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...
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

 

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[mf1arch]

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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

I appreciate the kind words. Just glad I saw it so I could rescue it. Next time bring a bag of chips and an apple. Lol...great take by the way! Woo Hoo! Those pans look terrific! I look forward to taking you up on your offer. Hopefully those roads are open by the end of the week.

 

[rawdog]

I appreciate the kind words. Just glad I saw it so I could rescue it. Next time bring a bag of chips and an apple. Lol...great take by the way! Woo Hoo! Those pans look terrific! I look forward to taking you up on your offer. Hopefully those roads are open by the end of the week.

Rawdog here...

As you already read, Goldpaw and I popped some pretty sweet mocha out of our "glory trench".

After slammin' a nice little picker in a shovel-full of some of the sweetest mocha (rawdog of course , no classification) into our LeTrap River Robber, we even let our new pals jump into our trench for some sloppy seconds!

One quick correction to my trustworthy and reliable digging partner, Goldpaw's earlier post. Let it be known that the anxious and sometimes irritable Rawdog did the lion's share of the digging, gutting our 18 foot long trench down to bedrock, as Goldpaw relentlessly barred and rolled hundred+ lb boulders.

I was concerned for his well being at one point, as he nearly lost consciousness after doing 100 + pushups on a flat boulder in the middle of the river for no apparent reason. I even rolled out one or two big boys, just for good measure, and to prove my loyalty and further earn the trust of my faithful, tireless, and sometimes controlling/bossy digging partner, Goldpaw.

Mid-morning, we were joined by our pals "Slim Stick" and "Jackpot". They quickly opened a hole behind a large boulder, as jackpot furiously and relentlessly dug to bedrock, gloriously proclaiming, "I'm digging cash."

Fair warning to all prospectors....

Jackpot should be approached with extreme caution, especially towards lunchtime. Much like yours truly, he has been known to attack when incorrectly approached or caught by surprise when digging "cash". I'd like to make honorable mention of them both, for their tireless work and dedication, risking life and limb to get a decent poke of that elusive yellow stuff. Kudos to you both!

I'd like to take a moment to give another shoutout, as well as commend our honorable new digging pals "fresno marc" and "thin blood" for rescuing my beloved gmz goldmaster from potential bandits. I lost my cool when I came down to find my detector gone, as Goldpaw eluded to in the earlier post, and was out for blood.

I was ready to issue an A.P.R. (all points rawdog) alert to all prospectors on treasurenet and beyond. I'm glad I didn't have to do that, as my patience is short, and my temper shorter.

I am very forgetful, due to my medication, as Goldpaw eluded to earlier. I'd like to offer both of you my deepest appreciation, as well as extend my vast knowledge of so cal prospecting to you both.

To the both of you, please join us for fish/shrimp tacos at Taco nazo in Azusa, on me. After we nourish ourselves, we shall venture 15 miles into azusa canyon, eager for the potential riches the nuggets of the east fork san gabriel bring to the hard working prospector.

Due to popular demand for info and knowledge, as well as the vast amount of people we meet online and in the field that have no clue how to find gold, and then quickly give up (usually after spending 100's or 1000's on gear).

Goldpaw and I now offer gold prospecting lessons to those that have the fever, but have never found color, and don't know where to start, have been fooled by pyrite and mica, (yelling eureka, when really, you just got a bunch of rocks to haul out to the dumpster), or just want to learn more about gold prospecting locations and techniques we use to consistently get better color than most on the rivers.

We will pass on the basics of locating good spots to sample, panning skills, sluice setup, how to find bedrock/what is bedrock? in 2 or 4 hour sessions at various points of interest we have pulled gold bearing gravel from. We will supply all the gear and water...sluice, drywasher, detector, and are willing to share our knowledge with those that are eager to learn. This way, you don't buy all the gear before you learn with our gear. PM myself or Goldpaw to schedule a session, or inquire further.

Again, to thin blood and fresno marc, my deepest regards to you both. Thanks.

 

[David Buehn]

View attachment 674033 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

OMG....Its "Uncle Dave".....yes the old guy....upstream from ya'all, yesterday. You guys kicked butt yesterday at Blue Cut in the Cajon. Thanks for letting my side-kick Mark have a sample bucket out of your bank (acct.). It made his day. As we were running the last of that bucket through his sluice....I noticed your detector lying by a tree, and told Mark....we gotta save it....as strangers will snag it. In fact a guy had just come by a few minutes earlier...stood by it...and asked how we were doing....then he walked on. Mark said that he'd contact ya'all....and get it back to you. It was sure a great day....and I found some nice color in my hole up on the bank. But not like ya'all did.
Keep Diggin'!! Or......Keep Diggin'deeper!!
David

 

[rawdog]

View attachment 674509

OMG....Its "Uncle Dave".....yes the old guy....upstream from ya'all, yesterday. You guys kicked butt yesterday at Blue Cut in the Cajon. Thanks for letting my side-kick Mark have a sample bucket out of your bank (acct.). It made his day. As we were running the last of that bucket through his sluice....I noticed your detector lying by a tree, and told Mark....we gotta save it....as strangers will snag it. In fact a guy had just come by a few minutes earlier...stood by it...and asked how we were doing....then he walked on. Mark said that he'd contact ya'all....and get it back to you. It was sure a great day....and I found some nice color in my hole up on the bank. But not like ya'all did.
Keep Diggin'!! Or......Keep Diggin'deeper!!
David

Rawdog again...

