Its adventure season again, well, I guess its always adventure season, but this time there was adventure! The adventure was the finding and exploring the Mineral King Mine near Invermere, BC. Some of you may recall some other misadventures, such as the trek to Paradise Mine, but I am happy to report that this one was much more successful...
The players in this little drama were Chloë (from Airdrie), Becky (from Winnipeg), Ryan (also from Winnipeg), and myself Alexander C. Cook. Becky was on the adventure to Paradise Mine and somehow she convinced Ryan to come along with her. They left for the long drive west while the rest of us prepared for the trip. This was Ryan's first trip westward of Winnipeg and it no doubt promised to be an eventful one.
On Friday afternoon Becky and Ryan arrived in Calgary, and by Friday evening the lot us were in a two car convoy heading south towards Invermere. We had supper with Chloë's family, spent the night at Bella Vista, and after a game of 3D Settlers of Catan, and a fantastic breakfast (bi-sected by a few hours sleep) we were on our way.
The Columbia Valley
En Route - Big Al's Big Mountain Tour
Chloë and I had scoped out the road the weekend before so we knew it was good. We took both vehicles and headed from Wilmer up the famous Panorama road. I gave whatever tour I could over the walkie talkies and we continued on our way. Panorama came and went and soon we were on the gravel roads of the BC back country.
When we neared the mine we took the opportunity to explore with the Jeep. Becky and Ryan waited with the car as Chloë and I rocketed through roads and creeks. Our goal was to find the "open pit" mine that appears on the maps, but we were out of luck, and constrained by fuel and time. We gave up without much thought, rejoined the troops, and headed the rest of the way to the mine.
En Route - Driving Through Streams
En Route - Almost at the Mine
En Route - Hitchhiker on the Jeep
The road up to the main mine buildings is drivable, but only just. We were forced to drop off the gear from the Jeep at the mine and then return further down the mountain to pick up Becky, Ryan, and their gear. This did not take too long, and would not have been to much off an issue however the rain began to pick up and before long it was pouring.
We had a bit of a late start that day, and the night before we had agreed to host Chloë's family at our camp at the mine. They were going to meet us at the Earl Grey Trail Head and we would let them follow us up to the mine. We had just arrived, but it was time to head down to get them. As the rain picked up we left Ryan and Becky to work on building a shelter as we grabbed our guests.
At the Mine - Set Up in the Rain
Across Toby Creek
The Camp
By the time we returned to the mine it was flat out pouring. Our gear rested on one tarp with another atop it. This seemed like a good system at first, but the tarp on top happened to be a bit smaller... what that meant was that all the water that rained on the top tarp simply fell onto the second tarp and underneath all of our gear... yeah... that was a problem. We worked hard and fast to build a fire that could sustain itself in the pouring rain and to create a more substantial shelter that could... shelter... us in case it rained all weekend. The Guidingers were a great help in getting things set up and despite the rain it was a beautiful warm day and everyone had a great time.
At the Mine - The Camp in the Rain
We did eventually get to cook the hot dogs that we promised them.
Captured Rain
Crystalline Orbs
After everyone had left and the camp was satisfactorily set up we threw on a bit of gear and began exploring the mine site. We only had two days up at the mine (including this one) so if we wanted to get in we needed to find the entrances. We followed all the roads we could find, and we found ruin after ruin. Cracked concrete foundations and piles of dilapidated timbers littered everywhere. We could see a great deal on the tailings (since nothing grew there the cover it up) but when we discovered no entrance there we were forced to look farther.
In Search of the Mine: Climbing the Tailings
In Search of the Mine: Ruins
In Search of the Mine: More Ruins
Down the Tailings
Cracked Foundations
Mystery Pipe
On one path and into the bushes, and then into another...
Ruinous Valley
Snake
Up Through the Ruins
Reflections
Flooded Foundations
Forlorn Serenity
A Forgotten Nut
We had explored all of what appeared to be our uphill options and were retreating for a lower approach when in the trees we saw an old wooden retaining wall. The wall was semi-functional but severely overgrown. I headed off into the bush, climbed up a steep embankment and found another abandoned building... or the remnants of... With a shout back to the crew below I continued to explore, and it was then that I found something...
In Search of the Mine - Hidden Retaining Wall
In Search of the Mine - Path of the Cable Car
Until now we could not figure out the mining process. We could see the tailings, after all we were camped on them, but how did they get there? How did they get the ore out? Up by my most recent find I found a clue. There appeared to be a rather straight path going up the mountain, though overgrown and very steep. The semblance of a path was not enough, but when I saw a few railway ties still stuck in the ground I began to form a theory. I called back to the crew once more and I was on my way. I wasn't at it long, but I booked it up that hill as fast as I could. I followed tie after tie grabbing onto tree after tree to gain traction. Turns out it was realllllyy steep and I was getting tired fast... not only that, but I saw no indication that I was any closer to anything, only indications that I was on the right path. Thinking that the peoples below must have thought that I was dead via bear, etc., I turned around and ran back down the mountain. Right about when I reached my ruined foundations I saw something that I missed on the first pass... a set of railway points. This was a track, and all indications pointed to a cable car that would have gone straight up the mountain.
