Lemons to Lemonade

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

So I did a little prospecting upriver at mineral bar on Sunday. I made the fateful decision to wear basketball shorts instead of the trusty jeans that I normally wear because of the nice weather. Well, talk about a bad choice! On my hike in there's a shortcut that i always take where I have to do a little rock jumping accross the river to avoid going up and over the mountain following the trail. As i took my first step accross..KERPLUNK! I look down and see my phone (Samsung S5 Active) get caught in the current until it got wedged between bedrock and cobbles some 5 feet under water.

So I promptly removed my shirt and shoes and jumped in to retrieve my phone. Thankfully i got it and after drying out yesterday it's working again today. I'm a big sissy when it comes to cold water but surprisingly it really wasn't that bad. It was actually a kind of refreshing way to break up the hike. I've been really interested in sniping but have been reluctant because of my hate for cold water. But after my dip in the north fork yesterday I cant wait for May. I'm going in!!!

 

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[goldenIrishman]

Lol. That's one ad advantage to working in the desert. Don't have to worry, about the kerplunks.!

 

[rodoconnor]

SHR it seems like you chose your online moniker correctly. LOL. I guess we've all been there in one way or another. G ?l

 

[delnorter]

SOHR, get a good snorkel and face mask. Another whole world of prospecting. You're going to love it and find good gold.

Mike

 

[AZADAM]

Sounds like you were more interested in receiving text messages than prospecting.......Good luck

 

[2cmorau]

ther isem a penny on one of them kerplunks

Lol. That's one ad advantage to working in the desert. Don't have to worry, about the kerplunks.!

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Sounds like you were more interested in receiving text messages than prospecting.......Good luck

LOL, i actually despise the texts and calls while I'm out. I bring my phone so that i can track my hikes and so that i can take pictures and video just for you AZADAM

 

[meMiner]

I am surprised your phone survived. Great story!

 

[B Street Blacksmith]

Its an S5 Active, and you had to dry it out to get it to work again?

Do you have an aftermarket back plate on it?

My Active has taken a few spills, to more than 5' depth, and never had a problem. (though I've gotten it out of the water within about a minute)

They are rated at 3' for 30 minutes, but in my experience, it is hardier then that.

(have owned an s5 active since may 2014)

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Its an S5 Active, and you had to dry it out to get it to work again?

Do you have an aftermarket back plate on it?

My Active has taken a few spills, to more than 5' depth, and never had a problem. (though I've gotten it out of the water within about a minute)

They are rated at 3' for 30 minutes, but in my experience, it is hardier then that.

(have owned an s5 active since may 2014)

Yes S5 Active, and no on the aftermarket back plate. I'm not sure what happened but it worked for about 30 minutes after the "Kerplunk" and then shut off until later that day. Even now, it still has condensation on the camera lenses so i cant take pictures... but it seems to be going away slowly but surely. It was only in the water for about a minute. I'm a little disapointed that i had any water issues with it, but at least it's still working lol.

 

[rodoconnor]

Have you tried putting it in a microwave? Sometimes that's helpful. LOL

 

[meMiner]

Take out the battery and put it into a bag of dry rice. If you are lucky, the moisture will migrate from the electronics into the rice.

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Take out the battery and put it into a bag of dry rice. If you are lucky, the moisture will migrate from the electronics into the rice.

Thanks for the advice guys...I'll try the rice and if that doesnt work i might consider the microwave...although that just sounds scary lol..Either way I'll be back out on the river on Friday..looks like it will be a comfortable 72 degrees

 

[Reed Lukens]

You should have put it in rice immediately or as soon as possible, it's now time for a new phone

 

[B Street Blacksmith]

You should have put it in rice immediately or as soon as possible, it's now time for a new phone

Actually, no, the S5 Active is a really durable phone, so if he puts it in rice (to remove the condensation on the lens), his phone will probably be just fine.

 

[Lanny in AB]

Without all of the spills and thrills of river adventures while chasing the gold, the chase would sometimes be far less memorable.

If you can afford it, get a wetsuit and a weight-belt to use until the water's warmer, or if your mountain-fresh water never warms up (like mine never does), the wetsuit, hood, and gloves combo can't be beat.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Aufish]

Well I know what my next phone will be courtesy of this thread

 

[SchoolOfHardRocks]

Thanks for the advice Lanny. Shouldn't be too expensive if i find a used wetsuit...I heard that can be sketchy assuming many people pee in their suits lol but oh well, whatever i gotta do to save a dollar!

 

[Reed Lukens]

Thanks for the advice Lanny. Shouldn't be too expensive if i find a used wetsuit...
I heard that can be sketchy assuming many people pee in their suits lol but oh well, whatever i gotta do to save a dollar!

As long as you come up this way, stop in at Pioneer Mining in Auburn and look real hard at their prospectors wet suit. With regular scuba suits the arms are made to hang down at your sides but with Pioneer's the arm are made to be able to work in front of you. This wet suit is made for mining. I called them since they don't have them on the website and they want $220 for them new and this is a good deal for a quality suit. I've been buying only these suits from them now for decades because my arms don't ache from having to pull them forward to work like in a scuba wet suit. You flat out just don't have the fatigue to deal with of trying to force a scuba wet suit to move in directions that it wasn't made for.

 

[delnorter]

Good post Reed. Are these prospectors wet suites of a particular brand? One of my sons attends UC Davis. Maybe when I go down to visit I can pop over to Auburn and check them out or I can study up on how they size and maybe order one. Fighting currents and rocks is enough without having to fight a wet-suit as well.

Thanks,
Mike