Interesting weekend NF American

[ALewis]

Had a great day Saturday ! Unfortunatly, Sunday not so much....
Made it to Colfax Fri PM after taking my son to his Mom's in Reno. Brother and I made an evening hike upriver from iowa Hill Bridge w/ head lamps to some of the rough camp site's along the river.. (way past 1/4 mile pt of Mineral Bar campground)
Woke up Sat morning while getting ready we met Tom w/ the Canyon Keeper's, (think that was group name) and I think a forestry guy. They were Both very Cool. They really liked that we had a garbage bag set-up, and were staying clean, of course
Hard not to be inspired by someone like that who volunteers his time to keep the area clean. I try to do a little more because of that.

Sampled an area maybe a mile up from camp, up as high as the high water line, and found good results...So, we ran 10-15 buckets, worked till dusk and returned next AM to keep going......
We get back maybe 10 AM ? and (2) guy's are there on the bar. Cool, big area. So, first one comes and ask's if we are leaving garbage all over ?? Pulls out an old tent, rubber boots, plastic bin, etc... NO ? (this is all stuff I have seen since last summer, person or people have stuff stashed in hills, I know of 2 other buckets & a big de-rocker. I don't mess w/ because not mine??)

Then I see our buckets. We go to where we left our sluice, buckets and stuff from night before. They dumped garbage that we were coming back to get from the bucket (tuna wrapper, empty cig pack & 1/2 bottle water), took our buckets and our pick, thankfully left my sluice.
So, politly say we were there last night, back that AM to finish running and get our stuff. Brother ask's for his pick back. Guy say's "I don't have it, that one's mine" . Brother ask's, maybe other guy grabbed it, but it's sitting over there w/ electrical tape that I wrapped on it. He still dosn't think he's giving it back Brother is a lot younger than I am, and not so smart. And, a little crazy. He went over to the other guy, and I was nervous there was about to be a problem, but thankfully that one said, "ya, no prob. it's right there" By this time 1st guy is back and mad that brother is "going through" his stuff ? Thankfully Brother just shook his head and walked away, with his pick.
It's one thing to come across peoples stuff, another to try and STEAL it / Keep it when they ask for it back. Lesson learned for me ! Can't we just all get along ?? He also started asking me if I was a "Local" ! All I could do to keep from laughing. It was this point I decided not to tell him they were digging wher I had dug last year, and seen others dig at....
Anyway, Love this spot, and the below pick is "mostly" from our first 5 sample buckets. I have been to this area 10x this year, and I have never left a scrap of garbage. Have hiked out garbage left by what looks like "locals", or at least people living on river.....Not sure if I will return, not really worth it to me....Even if there was good results.. Still have (3) Bottles of Con's to process

 

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[MadMarshall]

I am a little confused.. who were the two guys that you had issue with? Were they part of the Cleanup.. Affiliates of Canyon Keepers? Fellow prospectors? Homeless men? Tom is an awesome individual and has an outstanding love for the area. He is responsible for many trash cleanups and trail clearing.
Unfortunatly the Lower NF American has turned into nightmare. Mismanagement by the ASRA has ruined it.. The negligence and profiteering that the ASRA partakes in has drastically changed the type of visitors to the area and the use of the land. I personally would recommend you take your pursuits away from the Lower NF American.. It pains me to suggest this as I personally love the area and wish people could enjoy it as much as I used too. Though this is coming to a quick end! Unfortunatly situations like that is getting more and more frequent. This year is goining to be an absolute nightmare as all kinds of men hoping to strike it rich this year.. The Newspaper and Clubs have talked up the drought. Multiple articles about new Gold rushes ect ect have done their harm.. Not just The Lower NF American but a lot of different places are going to be insane.. My advice get as far away from the herd!! Put in the extra work and take your activities to more remote areas Most of these Gold seekers will not travel far from the parking areas.. it is unfortunate that you feel as you must leave your work area to be at peace.
On another note In hopes to blockade any possible problems I would maybe think of being a little more discreet in the areas you go.. It's sad but their are many people on this forum who will use what you say to look for your spots.. Though this forum has a many a good person this forum is also home to many scandalous people! Anyway I hope all well your way...

 

[goldenmojo]

Nice Gold Too bad you had to deal with the sh*theads cause someone could have got clobbered with a shovel for stealing a mans pick (i've got your local right here). On an upnote I was up there today and spotted the first rattler of the year right near the waterline in some square cobble. Beware...

 

[ALewis]

MadMarshall, No, do not believe they were affiliates of the Canyon Keepers...I think I first heard of that group through your post's. They cleaned up a huge abandoned camp at the early start of Pennyweight trail ? I think the "Tom" I met was the same ? Hope so...He was very nice & friendly, I thought was Cool to meet him.

And you are Very right. WE were starting to feel comfortable at that spot, hardly see anyone around. we did leave our stuff unattended for the night, and some of our lunch garbage, etc. we were back to get it that next morn, but in hindsight I don't like seeing garbage up there, and they had no idea who we were, if coming back, etc. Oh well, live & learn ! They were just fellow miner's, said from the area, he gave me hard time for not being a "local"....I can understand wanting to make sure others are not wreckin the place. I still wish he could have just said, "oh ya, we thought someone left that, here you go"...But as can happen, brother could have handled a little more, diplomatically ?

