Lotus Geologist
Jr. Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2014
- Messages
- 91
- Reaction score
- 209
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Lotus/Coloma, California
- Detector(s) used
- MXT, TRX pinpointer
- Primary Interest:
- Prospecting
I need a prospecting partner that also is comfortable on class III water in a kayak (preferably a hardshell kayak), and eager to SAFELY explore sections of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the American River by kayak.
I prospected several new spots on Saturday and did really well in a short period of time… These spots are only reachable by kayak… all bedrock outcrops, no signs of recent prospecting, gold in every pan, etc… I estimate I scored ½ gram in about 1 hour and running maybe 4-5 pans of weakly cemented sand/gravel from cracks.
I say “estimate” because in my excitement at the easiest gold found so far, I pulled a bonehead move at the Salmon Falls take-out while showing my gold off, with my pan in one wet hand and beer in the other wet hand, one slip and I dumped it all in the parking lot at Salmon Falls… only recovered the one picker and 4 larger flakes that were 2-3 mm in size… the rest is still there on the asphalt if you are inclined… easy come, easy go!
Anyway, none of my kayaking friends has the gold fever as bad as I do, and none of the prospectors I’ve yet met kayak, or are inclined to learn to kayak.
So, looking for a kayak buddy… in addition to my main line of work as a geologist I also teach kayaking and am accredited ACA level IV Whitewater instructor. So if you don’t already know how to kayak you need to be fit, not scared of the water, a good swimmer (you will do a bunch of swimming in rapids while learning), and eager to learn a new sport. If you are very athletic and coordinated you might be competent in class III water in a couple months… I can loan gear for instruction, but if you decide to get into the sport figure $1500 for kayak, paddle, drytop, helmet, PFD, etc…
Anyway, something to think about… my preference of course is to meet somebody that already knows how to boat well, solid combat roll, swiftwater rescue trained, etc… I’m comfortable on up to class IV water.
Check out this video a friend filmed recently of the North Fork American between Iowa Hill and Yankee Jims (this section is class IV, and it would take you at least 1-2 years to gain enough experience to not get yourself killed on this section)…
Cheers, L.G.
I prospected several new spots on Saturday and did really well in a short period of time… These spots are only reachable by kayak… all bedrock outcrops, no signs of recent prospecting, gold in every pan, etc… I estimate I scored ½ gram in about 1 hour and running maybe 4-5 pans of weakly cemented sand/gravel from cracks.
I say “estimate” because in my excitement at the easiest gold found so far, I pulled a bonehead move at the Salmon Falls take-out while showing my gold off, with my pan in one wet hand and beer in the other wet hand, one slip and I dumped it all in the parking lot at Salmon Falls… only recovered the one picker and 4 larger flakes that were 2-3 mm in size… the rest is still there on the asphalt if you are inclined… easy come, easy go!
Anyway, none of my kayaking friends has the gold fever as bad as I do, and none of the prospectors I’ve yet met kayak, or are inclined to learn to kayak.
So, looking for a kayak buddy… in addition to my main line of work as a geologist I also teach kayaking and am accredited ACA level IV Whitewater instructor. So if you don’t already know how to kayak you need to be fit, not scared of the water, a good swimmer (you will do a bunch of swimming in rapids while learning), and eager to learn a new sport. If you are very athletic and coordinated you might be competent in class III water in a couple months… I can loan gear for instruction, but if you decide to get into the sport figure $1500 for kayak, paddle, drytop, helmet, PFD, etc…
Anyway, something to think about… my preference of course is to meet somebody that already knows how to boat well, solid combat roll, swiftwater rescue trained, etc… I’m comfortable on up to class IV water.
Check out this video a friend filmed recently of the North Fork American between Iowa Hill and Yankee Jims (this section is class IV, and it would take you at least 1-2 years to gain enough experience to not get yourself killed on this section)…
Cheers, L.G.
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