Frisco, Co: Royal Mtn + the 10 Mile Range/The Solomon Mines

[JE]

I'm wondering if there is any interest here in organizing an expedition to Summit County, Colorado to explore the Solomon Silver Mine Shafts above Frisco, Co. -? Just curious what kind of response could be generated. It can be pretty much stated, that this is 'new' territory with some genuine technical issues:
1. High altitude {10,500'}
2. Cold water {37 degrees F..plus}{but no colder}
3. Access: Difficult at best
On the pro-dives side, is the fact that these tunnels are absolutely clear, {but very easily stirred up. Numerous equipment still lay as they were left when the shafts began filling with spring water back in the 1800's. Silver-? Probably a lot.
Would I make the dive here-? If I felt comfortable with the timbers & my dry suit keeping me warm enough, along with plenty of Hot Chocolate & warm soups or food near-by. Could it be done-? Absolutely-!
Something to think about. I grew up out there-!

JE 8)

[Kelly Jessop]

I go to this area at twice a year and it is an interesting proposal. Have you had a chance to see the mine area and the roads leading to it? I've done some sight seeing down mining roads,and they can turn ugly in a hurry. Does this mine still retain ownership by somebody or will a permit be required?

[JE]

I go to this area at twice a year and it is an interesting proposal. Have you had a chance to see the mine area and the roads leading to it? I've done some sight seeing down mining roads,and they can turn ugly in a hurry. Does this mine still retain ownership by somebody or will a permit be required?

http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/500/fall1.jpg

Kelly, you have to hike{climb} up to the entrances, which is no easy task. You can easily spot the entrances from the 'tailings' below the mine shaft entrances. I-70 runs close by, but but the nearest access is a bike path next to 10 Mile Creek. The last time I looked at it was in the spring of 1990, & it hadn't changed much at all. There are no other roads leading to it, & unless you are a hiker or climber you will never even know that it exists-! As far as ownership; it may belong to the county, or it may still be corporately owned. I don't honestly know. To look inside & see the colbalt blueish/green water filled passages is awesome to say the least.


Jack

[Webmaster]

Do you have any idea of the layout of the mine? Some of them immediately go deep, compund that with the altitude and you might not get to see much.

[JE]

Do you have any idea of the layout of the mine? Some of them immediately go deep, compund that with the altitude and you might not get to see much.

At one point, I researched some of the mines mentioned here in the local Summit County Mining Archives in their local libaries, & have a fair idea of what they were doing. I think that more details & schematics could be obtained thru the Colorado School of Mines in either Boulder or Golden, Co.
They always intrigued me, but when-ever I went out there I ended up usually just hiking around to see what I could find. There are many flooded mine shafts in various parts of the Rockies, and I only know about these in Summit County. So, basically, I know where they are at. I belonged to the County's Fire & Rescue rapid Response Dive Team up there, but I don't think they ever knew of my fixation with caves & cave diving. Just trying to cross over some un-covered dreams here. It's always fun to look back at places we've been in life, & maybe someday, somehow go back there to take a 2nd 'look-see-!

Jack

[MikeH]

Due to the elevation, dive times as compared to sea level would be almost cut in half to get the same deco time....but, I'd be game to give it a try if it could be worked out logistically. I spend a fair amount of time in Colorado while at work.....mostly in the Denver, Aspen, and Telluride areas...

What part of Colorado is Summit County in? Give me nearby cities as a point of reference.

Have these mines been dove/explored, or are they still virgin? I can't imagine there are many cave divers up that way....but if there are even a few of the adventurous type, I bet almost everyplace accessible like this has been dove, and some info is to be had.

Mike

[normblitch]

Due to the elevation, dive times as compared to sea level would be almost cut in half to get the same deco time....but, I'd be game to give it a try if it could be worked out logistically. I spend a fair amount of time in Colorado while at work.....mostly in the Denver, Aspen, and Telluride areas...

What part of Colorado is Summit County in? Give me nearby cities as a point of reference.

Have these mines been dove/explored, or are they still virgin? I can't imagine there are many cave divers up that way....but if there are even a few of the adventurous type, I bet almost everyplace accessible like this has been dove, and some info is to be had.

Mike

Breckenridge, AFAIR...

Norm

[JE]

Due to the elevation, dive times as compared to sea level would be almost cut in half to get the same deco time....but, I'd be game to give it a try if it could be worked out logistically. I spend a fair amount of time in Colorado while at work.....mostly in the Denver, Aspen, and Telluride areas...

What part of Colorado is Summit County in? Give me nearby cities as a point of reference.

Have these mines been dove/explored, or are they still virgin? I can't imagine there are many cave divers up that way....but if there are even a few of the adventurous type, I bet almost everyplace accessible like this has been dove, and some info is to be had.

Mike

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Summit County is 72 miles due west of Denver, between Leadville & Dillon Valley. I cannot answer your question as to whether they've been dove or not. At the time I lived up there, I had maybe three experienced open water divers living within the proximity of said area, & I don't think they were at all interested in diving them. There are local NSS grottos in the Denver/Colorado Springs & Boulder area, that may have cave divers registered, but again, I don't personally know who they aree & where they've been. These mines are not all that accesable, due to the location of them. To have to haul cave gear up the side of a mountain at an elevation of over 10.000 feet is in itself a difficult task. There are no roads or catwalks to utilize, & the nearest access is a bike path next to 10 mile creek at the botttom of the mining talings. I know that the local fire houses have compressed gases on site, & that may be a starting point. What is interesting here, are the immense structures & tunnels that stretch a great length along the middle sides of this mountain range, and the fact that they are filled with spring water or runnoff from snow melt. Most certainly this would be an advanced exploration into un-charted territories-!

J.

[Dave]

Most certainly this would be an advanced exploration into un-charted territories-!

Uncharted with the exception of the several hundred people who built, worked, mapped and maintained it all those years ago.

Dave

P.S.Diving old coal mines is very popular with cavedivers in West Australia, We have several hundred miles of passage that has yet to be "re-explored". Yours looks like fun, good luck!

[Kelly Jessop]

Due to the elevation, dive times as compared to sea level would be almost cut in half to get the same deco time....but, I'd be game to give it a try if it could be worked out logistically. I spend a fair amount of time in Colorado while at work.....mostly in the Denver, Aspen, and Telluride areas...


Have these mines been dove/explored, or are they still virgin? I can't imagine there are many cave divers up that way....but if there are even a few of the adventurous type, I bet almost everyplace accessible like this has been dove, and some info is to be had.

Mike

Is this near Copper mountain? Would access by snowmobile be better closer to winter?

************************************************** ***********
Summit County is 72 miles due west of Denver, between Leadville & Dillon Valley. I cannot answer your question as to whether they've been dove or not. At the time I lived up there, I had maybe three experienced open water divers living within the proximity of said area, & I don't think they were at all interested in diving them. There are local NSS grottos in the Denver/Colorado Springs & Boulder area, that may have cave divers registered, but again, I don't personally know who they aree & where they've been. These mines are not all that accesable, due to the location of them. To have to haul cave gear up the side of a mountain at an elevation of over 10.000 feet is in itself a difficult task. There are no roads or catwalks to utilize, & the nearest access is a bike path next to 10 mile creek at the botttom of the mining talings. I know that the local fire houses have compressed gases on site, & that may be a starting point. What is interesting here, are the immense structures & tunnels that stretch a great length along the middle sides of this mountain range, and the fact that they are filled with spring water or runnoff from snow melt. Most certainly this would be an advanced exploration into un-charted territories-!

J.

Is this near Copper mountain? Would access by snowmobile be better closer to winter?