Thanks GoldenIrishman, I remembered reading somewhere about a cleaning technique. I thought it was maybe CLR or something like that. Vance, I wrote something up on a Facebook page for that particular prospecting area. I was hoping to spread the word about the individuals and maybe keep it from happening again. Here's the cut and paste:
I had an interesting encounter Sunday night at about 9:30pm. When I pulled up there was only one other car parked at the spot just before the upper parking lot. I went down by the river to set up my tent and bring my sluice and digging stuff down. I was coming back from climbing in the desert so I had extra gear that I don't usually bring so I had to make more than one trip. I left the items locked in my car, covered with a tarp.
While setting up my tent I hear a car roll past and stop. I look up and see someone spotlighting my truck. I hear them back up and park. So I run up the trail to see what's going on and to get the rest of my stuff. They were just about to get out of their vehicle when they see me. They pause.... I pay no attention to them and act like I'm going to my truck. I start getting the rest of my stuff out when I start to hear approaching footsteps. I turn around and see two masked individuals wearing camouflage from head to toe. They start asking why I don't have an adventure pass and that I should go immediately and purchase one. Before they say anything more I ask them what's with the masks and camo. "Oh we're forest service and we have been going up and down this river all day." They then start to get really nosy and are trying to see the contents of my vehicle and start asking a dozen questions, Who am I with? Am I mining? Camping? Do I have anything that I shouldn't and that they should know about? Are there other campers down there? By this time I'm starting to get pissed and put two and two together. I noticed neither of them have any sort of forestry markings, firearm, ID badges, they are driving a lifted white Suzuki Samurai and sound like they were no older than early twenties. So I say "Since when does the forest service drive Samurais and run around in masks? Is this ninja hour or something?" They then stumble around the question and say they are not actual rangers but work for and report back to the Forest Service.
I call BS on that one! The minute they see me pull a gun case from the truck, they're like what's that? None of your business I answer, but they know what's inside. They then seem not so interested in me and mumble something about going down the trail to look for other campers. Not even a minute goes by and they are back up the trail and in their vehicle headed down towards nugget alley. Funny, I figured if they were really Forest Service they would go check the upper parking lot also. But we know this is not the case, too many people up there. I think they were casing my vehicle getting ready to do a smash and grab. Their vehicle was backed in, slightly pointed down hill for a quick get away. Any ideas? Anyone been questioned by these individuals over the weekend? Any recent break ins? Sorry about the rant but I thought y'all should know and maybe keep an eye out for these two.
