Looking for an adventure

[Jwoot]

Post 1, I bet everyone knows where this is going :P

First a little about me and why I'm interest in a new adventure, even if it may be a costly one. I am a 27 year old vet who typically works as an NDT contractor. I take long breaks between contracts for international travel, hunting, or just enjoying time back home in West Virginia. So yea I am from WV and while I grew up in the country I understand that it is nothing like Alaska(where I am looking to go). Anyway, It looks like I will be laid off before this summer and instead of heading for Colombia for salsa dancing, Spanish, and culture or Thailand for Muy Thai training I am considering dredging in an Alaskan creek/river. I am well aware that getting rich is a 0% chance and making a nice profit as a noob is about as bad... Hell, I don't even expect to come close to breaking even, paying some expenses while enjoying the adventure would be nice though.

This type of hobby/business is right up my alley, only problem is that I didn't grow up in the culture so I have zero experience. I would like to learn because it seems like something I would enjoy thoroughly. It is too bad I never got orders to Alaska while in the AF, though England was a nice experience. I could try this for the summer and love it and continue it throughout life or maybe just go for a summer adventure and never try it again, who knows. I hate to ask too many broad questions because I know all the information is readily available online or in a book but maybe The forum could greatly reduce the amount of useless or outdated reading I have to do before I get to the good stuff. First I would like to do some general research just to get an idea and see if its even feasible. I really am not sure at what sort of costs are.

To learn some good basics and enjoy a vacation after a year+ of working I would like to go to Dean Race's Camp. I may even stay 2 weeks since the 2nd week is very cheap. I've heard really good things about the camp but since I am currently living in Greenville, SC maybe I could get a mentor around here and skip the camp haha... Who woulda though there was gold here haha

Claims. From the 10-15 or so small claims I've seen online the prices look to be roughly 5-8k(sizes), though I have no idea of the quality or how to find that yet. I am still not even quite sure how the claim situation works. It will obviously require a lot of research(possible lawyer?) if I decide to go through with this. I figure that these online claims are a decent amount above the locally listed... the same way foreign property listed online is. I could be wrong here though

Dredges. A lot would depend on the location of the claim but what would be a good idea for a beginner 4 inch? they look like they are 3-4k Can I even move enough dirt with these? I looked up the amount of dirt I can move with these but its hard to even comprehend it until I have experience.

Lodging. Is throwing a topper on the back of a truck sufficient? What about camping for the majority of the summer? There is no doubt in my mind that I could handle it but I worry a little about bears.

Safety. Not only from wildlife but from people. I'm sure this gold boom/discovery channel attracts its fair share of sketchy people. If I'm sleeping in a truck with a topper is it going to get robbed a couple times in the summer? What if I'm in the bush most the time? That should be better for humans but then what about wildlife?

miscellaneous. I know there are a ton of other miscellaneous costs. suits, food, water, propane, gas, repairs, and probably a ton more that I cant even imagine.

I'm Sure there are 100 things I am missing so please be patient with my ignorance. I'll try not to ask a million questions and just ask for great sources of good information. Hopefully I don't offend anyone who has spend decades gaining experience. I also would not be oppossed to somebody kinda taking me under their wing haha


Thanks, Justin

 

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[Jwoot]

Is my entire line of thinking so far completely ??

 

[KevinInColorado]

Your logic is good. I would advise doing this by steps though. 1. Join a local prospecting club 2. Talk to folks with real experience in the club 3. Make a new plan once you know more. 4. Be careful, really! Watch the movie " into the wild" to get some perspective...

Don't even think about buying a claim online now...the odds of you getting totally ripped off are about 99.5%!

 

[DesertNuggets]

Don't even think about dredges right now.

Learn to pan and use a sluice first.

 

[Terry Soloman]

You have to fly into Dean's place on the River. Most of the good claims you'll have to fly into, so you won't be spending the summer in your truck. A 4" dredge is hard work, and that water is cold. You'll need a lot of gasoline, beans and bacon, so that 8k claim better pay off big. Don't be "That" greenhorn. Do your homework and get the gold nuggets out of your eyes.

