Park City Record

02-2006

The Park City Record captured a bit of a recent letter sent out and printed it, I believe there is probably a bit more interest in preservation in that area due to the proximity of mines and the historical pride of the residents. The link to the article is here:

http://www.parkrecord.com/letters/ci_3485862 

And the full transcript is below:

Exploring ghost towns and mines Editor: I was recently made aware of an article regarding abandoned mines in Utah. I'm disturbed at the lack of research into the subject. Also, it was a very one-sided article that did not portray accurate information. In June 2005, Mark Mesch (OGM) was credited with the following quote: "Since 1985 there have been five deaths and numerous injuries in abandoned mines in Utah." Five deaths in 20 years? I can't think of any outdoor activity that has a lower fatality rate, except maybe flyfishing. More people were killed in avalanches in 2004 alone, than in 20 years of exploring abandoned mines, but no avalanche areas have been closed. Rock climbing fatalities in 2003 were higher than the 20-year total of abandoned mine related deaths. To date we have yet to destroy any mountains due to the hazard they pose. Mines and ghost towns are an integral part of the history of the west and of Utah in particular. Without the mines, an estimated 90 percent of the backcountry trails and roads would not exist. Gold Rush Expeditions fields thousands of e-mails each year from people planning vacations to Utah who want to visit old mines and ghost towns. I don't think anyone can deny the excitement that is felt when finding an old mine or ghost town. Yet each year, Utah Oil, Gas and Mining seeks to close more sites. Each mine that is "reclaimed" is taking tourist revenue from Utah. If the current trend continues, the ghost towns and mines will be gone and with it -- a significant chunk of tourist revenue. The fact is that mines are no more dangerous than any other outdoor attraction, and as numbers show, mining is the least dangerous of ANY outdoor activity. As with any hobby or sport, common sense is key. Gold Rush Expeditions documents many historic sites and shares our findings with the public. Our Web site, www.goldrushexpeditions.com , receives over 12,000 hits monthly, testament to the interest in this field. Sincerely, Corey Shuman Gold Rush Expeditions