Tungsten Mining.
For more information on the tungsten mining in the area, check out earth cache Tungsten mine, which is on the route of the Tungsten Mining caches.
This is the first of a set of four caches: GC48Q6J, GC48Q6K, GC48Q6M and this one. But as usual minerals do not come alone. Where tungsten is found, other minerals are usually found as well. On the first page of the logbook of each cache a bonus element is written, you need this information to hunt the bonus cache: GC49EXF.
Attached to this listing is a series of waypoints, all pointing out different parts of the Needle Hill mines. This includes ruins of the miner's quarters, a large open pit mine, the entrances to various tunnels, and a collection of both open and underground mines that were probably unlicensed operations. One of the four caches is hidden above ground, the other three are hidden in abandoned mines. When you find one of them, the log book will tell you which one you actually found. The log book also contains a number for the bonus cache, so do take note!
To find them all, you will just have to visit the various mines, and search them. And just like when prospecting minerals, you never know what you will find. You never know if you will find something even, just like this set of caches. To make it a little easier on you, there are also four descriptions included. When you reach the correct location, the applicable description should become obvious. The number of waypoints is long, you will have a hard time visiting all in a single day - especially as you really should take the time to explore those tunnels, and think about how it would have been to work there.
Mind that these mines are regularly visited by curious people who carefully explore the place, so leave no obvious geopiles in those mines as they will attract attention, and may result in caches disappearing. Of course you are also highly recommended to explore the tunnels further, it is a really interesting place. Try to imagine how it was for the people working in here!
Many of these mines have multiple levels, however as there are no ladders in place (the ones that you may see are totally unsafe, and probably collapse if you blow too hard) so mostly you're stuck to the level of the adit. Trying to climb up along a wall is dangerous as well due to the many loose rocks.
The mine stopped work in 1967, since then no maintenance work has been done. Parts are flooded, there are deep trenches without fences around them, and loose rocks everywhere. Be reminded that you enter them at your own risk. If you don't like that, don't go.
Before you set off.
Be well prepared. This is not an easy task, especially the terrain is tough - that T4 rating is there for a reason. Not all of these mine entrances are easy to reach, several are on a steep hillside well off the trail, and may come with a large field of discarded rocks below their entrance. Wear proper shoes, know your ability, and remember that your well-being is far more important than a smiley.
The mines themselves have been abandoned many decades ago, and are subject to flooding and cave-ins. The tunnels are also narrow and low, so mind your head. Wear clothes that you don't mind making wet and muddy, because you will get dirty for sure, and possibly wet. A hard hat (safety helmet) is a must - get one at your local hardware store, they're cheap, mine was just $28 and saved me from some major head injuries.
Check the weather forecast, do not go in wet weather as everything gets that much more slippery.
What to bring.
- All the waypoints that belong to this cache, and the spoiler photos (an app like C:Geo can download the whole shebang in one go).
- A powerful torch. Those tunnels are pitch dark.
- A friend or two. You're strongly advised not to go alone on an adventure like this. Or at the very least tell someone where you're heading.
- The cache descriptions - this page.
- Sufficient food and water.
- A hard hat. You really don't want a headache (or worse).
- A recent copy of OpenStreetMap - the trails leading to the various adits are marked.
The caches.
Four caches are hidden, and to help you find them hereby are a few more clues on their whereabouts. Note that the three underground caches are deep inside the tunnels.
- I am above ground, at one of the waypoints of an above-ground feature. Hidden under some stones in a corner.
- One adit is inaccessible: you'll sink knee deep in sticky, sucking mud. Go one higher (i.e. if you sink deep in the mud in Adit 5, it's in Adit 6). You can find me right next to the dam without pool under some loose rocks.
- My entrance blows! I am in the first tunnel to the left, at the end of the tracks, hiding under some stones.
- You can find me in the adit that is one or two lower than the wettest adit (i.e. if Adit 5 has enough water to swim in, it's in Adit 3 or 4). Make your way though the ankle-deep mud, then turn right at the small but very deep pool (don't fall in!) and soon you'll see a debris-filled tunnel to your left. I'm hiding under some loose rocks.
The caches are 300 ml lock 'n lock type containers, besides a log book they also contain a small bag of rice, this is to keep the contents dry. Please don't remove it. Bring your own pen. Please re-hide the cache well after you found it to prevent it from being muggled (those tunnels are visited regularly by muggles!)
Safety first!
This section is not to spoil your fun, on the contrary. Taking some precautions go a long way to prevent injury or worse, and now that would spoil the fun badly. Mines are a dangerous place, abandoned mines maybe even more so.
Make sure you are an experienced hiker and climber, some scrambling is to be done. Know your ability, do not push yourself to do "just one more" when you're tired and it's running late - just come back another time.
Wear appropriate clothes. Wear long pants to protect your knees when crawling through a small entrance. Wear a hard hat to protect your head - the tunnels are quite low, and have some pointy rocks sticking out from the ceiling that are really easy to miss. Consider wearing gloves to protect your hands.
Bring a powerful torch, preferably with fresh batteries. Bring a second torch in case the first one breaks down, so at least you don't have to feel your way out.
Do not go in bad weather. Flash floods in those mines are unlikely, but if the water level suddenly rises there is nowhere for you to go.