Twenty-five abandoned mines are being closed on the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway for safety reasons.
James Brown with Horizon Environmental Services drills a hole into the adit of a mine near Animas Forks on Cinnamon Pass Road (San Juan County Road 2). A steel grate will be installed to seal the entrance to the mine. The Department of Reclamation, Mining and Safety is closing 25 abandoned mines on the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway between Silverton and Lake City. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
James Brown with Horizon Environmental Services drills a hole into the adit of a mine near Animas Forks on Cinnamon Pass Road (San Juan County Road 2). The mine and others along the Alpine Loop will be closed to keep people out of the dangerous shafts. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jeremy Linch with Horizon Environmental Services welds the frame for a steel grate that will be placed in the opening of an abandoned mine on Cinnamon Pass Road (San Juan County Road 2). Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Department of Reclamation, Mining and Safety is in the process of closing 25 abandoned mines along the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway between Silverton and Lake City. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Neal Matosky, operations manager with Horizon Environmental Services, works to close an abandoned mine on Cinnamon Pass Road (San Juan County Road 2). Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Neal Matosky, left, operations manager, and James Brown, both with Horizon Environmental Services, fit a steel grate into the opening of an abandoned mine. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Neal Matosky, operations manager with Horizon Environmental Services, fits a steel grate into the opening of an abandoned mine on Cinnamon Pass Road (San Juan County Road 2). The grate will still allow bats and other small animals access to the mine shaft. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Department of Reclamation, Mining and Safety is in the process of closing 25 abandoned mines along the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway between Silverton and Lake City. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
