Discussing mine exploration?

[Daymoth]

Netllama and rest of the forum, what are your thoughts and feelings about discussing the exploration of DEVA abandoned mines here in the forum? 

My main concerns are 

1) the NPS very much frowns upon it and

2) i dont want to encourage online an activity that might harm bats


But i think with some ground rules ( not sharing locations, not showing wreckless behaviour, etc) it could be fun to share? 

Thoughts?

[GowerGulch42]

Since exploring mines is *technically* a crime you can be ticketed for, I would urge trepidation. That said, there are quite literally hundreds of websites and reports of DV mine exploration. I doubt anybody has ever been fined for mine exploration in the park.

Whether or not I report on an exploration for mines is usually the same way I consider it for any other sensitive site: is it cool enough to share? If so, will sharing details of the location on this or any other forum endanger what makes it cool? Is sharing without mentioning location-revealing facts doable? If yes, then share away.

I personally have no problem sharing pictures of insides and immediate surroundings freely without mentioning the mine name or location. That's just me, though.

Bats… oh, bats. I can't recall ever finding a colony of bats in or around DV. I don't know the hibernation habits of bats in Death Valley, if they do at all. If they do, then the rule is generally to stay out of the underground November thru April 01 here in the PNW to make sure they hibernate well. If white nose syndrome is your primary concern, look up the decontamination procedures and follow best you can. The Park has resource management staff that may be able to tell you if/where the major bat populations are and what their hibernation patterns are.

[Daymoth]

There are defenetly bats!

At higher elevations the townies are hibernating right now.

Im not concerned about myself affecting them since I know the WNS, hibernation and maternity roosting etiquete well ( i spend a lot of time around them in wildlife conservation volunteering and recreational caving).

But if some idiot goes into a mine because I encouraged it they could just pluck them off the ceiling


Is it actually a crime???? Or just a minor fineable offense like a parking ticket?

[DAW89446]

Bats… oh, bats. I can't recall ever finding a colony of bats in or around DV. I don't know the hibernation habits of bats in Death Valley, if they do at all. If they do, then the rule is generally to stay out of the underground November thru April 01 here in the PNW to make sure they hibernate well.

If I’m understanding you, one spot that I’m aware of is the Eureka Mine at Harrisburg. Townsend bats.

I’ve been inside the mine around 1991, it used to be open back so far, with interpretive signage inside. In the fall, winter and spring, there was a gate that was closed to protect the bats hibernating.

I don’t know the status of the mine these days. The last time I was there was 1999 and the gate was closed even though it was summer.

[netllama]

Netllama and rest of the forum, what are your thoughts and feelings about discussing the exploration of DEVA abandoned mines here in the forum? 

My main concerns are 

1) the NPS very much frowns upon it and

2) i dont want to encourage online an activity that might harm bats


But i think with some ground rules ( not sharing locations, not showing wreckless behaviour, etc) it could be fun to share? 

Thoughts?

I don't have any strong objections, as long as people are responsible with what they're sharing.

[MojaveGeek]

Well the mines are hardly secrets - there's tons of videos on youtube. Personally I find a mine scarier when solo than a rough peak, and don't go in very far, but I sure appreciate the appeal.

[Daymoth]

Cool sounds like I would not have a bunch of angry NPS rangers phoning netllama!

Thanks everybody for the thoughts