EAST FORK , SAN GABRIAL , SO CAL

[moondog2000]

Last thursday my wife and I got to the east fork at about 2:30 in the afternoon to pan . Well I found a real sweet spot, one of the gold layers. I could not believe the gold in every pan we were getting. We panned till the sun went down and walked out in the dark. I sure wished I'd had all day and my sluice. I'll try to load some pics of a couple pans we got. Got some nice little pickers-clinkers.

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[Goldpaw]

Goldpaw here...
Howdy folks. Rawdog and I just returned from a quick but productive jaunt in the blue cut of the cajon creek. We found a seemingly virgin plot with a nice flow for our trusty le trap river robber. Equipped with a 17lb bar, some 5 gallon buckets, .25 and.125 classifiers, and 2 shovels we were ready to work. *Point of Interest* We faithfully unearthed some behemoth rust-laden quartz boulders in the river's guts to reveal the sweetest mocha material underneath. Cafe Ole! Needless to say, within 30 minutes several nice sized pickers gracefully glistened in the first and second riffle in our sluice. EUREKA!!! Thanks cajon...
Let it be known...
The cajon creek granted us some of that elusive yellow stuff and we shall return again soon. I'd like to call attention to this noteworthy gold-bearing area, as I know some are skeptical of its worth. Until then, Keep your paws golden.
-Goldpaw.

 

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[soupfreak]

Haha...ya I'll head on up there probably next week I guess. It's 2 hours away, so I'll probably stay the night. It's been a while since I've had my sluice in the water so I'm gettin a little stir crazy.

You may have to wait awhile as the fire is still burning.

Williams fire 5% contained, could burn for a week - latimes.com

 

[mf1arch]

You may have to wait awhile as the fire is still burning.

Williams fire 5% contained, could burn for a week - latimes.com

Oh it's over there? I live in Yucca Valley and just caught a snip of the story on the radio. Well it'll be at least a week before I can go anyways.

 

[rawdog]

Oh it's over there? I live in Yucca Valley and just caught a snip of the story on the radio. Well it'll be at least a week before I can go anyways.

Hey boys and girls rawdog here...

Yes, the mountain's burning. Goldpaw and I found this out the hard way today, when we saw that highway 39 was closed on a freeway sign, while on our way to our hole up at the east fork.

We ended up at blue cut, as Goldpaw previously eluded to. Goldpaw and I saw some nice color, to our surprise, after rolling out a couple 100+ lb boulders, and about 1-1 1/2 hrs work.

We also located a noteworthy POI, which we have noted, and will return to in the near future. We will work this area dry with detectors and drywashers/drywheels, + lots of good ole fashioned elbow grease.

 

[NeoTokyo]

Sounds nice a nice little spot.

Do you have any pics of your finds?

Always good to see the gold, in person on from friends.

 

[David Buehn]

I shoulda' listened to the "old timers"!

Ok.....so I'd planned on going up to the bridge at the East Fork.....at Cattle Canyon today. Got to the base of the canyon before I was turned around my the CHP. Why didn't I read the earlier posts about the Wrightwood fire. No big deal.....the gold isn't going anywhere.
I did a little exploritory expedition up the Old Dale Mine road from Joshua Tree NP (just outside the preserve). We eventualy got to the Mission Mine....on the steep...windy....rocky....washed-out road. When I could have taken the long....easy...graded road to it. It is interesting that the shaft elevator is still there....and the processing plant. I'd read that a company bought that claim and 1900 acres of claims in the area.....? Then we went over to the Brooklyn Mine area....didn't get there as we found other interesting mines & prospects with old cars on them.

 

[David Buehn]

mf1arch........I assume you belong to the First Class Miner's in Yucca Valley. I put my application in....but I'm waiting to attend the first meeting, to become a member. I hear that the rangers in Joshua Tree are not exactly overjoyed when they find prospector's in "their" park.

 

[mf1arch]

mf1arch........I assume you belong to the First Class Miner's in Yucca Valley. I put my application in....but I'm waiting to attend the first meeting, to become a member. I hear that the rangers in Joshua Tree are not exactly overjoyed when they find prospector's in "their" park.

Well, I'm new in the area. I just got an application from them. I think they are having a meeting this Saturday? Not sure if I'll be able to attend. I'm a trucker which makes my schedule "iffy" at best. But all I have is a sluice. Not sure what kind of prospecting I'll be able to do locally. I am thinking about venturing down to whitewater for my first time next week. I don't have any prospecting buddies, so if you'd like to go with me, or maybe I could tag along with you. I suppose if I knew of a good spot to dig locally I could just fill up some buckets and wash the dirt at home? Anyways, I'm Mark and always looking to meet new people to dig with.

 

[MrLee]

As I posted on another thread, I was up there with my kids the day the fire started. I have never seen it so crowded before. River was running good and we were just below the fork before the bridge. You could smell camp fires everywhere. We left at 1:30 and by the time we hit the 210 the plume was rising up out of the mountains. Sucks, but there are other places to go.