 

[Lanny in AB]

Had a great day Saturday ! Unfortunatly, Sunday not so much....
Made it to Colfax Fri PM after taking my son to his Mom's in Reno. Brother and I made an evening hike upriver from iowa Hill Bridge w/ head lamps to some of the rough camp site's along the river.. (way past 1/4 mile pt of Mineral Bar campground)
Woke up Sat morning while getting ready we met Tom w/ the Canyon Keeper's, (think that was group name) and I think a forestry guy. They were Both very Cool. They really liked that we had a garbage bag set-up, and were staying clean, of course
Hard not to be inspired by someone like that who volunteers his time to keep the area clean. I try to do a little more because of that.

Sampled an area maybe a mile up from camp, up as high as the high water line, and found good results...So, we ran 10-15 buckets, worked till dusk and returned next AM to keep going......
We get back maybe 10 AM ? and (2) guy's are there on the bar. Cool, big area. So, first one comes and ask's if we are leaving garbage all over ?? Pulls out an old tent, rubber boots, plastic bin, etc... NO ? (this is all stuff I have seen since last summer, person or people have stuff stashed in hills, I know of 2 other buckets & a big de-rocker. I don't mess w/ because not mine??)

Then I see our buckets. We go to where we left our sluice, buckets and stuff from night before. They dumped garbage that we were coming back to get from the bucket (tuna wrapper, empty cig pack & 1/2 bottle water), took our buckets and our pick, thankfully left my sluice.
So, politly say we were there last night, back that AM to finish running and get our stuff. Brother ask's for his pick back. Guy say's "I don't have it, that one's mine" . Brother ask's, maybe other guy grabbed it, but it's sitting over there w/ electrical tape that I wrapped on it. He still dosn't think he's giving it back Brother is a lot younger than I am, and not so smart. And, a little crazy. He went over to the other guy, and I was nervous there was about to be a problem, but thankfully that one said, "ya, no prob. it's right there" By this time 1st guy is back and mad that brother is "going through" his stuff ? Thankfully Brother just shook his head and walked away, with his pick.
It's one thing to come across peoples stuff, another to try and STEAL it / Keep it when they ask for it back. Lesson learned for me ! Can't we just all get along ?? He also started asking me if I was a "Local" ! All I could do to keep from laughing. It was this point I decided not to tell him they were digging wher I had dug last year, and seen others dig at....
Anyway, Love this spot, and the below pick is "mostly" from our first 5 sample buckets. I have been to this area 10x this year, and I have never left a scrap of garbage. Have hiked out garbage left by what looks like "locals", or at least people living on river.....Not sure if I will return, not really worth it to me....Even if there was good results.. Still have (3) Bottles of Con's to process

A bit of a puzzling story for sure!

Thanks for the nice pan shots of your pretty gold. Nicely done.

All the best,

Lanny

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/metal-detecting-gold/69-bedrock-gold-mysteries.html

 

[ALewis]

Well, I am going to have to go back ! The below is from the first bottle of con's....Still 2 to go !
Did So Much better diggin on that high line than I would have thought. Sometimes it does pay to "Look Up"....

 

[KevinInColorado]

Nice gold... And a reminder of why bear spray is for more than bears (and won't get you in the same legal trouble as your colt 45 lol)

 

[PaulieNoNuggets]

I guess I'm lucky that I have not yet encountered any form of douchebaggery out on the north fork. Everyone I've met was there to enjoy the place, and in that we seem to have had a common bond whether they be miners, kayakers, hikers or whatever. It's a shame that all it takes is a couple of bad apples to soil what otherwise sounds like an excellent weekend.

 

[TheGoldProspector]

I am a little confused.. who were the two guys that you had issue with? Were they part of the Cleanup.. Affiliates of Canyon Keepers? Fellow prospectors? Homeless men? Tom is an awesome individual and has an outstanding love for the area. He is responsible for many trash cleanups and trail clearing.
Unfortunatly the Lower NF American has turned into nightmare. Mismanagement by the ASRA has ruined it.. The negligence and profiteering that the ASRA partakes in has drastically changed the type of visitors to the area and the use of the land. I personally would recommend you take your pursuits away from the Lower NF American.. It pains me to suggest this as I personally love the area and wish people could enjoy it as much as I used too. Though this is coming to a quick end! Unfortunatly situations like that is getting more and more frequent. This year is goining to be an absolute nightmare as all kinds of men hoping to strike it rich this year.. The Newspaper and Clubs have talked up the drought. Multiple articles about new Gold rushes ect ect have done their harm.. Not just The Lower NF American but a lot of different places are going to be insane.. My advice get as far away from the herd!! Put in the extra work and take your activities to more remote areas Most of these Gold seekers will not travel far from the parking areas.. it is unfortunate that you feel as you must leave your work area to be at peace.
On another note In hopes to blockade any possible problems I would maybe think of being a little more discreet in the areas you go.. It's sad but their are many people on this forum who will use what you say to look for your spots.. Though this forum has a many a good person this forum is also home to many scandalous people! Anyway I hope all well your way...

When you say "lower north american fork". Where does that start?