I Hiked 18 Hours to Find a Gold Mine With $2 Billion Still Inside

Deep in the Inyo Mountains, I was told about an old gold mine, first established in the 1870s and later worked again in the 1970s, that supposedly still has a few billion dollars worth of gold in it. It’s a historic mine, one established by William Hunter, one of the major characters in the early history of Cerro Gordo, the abandoned mining town where I live. Getting there is another story. The mine sits deep in some of the most unforgiving terrain in the United States, requiring a brutal hike thousands of feet down into the mountains, and then all the way back out again. As I dug deeper into the history, I started finding even more connections to my current life: people I know, stories I’d heard for years, and events I had never fully connected before. What followed was an 18-hour hike through steep, loose terrain into one of the most inaccessible parts of the Inyo Mountains. Along the way, I found forgotten mine workings, the remains of a deadly helicopter crash, and a much deeper connection between this place, Cerro Gordo, and the people who spent their lives exploring these mountains. LMNT keeps my hydrated through all these crazy adventures. And they're giving you a FREE 8-count sample pack with any purchase. Check out https://drinklmnt.com/Brent for the deal. == You can follow my journey on Instagram:   / brentwunderwood   Cerro Gordo T-Shirts and more: https://store.cerrogordomines.com/ Mailing Address: PO Box 490, Lone Pine, CA 93545 I have also set up a Patreon for those interested in more content and supporting me and the town!   / ghosttownliving   THANK YOU!