Exploring the Abandoned Hippie Rock Mine in the Organ Mountains, Las Cruces, NM
Exploring the Abandoned Hippie Rock Mine in the Organ Mountains, Las Cruces, NM
I do my first rapell down a 100 foot inclined shaft to explore this old abandoned fluorite mine nestled in the Organ Mountains just outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. This mine features two adits (one small, one collapsed), an open stope, underground powder magazine, miner’s cabin, and an inclined shaft that leads to two drift levels. The bottom drift level is home to a near barren underground workshop, grizzly, and over 600 feet of drifting. Now equipped with repelling gear, the limitation of exploring abandoned mines has been broadened! I hope you enjoy!
On a side note, entering this mine can be dangerous without the right equipment. I attempted to repel this mine with only a hand rope 2 years ago only to find out that I couldn’t get out on my own and I had to be assisted out. I understand many explorers have successfully made it in and out of this mine with just a hand rope. I just overestimated my abilities at that time and if I didn’t have someone with me to help, I could have been another statistic for the AML to promote closing more mines.
Don’t do this kind of thing without the proper knowledge, equipment, or experience!
UPDATE: From the gracious information from Headframe Hunters on the slide rails, I dug a little deeper on the history of this mine. The original workings are from the early 1930s. The lower drift and inclined shaft is from a later date. Miners resumed mining for a short period in the early 1970s which explains the more modern features of this mine.
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That rope that you used to get down was my rope. I brought it with me but didn’t want to coil it back up and pack it out. Plus I knew it was still good and people could use it. When I left though I made sure to tie it off inside the portal in case someone walked by they wouldn’t see a rope leading into anywhere, I wanted it to stay hidden. Also I tied it off pretty good I thought in case someone was trusting enough to use it. Cool video though, it is super sketchy to go down there, especially by yourself. I’m not sure if it was my mind playing tricks on me but it seemed like it was harder to breath down in that bottom drift.
Cool video. Been up there on my jeep
My dad lives hear
👍 Thanks for taking us along
Did you have to park along Baylor road and walk to Top Hut?
I thought this was called the Ruby mine?
Is there a site or directions to these mines? I live in Las Cruces and would like to do some exploring
Hi Justin, you did better on that rope than I would’ve done. A nice little man, seeing that grizzly was cool as you don’t see them too often inside a mine. Thanks for sharing, much love. xx🙏💖
Haha Haha is that a penis hopper
This is an AMAZING video!!! Thanks for sharing!
How far down the rope to the bottom? Avalanche, dust storm. Should bring a respirator for this condition.
No gold
I think it was a disposable plastic cigar tube near the end on the ground.
Nice job on the video. Pretty cool and colorful ore vein. Please be careful rappelling and mindful of things like that loose timber before you get below them. I’m glad that your rope didn’t dislodge that when you were below it.
I love this. This is one of my favorite places in the Organs.
At 15:47, those are slide rails running to the face. They can be extended incrementally as the shot is mucked out. Seeing those tells me they were running an overshot mucker. The interesting thing there is that overshot muckers were first sold in 1938. Between that, the spray painted survey markings on the ribs, and the canvas vent bag – this mine was worked after 1933.
Great video Justin! Seems like any mines my side of the woods are usually fluorite or silver. Still, nice minerals to collect for the pretty! Be careful exploring, looking forward to your next video!
Very good job on the video……..Thanks…………………JB…………
This is the coolest thing ever. I love the Las Cruces area, who knew this would be here! What an adventure!
Can you tell me where this is so I can explore it?
IM theere
I just watched another video of this mine on lordmcgrim’s channel from a couple years ago. Were you one of the four guys in that video?
My dad was climbing in those with his NMSU buddies in the early 60’s
Awesome video thank you for sharing!
👍👍😎
My God I love Southern New Mexico and Cruces ❤️❤️
We call that the rock house! My mom used to go walking up there and she showed us it was amazing! She is no longer here anymore cuz of covid. Her name was Carol and my brother’s who also passed away Joey and Sherman. They knew more about those mountains than anyone I thought. It’s gorgeous up there and would live to trace my mom’s steps. She definitely was a hippie to! That mine didn’t have all the huge rocks infront of it, when I was a kid I could look right into it and see inside the mines walls. You could see the purple and green fluorite and I tried taking my rocks down but I was only 8 so they where heavy. Still to this day I am a rock hound. My mother used to live in Organ to, I guess when me and my twin where born. I would love to go back up there.