Alaskan Bush Prospecting

[Ziggenation]

I have this crazy dream. I want to hire a bush pilot to drop me in a remote part of the Keani Peninsula with some supplies, a tent and a sluice box. I have started doing the research and wanted to reach out to the community as well. I want to get out past all the claims, on National Forest land, where it is less likely that the old timers cleaned everything out. Just a couple of buckets, a shovel and a sluice box.

Where do I start with this? I know it must be possible, but how to begin. Any guidance would be extremely appreciated.

 

[BoulderTroll]

Hello guys and gals, fellow prospectors;

I would like to keep this thread alive! Why? GOLD is going sky high! Alaska is the last frontier! It is a prospecting and mining FRIENDLY State! It's mostly State of Alaska Domain. Not Federal! Alaska has been surveyed by the Alaska State Department of Geological and Geophysical Surveys DGGS to identify WHERE the Gold and every other mineral/metal is located!

Think of a metal detector on steroids suspended by a helicopter flying back and forth at 90 miles an hour measuring 500 feet into the earth! It measures where GOLD and SILVER is located. It measures 10 times every second and that works out to every 12 to 13 feet.

You don't need a wet suit to dig up the Gold and silver! It's like a ship wreck loaded with bounty that wrecked on dry land!

- Geowizard

Careful Wizard, with hype like that, you might start the next gold rush!! lol I'm about to go sell everything, buy myself a pan and shovel and find my way up to the gold fields!

 

[Assembler]

Careful Wizard, with hype like that, you might start the next gold rush!! lol I'm about to go sell everything, buy myself a pan and shovel and find my way up to the gold fields!

If one sells everything one should be able to get / use more than just a shovel and pan........

 

[BoulderTroll]

If one sells everything one should be able to get / use more than just a shovel and pan........

I was having flashbacks of watching a movie as a kid, I think White Fang? all the prospectors fighting the elements in Alaska

 

[Assembler]

I was having flashbacks of watching a movie as a kid, I think White Fang? all the prospectors fighting the elements in Alaska

Now you are starting to ground yourself for reality. Some will call this a possible 'Death march'.

 

[ragtopman]

I grew up in Alaska and it's not going to be as easy as you think. Alaska is very remote and if the land isn't owned by a native corporation, private property, forest service or park land your choices are going to diminish. Because you had mentioned the Hope mining district, I liked going to Hope but most if not all land is either claimed already or the dredges already went thru there but there are areas that you can go prospect providing the claim owner will let you (go check out Bear Ck.).

 

[Assembler]

I grew up in Alaska and it's not going to be as easy as you think. Alaska is very remote and if the land isn't owned by a native corporation, private property, forest service or park land your choices are going to diminish. Because you had mentioned the Hope mining district, I liked going to Hope but most if not all land is either claimed already or the dredges already went thru there but there are areas that you can go prospect providing the claim owner will let you (go check out Bear Ck.).

Just the higher cost factor of working remote in Alaska is a big hurtle for most people in Alaska. You could also risk your life out there as well.

 

[ragtopman]

Just the higher cost factor of working remote in Alaska is a big hurtle for most people in Alaska. You could also risk your life out there as well.

....and you aint just a whistling Dixie either. People have died because they have underestimated Alaska and Mother Nature (I've known some) even as close to Anchorage which is where I am from so lets factor in some remoteness, lack of available help, the ever changing weather, Its not a good idea.

 

[Assembler]

....and you aint just a whistling Dixie either. People have died because they have underestimated Alaska and Mother Nature (I've known some) even as close to Anchorage which is where I am from so lets factor in some remoteness, lack of available help, the ever changing weather, Its not a good idea.

Even down in the lower 48 States one can risk their life. It takes some mental toughness to survive out in the sticks if things don't go right.
I had one warmup call with going without food except corn meal mush for nearly 30 days with some hard work, before snows set in when much younger.

I'm going to edit the post by pointing out the first two weeks was just a bit easier with some milk, oatmeal, and small amount of butter mixed in the mush. With that being said it is always about the mental toughness for the real survival out in the sticks with different people in the exact same conditions.