? for GPAA members

[Gramps43]

Rick you didn't say what area you are located in, so might I suggest that you look for a club in your neck of the woods and don't restrict your self to just your town/city. I joined the NWMPC with the HQ in Vanouver, WA yet most of the claims are in OR. I live in the north west corner of OR which doesn't seem to have any gold to speak of so I'm going to have to travel to the club claims that are in the south west up toward the north east.

Oh did I mention it was cheaper than GPAA, but if you really get into it there's no stopping you from joining them at a later date.

Gramps

 

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[snakehawk]

Hello all Native Prospector here, I been A Member of the GPAA now over 6 years and LOVE IT!!! I Started in the North Carolina in the Vein Mountian area in Rutherford County, I'm also a Member of the LUCKY STRIKE GOLD&GEM Club/Camp. THERE IS TONS Of GOLD THERE to Be Found.. I see a few from the GPAA FORUM on here COOL...

 

[Goodyguy]

Hi snakehawk,

I really like that area of NC. been to all the local public mines up and down 221. and also Cotton patch Mine over by New London, great camping down by the creek.
I enjoyed the Lucky Strike Mine as well, and ran a frontloader load through my highbanker by the pond.
Also visited the LDMA site at vein mountain too
Spent a lot of time at Thermal City also.

GG~

Here's a photo of my high banker by the pond at Lucky Strike.

 

[enamel7]

Hi snakehawk,

I really like that area of NC. been to all the local public mines up and down 221. and also Cotton patch Mine over by New London, great camping down by the creek. They told me they get their paydirt from Thermal City.
I hear even Lucky Strike gets their paydirt from Lloyd over at Thermal City.
For sure the LDMA site at vein mountain does.

GG~

Just curious Goody Guy, who told you Cottonpatch bought their paydirt from there. All of their paydirt comes from on site. They don't need to buy any. New areas being mined as we speak. The open pit still has plenty in my opinion. I have personally dredged the creek area and it has plenty of natural gold.
HH
enamel7

 

[Goodyguy]

Just curious Goody Guy, who told you Cottonpatch bought their paydirt from there. All of their paydirt comes from on site. They don't need to buy any. New areas being mined as we speak. The open pit still has plenty in my opinion. I have personally dredged the creek area and it has plenty of natural gold.
HH
enamel7

I visited so many mines that year it is possible I am mistaken, seems like several I went to said they got their paydirt from Thermal City.
At Cotton Patch there was a large young man working there four years ago. I do not recall his name, but we went into the locked shed where they keep all the gems and minerals to be bagged up and store their paydirt bags. I told the young man that I had been camping at Thermal City prior to my visit there and that's when I was told his paydirt came from Thermal City.
If I am mistaken then I am sorry.

One thing for sure they made me feel like family, I got there late and they treated me to a delicious BBQ meal even though the kitchen was already closed.

GG~

* I just googled Cotton Patch mine and I must have had them confused with another mine. I will post that mine as soon as I think of the name.

 

[enamel7]

No problem GG! I figured you might have had it confused with somewhere else. Heck, they don't even have a kitchen!
HH
enamel7

 

[Goodyguy]

No problem GG! I figured you might have had it confused with somewhere else. Heck, they don't even have a kitchen!
HH
enamel7

Well I am stumped.

See if this rings a bell.
I remember it was East of hwy 221. 50mi. or so. The entrance was East off a two lane road and they had a great campground on the right when you go in, with hook ups for rv's, and the restaurant was on the left next door to a large building that contained troughs for panning, and a general store with mining supplies for sale.

A dirt road lead to a primitive campground over and down a steep hill and down along a small creek, it was very secluded but well kept. I was the only one camped down there and further down the creek is where they brought paydirt to run through highbankers. There was a large hole they used as a settling pond there. I saw a black bear and cub crossing the creek just before dark.

Here is a photo of my campsite with huge campfire
Wish I could remember the name of the place, I sure enjoyed my time there (one night) left the next morning for Hiddenite and the Emerald Hollow Mine. That morning was when the large young man showed me into the locked shed to look at some gold and gems he had stored.

 

[enamel7]

Sounds like it might be Lucky Strike.

 

[Goodyguy]

Sounds like it might be Lucky Strike.

No. I'm sure of that. Lucky Strike is on hwy 221. this was at least 50 miles east of there.

 

[Doug Watson]

Wow, a real lost mine story. See, I knew they wern't all fiction!. Doug.

 

[PROSPECTORMIKEL]

I JOINED GPAA IN 2010. HAVE MET SOME GREAT FOLKS AND FOUND SOME GOLD HERE IN ARKANSAS. SMALL PLACER GOLD. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE GOLD. IT'S ABOUT THE GOLDEN
MEMORIES AND NEW FRIENDS.

I DID HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS, NOTHIN REAL BAD, I NEVER GOT EVEN ONE PICK AND SHOVEL MAG. AND ALSO ORDERED MIKE (HAWKEYE) PICKETT'S HANDBOOK AND HAVE NOT GOT IT YET.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO MONTHS NOW. SOME FOLKS HAVE POSTED THAT THEY GOT THIER MONEY BACK FROM PAY PAL. I DON'T WANT MY MONEY BACK, I WANT MY BOOK. I HAVE CALLED AND LEFT MSGS. BUT HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF MIKE IS OUT ON A LONG OUTING OR SOMETHING ABOUT WHY HE CAN'T GET HIS BOOKS DELIVERED.

I SURE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME NEWS. I HAVE MINE S/S THAT I CANNOT FIGURE OUT,
AND AM WRITEING A BOOK ABOUT THE MINE SEARCH ADVENTURE, AND I AM STUCK.

