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