A pick below I took while surveying the area. This is just above the bridge and I believe was mined by water canon back in the turn of the century.

 

[mf1arch]

As I posted on another thread, I was up there with my kids the day the fire started. I have never seen it so crowded before. River was running good and we were just below the fork before the bridge. You could smell camp fires everywhere. We left at 1:30 and by the time we hit the 210 the plume was rising up out of the mountains. Sucks, but there are other places to go.

A pick below I took while surveying the area. This is just above the bridge and I believe was mined by water canyon back in the turn of the century.
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=671816"/>

Where else do you go? Or is that a pointless question? Haha

 

[MrLee]

Lytle, Cajon, GPAA claims and club claims. I don't mind sharing my spots. If you stab me in the back that's your problem, not mine.

 

[mf1arch]

Lytle, Cajon, GPAA claims and club claims. I don't mind sharing my spots. If you stab me in the back that's your problem, not mine.

I only said that because any inquiry as to "where" just seems to be ignored. Which is cool. If you work hard to find a spot, then covet it I guess. There will be no back stabbing on my end though. Where is this Cajon place?

 

[David Buehn]

Mark.....yes, we'll have to go out sometime. Two shovels are better than one....especially with a dry-washer. My girl friend is strictly a Nugget-hound, and won't let me use "MY" Gold Bug Pro. In fact I had to get her a Garrett Pointer....she's a true "digger". She doesn't do "shovels"......but will help vacum around the boulders/crevices. Anyway.....First Class Miner's doesn't have a meeting until Sept. 22nd....Sat. I'm heading to the Cajon Wash/creek tomorrow AM....to the Cajon Pass area by the 15 Frwy & Hwy 138. I've never been there, and just did a topo & satellite maps. Of course we've all been through there a million times...on our way to Vegas. I'll have all my gear with me....sluice/drywasher/pans/picks-shovels. You are more than welcome to join us....we're leaving Palm Desert at 8am....hope to miss the traffic.....and should be there about 9:30am. I hope to use my sluice a little more, as there is water in the creek. GPAA has a couple of claims that I may go to....just above Hwy 138 and a little East of the 15 Frwy. My number is 714 310 9934
The San Gabriel Canyon is shut down because of the fire....but, Lytle Creek (close to Cajon Pass) is another place to go. I don't go to these two & San Gabriel on weekends as they are "really public" places for people to picnic at. Huge crowds....drunks....they leave their trash behind.....and have no respect for prospectors & our equipment. At San Gabriel River, though....if you can find parking....and don't mind hiking up and away from them....its ok....but you'll have to haul your equipment.
Here are some pix of San Gabriel River....during the summer....just a stream
Weekdays at any of the places is fine.

 

[David Buehn]

Mark.....you have some great areas near you in the Yucca Valley area.....only thing is with a sluice....ya'all need water and the desert just doesn't have much. Whitewater is closed for fire hazard reasons. You can not get out of your car....even on the hiway to the ranger station. Or they will give you a ticket. I tried Mission Canyon....just below the pass on Hwy 62....going to Yucca Valley, and got very little gold....just a few specks. Its the only close place with "water". And there's barely enough water flow to make the sluice work.
Here are some pix of Mission Canyon Creek.....we are just outside the Preserve.....where it just about illegal to do anything (no "collecting").

 

[MrLee]

I only said that because any inquiry as to "where" just seems to be ignored. Which is cool. If you work hard to find a spot, then covet it I guess. There will be no back stabbing on my end though. Where is this Cajon place?

Cajon, is the Cajon Pass area. Right where the San Andreas runs. The reason this area is so important is because it's where the Pacific plate meets the North American plate meaning heavy geological activity. Not only sending the gold up through the stresses, but breaking the mountains down containing the gold due to seismic activity.

I understand people protecting their glory holes, but I'm more than happy to share "good areas" with others, just stay out of my hole.

 

[mf1arch]

Mark.....you have some great areas near you in the Yucca Valley area.....only thing is with a sluice....ya'all need water and the desert just doesn't have much. Whitewater is closed for fire hazard reasons. You can not get out of your car....even on the hiway to the ranger station. Or they will give you a ticket. I tried Mission Canyon....just below the pass on Hwy 62....going to Yucca Valley, and got very little gold....just a few specks. Its the only close place with "water". And there's barely enough water flow to make the sluice work.
Here are some pix of Mission Canyon Creek.....we are just outside the Preserve.....where it just about illegal to do anything (no "collecting").
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=672269"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=672270"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=672271"/>

Ya is really like a dry washer, but due to a lack of funds... Id almost be willing if I knew of a good spot to just fill up some buckets with dirt and wash it at home. I'll be home pretty much all of next week if you wanna team up. I'll shoot you a text message here in a bit so you have my number. My name is Mark by the way. And ya, I don't know why I thought it was this Saturday. The email they sent clearly says the 22nd. Oh well...haha... Talk to you soon.

