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Oregon_Jim Offline 38 posts Reply |
My gear is packed and I am almost ready to leave for Happy Camp. I have just a few last-minute items to load and I'll be ready for travel. I'll leave home within the hour and will arrive at the new claim this afternoon if all goes well. The current plan has me staying there for about two weeks on this visit, so if you are in the area stop by and say hello. I'll show you how I'm doing.
I can't even begin to express my anxiety. I am very excited about the prospect of working on a claim with such potential that words fail me. I hope my gear all works well and that I don't freeze my butt off in the river or do something foolish. I hope I find lots of gold. I hope. I hope! Months of preparation have been made and wads of cash have been spent for this trip. I pray that it is a successful and happy time! Wish me luck! I will need it! I'll see you all on the claim!!!:doublethumbsup: |
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Dave_Mack Offline 145 posts Administrator  Reply |
Good luck, Jim. I'll see you in about a week!
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Rod_Seiad Offline 376 posts Reply |
I'll see you both.
Happy Camp and Independence claim. |
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Jim_Alaska Offline 1928 posts Administrator  Reply |
Be prepared to experience very cold temps at night. Here in Mid Klamath River it has consistantly been in the teens at night. Come prepared.
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salmonprospecting Offline posts Reply |
Let's all look out for each other out there
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phshn4gold Offline posts Reply |
I just got back home from digging on the Klamath the past 3 days. Weather is very spring like. Temp was probably 55-65 daytime and drops to right above freezing at night, around 35-40. Great digging weather.
There is an issue with the new Independence claim! That's where I intended to mine, but Montine in the office said there was some discrepancy with the old claim owner there, so was not able to do any prospecting there yet. So don't be disappointed... Good gold all over the Klamath though, so there should be no problem finding a good place to set up. |
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MontineB Offline 13 posts Reply |
What I want you to know is the claim is not marked yet...
That will be done as soon as Dave gets back. The problem is several people were in the wrong place.. That can create a huge problem. Dave will be home soon and he will be getting the signs up. Then you can come out and enjoy this new claim. |
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Jim_Alaska Offline 1928 posts Administrator Reply |
Thanks for that clarification Montine. It's easy to get the boundaries wrong when the ground is not clearly marked with our usual signs. We'll get it fixed soon.
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Oregon_Jim Offline 38 posts Reply |
 Hello everyone! I am already back home from my visit to the new K-24A claim. I am sorry to report that I did not find Dave's gold, but I made a grand attempt. I arrived late last Wednesday afternoon and by late Thursday afternoon I had my gear assembled and in the water, ready for testing. Before I go much further, let me say this; The next time you update your list of dumbass people, be sure to put my name right up at the top.:doublethumbsup: The river is FAST, murky, and a tad chilly too. I measured the temperature at 44 degrees on the day I arrived. Visibility was very poor, so I could see very little underwater, but the little I was able to see was wonderful. It was beyond crazy to do anything in the water. I really must stress that. I would have thrown a fit if one of my kids did what I did, but I did have a blast! It was great to test my new gear, even in these dangerous conditions. The weather was everything from sunny and warm to three inches of snow on my RV this morning... sunburn one day and frostbite the next. That's weather in the northwest. I got to meet a few new people and to visit with some friends too. It was a great visit. I'll return again in a month or so for a longer stay. |
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Gold_Nuggets Offline 10 posts  Reply |
Glad you had a safe trip to and from Jim. Experience is a great teacher and some of the lessons are a bit hard to swallow, but, ya don't know if ya don't try. See ya in a month or so........:doublethumbsup:
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Oregon_Jim Offline 38 posts Reply |
It is easy to believe something is easy. It is easy to have false confidence, and it is easy to be ignorant of your equipment's abilities. What isn't easy is getting an accurate idea of your situation and your plans without experience.
I had a great time and the experience I gained is priceless, even though it was brief. I spent about four or five hours in the water. It is difficult to put it all into words. For example, I have been swimming since childhood, but this was the first time I strapped sixty pounds of weight on before jumping in the water. It was the first time to belly-crawl along the bottom, snaking my way safely between boulders, sheltered from the raging current inches above my head. I had my first "Oh xxxx!" moment when the current tossed me like a pebble. I saw things and experienced things that you could never learn by reading or watching. It also looks like I left just before a large increase in the river flow and river level. I was very lucky to get in the few days that I did. I also have a better idea how my "thingamajig" will work! |
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Jim_Alaska Offline 1928 posts Administrator Reply |
Jim, from the looks of the rocks in your picture it seems like you may have been on the road side of the river, is that right?
If you were on the road side of the river you were most likely not on the gold line, it is a gradual outside bend.
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Oregon_Jim Offline 38 posts Reply |
You have a sharp eye, Jim. You are correct on both counts.
Yes, I was on the road-side, but under the conditions it was the best I could do at the time. The road-side of the river has tons of fine sediment, silt, and mud from the erosion and recent mud slides. It is definitely the wrong side of the river, but a little further out into the river at the edge of the tail-out from those large boulders (you can't see them in this picture) the quality of the river bottom improves dramatically as the current sweeps the lighter material away. However, the river current there is waaaaaay above my ability. About a month from now when the river level has fallen I will hit the other side. This trip was all about getting a feel for my new gear... baby steps, you know! |
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salmonprospecting Offline posts Reply |
Good job and good to see you home Jim. The first time I laid eyes on the Salmon River...I immediately cried because I knew there was ni way I would be able to mine at all due to flow.
I'm glad you have that under your belt also. All that is left is for us,all to meet up for campfire stories and fun thid summer or latr spring when conditions r better. |
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