>>401073I know and frequent quite a few "hard rock" mines around where I live (WA, USA) as my particular area is an abandoned mining district. Winzes (down shafts) are often covered with old timber(never trust timber) hidden under inches of mud and are hard to see so always check what exactly you are REALLY walking on when in the tunnels, because on the surface it is all mud. Look where the tunnel wall meets the floor, it is a decent place to check what you are really walking on, sometimes. Most mud is toxic so I avoid direct contact when possible. Bring boots, helmet, 3 light sources. Move slowly and keep your situational awareness high. I won't go to upper or lower levels unless they have their own adit (entrance to the outside world) and I use said adit to enter and exit. Some poor fool 100mi from me lowered himself down a shaft and couldn't ascend out. He ended up staying there until they found his corpse. On another note, don't ever go into coal mines for a plethora of horrible reasons. Tell someone where you are going for how long and that you will ring them when you return from your adventure. If you do not call to let them know you returned safely, they need to know to try to contact you first and eventually Search&Rescue. One last thing, bring an old cruddy rain jacket as the ceilings drip nasty water. You could sit on the net all day reading advice. Boots,lights,helmet,phone call,caution.
