Memorial Day weekend

[sidvail]

So I'm needing a good camping/panning spot for a group of 4 adults and a 4 year old girl for memorial day weekend. I would like the American River if possible (Mineral Bar?) but Yuba/Grass Valley area - even Placerville or Jackson is okay if those options are more readily available. I know the holiday will make campsites harder to come by, so am wondering if there are any good places to plan for.

To make the decision harder, 2 of the adults are less than agile and cannot hike or climb.

We could just hit any campground, but they are dead set on learning to pan and want to do it freestyle.

Any advice?

 

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[Hoser John]

Foresthill divide,Drivers flats will provide what ya seek,call to see if reservations accepted now-Auburn Recreation area. SF Yuba thieves and nudists by the 100s abound.-John

 

[MadMarshall]

The Bear river campgrounds in colfax is about ten bucks a night and puts you close to multiple river spots on the Bear and NF American( 5 or 6 places all withen 20 min from your campsite...)The bear campgrounds can be a little wild sometimes but generaly ok...Try to get their early A day before if possible to make sure you get a spot..(first come first serve!!!Ponderosa and Yankee jims and Mineral bar have easy acsess to the river and so does the Bear River Right next to the campsite!!!All areas have some gold.. Mineral Bar campground is like 40 bucks a night and not worth it as you might as well be in a motel as a motel aint that much more and you will get more luxeries and not so many people walking thru your camp!!!!

 

[sidvail]

Will try to get out to drivers flat road ahead of time and check access. I'm worried about both women as they are even afraid of stairs, much less stepping over rocks. I took one of them down to the river here in Sac and was amazed at her reluctance at a small grade on the trail. Not sure I can pull this off. Guess I could bring the dirt to the tent and give them a table and a tub.

I like the idea of the bear river campground. ASRA is just too expensive for no facilities. Besides, I haven't been to bear river yet.

thanks guys.

 

[Fullpan]

No offense intended but I personally wouldn't go near any campgrounds on memorial day. Its a noisy zoo at all of them.

 

[sidvail]

Yeah, I was afraid of that. I usually avoid it myself, but I can remember even as a kid how crowded the river and campgrounds got during holidays. I think I may have volunteered myself for a nightmare. And with 2 women who can't hike? What was I thinking.

But my niece (see my side pic) mentions it every weekend when she comes to stay. We've dug up both the front and the back yard

 

[midnightmoon]

To make the decision harder, 2 of the adults are less than agile and cannot hike or climb.

We could just hit any campground, but they are dead set on learning to pan and want to do it freestyle.

Any advice?

sidvail --

Cannot help with the first part as I am in So Cal.

But ... the two adults that are less than agile ... they may just be afraid because they are out of training. I have a gimpy knee -- blew out my ACL in a fall a few years ago. I always pick up a big stick for hiking. Funny thing is, I don't actually lean on it so much; it just makes me brave.

My daughter noticed my courage-stick habit; and she bought me a pair of walking poles for Christmas. I wasn't really familiar with them so I went on Amazon and read all the reviews. Lotsa cool stories. Often people will share a pair; each gets one and off they go. You may consider walking poles for them.

Also, the first meeting I attended with my club I was surprised by the apparent advanced ... um ... experience ... of the members. But once they get out to the fields, they are like kids again. When the gals learn to pan, they may be surprised how agile they become.

You folks are going to have a blast!

-- Katt

 

[Goldwasher]

Holidays weekends+ campgrounds= not much fun.....(remember the facilities your dealing with)

 

[Goldwasher]

Check out PI PI campground. its in southern El dorado county easiest access is out of Jackson nice area to visit and doesn't get quite as crowded. the campground is laid out on the riverside with old tailings everywhere.It is also near the only GPAA claims in the area.

 

[Oakview2]

Perhaps haul back concentrates and bring along some 5 dollar cement tubs from Home Depot, and set up some panning stations for them to run. Gives you more time for digging and removes the chance of them taking a spill an getting hurt.

 

[sidvail]

I think tubs are the way to go. Both women have leg problems along with their fears, so I will make it as easy as possible on them. Maybe they will get excited and venture forth. I hope so as I think it's good for both their bodies and their confidence. A hiking stick is a great idea Katt. True, once you're out there you're a lot more likely to go where you thought you wouldn't. Plus I'll be there to help. Cross my fingers.

Pvillehunter - I've been looking at Pi Pi for the last 6 months, wanting to get up there. My first plan was to go up river from there about 5 miles and camp out for the summer. I've even checked LR2000 against all the claims in that area to make sure I was in the clear. Still a few claims there that are listed as active, but not around my hopeful destination. Was going to check county before hand just to be sure as some were listed as closed, but only as recently as 2010, etc. Looks like a great area and not a day hike/tourist kind of spot. Responsibilities may keep me in town and making trips to ASRA for my fix.

 

[Alex Burke]

Check out PI PI campground. its in southern El dorado county easiest access is out of Jackson nice area to visit and doesn't get quite as crowded. the campground is laid out on the riverside with old tailings everywhere.It is also near the only GPAA claims in the area.

Can I get here in a 2wd if you know PvilleHunter, just want a nice relaxing weekend, not too worried about prospecting, just want to get out of the house this weekend. Also I might go alone if my uncle flakes is it fairly safe in your opinion?

 

[sidvail]

Well, we decided on Mineral Bar campground. We'll drive up thursday night and try to beat the crowds. Crossing my fingers on this as we have no back up plan if the campground is full. At least I've found a couple of good spots I can take her for panning, thanks to Chris Rizin and his info on David Moore recreation area. Awesome find.

 

[Alex Burke]

Haha yeah I'm going to wing it a little this weekend too, some spots I found that I don't know about are: Railroad Flat, Illinois crossing, McCabe Flat, BLM S. Yuba primitive, Willow Placer sounds cool but again I don't know maybe someone has some advice on these. In the past I've usually gone to Mineral bar and Yankee Jim's Its crowded and I'm trying to avoid rec area.

 

[Oakview2]

I think the water is pretty high along the Merced but a great gold area.

 

[Alex Burke]

Thanks Oakview which would you go to I trust your opinion not too worried about prospecting just gonna read hike and BBQ prob.

 

[63bkpkr]

MM, right now the Merced is about 2,000 cfs, as a baseline in roughly the July time frame it is about 100 cfs. I would think in one week it will come down to say1400 cfs but that is still a lot of water and likely cold......................63bkpkr

 

[Alex Burke]

Thanks 63bkpkr yeah I'm not in shape to prospect yet but wanted to get away from all these Drs and roommates and the Bay Area I know you can relate lol. Except for the roommates part in your case prob your welcome to come between the 2 of us we'd have two arms good arms lol.