The New 49'ers :: Members Forum :: winter prospecting ???

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winter prospecting ??? ( 16:02:48 SunOct 26 2008 )

Just asking to tease myself , I'm in Minnesota , so do not see getting out that way anytime soon [ unless I find a grubstake/loto ticket ] .
I used to work the Downeville , Dutch Flat areas , in the 80s , I know that the dredge season ends .
Just was wanting to know if many did do any prospecting / mining in the winter ?
John

RUSTY_HAPPY_CAM

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 16:51:27 SunOct 26 2008 )

Dredging is limited in the winter due to swift, dirty and cold water. However some hardy dredgers will still work most of winter in shallow protected areas. Most of the winter prospecting is done out of the water. Winter season causes the leaves to drop off allowing better visibility in the forests. With the cold the snakes are less of a problem while prowling through the back country. These things combine to make winter an ideal time to look for and work old mine tailing.

johntf

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 14:05:11 MonOct 27 2008 )

So it would be good to get an RV spot during the winter / work till spring to make sure there is a spot for the trailer ?
It would be warmer than here in Minnesota .
How much of that white stuff stays on the ground ?

RUSTY_HAPPY_CAM

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 18:47:59 MonOct 27 2008 )

In town at around 1200'we get very little snow, and even less that lasts more than 2-4 days. Normally around Thanksgiving we get our first bunch and then almost always between Christmas and New years we get a hard freeze with maby 18". We get light snow off and on till near the end of march but it seldom hangs around for more than a couple of days

LipCa

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 15:43:29 TueOct 28 2008 )

Many years back, I was on the Salmon river...tried to get out through both Sawyers Bar and Cecilville but way too much snow...4 feet plus.
So, I figured down the river and up through Happy Camp would be the way.
By the time I hit the Klamath river, 1.5 feet of snow...2 feet at Happy Camp...nothing in Yreka.
Flatlanders just have never seen it snow in Happy Camp....grin

johntf

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 16:24:27 TueOct 28 2008 )

So then what kind of temps are we talking about ?

RUSTY_HAPPY_CAM

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 17:25:20 TueOct 28 2008 )

Well speaking as a transplanted Fl.flatlander, that stays home during bad weather. A good average in town would be high 20s at night to mid 50s days. That is at around 1200'. Yes it does get colder. Our coldest lows drop in the mid teens. Over all our little town has pretty fair weather for this part of the country. We still get a fair amount of rain and slush but not as bad as a lot of the surrounding country.

johntf

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 21:46:33 WedOct 29 2008 )

I do some construction / auto work at those temps & colder , so it would not be too bad till I got in the water .
But its just talk right now .

RUSTY_HAPPY_CAM

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 05:32:36 ThuOct 30 2008 )

If you gear up properly with a heated wet suit or dry suit 40deg. water is not a serious problem. It is the coming and going that gets you chattering.

socalgold

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 15:34:53 FriOct 31 2008 )

And the instant headache you get that takes hours to get rid of after you get out.

johntf

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 22:52:09 SatNov 1 2008 )

Rusty , 40*F , summer , is the average temp I thought I was in most of the area's I worked in the past , small creaks in deep valleys .

RUSTY_HAPPY_CAM

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Re: winter prospecting ??? ( 01:26:21 SunNov 2 2008 )

I am not surprised those creeks are shady and snow fed until late summer. I was talking about the Klamath and the area near town. Mid summer most dredge in short sleeves or thin farmer John bottoms for protection. However now even a 6 mil full suit gets chilly before the day is ended. The only suits I have sold lately are Dry suits and 6-6.5 wet suits.

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