Lost Tracks
The troops rallied and we discussed our approach. This was enough reconnaissance for now. We were to head back to the camp and review what information we had about the mine. When we did get to camp and get to the information we found the report of some other adventurers who had made their way to the mine... they mentioned the debris going up the mountain and it sounded exactly like my cable car route. Finally, we had our first real signs that we might actually find the mine.
At the Mine - Pouring Rain in the Camp
We enjoyed a night in the rain with steaks and cigars... then it was off to a sleep feeling a bit too much like Christmas Eve.
Tent feat. Jeep
The Old Mine Buildings
I woke before everyone else, but since I figured they would kill me if I woke them up too early I took up my machete and staff and practiced Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu and Jodo atop the foundations of what was once something. I waited until I thought it was a respectable time and woke Chloë. Once we had the fire going the other two also surfaced. We had eggs and pancakes for breakfast and after that we began to gear up.
Alexander of the Jungle
The Climb
Up the Mountain
Expedition to the Mine
Expedition to the Mine - Rope up the Ridge
It was not as early of an ascent as I would have liked, but we got our gear and we were en route. We made it to the embankment near the retaining wall and I slung down my rope for my comrades to climb. We were at the tracks of the mine carts now and we began our long climb. The climb wasn't that long distance wise, but we ~40+ degrees of incline that is brutal. We were fortunate that the rain died down, but when the sun came we were basked in a little more heat than we really needed...
Resting
Fungus?
And that's how it went... we climbed... and climbed... and climbed... We grabbed trees to pull ourselves up, took breaks to rest from the burden of our gear, and dodged rocks when whomever was in the lead unearthed something rollable... It was a long and arduous hike.
Expedition to the Mine - Cable Car Path
We were tired and becoming somewhat disheartened when in the distance we could see another tailings heap. There was no guarantee that the mine entrance would be at the top of this one but this was more than we had seen to give us hope in some time.
Me at the Top
Down from the Mine Entrance
We found the base of the tailings heap and I took a chance to see if we could climb it. Turns out that the tailings would be extremely difficult to climb, but by the time I figured that out I was already too far up to go back. I recommended that everyone else take another route through the trees as I climbed the slippery slope. This was a one step forwards half a step back situation. The rocks beneath my feet slid as I sunk in my toes, and I had to use all fours to try and make any headway. When I got to the top (which I did) I was out of breath, exhausted, and exhilarated. I was able to stand, turn around, and look at an incredible view over the valley. My moment of rest was short lived however, I could not bear to take a look around. With camera in hand I walked over debris and tailings until I found what appeared to be a hole leading straight into the rock. Ye Haw!!!
Expedition to the Mine - Another Tailings Pile
Expedition to the Mine - Mine Found!!! (Level 3)
Expedition to the Mine - Level 2
Man and Nature
In another few minutes I saw Becky and Chloë pop out from the trees, and then Ryan appeared. We all made it on top of the tailings, and all of us were relieved and wildly excited to see the entrance to the mine. We dropped our gear there and then continued on a path leading from the mine to see where it went. There was another tailings pile only a few hundred metres away and that could be another entrance. The crew waited below as I climbed over mine cars and scrambled up another set of tailings. I made it to the top much easier without my gear, and was able to see another hole cut into the rock. From the map that we had showing that there were entrances on the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th levels (of 13 levels (~457 m vertical depth, ~1219 m down the plunge of the rock formation)).
A Lonely Grave
A Toppled Cart
Fantastic. We had more mine than time, and with that in mind I ran down a the road that connected the two entrances.
Entrance to Level 2
We ate lunch atop the tailings where we were able to enjoy the incredible view. All fulled up, I put on my rubber boots, an dry shirt, a hoodie, my gloves, hard hat, and head lamp. With the gas monitor I borrowed from work I made my way to the entrance of the mine. Standing there I could feel a constant blast of cold air coming out of the earth. With that at the back of my head I expected that we would have no issue with air quality (as was reported by other adventurers) but I went through the precautions anyway.
Looking out at Chloë
With my arm extended I watched the numbers of the gas monitor. H2S zero. CO zero. LELs (Methane, etc.) zero. O2 ~20%. Perfect. I crawled down into the hole and took another look at the monitor. Still perfect. At ease I crawled over the pile of debris at the entrance and into the tunnel.
Expedition to the Mine - Entering the Mine
The Rest of the Crew
The Door
Expedition to the Mine - Huge Mofo Tunnel
Given the length of the hike up, and the lateness of the day, and the fact that we were meeting more of Chloë's family down below later, we had only limited time. We hiked down the soggy passage towards a great wooden door with a reflector upon it. We squeezed by and continued down the passage.
My photos are not spectacular. We were in a hurry so I did not fool around with setting too much, and Ryan had much better equipment that he had carried up with him. I manned the 20,000,000 lumen spotlight that we borrowed from Bella Vista and Ryan snapped away.