After we returned to no detector, Goldpaw quickly declared his defiance against the assumed bandits and began barring huge boulders out of the gut of the river, clearing away the site where fresno mark was sluicing all day, as I, Rawdog, tirelessly attempted to trench down to bedrock. However, the fast flow of the river got the best of my attempts to shovel. Although it was the darkest mocha of the day, this came as no surprise, as we rolled the heaviest boulders of the day off of that poi. Next time maybe we can slow down the river enough to get some sweet mocha out of there...

 

[SlimStick]

SlimStick here,

Oh the memories!! That tireless Sunday at Blue Cut brought nice color and aching muscles. I must send many thanks to both RawDog & GoldPaw as I recently took part in their training course and I must say, they sure know where its at!! Within an hour of using their very progressive techniques, my faithful partner Jackpot and I were pulling decent color and even a few pickers from the unforgiving Blue Cut. I look forward to many more back breaking outings both at Blue Cut and East Fork with my friends Rawdog and Goldpaw, they are true miners and its an honor to work shoulder to shoulder with them.
I will try my new taught techniques this weekend at Lytle creek, in search of that perfect pay-line I will work sun-up to sun-down.You will recognize me by my slender physic and shifty eyes, do not be alarmed but do approach graciously, I don't like to be startled. And as stated by Rawdog, my hetero-life-mate Jackpot is very ornery and should be handled with caution.
I shall report back my finds.

Godspeed,

SlimStick---->:{

 

[Rock Popping Gizmo]

Hmmmmm....Taco Nazo....yummy. Nice to meet you guys out there at Blue Cat. I want to give Blue Cat another try, my lonely Blue Cat flake needs some friends. I still have my cons from Blue Cat to run in the blue bowl. I think I have some fine gold in there. Looks like youy guys did great out there, congrats.

 

[Fullpan]

FINALLY! A team of guys that have figured out that if you're serious, you have to spend a lot of energy to get the gold. There is absoulutely nothing
wrong with "enjoying" yourself, but don't whine about "just a few colors".

 

[rawdog]

FINALLY! A team of guys that have figured out that if you're serious, you have to spend a lot of energy to get the gold. There is absoulutely nothing
wrong with "enjoying" yourself, but don't whine about "just a few colors".

Couldn't agree more. Most people give up on a spot after a bucket or two. Taking an hour to run a bucket? You may as well bring a cold girls drink with an umbrella in it! Enjoy those few flakes. Luck is luck, but the hardworking prospector ALWAYS has luck on his/her side!

Now, go out there and make rawdog proud! Lets see the gold!

 

[rawdog]

SlimStick here,

Oh the memories!! That tireless Sunday at Blue Cut brought nice color and aching muscles. I must send many thanks to both RawDog & GoldPaw as I recently took part in their training course and I must say, they sure know where its at!! Within an hour of using their very progressive techniques, my faithful partner Jackpot and I were pulling decent color and even a few pickers from the unforgiving Blue Cut. I look forward to many more back breaking outings both at Blue Cut and East Fork with my friends Rawdog and Goldpaw, they are true miners and its an honor to work shoulder to shoulder with them.
I will try my new taught techniques this weekend at Lytle creek, in search of that perfect pay-line I will work sun-up to sun-down.You will recognize me by my slender physic and shifty eyes, do not be alarmed but do approach graciously, I don't like to be startled. And as stated by Rawdog, my hetero-life-mate Jackpot is very ornery and should be handled with caution.
I shall report back my finds.

Godspeed,

SlimStick---->:{

Rawdog here...

Thanks for the kind words, Slimstick. You and Jackpot did great. Good work!

Listen up kids, Slimstick is a very hardworking prospector, and as previously stated, shouldn't be startled, or un-graciously approached. Please attempt to approach SlimStick with extreme caution while he is in his hole shoveling, as his behavior has been known to be quite unpredictable when disturbed, or un-graciously approached.

 

[David Buehn]

What happened to the "Crusty" prospectors of old? Now they show up in "designer" bathing suits.....and plastico sluice's. To work the streams.....splashing around like kids. Luckily they still heft the trusty old SHOVEL....but, with a modern twist (right Marc? Home-Depot special).
JUST KIDDIN'......ITS BEEN A BLAST MEETING YA'ALL....and there's more fun to be had.....all in the on-going endeavor to find the mystical yellow stuff. Hope to see each and everyone one of ya'.....in a week or so.
Uncle Dave.....thin blood

 

[mf1arch]

What happened to the "Crusty" prospectors of old? Now they show up in "designer" bathing suits.....and plastico sluice's. To work the streams.....splashing around like kids. Luckily they still heft the trusty old SHOVEL....but, with a modern twist (right Marc? Home-Depot special).
JUST KIDDIN'......ITS BEEN A BLAST MEETING YA'ALL....and there's more fun to be had.....all in the on-going endeavor to find the mystical yellow stuff. Hope to see each and everyone one of ya'.....in a week or so.
Uncle Dave.....thin blood<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=675471"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=675472"/>

Nice little chunk in the vial there Dave. Not sure where the thin blood reference came from. Haha... I hope to hit the rivers agin soon. Let me know as soon as you're back Uncle Dave.

