Went out for an epic day of gold mining with Asmbandits the other Saturday. I went to the wrong meeting spot but luckily it was in the direction we were headd too but the confusion probably cost us 20 minutes. I had a great view from where I was parked at least.
Asmbandits arrived with his side by side loaded in back. Jumped in his truck and a few minutes later down the road we ditched the truck and took off on the side by side.
This was my first time riding in one and it was really fun. Its amazing the speed it can take obstacles. I was a little tense as we jammed down the heavily rutter old mining rd. I was holding on to the side rail as the vegitation enchroached on the road. Branches hitting my hand forced me to let go. I think Jerry knew i was a little nervous and had a little fun with it. Good times.
From the end of the mining road we still had a decent little hike but we packed pretty light so other than the ridiculous amount of mosquitoes and poison oak it wasnt bad.
Once at the river I found a little exposed bedrock and hit a nice crevice right off the bat. I worked it most of the day but was always chasing that first pan. Jerry worked up a little higher and was vacuming cracks out with his portable vac.
It was a great day and i think we had about the same gold take. Before we left i walked up a short way to sample the huge gravel bar and it was loaded!! Cant wait to go back there with a sluice.
In the trail back up we ran into a couple sketchy looking guys on dirtbikes but were able to move through without incident but we both got a bad feeling from one of the guys. Then we road back out on the side by side and it was much more enjoyable for me as i started to trust that it would roll over. I didnt even have to hang on! lol.
Great day, great company and great gold. What more could you ask for?
I was actually shocked that i managed not to get poison oak. Ive got a pretty good routine for scrubbing down after a trip now. But i had patches of mosquito bytes on my elbows, calves and top of hands that were pretty bad. But no ticks and ill take mosquito bytes over PO. 8 days a week.







