Laying Line in a Formerly Abandoned Mine

[twaldo]

Tim, Bonne Terre's set up for tourists, you have to know someone to get a "cave dive" there.

Safe diving,

Rich

My point was.... why isn't Bonne Terre considered unsafe.... they are both mines yet Bonne Terre is safe enough to have tourists and this mine in Arizona is considered out right dangerous.

[rblackburn]

My point was.... why isn't Bonne Terre considered unsafe.... they are both mines yet Bonne Terre is safe enough to have tourists and this mine in Arizona is considered out right dangerous.

I may be wrong, but as I recall Bonne Terre is a mine that is not completely flooded, airspace above divers.

[FW]

I may be wrong, but as I recall Bonne Terre is a mine that is not completely flooded, airspace above divers.

True, and it has lights strung over the water.

[twaldo]

True, and it has lights strung over the water.

Well.... both of those explanations pretty much cover it... I'm guessing geology (type of rock) probably plays into it as well.....

[patpicos]

and tunnels in Bonne Terre and massive and not supported by rickedy setup...

[JE]

Geologically, Washington pretty much sucks for underground diving. We have almost no limestone at all and our mineral deposits actually diminish as you descend unlike in drier more sedimentary regions (a consequence of the geology). So most mines weren't dug very deep. That said I have managed to dive four different mines here. There are a few more which are on inaccessible private land or I suspect have serious water quality issues. They're really cold and generally pretty short penetrations. Good luck on your "claim", sounds like a good time - I wish we had something that substantial that hadn't been patented here.

I spent almost one year in Portland and the surrounding Washington environments & enjoyed some great times with the NSS Grotto from Oregon City. Most memorabile is the week end spent under the flanks of St. Helen's exploring Little Red River Cave, which is gated and controlled by the NSS. This is nearly an all day trek crawling and climbing black lava walls and floors, finally ending in a tiny little lake at the bottom. No more than 5" deep. I cannot recall how long this cave was, but it took us nearly 8 hours to reach the lake at the bottom. This was a time when storys were told around a camp fire, and the good company we shared. Truelly, this was one of my most enjoyable trips into our world of the underground. a year after this trip, St Helen's blew her top off the lid ! Little Red River survived this volcano, so I've been told. It is only accessable by NSS members and must be led by a qualifed guide ! Google this for more info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHaAPpW-fqE
http://www.oregongrotto.com/washingtoncaves.shtml
http://www.farnellfamily.com/newslet...ed-river-cave/