 

[rawdog]

Nice little chunk in the vial there Dave. Not sure where the thin blood reference came from. Haha... I hope to hit the rivers agin soon. Let me know as soon as you're back Uncle Dave.

Rawdog Here...

Just came off the east fork watershed, braving the 108 degree heat for several hours...

Got burned up pretty good up there...should wash some nice gold down when the first rains come...

As much as I enjoy working with my trusty digging partner, Goldpaw, he was unavailable and the elusive yellow stuff was calling...Sometimes its nice to work alone. No ones up there. Not one car or rv. Ran into one of the locals that was back in the forest for 8 days during the fire. I gave him some rations and made my way upstream.I don't like to name names, but he is a legendary digger. A man that has taught me quite a bit about this river and prospecting in general, along with countless other prospectors, including Mayor Bernie.

FAIR WARNING...

I Ran into a LARGE river monster (it was about 250lbs in a bikini). It approached me and asked for my gold if I found a piece. I think it was hungry. What?... She looked hungry... Rawdog doesn't do fat chiks. Ok...only when.....Ok, rawdog does fat chiks...

Hopped around (3-5 buckets at each site), tested half a dozen points of interest. It's amazing how one bank can pay while the one 10 feet down bears nothing but black sand. "Poor east fork. She's been worked to death" - Hoser John. Didn't come up with a pile, but the east fork granted me some nice chunky pieces and a small nugget. Although, I was less than satisfied, for the tireless work I put forth. Need a flash flood to stir the pot. but it was a decent haul for about 3 hours work.

Took some video, will post the youtube link later.

As far as Fresno Marc and Thin Blood...We gave Dave the name thin blood because as Goldpaw and I were talking to him by his calsluice #2A, his leg was pouring a stream of blood. We asked if he was alright. He said,"Oh, it's nothing I have thin blood from my medication." The rest is prospector history...

Anyone who wants to come show love to Goldpaw and I, we will be gutting the river down at Blue Cut sometime this weekend.

Til then...

p.s marc come down sun if you can!

 

[rawdog]

Rawdog again...

Here's a video i shot today, on the way out, after tirelessly running bucket after bucket of material. Got some good footage of the blaze up shoemaker road. Lots of downed powerlines everywhere...had an exciting moment there with a powerline hanging dangerously close to the road, but decided to cautiously proceed...

 

[SlimStick]

SlimStick here-
My partner Jackpot and I tirelessly dug the banks of EastFork on Sunday, we found a nice little patch of paydirt. Here is my half of our showing.

 

[Goldpaw]

Goldpaw here....

Slimstick,
I wish you and Jackpot nothing but the best tomorrow. It looks as though Rawdog and I have opened up a potential glory hole. That IS some nice color however you can expect to triple or quadruple(at least... cornflakes and nuggets perhaps) that showing tomorrow with some hard work in that spot I mentioned. Dig on!!!

 

[SlimStick]

SlimStick here,

Jackpot and I were shoulders deep in the glory hole yesterday, pulling large boulders and small flakes out of the river. I have to say this was one of the most fruitful trips I have been on, decent color in every clean out. So after 9 laboring hours here is my half of the take-

 

[Jack Hamilton]

Is Blue Cut in the Cajon Pass or off the San Gabriel? Here is an old thread I started last year you guys may or may not have seen already. I found a nugget at heaton flats shortly after the Feb 2011 flood. The nugget was found along the water within my first hour of digging. Flood gold. Also, shown is my home made sluice with punch plate set up. works great to eliminate classifying. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/sluicing/241741-my-fine-gold-sluice.html

Congrats on the nice color guys. Keep it up ! =)

 

[mf1arch]

Uncle Dave and I worked side by side with Rawdog and Goldpaw on Thursday and then again on our own on Friday in the East Fork. Found this sweet .2 gram little nugget. Kudos to Goldpaw and Rawdog for turning us on to that honey hole.

 

[David Buehn]

Uncle Dave
Thanks for posting the pics.......Slimstick......As he lost the toss.....I got the 2 gram nugget.......he got the leftovers. Actually it was all good. Raw Dog lost out....we both know he should'a been there to share in the wealth. Oh....by the way....no more "slippin---slidin----fallin"....my leg still hurts big time. Who put moved friggin' boulder in that muddy hole, anyway? You should'a seen the one Slimstick moved on Friday.....bigger than both of you'se put together.
Thank goodness you got "the job". I hope the week went well for you. I'm heading to East Fork about noon.....maybe.
This old Bubble-Head is signing off.........(you don't even know what a bubble head is....??)