Cool Underground Tunnel and Nanaimo's Old Mine Shafts

[GR74]

At Myles Lake Road, thinking I was in or around Extension, I start walking down the road before I asked myself 'what the hell are you doing?'

I turned back, headed down a different road, and saw this sign....

Yeah? Ya think so, do ya? Not if I see you first, buddy. Now we're gonna have some fun! I went in for a closer peek. Again, no luck. Turned out to be a little kid's fort in the trees....

[GR74]

I decided to hit Extension. First stop, Garry's place to take a quick photo of his switchtrack.

[GR74]

Bramley Road has a clearcut patch, but they're building there. You get up top from the end of Muzwell Hill. Park and head straight up through the trees. Here's a photo of the slag pile from up top....

[GR74]

...and away I went. I did manage to find 2 depressions out there. Both were huge open pits, a good 200 feet in diameter and a good 35-40 feet deep. The photos don't really tell the story of their size or depth, though. You really have to see them in person.

Aparently these may have been the locations that TimberWest mined rock for the roadways....(thanks Yogi)

Here's 2 of the first pit, standing on the edge looking down.

[GR74]

The second one is back to the left, and around the corner. Again, just massive. Standing on the edge again, looking down. I will take someone with me next time and get them to stand down there so you can get an idea of the size. HUGE!

[GR74]

Walking down the logging roads for a couple of hours and staring at the raped landscape was a major drag. I didn't know where to go, so I decided to head back. I kid you not, I must have hiked about 30 miles total today. It felt so good to sit down in my truck after that, my feet were so sore, walking around in steel toes. Next stop, Morden Mine.

[GR74]

Here you go Foxglove, Morden Mine. If you're lucky, I'll show it to you in person one day.

[GR74]

I also took a photo of the sealed mine entrance in the bush to the left.

[GR74]

Next stop, Granby. You've seen it, but I wanted photos before the leaves grow back on the trees.

[GR74]

Across the street, down Granby Road, immediately to the right are more of the workings, or foundations. It is private property, but the guy should have signs that say so.

Here are photos of the foundations (photo 1), and what I believe to be the remenants of a heavy duty coal car (2 and 3). Apparently somebody nabbed the wheels. Garry tells me there are a few out in the Extension area still, sitting in the bush. There is also one on display in someone's yard down Harewood Mines Road.