Area "Krížnica" - mines of Pernek

If I roam around mountain pass Pezinska baba, I want to look to the neighbors to the old Pernek's mines in the area "Krížnica".

The mining boom in Pernek deserved businessman Joseph Entzler. He, as in Pezinku, even here after 1773 triggered a wave of interest of mining.

At the end of the 18th century in the area "Jahodnisko" (today "Krížnica") intensively mined. Early 19th century, in addition to antimony began to reap the pyrite.

The largest mining boom have recorded in the second half of the 19th century, between 1855 and 1884. During this period pyrite ore has collected to factory of sulfuric acid on "Cajla" (today part of Pezinok)

After closing this factory, and import cheaper pyrites from Spain, came the decline of pyrite mines.

The last stage of expansion of the mines occurred in the early 20th century. During World War I. the extraction of antimony and pyrite been as a strategic raw material, supported of the monarchy. Therefore, in 1917 with the help of prisoners of war was built 7.5 km long narrow gauge railway to transport ore from the "Krížnica" area to the rail station in village Pernek.

After the great war, mining ceases to have meaning, and because of the crisis was stopped. Operation of railways also stopped, and railway was gradually dismantled.
Today it is preserved railroad embankment, where is tourist path with yellow mark.

So I said I go. The bus from the railway station on Pezinok on Saturday goes about 8:10. I am exited from the bus on mountain pass "Pezinska baba", and I chose to go by the red mark to hill "Čmelek".

Military relay station on hill "Čmelek"

From there I continued along the red trail to the saddle "Pod Javorinou", where the red crosses the yellow mark. I continued along the yellow in the direction of Pernecké bane". 

Already after a while I see a large sinkhole of adit George. On the right side of the path I see many pings. The Sidewalk brought me to the first major heap at George adit.  I remained standing and directly opposite to me at  the slope to see a heap of adit Stanislav :-)

Heap of Stanislav adit, digged by minerals pickers

Over the heap is visible introductory ditch of adit.

Introductory ditch of adit Stanislav

I returned back to the yellow mark and continued there. After a few meters I see on the other side of the stream a several heaps. Thus, I went to the other side of stream and I ran to the first heap. There I noticed the open adit collar. I suppose it is a adit John.

Open adit collar of John.

The sun is interesting illuminating to the adit collar, so it was impossible to ignore. I put on my equipment and went into the adit. At the bottom was too much mud.

Inside of adit John

I am continuing, and the mud is still more. Tunnel is divided. Right part after a few meters ends, and the left continues.

Adit John, Left part of tunnel

Example of caving in adit

Because in the adit is mud over the boots, I not to proceed further.
And  in view of the fact that in one part of the tunnel is a shaft down to the lower deck, and I have not such a equipment for a survey.

I climbed out of the adit, and walked out on the heap, that are above it.
To the right of ramblers cabin is open shaft. Falling into the shaft is preventing only flimsy curry network.

Open shaft into adit Paul

Look into shaft

Immediately behind rumblers cabin,  is next  open adit. According to the position I judge that it is old Barbora.

adit collar old Barbora

Adit immediately after entry is divided into two corridors, in both is caving.

Above the adit in the hillside is the visible signs of collapse.

Sign of collapse.

Long while I examine the surroundings, I found the adit collar "Zubau". 
The mouth of adit is backfilled,  and from it is flowing out the mine water.

Adit collar "Zubau"

After the embankment for mining trucks I am continue further towards the Pernek. Right next to the embankment is adit V-385. The adit is after about 20m caving  and tunnel is flooded. In adit I feel a strong sulfur smell.

Flooded adit V-385 

Above the adit is a clear mark of collapse.

Speech of the collapse.

After I came out of the adit, I noticed an introductory ditch of adit Paul, who was only 10 meters down. From the embankment for mining trucks where I stood, I saw the remains of the narrow gauge railway along to me. So probably from mining carts  ores was sprinkled down into rail cars.

I gently descended down, and I looked introductory ditch and the adit collar of Paul.

Backfilled adit collar Paul

The escaping mining water from adit Paul

From that point I continuing by the yellow mark. Comfortable path runs by the embankment narrow gauge railway, who actually bypasses the hill "Krížnica".

Embankment of narrow gauge railway  to the "Pernek" village.

When the railway veered towards to Pernek, so I went off the trail and started to climb the valley on the other side hill "Krížnica". After about a kilometer I begin to finding the "Furtská" adit.

Forest path is diverted from the stream, near which adit should be, so I was continuing along the stream. Fortunately to each adit had to lead a access road, so I am looking for something as road.

After a while I find an old road for the waggon, so I continue by road. And indeed the road ends at small heaps. Against the small heaps, I noticed slightly noticeable adit collar.

"Furtská" adit

Then I turned around, and went back, to I again got the yellow mark. I went back to the railway embankment in a nice bend.

Curved railway embankment

Again I went a bit the yellow mark. But only some 200-300 m. In the valley below the railway embankment should be Johanna adit. Below me is a steep rocky cliff, so I traversed down. Finally I sliding down to the asphalt road. 

Backfilled adit I found after a moment.

Backfilled adit collar Johanna

But if I wanted to catch the bus home, so I had to go quickly. Run as the last time I truly didn't want to. By the asphalt road, trip down to "Pernek" is pretty quickly.

Time was finally good, so the one I managed to one beer. 

Next time I'll try find out, where would located the Nicholas adit near the Pernek village.