The Vulture mine shafts

All this stuff is secured per AZ law. Also there are toursits now and then wandering by. Not to mention the very nice propriotors on ATV's watching over everything.

However.

This is the main shaft. Its 2 shafts wide. Goes at least 500 feet down to many levels. This is inclined at about 40 degrees down.

From inside looking out

We obviously could not explore this mine. Maybe one day. Too well guarded, too many people.

BUT where there is one hole there must be many more.. So we started exploring WAY off the paths.

HUGE hole in the ground that is very deep.

There was a famous collapse of the mine where a number of miners were buried trying to steal gold. This shot is from the side of where that collapse happened showing some exposed shaft at the same 40 degree incline.

You can barely see the wood structure holding up the roof of the collapsed shaft

Further close inspection revealed complete collapse and no entry into the mine.

Complete collaspe.. Somewhere under there are a number of bodies they never even tried to remove or save because they were stealing gold. They hung 30 people at this mine for stealing.

We did find other shafts... But none were accessible or would have led to the main shafts

This was the best preserved one, but its a full vertical shaft and in sight of the proprietors house.

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AND of course the hanging tree.