California Claim site start ups, camp builds and plans.

[Burrows]

Thought a good subject and read would be what The first thing to do when setting up. ( Long term )

 

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[Burrows]

Yes I'm asking because I will be setting up a little site and have plans to make a clearing for a tent and tool shed. Also the thought of securing a site from animals and peoples. Does anyone use metal barrels with lids as stashes. So many questions.

 

[winners58]

well, you can secure a site if its written that way in you PoO or Occupancy permit it has to be reasonably incidental to your mining.

 

[Burrows]

here a setup I like that I seen on a Facebook site from east fork miners.

 

[winners58]

you live in the city and want to make a gold camp on the east fork?
have you seen this video, at the bottom of this page;
Fascinating Documentary Follows A Modern-Day Gold Miner Into L.A.'s Mountains: LAist

 

[Burrows]

Cool read! A the insight in the life of the mountains! Im not from down south. The picture is only the idea of setting up ,I'm in central California actually and will be prospecting a little more north.

 

[63bkpkr]

The bears up NorCal way can really mess with your camp, leave the tent unzipped and keep your food way up in the air on an aircraft quality steel cable that you've made small loops at each end. Typical throw a paracord over a high tree limb and use that to string the cable over the limb. Use a pulley on one end with more paracord to hoist your two bags of food up high, about 12 feet off the ground usually is good enough but of course keep them away from the main tree trunk. With the food safe you can now tend to business as needed. A rope between two trees acts as a ridgeline for a tarp tent though the bugs can get at you but being covered keeps the rain off of you. This makes for a simple camp and gets you going. Best of success...............63bkpkr

 

[russau]

Winners58 the best thing (the guy that is in this video) would have been NOT to make it! What he did is fine with me BUT he brought lots of attention to himself in them LA mtns and the wacoenviromentalists from the city! I wanted to comment there myself but didn't want to hear their Waco crying!

 

[goldenIrishman]

Best advise I can give you is to follow the K.I.S.S. method. Remember that what you bring in.... You've also got to bring out at some point. Keep everything cleaned up while you're there and leave it cleaner than it was when you found it. Do that and the powers that be will have no reason to hassle you.

 

[Burrows]

I will be packing everything in and out but would like to leave a stash of hand tools ( being heavy ) and such but not a mess by all means. I m thinking like a small clearing for my tent setup with a fire ring. Something I can call camp. I like the hanging the food up in the tree idea. What about something like this picture.

 

[Burrows]

 

[Burrows]

I would like something like this tool shed but Iam sure it would be damaged as soon as someone seen it.

 

[Burrows]

What would it take to get something like this up with the proper way and mind.no glass

 

[Tuolumne]

Is this a simple placer claim? Are you moving more than a significant amount if yards, over 1,000?

I thought building structure was a no no....

Any structure would bring the heat from regulators, at least in my area they would think you are a tender for cartel grow site.....

How about a tent and wagon to haul your gear.....

I haven't seen any California claim with new sheds. Only thing close is the ruins from past mining...

 

[Asmbandits]

Ive seen some fairly extensive camps that seem to remain un touched by the USFS, not sure about BLM but I have seen enough in the woods to think that as long as it pertains to mining and can be removed eventually you might be ok. One site Ive seen had a lot of camp and mining gear stashed in tubs, tables and chairs and places for tents. I think the building is where it gets fishy, but I have also seen claims with brand new tool sheds on them as well..

 

[Burrows]

This will be a journey no doubt and I will definitely make sure not to give us miners and prospectors a bad image. Please keep all and any ideas posted as i am looking to make a good site and look forward making something great. And will post pictures as they come. One claim and many years to grow.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

This will be a journey no doubt and I will definitely make sure not to give us miners and prospectors a bad image. Please keep all and any ideas posted as i am looking to make a good site and look forward making something great. And will post pictures as they come. One claim and many years to grow.

Sounds like you are planning on living on your claim part of the year? If this was the 1970's (or your claim was in Alaska) that might fly.

Most people in California do not want to see sheds and shelters scattered all over the public lands.
Remember you have a mining claim - not surface rights. People should still be able to use that piece of ground for hiking, fishing, nature viewing, ect. ect.

There are claims around here where they leave tents/chairs/tables set up on their claim to discourage people from using that piece of public land.

 

[beekbuster]

ive come upon a few claim camps while hunting. theyre just a few things covered under a tarp and branches. highly doubt you can build a structure on public land without a permit. bears can be a problem, and stringing your food up is good measure, but no guarantee. i have seen bears break blue oak limbs down to get acorns. dozens of trees with no branches left! I saw them do it

 

[goldenIrishman]

If I remember correctly, you can't build any type of structure without an approved Plan of Operation. AKA: The dreaded POO. A POO has to state that you will be building temporary structures, what their planned use is etc etc etc and it must be approved by the powers that be. Your best bet is to stick to tents that are easy to set up and take down. I've never heard of a miner being hassled about his tent. When I go out for extended trips, I use a 10' X 20' job that has a ton of room for me and my gear. Although it's a bit of work to set up a tent that size, I can do it up by myself. It has stood up to some strong monsoon storms out here in AridZona with only a few extra guy ropes added.

If you do decide to go with a tent, get the best you can afford! It may cost you more at first, but extra years of use can pay off in the long run. Keep in mind what gear you will be storing in the tent, how much room you need/want for your bunk area and then go a little bigger just in case. Never EVER store food in it! This isn't only for bears, but also ants and other creepy crawlies which can get into any place they want to. Last thing you want is to have them infest your bedroll!!! Take a little time to inspect the area you want to set it up in for ant hills etc and always use a good heavy ground cloth under the tent. A little site prep will go a long way towards making sure you're comfortable for the long haul.