He spent years carving a massive hole into a mountain — and then vanished. 🏔️⛏️
Every day, he worked alone. No one knew why. People thought he was crazy. Then one day… he disappeared without a trace. Years later, a group of brave explorers went inside — and what they found was unbelievable. Read the full story in the article below. 👇🕯️
Deep in the Mojave Desert, among the rugged El Paso Mountains, lies an unusual sight—a tunnel carved into solid rock. The origins of this strange passage date back to the early 20th century, with a determined and eccentric man named William Henry Schmidt behind its creation.
Schmidt began his ambitious excavation in 1902, astonishing locals with his relentless efforts. Armed with only basic tools and explosives, he chipped away at the mountain every single day. He worked tirelessly, using a pickaxe and shovel for most of the digging, resorting to dynamite when faced with particularly tough sections. His unwavering dedication earned him the nicknames “the donkey” and “the mole man.” Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, he hauled away tons of rock, refusing to stop despite the grueling conditions.
Curious onlookers frequently asked the same question: “Why?” But Schmidt never provided a clear answer. Sometimes, he remained silent; other times, he vaguely claimed that the tunnel was a shortcut. To where? No one ever knew.
He paid no attention to safety, pushing forward recklessly. Accidents were common, and injuries didn’t deter him. Despite his wounds, he always returned to his tunnel. His appearance became more and more unkempt—he grew thin and scruffy, wearing the same worn-out clothes and shoes. Somehow, though, he always managed to acquire more explosives and tools, even though they were expensive.
Then, one day, Schmidt simply vanished. The tunnel remained open, and some adventurous souls attempted to explore it. However, they quickly turned back, finding the darkness and instability inside too dangerous to navigate.
Years later, researchers finally ventured deep into the passage and discovered that Schmidt had tunneled an astonishing 2.087 kilometers into the mountain. His fate remained a mystery.
Rumors spread that he had been searching for gold, and during an expedition, traces of pyrite—a mineral often found near gold deposits—were uncovered within the tunnel. But whether Schmidt ever struck it rich, no one knows. His body was never found, and his secret disappeared with him.