 

[Vance in AK]

You do need to learn to pan & sluice so you can sample. I would also recomend David Mackrackens DVD "Modern Gold mining Techniques". Whether folks like him or not, there is a ton of worthwhile info in there. It WILL pay for itself. If you want to learn to dredge his dredging videos are great too. Videos on Mining & Metal Detecting
As far as dredges go, 4" is a great size (3" isn't bad either). Portable enough for one guy but can still move some material. Considered recreational (opens up more places without special permitting) in almost all of the state. Much bigger than that 7 it becomes a LOT of work for one man, especially a rookie. Besides, this is your "sampeling" year. Next year is your "production" year :-) A highbanker is also a good option (my favorite. Don't need dry suite etc.). You might want to consider a dredge/highbanker combo. Here is a 4" combo (I know nothing about it other than this thread) http://www.goldprospectors.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28305&title=4-dredge-highbanker

I wouldn't consider buying a claim without spending time on it unless you have someone you trust look it over 1st or have local advice like Steve H's (See "Deadmans Claims"). There are lots of areas you can get your feet wet w/o your own claims. Even if you stay on the road system there is a HUGE amount of country to see & having a claim will keep youi in one place. Get a computer with 4g access (IPad type?) and you can go online & check claim bounaries etc. from much of the state road system. Joing the GPAA would probably be worth it (small% of what you will spend on any other expense) & will open a few areas for you. On those claims you might get helpful infoon other areas. Maybe check out the "Chicken Gold Camp". It's a "pay to play" with a good reputation & are on the road system although remote (I have no connection). The state GPAA goes there for a group outing & seems to like it. http://www.chickengold.com/

As far as "accomodations", I would have no qualms about sleeping in a topper. I spend a lot of time around here hunting & camping as have never had a problem sleeping in a tent (My rule is NO food or snacks of any kind in the tent). Personally unless I had a pretty well equipped topper & would probably prefer trhe tent. A nicely equipped topper can be sweet though... Get a screen tent for cooking & eating in. Bugs can be brutal.

Handguns are legal in AK, but not to bring through Canada. Check with them on firearma. My personal prefrences are my 4&5/8" barrelled Ruger Blackhawk with 360gr hardcast slugs driven at max speedfor an "always there" belt gun that is reasonable for brown/grizzly bear, & my 450 Marlin Guide Gun for a long gun. I've moved up here (Kenai) 25 yrs ago & spend a LOT of time outdoors. Although I have had a couple of encounters with brown bears that changed the color of my undies, I have never had to fire on one.

While Terry suggests flying into places, I can say that's really not an option unless you are quite well off. Even then it's a huge waste unless you have a specific area you are sampling (and I say that as a resident who has friends & family members with bush planes. Just fuel for a friends Cessna 185 (about minimum size aircraft with proapecting & camping gear) will cost near $150 an hr right now.) However it is fun! My wifes family started flying the bush commercially here in the late 50s & only recently got out of the business. I was an A&P mechanic (primarily helicopters here) for many years. There are a LOT of places within a short hike of the road system. bring a good backpack & a backpacking tent for exploring.

I think that hits most of your questions...

 

[419GottaMinute]

Damn, vance! That was awesome reply! Thanks

 

[Jwoot]

Thanks for the great responses.

You have to fly into Dean's place on the River. Most of the good claims you'll have to fly into, so you won't be spending the summer in your truck. A 4" dredge is hard work, and that water is cold. You'll need a lot of gasoline, beans and bacon, so that 8k claim better pay off big. Don't be "That" greenhorn. Do your homework and get the gold nuggets out of your eyes.

I only need to fly to Deans place from Fairbanks so parking my vehicle in Fairbanks wouldn't be an issue. No matter what I will likely do this anyway for a week or 2..... Water temps is something I was having trouble finding information on. What can I expect from what temps of water? Will I need to step out of the water every 2-3 hours?

And don't worry, there aren't many nuggets in my eyes...I expect to lose.

You do need to learn to pan & sluice so you can sample. I would also recomend David Mackrackens DVD "Modern Gold mining Techniques". Whether folks like him or not, there is a ton of worthwhile info in there. It WILL pay for itself. If you want to learn to dredge his dredging videos are great too. Videos on Mining & Metal Detecting
As far as dredges go, 4" is a great size (3" isn't bad either). Portable enough for one guy but can still move some material. Considered recreational (opens up more places without special permitting) in almost all of the state. Much bigger than that 7 it becomes a LOT of work for one man, especially a rookie. Besides, this is your "sampeling" year. Next year is your "production" year :-) A highbanker is also a good option (my favorite. Don't need dry suite etc.). You might want to consider a dredge/highbanker combo. Here is a 4" combo (I know nothing about it other than this thread) http://www.goldprospectors.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28305&title=4-dredge-highbanker

