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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Very good job on the video……..Thanks…………………JB…………
Did you have to park along Baylor road and walk to Top Hut?
No gold
Amazing from Alamo
👍 Thanks for taking us along
Cool video. Been up there on my jeep
I love this. This is one of my favorite places in the Organs.
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?
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!
I think it was a disposable plastic cigar tube near the end on the ground.
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.
Haha Haha is that a penis hopper
Is there a site or directions to these mines? I live in Las Cruces and would like to do some exploring
I thought this was called the Ruby mine?
This is an AMAZING video!!! Thanks for sharing!
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.
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.
My dad was climbing in those with his NMSU buddies in the early 60’s