Barton Hill Mine, Essex County, New York

July 2020

Gate Type: BASIC

One of the most important hibernacula in the northeastern United States, this huge abandoned iron mine had many of its entrances previously secured by bat gates. However, the lowest and coldest, which opened immediately to a steep slope dropping more than 100 feet to icy water, was deemed too large and difficult. There was a previous attempt to backfill this entrance, but that closure failed, creating a huge safety hazard for the adjacent community. But the CaveGators team proved that it could be done! All photos © Jim Kennedy.

The vast amount of frigid mine air turns to fog as it hits the warm, humid summer air outside.
Cold and fog plagued our work areas on most days.
Our first task was to create a safe trail down the steep rubble slope to the mine entrance.
We wore winter coats and even snowmobile suits to keep warm!
The next task involved removing dead logs, old pipes, and several meters of ice that accumulated in the entrance.
The steel arrived, and we were ready to move into the second phase of the project: building the bat gate.
Enough ice was finally removed that we could lay down the skirting and sill, and start attaching columns.
We had two welders, and they had to keep swapping out as their fingers got numb from the cold.
A good shot of the steep and frozen. yet unstable, backfill slope.
The ever-present cold mine air chilled even our cutter on the surface.
Amy attaches hangers to a column.
Eric welds stiffeners into a horizontal bar.
We used planks for scaffolding as the height increased.
A rare break in the clouds illuminates the wall of ice inside the mine.
Team photo with the completed gate.