I wouldn't consider buying a claim without spending time on it unless you have someone you trust look it over 1st or have local advice like Steve H's (See "Deadmans Claims"). There are lots of areas you can get your feet wet w/o your own claims. Even if you stay on the road system there is a HUGE amount of country to see & having a claim will keep youi in one place. Get a computer with 4g access (IPad type?) and you can go online & check claim bounaries etc. from much of the state road system. Joing the GPAA would probably be worth it (small% of what you will spend on any other expense) & will open a few areas for you. On those claims you might get helpful infoon other areas. Maybe check out the "Chicken Gold Camp". It's a "pay to play" with a good reputation & are on the road system although remote (I have no connection). The state GPAA goes there for a group outing & seems to like it. Chicken Gold Camp, Chicken, Alaska: RV Park, Cabins, Caf, Gold Mine & Dredge

As far as "accomodations", I would have no qualms about sleeping in a topper. I spend a lot of time around here hunting & camping as have never had a problem sleeping in a tent (My rule is NO food or snacks of any kind in the tent). Personally unless I had a pretty well equipped topper & would probably prefer trhe tent. A nicely equipped topper can be sweet though... Get a screen tent for cooking & eating in. Bugs can be brutal.

Handguns are legal in AK, but not to bring through Canada. Check with them on firearma. My personal prefrences are my 4&5/8" barrelled Ruger Blackhawk with 360gr hardcast slugs driven at max speedfor an "always there" belt gun that is reasonable for brown/grizzly bear, & my 450 Marlin Guide Gun for a long gun. I've moved up here (Kenai) 25 yrs ago & spend a LOT of time outdoors. Although I have had a couple of encounters with brown bears that changed the color of my undies, I have never had to fire on one.

While Terry suggests flying into places, I can say that's really not an option unless you are quite well off. Even then it's a huge waste unless you have a specific area you are sampling (and I say that as a resident who has friends & family members with bush planes. Just fuel for a friends Cessna 185 (about minimum size aircraft with proapecting & camping gear) will cost near $150 an hr right now.) However it is fun! My wifes family started flying the bush commercially here in the late 50s & only recently got out of the business. I was an A&P mechanic (primarily helicopters here) for many years. There are a LOT of places within a short hike of the road system. bring a good backpack & a backpacking tent for exploring.

I think that hits most of your questions...

Vance, that is a ton of great info. Especially bringing to my attention about Canadian gun laws. That is something that would never have crossed my mind until I neared the border, not good. haha

I keep reading about bugs so I am starting to think they are much worse in Alaska than in the southeastern US?

I saw that claim posting on "Deadmans Claims" and then the thread so I did some more research and read a little about the area and the history. That's the type of place I am looking for as far as location goes. Since I have no experience there is no way I can be paying to be flown around... baby steps haha

How do people usually go about dealing with fuel? In what quantity/container? assuming 1 is camping on the claim.

The best solution would be to find an operation and somebody who would to let me work for them for the summer while I learn but I'm not quite sure how to go about that besides Craigslist. Maybe I will look harder into that before I go blow 15k.. Anybody have any ideas as far as that goes?

 

[Vance in AK]

To some extent thge question becomes do you want a job or an adventure. If you come up to work for someone, you will be working 7 days a week, 10 or 12 hrs a day most places & they will want you for the whole season (since they will train you, get you into camp etc), which is thaw to freezeup.. Not much time left to "experience" Alaska & do anything on your own. If you want a job (nothing wrong with that!) though, it can be lucrative. If it were me I would love a summer to do just what you outlined in the beginning. Bring your own gear, see some country, prospect, etc. THEN, if you like it come back & hit it hard on your own with a better knowledge/experience base, or come up & get a job.
As far as fuel goes, good old 5 gal cans are king. Portable, packable, affordable & will run small equipment for quite a while.

As far as bugs go, every year several of us take our church youth group on a 5 day wilderness area canoe trip. I've had years where I used all the 100% DEET I packed & wore a headnet. I've also had years I never put bug dope on. You just never know. I do know that if I were working out of my truck for the summer I would have a cheap screen tent as an eating/cooking area. Keeps the rain off & the bugs out. A few days is no big deal, even a week or two. But when you are talking a whole season, it's 60 or 70 bucks well spent in my opinion.

Dogs can also be a problem at the border. Need vet certificates.
For handguns many guys mail them to a dealer up here & pick them up in person when they get here. Same going home.

Keep asking questions. What you aren't sure of & don't ask will get you in trouble.

 

[B H Prospector]

If you want an adventure and have all the help and advice you need, join the GPAA and go to Cripple River near Nome Alaska for a couple of weeks. There you will get the whole works, Beach mining,panning, sluiceing, highbanking,dredging, and nugget shooting with metal detectors. Less than $100 bucks to join then go to their web site to get trip info. All of the others who gave you advice was excellent.

Good Luck!