 

[rawdog]

Well, I'm new in the area. I just got an application from them. I think they are having a meeting this Saturday? Not sure if I'll be able to attend. I'm a trucker which makes my schedule "iffy" at best. But all I have is a sluice. Not sure what kind of prospecting I'll be able to do locally. I am thinking about venturing down to whitewater for my first time next week. I don't have any prospecting buddies, so if you'd like to go with me, or maybe I could tag along with you. I suppose if I knew of a good spot to dig locally I could just fill up some buckets and wash the dirt at home? Anyways, I'm Mark and always looking to meet new people to dig with.

Rawdog here...

Look kids, you want to find gold? I'll tell you how to find gold. Dig more than a couple buckets before you give up. Don't take dirt home unless you are in a very very rich area, as most so cal areas are not rich enough ore to just haul home in a couple buckets.

One must faithfully work the gravels with a sluice or drywasher...no pans, or sitting around looking at one pan fopr gold for an hour. A pan should take a minute or less to run, and should be used for sampling only. Gold is where you find it. I could tell you where goldpaw and I have been digging, but whats the point? What if you jump in our hole and don't find anything cause we ran through the layer? Goldpaw is holding our gold right now, so maybe he'll chime in with some pics.

Goldpaw and I will be working the cajon pass area tomorrow. We'll be at blue cut for a bit, so don't hesitate to carefully approach us. We are the two tattooed miners with mustaches.

We will be tirelessly sampling some new areas, including a noteworthy poi we discovered on our last visit. We shall spend the night and work monday as well. I'm hopeful we will return with a n ice showing of fine gold, as well as some small nuggets, as we have heard of 10+ gram nuggets in our new poi. Here's a tip to mr lee and all the other guys that go to cajon. Stay out of cajon creek at swartmouth (or whatever its called) the bedrock is way too deep oput there. Move down old 66 to bluecut, where the bedrock is quite shallow this year. Thats your tip for the day, kids. Rawdog signing off...

 

[MrLee]

Raw is right about the bedrock on Lytle. I read a geological report that says the overburden can be 50m deep.

Since the EF is closed I'll be up in the Cajon area tomorrow. I suspect it's gonna get crowded.

 

[Goldpaw]

Goldpaw checking in.......
howdy friends! Let me reiterate what my digging partner and confidant, Rawdog has mentioned. Finding gold takes time and it's not easy. To find 1/2 gram + please expect to be digging for at least 4 hours... if your lucky(not including the time sampling to find your goldbearing poi). Listen up kids, You WILL have a sore lower back in the morning. You WILL getting baked in the sun. You WILL have blisters and sore muscles. This is not for the weak or the faint of heart.
Rawdog and I have been faithfully and tirelessly working the banks and watershed of the EastFork for months. We never give up and never balk at the opportunity to dig another hole.
That elusive yellow stuff is calling so we will be embarking on a 2day-long trip to the cajon pass tomorrow morning. We did a quick "sneak and peek" last week and I believe we have found a couple new poi..... one being the rich walls of the blue cut cajon creek. You will surely find us working there assiduously tomorrow. You will recognize us by our swarthy complexions and mustaches...... But, please approach us with caution as Rawdog can be quite an ornery cuss. I too am a bit skittish, however we share a camaraderie will all who search for color in southern california. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
-Goldpaw

 

[Goldpaw]

Goldpaw here...
Greetings fellow hunters of the elusive yellow stuff. Off top, I'd like to welcome all to the glorious pursuit of color in beautiful southern California. That said, I'd like to report back on Rawdog's and my return from our 2-day trip to Blue Cut Cajon Creek. We had a terrific time and we busted wide open a long stretch. With 17 bar in hand and an aching in my heart, I pried loose easily 2-3K lbs of boulders(some weighing 200/300lb +). Goldpaw did the lion's share of digging. We reached the rusted pay streak that lies right atop bedrock. Nothing brings a smile to my face like the melodious sound of shovel meeting begrock. Luckily due to the low water, the bedrock is so shallow and is exposed in many areas. It's really a no-brainer.... You find the bedrock and then dig right above. The telltale mocha laced dirt and rusted cobble will be the tip off.

Now, I must recount a humorous anecdote from our trip..... About halfway through our day, we became famished from tirelessly and faithfully working the gut of the cajon. We decided to leave for a quick lunch. Unfortunately Rawdog suffers severely from short term memory loss(a side effect of his herbal medication) an left his coveted GMZ Gold Master by the water's edge. When we returned and noticed the detector was gone, Rawdog was livid, cursing himself and the suspected bandits!!! I've have never seen him in this state and I became fearful for my life..... as word on the street is that Rawdog is a nasty cuss who should be approached always with caution......
As it turns out, fellow prospector and new friend Mf1arch grabbed it for us and kept it safe from theft. What a relief! Much thanks to this exemplary prospector. He is a true gentleman and scholar.
I'd like to report that we had quite a robust haul.... I believe we pulled close to 3 grams. I will post pics soon. Until then GOOD DIGGING TO ALL!!!
-Goldpaw