Just a couple of California Gold Diggers kicking off 2017

[Goldfleks]

Made it out today. Have to say these are the only pair of thigh high boots I've ever worn, and I kinda like them. River digging was kinda a bust. Decided that since it rained yesterday I would try digging the river gravel bed behind a submerged rock. Couple of fly poop specks. Went back to my usual spot which is kinda a community dig/hole and got what was in the pan in about 2 buckets. Wish I hadn't wasted so much time in the river, but thought I would try something new. Probably just can't get down deep enough with a shovel, and since I can't dredge...

But I enjoyed it. Was about 48/50 degrees out and my feet stayed dry and toasty. Nice and hot while working, but boy did it get chilly if you stood around. Good motivation to keep on moving. Not bad for 2 hours at the river. Looking forward to going back, forgot how much fun this is. Put my friend to work feeding the bazooka while I filled the buckets in the hole. Was pretty efficient since by the time I filled a bucket she was done feeding. 10/10 would team up again.

 

[SunshineMiner]

..... Is this the part where all the single guys offer up their muscles to help a couple ladies move some of that heavy dirt!? *raises hand*

Nice job ladies! Awesome way to bring in the new year! I get to head out tomorrow with a buddy and the highbanker to get my fix

 

[Goldfleks]

..... Is this the part where all the single guys offer up their muscles to help a couple ladies move some of that heavy dirt!? *raises hand*

Nice job ladies! Awesome way to bring in the new year! I get to head out tomorrow with a buddy and the highbanker to get my fix

You hold the giant spoon by the big flat part and poke the dirt with the pointy end right?

 

[SunshineMiner]

Sounds about right.... Don't forget, that pointy end can be used as a pry par. And that giants spoon end, if you sit on it, it really does nothing. Great pieces of equipment.. Wouldnt leave home without the spoon stick.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Side bar:
Hey I've been there too!

 

[davidb]

Not bad at all

 

[Hoser John]

Great way to start any year. Tons a au 2 u 2-John

 

[Goldfleks]

Side bar:
Hey I've been there too!
View attachment 1397229

Wish I could get that big guy to dig for me, be like an excavator. Sorry Mr. Forrest Service, we are just using hands and pans!

 

[Laz7777]

I'd get him and Wendover Will to move some boulders for me, I'll do the diggin'.

 

[maurice19]

Not the same, Kevin

Maurice

Side bar:
Hey I've been there too!
View attachment 1397229

 

[KevinInColorado]

Lol ok, fair point. It's a better pic with either of them in it!!

 

[Hunt4gold]

Great to see others taking advantage of the nice weather - was 55 degrees and sunny here in Denver - also got out for a few hours. Looks like to rains made it tough to get the material out from within the deeper water. Nice color in the pan though! Keep posting - great motivation for all of us to get out during the nicer days of winter.

 

[Hamfist]

A couple of my buddies and I made it out on New Years Day as well. We forgot to take selfies though [emoji12]

Happy New Year!

 

[dredgernaut]

all that glitters is not gold , very nice , love ya

 

[Goldwasher]

Good job Goldflecks keep braving the weather it's worth it. Where are you located. I know I've seen that statue before.

 

[Goldfleks]

That statue is outside of a casino on the 15 on the way to Vegas. We stopped there to use the ladies room and on the way out I couldn't resist taking a photo with it. The river is the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Didn't take both pics the same day. River was on the 1st, and the miner photo was back in September.

 

[Goldfleks]

I got my first picker today!!!! I'm so excited lol! It's somewhere in the bowels of my snuffer bottle with all the black sands so I don't have a picture yet (forgot to get one from the pan). I think I got more gold today than I got all of 2016. Guess I'll find out once I finish cleaning up the gold, but that has to wait for another day as I'm 100% beat. Today was the first day that I saw flakes on my slick plate so I'm guessing I hit a pretty good pocket at once point, as I had 2 flakes from the same bucket hit the skid, and maybe the picker was part of that bucket, i'm not sure.

Moved 26 half to 3/4 full unclassified 5gallon buckets today, and 5 huge rocks. I'm guessing the bigger gold came from the compacted gravels inbetween the rocks, as two of them came loose on the bucket with the flakes and I scooped up all the gravels that were freed up once I could get between them. Pics to come.

 

[Goldfleks]

Here's my hole! lol. Pulled from where the end of my shovel points. Rocks I removed are by my shovel. I was onto a huge boulder to the left of the red stones in the very bottom of the hole. Thats probably 10ft down from the top. Whoever hogs out the rest of that dirt the next week will probably find something nice. Unless the rains caves in the sides which happens.

 

[Vance in AK]

Beautiful material you are digging in. We have frozen ground & plenty of snow.
Have fun!

 

[Bodfish Mike]

"Here's my hole! lol"
Impressive hole looks real good and since you showed yours I'll show mine.
Congrats on the picker.