I HOPE THAT HAWKEYE IS OK AND JUST OUT OF TOWN, BUT IF YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS PLEASE DROP ME A NOTE.

OTHER THAN THIS THE GPAA HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

HAPPY HUNTING, AND MAY THE BOTTOM OF YOUR PAN TURN YELLOW.
PROSPECTORMIKEL

 

[whiteriver23]

I've been thinking about joining the gpaa for awhile now but after reading PROSPECTORMIKEL's post it sounds like
things are a little out of whack. I've read other posts indicating that the claims book is out of date. I doubt that
the gpaa has many claims in north arkansas but would be interested in knowing if anyone has any up to date info.
about the gpaa?

 

[PROSPECTORMIKEL]

HEY WHITERIVER23, WELCOME TO TN.

PLEASE DON'T GET DISCOURAGED ABOUT THE GPAA DUE TO MY EXPERINCE WITH
MIKE PICKETT... HE DOES NOT REPESENT THE GPAA. HE WAS A CONTRIBUTING
WRITER FOR THE MAG. AND HE SOLD HIS BOOK THRU HIS CONNECTION.
MIKE PICKETT SEEMS TO HAVE DROPPED FROM THE GPAA MAG AND HAS NEVER RETURNED
ANY OF MY PHONE CALLS OR E-MAILS AND I FOOLISHLY USED MY DEBIT CARD WHEN
ORDERING HIS BOOK. HE IS A SEPERATE ISSUE THAN GPAA.

I WAS A GPAA MEMBER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE I KNEW ABOUT THE LOCAL CHAPTER.
THESE FOLKS ARE GREAT TO WORK WITH AND PLAY AS WELL. THE GET TOGETHERS ARE
ALWAYS FUN AND VERY INFORMATIVE. I LEARNED A LOT FROM THE GROUP.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GPAA MAIN OFFICE HAS STARTED GETTING THE PICK AND SHOVEL
BACK ON TRACK, AND YES THERE ARE CLAIMS HERE IN ARKANSAS.

I HAVE ALLOWED MY MEMBERSHIP TO LAPSE DUE TO POOR HEALTH. I STILL DROP IN ON
A FEW MEETINGS FROM TIME TO TIME AS HEALTH ALLOWS.

I WILL GET YOU A CONTACT E-MAIL ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER AND SEND YOU A PM.

AGAIN... PLEASE DON'T LET MY PROBLEM WITH MIKE PICKETT TURN YOU AWAY FROM
THE GPAA. GREAT FOLKS AND A GREAT CLUB.

HAPPY PROSPECTING AND GOD BLESS.

PROSPECTORMIKEL

 

[Twisted One]

Is there a way to see how many, if any claims they own in a specific area before you join? I know GPAA is has a fairly new chapter in my area, but no idea if it would be better to join it, or the local club that has been here awhile. I know a lot of people here belong to both now, but I really don't want to spend the money to join both just yet.

 

[Goodyguy]

Is there a way to see how many, if any claims they own in a specific area before you join? I know GPAA is has a fairly new chapter in my area, but no idea if it would be better to join it, or the local club that has been here awhile. I know a lot of people here belong to both now, but I really don't want to spend the money to join both just yet.

I have the latest claim guide. Just pm me with your area and I will tell you about the claims.
However it's always a good idea to belong to your local club as well as the GPAA.

If money is tight join the club first, and then pan enough gold to join the GPAA.

GG~

 

[GrayCloud]

There is or was a GPPA Chapter in West Arkansas. If memory serves me right, a big ole boy name Tillman was the Club President or Treasurer.

 

[OKIE]

I'm a GPAA member and it's well worth the money.
The gold in my profile pic is 8 grams and I got that at Thermal City in 3 front end loader bucket fulls using my high banker and am planning on going back as soon as the open back for the 2012 season.
Thanks OKIE

 

[russau]

if you type in the gpaa website theres a section of it that shows clubs.and itll have contact info to the prez. of that club so you can call them to answer your questions. plus theres always the gpaa state directors to call also for info. ive been a gpaa member for 15 years now and the pick and shovel have ALWAYS been a problem getting them. all i had todo was call gpaa and inform them that i didnt get it and they would mail another one out to me!

 

[Doug Watson]

I've been a member since the mid '70's and don't regret it at all. If you're going to a new area or state it gives you a place to start from. I also belong to a couple of local clubs and unless you have your own claims or acess to some it's almost a must. The local outings and people are a lot of fun and great learning and teaching experiences. Doug.

 

[whiteriver23]

Thanks a lot for all the informative responses guys. While I was searching out some info. on gpaa I came across the link below showing where claims are located by state. Don't know how old this info. is but, unfortunately for me Arkansas has only one gpaa site and it's at the other end of the state.

As far as joining the gpaa, from what I've found on the net in various forums it looks like a split decision, folks are either totally happy with the club or completely pissed. Lots of comments about the claims being poorly marked or not marked at all, lots of junk left behind by "would-be" prospectors, claims being overworked before they were turned over to gpaa etc. I found several comments from people that felt pressured to join ldma as soon as they went to the first outing. On the other side of the coin, most people believe the claims will continue to hold color and will never be worked out, good places for people to camp and some claims in the west don't appear to have been touched.

Not trying to start a free-for-all here, just a few comments about the different views and experiences people have had. As for me personally, I'm a bit of loner and can get along just fine without the social aspects but, I do believe a person could learn a lot by listening to gpaa members and hearing about their experiences.

I'm calling the daughter in Tucson soon and see if she'd like to have her ole dad move in for awhile, Arkansas is getting pretty cold!!!



http://www.goldprospectors.org/Comm...GPAA-CLAIMS-CLUB-MEMBERSHIP-MINING-GUIDE.aspx