Why I gold prospect!
(I wrote this in July 2015)
I'm sitting here going over what I need to get ready for my prospecting trip tomorrow. This made me think, why do I do this? It's going to be over 100° tomorrow, why would anyone in their right mind do this? Knowing full well, they will spend the day moving heavy rocks in the hot sun, working until they are dog tired, then putting on a heavy backpack and hike back up a long steep hill, in the hottest part of the day.
Why do I do this? To get rich? Its been over 50 years - still not rich! For me, its because I love the adventure, the hills, and the freedom. But another big reason is, because most people won't do it! I don't want to become them. Life is what you make of it, the best things won't come to you, you have to go get them.
We live in a time where we're not allowed to take any chances. We are told we must wear seat belts, helmets, what we can and cannot eat. We drink a water from bottles, when was the last time you had a drink from a garden hose? Most people would never even entertain the thought of letting their kids ride in the back of a truck. My fondest memories are of the many fishing trips to the hills , riding in the back of the truck.
There are two old saying that I pretty much lived by; what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger and pain is weakness leaving the body. I prospect because it keeps me young, the danger of the back country feeds my pride. It keeps alive that feeling of invincibility I had when I was 20. The hunt for treasure is a thrill most people will never experience, I pity them, they are missing out on such a fantastic part of a life.
Don't get me wrong, I don't leave the gold there, it's a very nice extra! But it's not why I do it.
Just found your thread Paydirt and I have to say it's been a good read! Like you, I've been doing this for some time now and your latest post got me thinking about why I do this and what modern miners are like as well.
I think that it takes a special type of person to be a full time prospector/miner.
We're the ones that for the most part don't like having to live by the rules of normal folk.
We thrive on challenge and hate to be cooped up with a passion.
We usually enjoy the solitude and find our true selves while out in nature.
We are true stewards of the lands and waters and usually do more to preserve them than any group of environmentalists out there.
For the most part, those of us that are serious about this are intelligent and well versed in many different fields. To be good at this we have to know a LOT of different things. Geology, Mineralogy, Hydrology are but a few of the "ologies" we learn. Then there are all of the other skills we learn along the way. Map reading, survival skills, mechanical skills and researching new areas are but a few of them.
We also enjoy history, and working with our hands to the point of breaking a good sweat though most of the older one among us have learned to "work smarter, not harder". (Pay attention you young bucks or you won't be doing this as long as you'd like to be!)
We take pride in a job well done and being self sufficient. We're an interesting mix of "old school" and modern at the same time. New and improved isn't always better for us.
We prefer to stand on our own but value our friends and family members, both blood and adopted.
We are problem solvers and can usually find a way to overcome the obstacles in our path.
We enjoy a good mystery and pitting ourselves against Mother Nature in the biggest game of "hide and seek" in the world. What gold she gives up is only a way of keeping score for each round we play.
I'm proud of being a modern prospector/miner and will continue being one until such time as time catches up with me or our passion is regulated to death by the government.
