The Brownstone Mine main portal has been sealed by the USFS. You might be able to enter through a small portal at a lower elevation just off the trail, near one of the switch-backs, but I don't advise it. There is also an old exploration edit that starts near the Pine Creek mine main portal, which extends all the way under the primary work area of the Brown Stone mine, going under Pine Creek, but I don't know its status (a raise-bore was put up near the end of said adit while I was still working there). A former miner at the Pine Creek operation went into the Brownstone Mine last year by that abandoned adit.

Several local climbers have been putting up new routes on the wall to the West of the Brownstone portal. There is a fixed rope hanging in the area. Still secret information...

I'm not sure of the way into the Pine Creek mine to which you refer. The 8100 level (main portal), 1500 level, and A, B, and C portals were closed years ago. There is one portal, for rail cars, near the old mine engineering office, but that adit only goes in a couple of hundred yards or so. The ventilation shafts on top of Wheeler Ridge have either been blasted shut or have collapsed. I received this information from former Pine Creek engineers and geologists, because being a former employee up there I've always wanted to see inside the mine again. There is no longer water of any noticable amount coming our of the 8100 level portal, which is an indication of interior man-made or natural collapse of the adits.

Remember that the Pine Creek and Brownstone mines are private property - trespassing arrest hazard. They don't appreciate casual visitors. I've re-visited the Pine Creek site several times in recent years, but always have to explain that I am a former employee (but promise not to abuse my retiree status).

I'm not doubting your report, but if you have found a way into the Pine Creek mine, where is it? It could be interesting, but risky fun! There is always a danger of "getting slabbed"; miners' slang for being flattened by falling rock...

Last edited by Bob West; 11/10/12 08:10 PM.