Washington wilderness hiking poses risks from hidden, abandoned coal mine sites with open shafts.

Hiking in Washington's wilderness this summer may carry a hidden danger: abandoned coal mine sites. The National Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement warns hikers of the risks from these old mine sites with open shafts, posing serious threats to life and limb. The abandoned mines, hidden among lush foliage and beautiful landscapes, are gateways to subterranean dangers that can't be seen until it's too late.