B H Prospector

 

[Jwoot]

I'm in for an adventure but I will be working myself sick. The logistics are becoming a big overwhelming with no partner which is why I think working for somebody for a year would be ideal, many things I would have to figure out the hardway, about Alaska in general. I have been researching claims but red flags seem to fly on most of them. When you see "has never been mined as far as I can see" on a gold bearing river with great access and over 100 years of mining history ya have to wonder haha. Do you know of ways to go about seeking work, being inexperienced and all?

I am still looking to do it on my own just in case I cant find work but I would really like to be able to pay for a % of my trip... large expenses...claim?? dredge, fuels, possible atv??, food etc etc etc all this would add up. The benefit to going GPAA or public access is I don't have to buy a claim and can maybe find 1 for next year while gaining experience/networking. but will I be able to find any gold? Like I said I am not looking to get rich but getting a 2,3,4 ounces over the summer a decent possibility? Especially with a 4 inch dredge(because its more mobile and I have a small truck). There is also the possibility of partnering up once there.

If I do go the public route is there usually (public? or very cheap private)camping somewhere?(in vehicle or tent?)

I don't mind getting a claim as I can always sell it as long as I do the upkeep and small fees. Price fluctuations would obviously depend on the gold price. I assume a good solid claim that has had quite a bit of mining done would be better than public ass/gpaa that has had thousdands of people hitting every crack every few years. I'm not looking to get rich, or even pay for the trip but I'm also not looking to spend 8-12 hours dredging/highbanking a day for 4 months to get a half ounce vial.

I appreciate all the advice and have been reading nearly nonstop for days

 

[MadMarshall]

Oddly enough allot of opurtunities can be opened up from just goining out and doining it. Clubs and prospecting in known gold locations on public lands can be invaluable in the people you meet. I would not recomened entertaining the notion of working for someone unless you have appropriate experiance. the pursuit of a claim should not be done on a computer and always be done in person. I use the computer to check land status ect ect I never dismiss ground unless its earth has ran thru my pan. I think that online resources are sometimes misused..First hand knowledge of prospecting and the area you intend to work is the first step and only step to begin

 

[NJnuggetpirate]

Don't even think about dredges right now.

Learn to pan and use a sluice first.

what about the suction dredge?

 

[Jwoot]

I would not recomened entertaining the notion of working for someone unless you have appropriate experiance

Can I ask why? If they agree to train me would it not be a good thing? or are some of these outfits a little bit shady?

 

[russau]

most operations want you up-n-running when you get on site. most dont want to take the time to train you. lazy old guys like me need not apply!

 

[H-2 CHARLIE]

With the big nugs poping up down under i vote this ...Nuggets From Down Under

 

[Fullpan]

Jwoot - May I ask how old you are? And why you act like this is your last year on earth - from an old fart to a young stallion, SLOW DOWN! lol.
Going to alaska is a big deal in itself. Buying a dredge is a big deal. Learning how to dredge for gold is a big deal. Finding a claim to work is a big deal.
My suggestion is to stay on east coast and contact people who are successfully dredging in your back yard (Ga, SC, NC, etc.) and learn how to dredge,
at least for one summer. Then start step 2, whatever that may be. Nobody listens to us old farts anyway, boo hoo!

 

[Jwoot]

Jwoot - May I ask how old you are? And why you act like this is your last year on earth - from an old fart to a young stallion, SLOW DOWN! lol.
Going to alaska is a big deal in itself. Buying a dredge is a big deal. Learning how to dredge for gold is a big deal. Finding a claim to work is a big deal.
My suggestion is to stay on east coast and contact people who are successfully dredging in your back yard (Ga, SC, NC, etc.) and learn how to dredge,
at least for one summer. Then start step 2, whatever that may be. Nobody listens to us old farts anyway, boo hoo!

27 haha it's just kinda how I live. The 9-5 lifestyle, that many love, is just not for me.... can't live that way long term. I'm was not exaggerating when I said My other choices are going to South America for a very long time or Thailand to train Muy Thai.

I am not actually from SC so when my work contract ends(soon) I will be out of here asap.

Before 2 years ago I had never been to South America(Europe and Asia only). So I bought a ticket to Buenos Aires, Argentina with no Spanish knowledge(AT ALL), plan, not even a hotel booked. I backpacked across 5 countries in a few months before becoming very ill.

I agree though. It is a big deal and looks to be much more costly than traveling around for 5 months. This is why I'd like to find somebody to help train me or find a claim(buy or lease) with easy access so an ATV isn't a necessity.

 

[Fullpan]

I once hitchhiked from Las Vegas to Reno - so there!!

 

[Jwoot]

I once hitchhiked from Las Vegas to Reno - so there!!

I don't know about your time but in 2013 that sounds pretty dangerous haha ... Thanks for the help. I will definitely be careful with any claim deal and the environment.