Re: Trip & Results with modification to A52 sluice
Howdy again folks,
I had a side job, you know work, to do so its kept me from responding.
Goldtimer - I've heard New Zeland is a beautiful place and blurred or not I can easily see the gold. I've never run across any just sitting in a
crack like that and if I had I'm sure the picture I would have taken would be blurred as well.
pvillehunter - I've hunted a little for camps, found a couple, found my Best supposed beer bottle (supposed as it has a fully round bottom but brown glass w/bubbles and sweated on final glass rim, lots of hobnailed boots there) and yes the camp('s) near the equipment should be close by the equipment. I'd not hiked near that "side drainage" in many years and had forgotten about it till this year when the equipment on the side hill pulled me out of my camp to take a look see. And yes, the moss, the drain canyon way, the pool, checking all the spots you mentioned would be a worthwhile task and yes it would be better than moving boulders. also a falls down stream with another nice pool and likely more good cracks to check. I'd seen the miner many years ago at his camp on the main river, the moss covered rock/side drainage is on a side stream, and as best as I can recall it was in the late 70's so your 1980 era estimate on the equipment is right there. So many places to check out and only so much time in the summer to do them.
Hoser John & Kuger - Pot Farms, I've never run across any, fortunately, as I carry a sidearm and if I'm fired at I will protect myself. Also met some rescue types in 09, they were out looking for some fella who'd been seduced into free climbing a side canyon and decided to go all the way to the top only to be met by a Manzanita Jungle 7' tall. Seems the fella walked on top of it to get almost all the way across but night fell and he was stranded there overnight w/o any gear. They hauled is butt out of there after he'd been out some 24 hours. He hiked back in the next day, anyway but the rescue types I met told me they've have to be Soooo careful about thinking they are rescuing someone as they could just as easily walk right into a pot farm and get shot. I agree about far too many cleanups, it was driving me nuts. Now that I know about minimum water and a steeper angle and to watch for the dancing black sand I will be far better off. Question, does the black sand have any favorite music it dances to? Yes, I am a smart ***!
AU Seeker - Thank you for the heads up on writing in Word and then pasting to the post page, that would have saved me some agony if I'd been doing that. The "V's" and "X's" are a superb sign for a proper setup and the You Tube videos really helped to finalize your description. Yes, there is more gold there both up and down stream however, the year for that site is about closed down. High elevation, long hike in, steep hike out so if bad weather happens to blow in, the circumstances could get dire. I've spent three days hunkering down in the rain and then had to hike out in a drizzle only to find it was snowing at the top and I do not care to repeat that. Also, I've been offered a chance at a different spot, lower elevation, so if the weather allows me to I will check that out either next week or the week after.
And finally, here are a few more pictures taken from another side canyon even higher up in elevation in September of 09. Another spot of breath taking beauty. The huge tree fell just off to one side of a hardrock mine. The canyon above it could have been formed by water runoff. The second picture is the same tree only you can see more of the side of the canyon to the right of the tree. The third picture shows a ridge line near the top of the mountain. The ridge line IS the trail. Many years ago I reopened the section of this trail that goes to the mine near the fallen tree. It was quite a job to cut through all that underbrush but worth it.
Have fun, as I've been told - Stay Safe and good fortune with your prospecting and life in general! 63bkpkr
