The New 49'ers :: Members Forum :: New Oregon Claims

4 people online in the last 1 minutes - 0 members, 0 anon and 4 guests. (Most ever was 55 at 21:51:42 Sun Nov 11 2012)

dragonbob

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New Oregon Claims ( 01:30:51 FriJun 29 2012 )

Dredging on the Umpqua begins in 3 days and still no listing for 49SU 1-5. Whazup??? :shrug:

Dave_Mack

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 03:06:14 FriJun 29 2012 )

This is explained in the June newsletter, sections one and two.

dragonbob

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 04:31:15 FriJun 29 2012 )

Sorry, when I skimmed the article I missed the line that the
decision affects "ALL" USFS lands. I'll send annother $100 to
help the fight. I might even win a gold coin. Here' s hoping more
members do the same. Thanks Dave

Dave_Mack

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 23:11:04 FriJun 29 2012 )

Thanks very much, Bob!!

rivraton

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 03:41:04 MonJul 2 2012 )

Well, how was the first day on the new claims? any finds in Days Creek?, Myrtle Creek?, Dead Man? How crowded is the Umpqua?

Dave_Mack

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 20:28:13 TueJul 3 2012 )

This in from Bob Helgesen, member 3359:

A follow up on our dredging success here on the Umpqua.

"I need to qualify our "best ever" two day dredging take (.8 pennyweight, with one small nugget) with the fact that my wife Diane and I are relatively new to dredging (one summer on the very cold middle fork of the Boise river and one failed attempt at dredging on the Rogue last year).

Also, please recognize our new 49er friends Ray and Peggy Derrik for taking us under their wings to share their prospecting knowledge and for their great help in making our Happy Camp and South Umpqua River prospecting experiences memorable. We are having a ball!"

Thanks!
Bob

Oregon_Jim

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 21:33:24 WedJul 4 2012 )

I was able to visit with a few members on the first, at Myrtle Creek, and I was able to dredge a little for my first time with a four inch dredge. My only prior experience was a couple of hours a couple of weeks ago using my 2.5 inch highbanker dredge combo. Both were great fun, but it was much like comparing digging a hole with a spoon or a shovel. The four inch was pretty amazing to me. Because this was the "shake-down cruise" for a friend's new dredge, we set it up just yards away from his camper at the Rivers West RV park, in a location that had probably been dredged many time before, but it was an ideal location for a test because we were so near tools or anything we might need. There was exposed bedrock jutting a few feet out of the water, so we set up nearby and began dredging material from the downstream side. For a novice, it was an amazing spectacle to watch material being sucked from under and between the large rocks, and it was awesome to see the hidden bedrock as it was exposed. It is hard to find the words to describe how interesting, fascinating, and fun it was to work the nozzle. We did have some minor problems of course. My 30 pound weight belt was not heavy enough to hold me down, so the small river current and my buoyancy made things much more difficult, but if I wedged myself between the rocks just right I could work up a storm. It was just too cool. I don't know if anyone ever wished to see flakes of gold laying on the freshly exposed bedrock any harder than I did during that time, but it just didn't happen. Maybe next time....

I saw perhaps a dozen dredges scattered along the river, but I bet there were many more.

Obligations made me return to home, but I plan to go back to the area again as soon as I can. I have another invitation to dredge, so I can hardly wait to get back.

Good luck everyone!

Gold_Nuggets

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 14:17:49 ThuJul 5 2012 )

Sounds like you had a great time Jim with good friends. Gold will show up when you least expect it and the dredging learning curve and the experience you got will pay off some day soon. Say hello to G and L for me when you head back down.

Oregon_Jim

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 15:16:12 ThuJul 5 2012 )

I did have a great time. I laughed and enjoyed the day in a way I haven't experienced since I was a boy. Bobbing around in the water like a cork, being washed away by the current, and being so thrilled with this new adventure... It was just more fun than I can describe. Our friends G&L were a blast! I saw a bunch of others too. A great time indeed!

ward35

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 17:49:40 ThuJul 19 2012 )

Its been quiet on here, Any reports on how the members are doing on the 49er only or public access claims. It will help me decide if I want to to make the 2 day drive out?

Jim_Alaska

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 04:28:49 FriJul 20 2012 )

I visited with a friend who was on the Umpqua with his five inch triple. He was working on SU12, which is a public access site.

I did a clean up with him while I was there and he had what looked like a decent amount of gold for the six hours he ran.

He told me later, after someone ran it through a blue bowl, that it turned out to be one third of an once for the six hours.

Here is a pic of the clean up LeTrap:

---
Jim_Alaska
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Jim Foley's Alaska
jfoley@sisqtel.net

Rod_Seiad

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Re: New Oregon Claims ( 14:44:04 FriJul 20 2012 )

WOW

We usually agree that a good picture is worth a thousand words. This excellent picture speaks way more.

Oh, that troublesome black iron ore. Take a close look folks. Are your rough cleanups resembling this one? Is your dredge loading up with the pea sized iron?

This dredger is walking a fine line with his recovery. He is tuned into the sweet spot. Too many large iron nuggets and too loaded up. No iron nuggets and lost gold thru your dredge sluice.

zyfen

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: New Oregon Claims ( 16:34:32 MonAug 27 2012 )

Do you need a permit for useing a sluice ? i hear yes and no to much

phshn4gold

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