Mine shaft!

[akima]

Link to original page on YouTube.

My first thought after seeing this was:

"If that was Jason riding ( @rojoracing53 ) in the video I wonder if that would have been the end of him or whether he would have cleared it".

Random thought I know.

It's weird how often I think of random ninjetters even though I've met barely any of you.

[rojoracing53]

As odd as it might sound I have actually jumped a mine shaft opening just like that one but out in the desert so no snow. It was probably about 5' small across so that helped a bit. It was one of those "oh my f***ing god, holy ****" moments then I flipped a bitch to keep the rear of the group from doing the same. Its **** like this that kills us desert riders from time to time, better to stick to the mountains and single tracks, or so I thought

[akima]

So that basically actually happened to you and you actually cleared it. Ok... maybe my thought of you after seeing that video isn't so random

[Motofool]

That could have ended really bad !!!

Why people leave such dangerous things open?

[akima]

Originally Posted by Motofool

That could have ended really bad !!!

The youtube video title is "dirt biker near fail". I'm pretty sure it should be "dirt biker near fatal."

[rojoracing53]

I've had some crazy happening on two wheels in my life, you could sell the highlights reel of my adventures for its weight in gold. I'm mean how many people do you know who have almost drowned during an Enduro race?

[csmith12]

Holly crap! Looks like my backyard, minus the large hole in the ground.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Motofool

That could have ended really bad !!!

Why people leave such dangerous things open?

Cause when they were dug, late 1800's to mid 1900's, there weren't many folks around. You dug a hole somewhere until you either hit a vein or not. If not, you move elsewhere on your claim and dig another hole. Rinse and repeat.

I love finding old shafts, especially if they still have the support timbers in place and I really love it when old equipment is still around. Found more than a few with light bulb wiring going down the ladders. One even had the elevator hoist engine still in place (picked apart of course).

The Nevada Department of Minerals is working on securing known mine openings near population centers and have begun expanding out to more remote areas. But still, I can count off several mining districts just off the top of my head with a couple dozen open shafts. One area, now private property, I counted a couple hundred holes at least six feet down. There are over 17,000 known in just the north half of the state, with probably around 12,000 of them sealed off. Guesstimates claim as many as 50,000 remain to be found.

Neat little article: http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/ne...outhern-nevada

Most of the time, if you live in mining territory, you know the signs that mining was active in an area - such as left over equipment or the tell tale piles of debris dotting the landscape.

If the snow hadn't been there, I'd bet that the mound he climbed was clearly disturbed earth and he would have stopped long before getting near the opening.


I remember once driving up a mountain and came over a small ridge. Just on the other side of that ridge, some prospector had thought it looked promising and dug a massive hole that was big enough to swallow my 4Runner. Weirdly, no tailings were around (probably had been used to construct the road I was on). Being slow and cautious while out in the desert is what gets you back out.

[MrAtom]

I'd take a whiz in it.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Cause when they were dug, late 1800's to mid 1900's, there weren't many folks around..............

Very interesting, Teri !!!

Thank you much.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I'd take a whiz in it.

my cousin did that once, said it was a very satisfying experience

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by Sirref

my cousin did that once, said it was a very satisfying experience

New bucket list item!

[snot]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Very interesting, Teri !!!

Thank you much.

They make might of been around if they didn't fall into a giant hole..

Amazing, now we have to call and get permits and flags stuck in the yard just to dig a garden.

[ninjamunky85]

Comments on the that video = complete fail.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by ninjamunky85

Comments on the that video = complete fail.

I'm disappointed. I expected to read something like "yo momma so loose that mine shaft is tighter than she was last night"

[ninjamunky85]

Haha

[akima]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I'd take a whiz in it.

That comment made me burst out laughing. I read Teri's serious, detailed post and then directly after that I read...

"I'd take a whiz in it."



Very thoughtful contribution MtAtom


I can just picture some televised recount of a mineshaft survival story. The motorcyclist would relay that he fell down into this deep mineshaft, broke his legs and for 2 days suffered blistering hot heat, almost dieing from dehydration... but then! ... A miracle occurred... he was saved by some unknown force; perhaps god. Water poured from the cloudless sky.

Meanwhile above the mineshaft MrAtom is joyfully pissing into the hole in the ground he found

[NevadaWolf]

Men!

My first thought is to toss a rock in to see how deep and you all are talking about pissing in it.

Course, with Akima's scenario, you'd save the rider while I just hit him in the head.

[MrAtom]

Hey, if you had a dong, you'd do it too.

[Hero Danny]

woooow. Close call! Good thing he slowed down.