Expedition to the Mine - Ladders and Ore Chutes
We came to a fork, and we went right. We passed ladders appearing to go up to level two... we passed ore chutes coming down from level two and still filled with ore. We passed wooden structures of seeming impeccable stability... and others with quite... peccable stability... The path dried up beneath our feet thought the walls were always covered in water and a find rock flour. Our gloves and hands were covered in the rock dust, and if we noticed too much we would be drawn to the dust or the walls which would entrap our attentions. Even the walls were amazing with their spirals of pyrite and crystals.
The Wall of the Mine
Flakes
Pyrite
Dead End
Man in the Shadow
Expedition to the Mine - Big Friken Icicle
The Big Friken Icicle
Our new path took us passed an ore chute with an enormous icicle growing from it. The icicle was a great white column of ice that seemed to support the ceiling, not that the stone needed supporting. We enjoyed the photo op and then continued on. It was not long before we found an empty concrete room, but more importantly, we found the wall that visitors of this sacred spot had made their mark upon on their journeys into the deep. I had a bag of rocks and trinkets that I had picked up along the way, and in that bag were a few railway spikes from the mine carts. With spikes in our hands we scratched in our own names and the year of our time.
Expedition to the Mine - Wall of Names
Wall of Names
Signs of Us
Ryan Signs
A Trackless Corridor
Feet of a Foursome
Expedition to the Mine - Scoping out the Edge of our Exploration
Speaking of time, we were almost up. Our spotlight was about out of batteries (which would make photos harder) and we would need the time to get down the mountain. From other tales of exploring the mine we had heard of the mega ore caverns. We never made it that far but in those tales people said that we would need flares to see the entire things... I went to MEC, and I bought the only flares they had. These were the shooting off to help you get rescued kind of flares, but still, it was all they had. At the end of our time, and with an empty corridor ahead of us, we decided to see what would happen if we used one of the flares. I checked the gas monitor, and then with a little fear, and a whole lot of courage, I set about seeing what would happen.
Safety First
Expedition to the Mine - Trying a Flare
Moral of the story... awesome! Moral number two, don't set off explosives in enclosed areas. Super cool... super fun... but I could definitely feel the concussion on my eardrums... not to mention the suffocating gunpowder smoke of the flare... soooooo awesome...
We turned around and trekked back out of the mine.
I Exit
Chloë Exits
Becky Exits
Ryan Exits
It was warm on the surface again, and we packed up our PPE. Time to go down...
Getting Ready to Go Back Down
Expedition to the Mine - Going Back Down
The Route Down
It didn't take nearly a long to get down, but when we did, I think we were all glad to get back. We made it back to the camp, and then Chloë and I met her family and brought them up to join us.
The Valley
A Sunlit Peak
Dwemer Artifact?
We enjoyed the fire, the weather, and the good company.
Another steak.
Another cigar.
Another perfect day.
Wieners and Bacon
Packed Up
The Old Toby Creek Bridge
Bridge in Ruins
This was Ryan's first trip to the mountains, so we figured we should do it all... it took an hourish to get to the hot springs, and it was great to be there. There was one problem however, there has been a lot of rain, and a lot of runoff... and that means that the water level of Lussier River is high. Too high. The river flooded the bottom pools of the hot springs filling them with icy water and erasing all traces of them. Water even poured into the highest pool, which was tepid at best.
Lussier Hot Springs
We still sat and enjoyed the warm water and the warm day as the afternoon moved on.
Me feat. Donkey
The Crew
The Old Bauernhaus
The time came when we needed to get going. We were back at the vehicles, and then headed farther south... Kimberly. It had been a while since I had had The Feast at the Old Bauernhaus, and I regret the absence. The Feast, for those who are not aware, is exactly what it sounds like. ~13 small courses of cheese, dried meats, salad, shrimp, baked brie, wienerschnitzel, jagerschnitzel, spatzle, seasonal vegetables and etc. I did manage to top this off with a bit of Hot Love (see pic below) and it made for an incredible meal.
Hot Love!
The Seed of Life
It was late by the time we finished. Becky and Ryan wanted to get back to Calgary as soon as possible so they headed out, while Chloë and I drove back to Bella Vista.
We enjoyed a leisurely morning, and then a leisurely drive back home.
It was another exciting weekend... and another great adventure...
A little bit about the Mineral King Mine...
You can easily see the cable car route here...
Our path in red...
Mineral king mine
Town site-
40-50 family homes
1 large staff house
2 small bunk houses
1 small bunk house
The Mineral King Mine truck came up from Invermere with the mail once a week. At first , school was held in the Community Hall until a small school house was built. Teachers were Miss Bernice Porcine, and Mr. and Mrs. R. Evans. Movies were held once a week at the Community Hall. Par-ties, dances, and dinners are all community events.
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CGEQFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.windermerevalleymuseum.ca%2FDocuments%2F2003_11.pdf&ei=43f7T4ihN-HW2AXHu7nKBg&usg=AFQjCNEz2M_ybNxgU7VjtAPW4sNBh8-wwQ&sig2=T79r3vZimrgKF2hkTdJ1Lg
General Mine Information (Production, Geology, Etc.)
http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082KSE001
An Earlier Expedition to the Mine
http://minecon07.uea.ca/mines.php
