lesson learned......46 degrees does not mean the ground thawed

3searchin · Feb 1, 2009

I've been gone for a while but I have checked in to see what everyone is finding. Today prior to the big game I figured I'd round out the day by going out for a quick hunt. Forcast said 45 degrees checked my yard ground didn't seem to bad......Soooo I packed up the gear dress for the occasion and headed to a spot close to home. I should have known when I had to lock in the 4 wheel drive that I should turn around, but the itch to detect was too powerful. I also figured I'm here now what could it hurt.
I jumped out of the truck only to realize I dressed a little to warm for the trip. So I removed a layer and grabbed the gear. I start up through the corn field to a foundation I found a couple of years ago. As I'm walking I notice my boots keep getting heavier and heavier from the clods of mud that are now clinging to they, but my site is right on the other side of the field........
Aha finally I arrive at my destination only to realize I left my water in the truck right beside my sunglasses and it was bright out. None the less I'm here and start my quest. I noticed that there has been some dirt moved around by what looks like a dozer but nothing was removed just small piles all over. I figured this could be a good thing because the green briars are now gone.
I start my search not getting much in the way of signals then Finally the beep........Solid Quarter signal 2" down. Excited I start digging only to realize the ground is far more frozen then I thought. Not deterred I start digging. I have a little pick that I've used before while detecting. Thump thump thump with the pick then Snap!.....No more pick and not much of a dent in the ground. Sooo I pull out my trusty 7-in-1 tool (i mean come on it's a solid quarter hit). Dig Dig Dig with the 7 in 1 tool...then Snap !
Really discouraged I give up on the target because I'm out of tools to dig with.......I figured I'd mark the spot for spring. I continued to search a little more to really rub it in that I have no tools. Beep goes the signal again on a little dirt bank. Penny/dime signal......I think Hmm one good kick should loosen the bank a little and it does........Sifting through the dirt I pull out this 1910 wheat penny and call it a day....
So the day not being a total loss except for having to replace tools and do a load on laundry because of all the mud. I did get a nice wheat penny and now to settle down and watch the Game (GO CARDS) that is unless all the TV's in the house break............Good luck all

FYI the PA ground in really frozen good !

Here's some pictures enjoy
3S

vpone · Feb 3, 2009

hey,

ground is rock hard here in central pa - the woods are the only place we could dig this past sunday - where are you from ? (i'm in williamsport)

vp

Ohio Jerry · Feb 3, 2009

I felt bad for ya til i read (go cards)...central Pa?,your in Steeler country

jeff of pa · Feb 3, 2009

You'll Learn

Nice Find in this weather Though.

Jeff

Mirage · Feb 3, 2009

Too funny. In Cleveland here the ground is actually soft. Problem is there is 12+ inches of snow on top of it! Nate and I started to feel the pull...but we resisted....It won't be long now.

I have one of those 3 in one diggers. I saw Richardo's video where he busted his. It was so funny to see him just stop digging - amazed that his $3 digger had broken. :wink:

And this was in the summer. So what does that tell you of them....

Bob

BIG61AL · Feb 3, 2009

At least you got a 99 year old coin!

Lowbatts · Feb 4, 2009

Frozen dirt is hard. Try to steer clear of it myself. Wantthat other signal bad enough? Take along a couple milk jugs of hot water and pour them on the dirt slowly.

3searchin · Feb 8, 2009

Well I'm back......3 days of warm weather (45-50 degrees) all the snow is gone. I decided to revisit the solid quarter signal. I've got to say short of taking blasting caps and dynamite I'll have to wait until spring.......The Ice has claimed yet another victim(see below). The mud is now about an inch thick instead of 1/2 an inch thick and the ground is still frozen solid.....I did manage to mark a couple of more signals before giving up. I took my boys along this time and let me tell you Boys and mud don't mix well !!!!!.....We did manage to find a couple of decent fossils from a shale bank but as for MD finds Zip zero nada none......Oh well the walk was nice once we got out of the mud.......And geez lots more laundry to do. I'm not sure how they did it but the tools the boys and my truck are now covered in mud !

Here's a picture of the latest victim and a couple of the fossils the boys found.

Vpone I'm about 30 minutes north of Harrisburg (Halifax)

Ohio Jerry. Yes I am in steelers country but cant bring myself to root for them

Come on Spring !!!!!!
3S

Ohio Jerry · Feb 9, 2009

Cool fossils!,my dad and i used to hunt for fossils in a shale bank when i was a kid.I loved it,i took my son there a few years back to keep up the tradition :thumbsup: