Cool Underground Tunnel and Nanaimo's Old Mine Shafts

[GR74]

Yeah, I'll head up again this weekend sometime but I don't know when.

[GR74]

If we get a hold of seaman we could all meet up for the trek. Seal it up, eh? Thats so typical. I'll keep the locations confidential from now on but will post pictures for you. I know there are more out there.

[seaman]

good idea on keeping it quiet, I'd be into a trek but I'm out of town this weekend maybe next week or next weekend, there's a bunch of other mine sites I'd like to check out, got them on the gps

[Harewoodian]

That sounds like a great plan having a get together.

I don't own a vehicle but I have gas money.

Lets plan a date?

[GR74]

I was thinking all day long about that mine. I want to make an agreement with you. I'd hate to see this mine sealed up again and you probably feel the same way. Its fun to go and visit the site. I think we should start bringing a shovel with us each time we go up there. We'll go in there to visit and then when we leave we should bury the opening a liitle more than it is. Not completely, though. I mean, leave it open enough that the mine can breathe, but conceal it enough that it doesn't look as inviting. We should do this each time. It would appear the last guy to go in here felt the same way. I'm afraid we'll get snow soon and this mine will be "closed for the season".

[seaman]

I was thinking maybe find some big fir branches and hide it a bit it's a pretty small opening, I'll be back next week probably go out there and throw something over it,

[GR74]

I'll be up there this weekend. Might take Harewoodian. Either way we can all go next weekend. I'll seal the sucker when we leave.

[GR74]

Here's a passage quoted from "Boss Whistle" by Lynne Bowen that you folks might find interesting. She writes about the Extension #8 workings.

"Number Eight at McKay lake further to the south and the New Vancouver slope were opened in 1926. The latter operation extracted pillars and top coal from Old Number One. There was lots of coal and life looked like it would continue as it had for a long time.
Then in 1928, Number Eight closed, followed next year by the New Vancouver slope."

Pretty cool, huh?

[Fischkind]

I wouldent mind on taking a ride up there, How big is the opening.. haha, im 6'6 230p so maybe I might not be able to fit in there Let me know.. ill pm u GR74 with my number!

[GR74]

Went out to explore to Southfield workings a few years back. No open shaft, but saw some artifacts in the bush. Will take photos and post one of these days, but wanted to qoute another passage from Lynne Bowen's "Boss Whistle".

"I went back to Southfield with another miner and we explored it using chalk to find our way back. We walked in a long way, looked up and saw a light up above. Here was a room all bricked up with a tall chimney, a car and a grate. Someone told me it was where they used fire to ventilate the mines. We found a coat hanging on a nail. We touched it and it fell to powder. It had not been touched by a breath of air for 70 years. We found a pick and shovel. We touched the shovel blade. It disintegrated, but the wooden handle was all right. The timbers were beautifully made, so straight and smooth, 3 feet apart exactly. Built like a picture frame, not like in later mines, all crooked. They were good too, preserved by the water."