don't have exact coordinates for the Noonday backside (and trestle) or the War Eagle front adit and Grant adit so I didn't put those on.

We usually camp at the "Oasis" south of Furnace Creek Road. However, we think it'll be better to camp at the War Eagle rear haulage adit this time. That way we're right next to a cool mine. There is a large flat area with tons of room. The movie crew had a dozen trucks up here, some with trailers so I don't think we'll have trouble fitting. It's also completely obscured from the road.

I think your group will be there before us so please leave room for us to pull in with the truck and trailer.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Mike

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:24 pm

Tecopa trip t-shirt design (below) has been completed and approved (thanks Miah Wink

) For those not going, I will offer any leftovers at cost. Any questions, PM me. Enjoy!