My son Aaron and I took a trip to the (Mesabi) Iron Range in Northeast Minnesota the other day to check out one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, the Hull-Rust Mine near Hibbing. Although I worked on the other end of the range, this was the first time I visited the Hull-Rust.
Seeing the 240 ton production trucks really brought me back. I’d spent a good chunk of my life in one of them, and, in fact, almost lost my life in one.
On a midnight shift back in the 90’s, the catskinner accidentally backed me up under high-voltage power lines, and when I raised the box, night became day as 100,000+ volts coursed through my truck. The windshield and gauges blew out, the tires blew, and after I managed to get out, the whole truck burst into flames. I was ok, but it was a million-dollar loss for the mine.
Standing here today, I must say that we sure dug some big holes in the ground.
I never thought I’d say this, but I do miss it… a little.
–Photos by me
michaeljordahl 
Wow! I’m so glad you lived to tell the tail.
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Me too!
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That’s one heck of a memory, from another life, I guess.
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It seems like it was from another life; I retired when the mine shut down over 20 years ago.
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What an incredible experience! Those trucks are ENORMOUS.
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They really are. At first it’s like driving a house around, but after many years, it seems just like driving a car.
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I have a hard enough time maneuvering a small SUV (lol!).
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Wow! What a story you have to tell. I am glad that you are here to tell it!
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Me too, Susan, and some time i’ll tell the whole story.
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Beautiful pictures and great stories.
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Thank you, Adam!
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thanks for this fascinating historical journey; glad you had a lucky escape from the high voltage incident —
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Yea, it was quite an experience; people from nearby towns said they saw the fireball and heard the tires blow (like giant cannons). Close one, indeed.
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stay safe, Michael —
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Wow, sounds like a very close call to say the least!! Glad you survived!
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Thank you, Janet!
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So glad you didn’t take that potential Exit out of your Life here Michael. You have much to share that enriches us. My son Aaron works for a mining company and my brother retired from one. I’ve only had a quick taste of prospecting and staking a few claims with a friend years ago. I’ve played with a few titles of my poetry collection over the years as ‘Heart Mined’. (spelling correct 😁). I’m sure I’d be rather ‘intimidated’ by the prospect of driving a truck like that. Brave man!
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Back in the day, I sometimes brought my typewriter, and I’d type away as my truck slowly crawled out of the pit. I could write a book on my life in a truck, lol
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✍️💝👏✨
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