ABANDONED UNDERGROUND | Exploring the Abandoned Hippie Rock Mine in the Organ Mountains, Las Cruces, NM @ABANDONED_UNDERGROUND | Uploaded January 2020 | Updated October 2024, 29 minutes ago.
I do my first rappel down a 100 foot inclined shaft to explore this old abandoned fluorite mine nestled in the Organ Mountains just outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. This mine features two adits (one small, one collapsed), an open stope, underground powder magazine, miner's cabin, and an inclined shaft that leads to two drift levels. The bottom drift level is home to a near barren underground workshop, grizzly, and over 600 feet of drifting. Now equipped with repelling gear, the limitation of exploring abandoned mines has been broadened! I hope you enjoy!
On a side note, entering this mine can be dangerous without the right equipment. I attempted to repel this mine with only a hand rope 2 years ago only to find out that I couldn't get out on my own and I had to be assisted out. I understand many explorers have successfully made it in and out of this mine with just a hand rope. I just overestimated my abilities at that time and if I didn't have someone with me to help, I could have been another statistic for the AML to promote closing more mines.
Don't do this kind of thing without the proper knowledge, equipment, or experience!
UPDATE: From the gracious information from Headframe Hunters on the slide rails, I dug a little deeper on the history of this mine. The original workings are from the early 1930s. The lower drift and inclined shaft is from a later date. Miners resumed mining for a short period in the early 1970s which explains the more modern features of this mine.
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#AbandonedMines
#MineExploring
I do my first rappel down a 100 foot inclined shaft to explore this old abandoned fluorite mine nestled in the Organ Mountains just outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. This mine features two adits (one small, one collapsed), an open stope, underground powder magazine, miner's cabin, and an inclined shaft that leads to two drift levels. The bottom drift level is home to a near barren underground workshop, grizzly, and over 600 feet of drifting. Now equipped with repelling gear, the limitation of exploring abandoned mines has been broadened! I hope you enjoy!
On a side note, entering this mine can be dangerous without the right equipment. I attempted to repel this mine with only a hand rope 2 years ago only to find out that I couldn't get out on my own and I had to be assisted out. I understand many explorers have successfully made it in and out of this mine with just a hand rope. I just overestimated my abilities at that time and if I didn't have someone with me to help, I could have been another statistic for the AML to promote closing more mines.
Don't do this kind of thing without the proper knowledge, equipment, or experience!
UPDATE: From the gracious information from Headframe Hunters on the slide rails, I dug a little deeper on the history of this mine. The original workings are from the early 1930s. The lower drift and inclined shaft is from a later date. Miners resumed mining for a short period in the early 1970s which explains the more modern features of this mine.
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#AbandonedMines
#MineExploring
