This article is a joke! More people die from Trax trains since they have started operation than have died exploring mines in Utah since the turn of the century! Ask any HONEST geologist and he'll tell you that many of the hard rock mines here are some of the safest places to be in... period. I have explored hundreds of mines over the last ten years with out even so much as a close call. Instead we should shut down Trax and get all vehicles off highways.. (112 die in traffic accidents daily) these are the things that endanger the general public, not mines. And just think of the money that Utah could save by closing down the needless DOGM!

Thank god Utah is looking out for me! Please, close all these death traps up as quick as you can!! I went into a mine once and almost got VAPORIZED!! Then on the way out, I got attacked by a bear that was in it, only to get free and then step on some old dynamite which caused me to lose my leg. Then, while hobbling out, I fell through a false floor and on the way down grabbed some timbering to stop myself, but the wood gave way and the ceiling collapsed. As I lay at the bottom of a shallow winze, I cursed Utah for allowing me to go in. Then I slowly succumbed to the bad air. Someone must of heard my prayers though because I woke up in the hospital. My hero, Luci Malin was there. She told me "don't worry, I'll make sure all these death traps are sealed" So I say again, please DOGM, protect me!!

17k mines are only PRESUMED by DOGM to exist in UT. The maps are highly misleading and inaccurate. UT DOGM is the only Western state to assume all 17k mines are a public safety hazard. most states prioritize and distingush between true hazards and history.Utah should embrace and not try to erase mining history. Backfilling mines may keep a handful of bureaucrats cashing paychecks butdestroying these windows into our historic and geologic past is never a wise use of our tax dollars. A mine is a terrible thing to waste. Stop justifying expending tax dollars unwisely. Take an in-depth look into why DOGM wants to erase our mining heritageand refuses to spend anything towards interpreting mining history.

All this nonsense about mines being dangerous is so ridiculous. I've explored thousands of mines in the last 55 years and never gotten a scratch. It is so much fun and a great history of our state. It is sickening to see all the mines and buildings being destroyed because of the ignorance of those in charge of our lands. As the comment before mine says, leave our mines alone, and quit destroying our history!

Mines really are not nearly as dangerous as the people in this story make them out to be. You're more likely to get hurt or die driving a car or drown in a boating accident, and you don't see people closing the freeways or lakes. Leave our mines alone, stop destroying them and let people continue to enjoy the history of our mines. The people the story focuses on that are getting hurt or dying in mines obviously didn't know what they were doing and weren't prepared. If you're properly educated on mine safety and have the proper equipment such as ropes, climbing gear, plenty of flashlights, water, air meters and above all else, education and common sense, you will be safe. Stop only giving one side of the story and stop destroying our history!