Find out the following.....Who owns the property? If it is claimed do you have permission to mine. If it is forest service land learn their rules. Try to stay legal and the gold is yours..
1st off your in washington state so you go by the federal mining laws first,forest service ,Blm or state,then your fish and game regs, and criminal law follows.Something just doesn't ring true with your 1st statement followed by up owner invite?? Opposite info completely.If ya claim jump or go on someones private property thats criminal mineral tresspass and grand theft--you could be shot,sued,jailed or flat @ss disappear.John