winter sluicing

tweeta_bear · Jan 23, 2014

im thinking about going out today for my first time with snow on the ground. should i worry about the water levels rising because of the snow melt off?

KevinInColorado · Jan 23, 2014

Not really, no. Not that much snow this time I'd say. Riskiest place would be clear creek since it's undammed. Smaller creeks or the S pm Platte would be safer. That water'll be cold so be careful.

PS your life insurance is up to date right? LoL!

tweeta_bear · Jan 24, 2014

hahaha life ins? whats that? just kidding, hey i did a little research and found a tree part in lakewood that was established in 1867 and its got a creek flowing through it, if i think im going to check it out. i used to play there as a kid. some of the trees are over 50' tall and 6' around at the base. ill take pics and show you. im hoping to get out today.

KevinInColorado · Jan 24, 2014

Those old trees are often a good sign. I never dig around their roots for fear of hurting the tree but if there's cobbles in that part of the creek, well, that's virtually always paid off (my only exception so far was Bear Creek in Morrison - got skunked there even though it looked perfect) at least a little.

In the little creeks I play in regularly, I build a decent dam just up or downstream of where I want to dig so I often end up standing in over a foot deep ice cold pond I've dug. This time of year I only last a couple hours before my feet start getting numb. That said, it's a beautiful time of year to be outside. Often very quiet

Also helps that I recently got into a honey hole...my last three 1-2 hour visits produced .25grams, .20 grams and then the whopper: .45 grams! Boy does that look like a LOT of gold in the pan since it's all fine gold! These kind of spots are still out there in metro Denver, keep the faith and I'm sure you'll find one soon too!

tweeta_bear · Jan 24, 2014

learned a valuable lesson today... never leave home without the super mini. here is that creek.

tweeta_bear · Jan 24, 2014

got my super mini and had no problem setting it up! and then i seen these rocks under the clover patch and figure "that might be a good spot"

Prospector70 · Jan 24, 2014

Very nice hope you hit the good stuff, also looks like you got that sucker dialed in with those criss crossing V's

tweeta_bear · Jan 24, 2014

i was excited when i seen that x form! that damn keene i had i woulda spent all afternoon tryn to get it set up. i didnt see much go down my deck. im going to go over to I70 and youngsfield in the morning and spend the whole day there!

KevinInColorado · Jan 24, 2014

But you did find a little gold?

tweeta_bear · Jan 24, 2014

yes but its super fine. why does it seem some of the gold flakes are more brilliant then others? i mean some seem to be a darker yellow then others that have more shine to them?

KevinInColorado · Jan 24, 2014

tweeta_bear said:
yes but its super fine. why does it seem some of the gold flakes are more brilliant then others? i mean some seem to be a darker yellow then others that have more shine to them?

most likely a bit of an oxide coating the gold. Soak in warm salted vinegar (only takes a little) if you want to try cleaning it. Or save it as is cause it tells a story about your adventure.

tweeta_bear · Jan 25, 2014

that little creek didnt cough up very much but i know its in there so maybe ill go back but today is production day... im gonna try to run 30 to 50 5 gallon buckets of material!

KevinInColorado · Jan 25, 2014

You'll do better today at the Arapahoe Prospecting Park!

tweeta_bear · Jan 25, 2014

so i have to stay between the 2 signs on the path? how much farther up do the own? do you know? im by the farthest west panning sign. i dont want to go any further west unless its ok. should i dig in the river or go up the bank a little?

KevinInColorado · Jan 25, 2014

Dig in the river for the best gold. No digging in the south bank is allowed. You can go all the way up stream as far as the concrete waterfall if you want. You are allowed to dig the north bank if you want...and the downstream border is the freeway bridge.

PS I love this, real time guidance! Wish I could be out there with you today but I'm doing stuff with my wife today and tomorrow is a ski day so that's cool :-)

tweeta_bear · Jan 25, 2014

well here is my take for the day! probably my second best day.

Prospector70 · Jan 25, 2014

Verrry Nice! I went out for a couple of hours today myself, no time to work the cons though I have to get up early and probably won't make it out tomorrow so I got all day to clean em out. Saw some friendly faces on the river. Another gent was downstream with a bazooka but did not answer the TNet secret call, so I let him be

My win this weekend was finding that 30 aught 6 bullet I dropped a couple weeks ago while trying to stuff it in my wader pockets YESSS! Also found a .22 short (Both unfired lol).
I also tested the 1/4 inch chicken wire over the grizzlies, definitely got a bucket of black sand (and fine gold I'm sure) without the larger rocks. Downside was I had to do a lot of hand classifying to get the grizzlies to keep clear. (I have a wonderful Idea how to fix this, I'll post pics when the mod is complete.)

All in all it was a glorious day to sluice! I hope you all had great success and got a good deep core shovel workout like I did

KevinInColorado · Jan 25, 2014

Feeling jealous here :-/

Prospector70 · Jan 26, 2014

I'm sure you'll catch some soon Kevin

Gotta be hard looking at all those creeks and streams you go by in the mountains though. Rubberneck on!

tweeta_bear · Jan 26, 2014

deep core shovel workout? i think that workout went right past my core and attacked my back

maybe it needs a little hair of the dog! lol its suppose to snow tonight into tomorrow so im goin back out again today. hey 70 what part of town do you live in? we will have to hook up sometime.