[Jake]

The mine is at N48°03.984’ W121°32.033’, elevation 2,615 feet, or close. Hard to get a good GPS in the gulch, but if you find the surface tram, it will lead you right to the portal.

[Chief Joseph]

Went to the lake Serene mine (The Independent), now that one was pretty easy to find and a nice mine to explore. We went to every tunnel end except the upper one where you must pull yourself up a slippery and muddy section with a rope. Don’t know how far that upper tunnel runs.

[Jake]

It goes up about 35 or 40 feet to a round room. From there a round raise about two and a half or three feet in diameter goes straight up another 30 or so feet. I think it was intended to be an ore chute from the middle adit. Must have be a skinny little guy that blasted that raise. Not too many people could work in such a cramped raise.

[Chief Joseph]

Obtained permission from the property owner to gain access to the independence and Imperial mines above Silverton today. We found an old collapsed building, an old ore cart, tracks and various rusted metal. Above that we found 2 mine entrances, the one higher up was flooded with about 4’ of water….so didn’t enter….float in on air mattresses? The lower shaft was only about 30’ in and at the end, a nearly bottomless shaft going down. Not sure which tunnel the one flooded is?

old mine structure...like most, the old wood stove is still inside and intact.

coming out of his gopher hole

Silver creek waterfall

Also found some huge cedars back in there, this is close to the largest I have seen.

[sams rapids]

a suggestion to not post much about artifacts because people will use your words and photos to find and steal things comes from an old miner i have been to more than 75 mines and have been disappointed to find artifacts missing no one should remove anything, it gets carried home where few others will see and then into the boxes in the garage, then into the trash can thanks for your good ethics gordy

[timberghost]

Some things like this thread are better kept to ones self.

[Jimbo]

Mum's the word but I do like your posts. Some scum bag took the wheel from the Helana and that pisses me off. There are places littered with things we don't post. We dropped some rocks down that eir shaft. 5 second fall.

[Jimbo]

Go find the ravine

[Jake]

I 100% agree. Don't post sites with artifacts that can be removed. As for the air shaft, it connects with the main tunnel of the Imperial mine that's now caved at the portal.

[Chief Joseph]

[timberghost]

Your posting places that put people in dangerous situations. It's not the same as a trip report to a lake on a trail.

[Jake]

Although I don't completely agree with Timberghost either, he does have his right to his opinion. Let's not let this get out of hand and into a battle. The subject is interesting and legitimate as is. No need to bring it to the point the mods lock it up.

[Chief Joseph]

I will probably take a break from posting any sensitive info regarding mines for now, but might at a later date.

[Jake]

Sorry to hear that. Any subject will bring different opinions from people. You shouldn't let that stop you from posting. I think the vast majority of your post here is appreciated. You can't satisfy everyone.

[Jimbo]

More please, so many to see.