Feet First 2013-02-15

[Fairportfan]

Oh, dear.

It looks as if the cart in which our ladies were just launched upwards, went further and landed harder than we might have expected.

I guess you did use enough dynamite there, Butch... er, I mean Pablo.

You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!

I said that yesterday.

[lake_wrangler]

Is it safe to say that they've reached (and passed) the point of no return?

At the very least, I don't think they'll be going back to the library the way they came...

[zachariah]

I just wonder why the tunnel exits where it did. Who was determined enough to dig it into the side of a mountain at that location. Just getting there would be a huge job and the logistics a nightmare. There is no sign of a road or trail leading to it either. Prospectors very, very seldom check out locations like that for tunnels.

The only justification for the tunnel and how it ends is that it was dug for ventilation, and the spoil was dumped somewhere much further downhill.
This could be justified if the mine was particularly deep and/or noxious, with the tunnel acting as a chimney and connected to an overhead duct that runs to the mine face.
At first I thought there couldn't be a justification for such an operation until I remembered my uncle Chad admitted to being part of a high-grading gang on federal land in that part of the country during the Depression.

Very nice point. It would also explain the destruct set up. Once the illegal mining was finished they would have wanted to remove evidence of their act. The Fed took a very dim view of that at any time. So once they had all the high grade out just make the tunnel go poof. They probably would have been near the end of the operation and getting ready to do that and something prevented them from doing it.
Even today you will get in very big trouble mining on federal land without a permit. People still prospect but once they find something it is a job for lawyers to process the paperwork to get the permit. It is possible to pan for gold just about anywhere and they'll ignore it though. I used to carry a pan when I was in the back country and tried it for fun now and then. You can usually find a trace of color just about anywhere. Just not enough to keep looking. lol.

[Lee M]

Oh, dear.

It looks as if the cart in which our ladies were just launched upwards, went further and landed harder than we might have expected.

I guess you did use enough dynamite there, Butch... er, I mean Pablo.

You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!

I said that yesterday.

Well, at least we both have good taste in movies.

[Fairportfan]

Is it safe to say that they've reached (and passed) the point of no return?

...and are rapidly approaching apogee, i'd say.

[Geezer]

There is no cliff-hanger for this Friday strip. Oh no - the cliff was left far behind...

[DilyV]

There is no cliff-hanger for this Friday strip. Oh no - the cliff was left far behind...

On the Contrary... The cliff hung out... its Kath and Atsali who went above and beyond... literally!!!

[MerchManDan]

I hope Katherine brought her celphone; she's deep in Coyote & Roadrunner country.

"We can't stop here!! This is BAT COUNTRY!!"