iN VIDEO: Cave explorers look inside abandoned copper mine in Osoyoos

What looks like a hole in a mountain in Osoyoos is the entrance to an abandoned mine with a long history, and two cave explorers recently documented their tour inside.

Armed with flashlights and donning safety gear, Hope residents Adam Zackle and his wife Chyanne Tynan headed up a long, steep hill to the Dividend-Lakeview Mine entrance in late September.

With a lot of effort, they managed to squeeze through a metal grill covering the opening.

“It’s way bigger inside than I thought it would be,” Zackle said. “One shaft in there is used as a bat habitat.”

Once inside they followed along dark tunnels where they found a screened off pit, a ladder, piles of rock and a sleeping bat.

The Dividend-Lakeview Mine is one of numerous mines the couple has explored in BC over the years and they document their adventures on two YouTube channels. Originally from Ontario, the pair moved to B.C. a decade ago. Growing up they heard stories about old miners but there weren’t mines to explore where they lived.

“We found so many when we got here and fell in love with exploring them, researching and learning their histories,” Zackle said. “It’s hard to describe, there is something exciting knowing a mountain is on top of you. There’s a musty, damp smell we miss when we don’t get out exploring for awhile.”

The pair wear caving helmets with good quality head lamps and carry a first aid kit, a gas monitor to detect harmful gas and multiple handheld flashlights when spelunking.

“Mines are usually a lot cooler than the outside so depending on how deep you get you’d be surprised how fast your camera equipment and flashlights will die because it’s a lot colder,” Zackle said.

The couple is careful not disturb wildlife or move any materials they find while exploring.

“When we go to a mine people will often think we’re trespassing but 99% of the time mine owners only own the material rights,” Zackle said. “You can’t pick up a pebble, but as long as the mine isn’t active and you don’t take anything, you can come and go as you please.”

The Dividend-Lakeview mine is located on the eastern slope of Kruger Mountain a couple of kilometres southwest of Osoyoos. First claimed in 1900, the ownership of the mine changed hands numerous times over the decades, according to the provincial government.

The first year of exploration work had poor results, and in 1908 a crosscut tunnel was driven 450 feet in but no ore was found. The mine was operated again between 1912 and 1915 before it sat empty until 1930 when a 30 stamp mill, which is a frame with heavy vertical stamps used to crush ore, was put in for two years.

In the 1930, a 50-ton mill and a 125-ton cyanide plant was installed on the property. The mine closed in 1939 and the owners filed for bankruptcy in 1941.

From 1907-1939, 122,636 tons of ore were milled at this property. From this ore 16,217 ounces of gold, 2,805 ounces of silver, 161,716 pounds of copper, 156 pounds of lead and 156 pounds of zinc were recovered.