Well I finally gave in this year and joined

[gldguy1]

So I finally gave in and joined gpaa. I'm a cheap skate so spending money on hobbies unless it's equipment is hard for me to do but with all the claim access even if there is little to no gold in my area provides alittle recreation time for my family and I. Hopefully I get crazy rich off all the gold out there [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji109][emoji12]

 

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[Assembler]

So I finally gave in and joined gpaa. I'm a cheap skate so spending money on hobbies unless it's equipment is hard for me to do but with all the claim access even if there is little to no gold in my area provides alittle recreation time for my family and I. Hopefully I get crazy rich off all the gold out there [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji109][emoji12]

Great for the family. Hope you have fun.

 

[gldguy1]

Great for the family. Hope you have fun.

Thank you, I wasn't sure if joining gpaa would be a good thing but after a couple years now decided to use my "gold prospecting stimulus package" aka tax refund and check it out.

 

[Asmbandits]

It's worth it for sure especialy when starting out. I've found gold at every gpaa claim I've been on, and had some if my best gold on them as well.

 

[BobM]

The next step is join your local chapter of the GPAA, Here in Michigan they are quite active, as well as Ohio, Indiana, We have to work harder since we don't have the luxury of those annoying nuggets polluting our waterways like out west.

Bob M

 

[blackchipjim]

Yes I took the plunge last month mostly because of time and money constraints. After researching maps and open areas in Arizona from my home in Ohio I would still need further research at the county recorders office. It's enough work trying to find out if the claim is reachable when I get out to them

 

[utah mason]

Tax refund... You gave the IRS more money than you needed too, which they held onto and didn't pay you any interest on? ; )
Glad you had some extra cash to join a club, heavy pans.

 

[Arachnofreak]

I'm still thinking about joining, my favorite places are lynx Creek and Rose Quartz Creek and they are so close to me that it would make no sense to join at the present. But I am itching to go on some adventures outside my backyard so I will probably join up sometime soon.

Charlie

 

[Bodfish Mike]

Tax refund... You gave the IRS more money than you needed too, which they held onto and didn't pay you any interest on? ; )
Glad you had some extra cash to join a club, heavy pans.

Yep you don't want to get a refund -- you want to break even , I have had many arguments at work about this and some people don't get it and never will. However in some cases it's good as some can't save and a refund works for them.

 

[blackchipjim]

I think I might have buyers remorse though. I started to do a little more research into the claims listed in the areas in general and find very few accessible by 2x4 vehicles. For an out of state person it is a little cost prohibitive to rent 4x4 transportation to the claims.

 

[Goldwasher]

a lot of roads that say 4x4 are doable with 2wd

Start posting craigslist adds in the area your going mention your coming out to check out claims , see if you get anyone reaching out to you.

Contact the LDMA camp. You might find someone who is willing to drive around with you for a few days.

 

[Reed Lukens]

Yes I took the plunge last month mostly because of time and money constraints. After researching maps and open areas in Arizona from my home in Ohio I would still need further research at the county recorders office. It's enough work trying to find out if the claim is reachable when I get out to them

If you're looking at the Rich Hill area in AZ, 2wd is fine. It just takes a bit more walking in some spots. It's a good 2wd road from Stanton to Wickenburg and the GPAA claims have good gold with exposed channel. The LDMA also offers 3 day passes and the caretaker will take you out and put you into a good spot. If you come to Eastern Oregon, I'm at the LDMA Blue Bucket mining camp and we are set up with recirculating ponds, exposed channel, etc.

 

[bc5391]

I think I might have buyers remorse though. I started to do a little more research into the claims listed in the areas in general and find very few accessible by 2x4 vehicles. For an out of state person it is a little cost prohibitive to rent 4x4 transportation to the claims.

Not sure where in AZ you might be looking, but buying should not be an option. there are thousands of abandoned hard rock mines, and perhaps just as many placer claims. Yes you can get to most areas with a 2 wheel drive (high clearance) vehicle, but plan on hiking in. My wife likes going through the waste rock to find rocks to tumble, I've managed to get up to many mines in my SxS , but have struggled to turn around at many. most of the placer claims I've been to, if you do not have a 4x4, then plan on buying tires when you get home.(If you can get back home) Most Adits are on the side of a mountain, roads are washed out (if they still exist), I've had my RZR on 2 wheels more than once looking down 100 feet or more.

As far as opening up an old load mine, I hope you are rich, it is going to cost you a bundle for making it safe. Try utube, I like TRV Exploring, but there are many who give you tours inside mines. I've been inside many caves, but very few mines, I have little desire to enter old mines.

 

[blackchipjim]

Well to tell you the truth I have been on some of the roads quite by accident after reading how to get to the claims listed in the mining claim guide. I was about three quarters of the way to one claim according to the directions but I stopped to prospect at a listed area that I had already paid the day pass fee to horse around on. I will explore the areas again this year when I go back. It would be the first time in my life that I have had to go backwards for miles to get out. LOL