Gold Adventures

Greetings Gold Adventurers -- I just got back from a trememdous gold prospecting trip to the Mother Lode country in the central Sierra Nevadas...West of Sacramento, CA.

Some of Randy's CA gold -- Susie got almost as much too!  Now that I have your attention...plz continue. 

I had such a great time prospecting some of the world famous CA rivers that made the discovery of gold in 1848 and the gold rush of 1849 come alive -- the North & South Forks for the Yuba River, and the North, Middle and South Forks of the American River. 

I posted a detailed, "War & Peace" version of a trip report on my Forum, so please check it out too.  I have a Photobucket link to a few selected pictures in that report, but many more are right here.

I took over 100 pictures from my gold adventure, and wanted to post some others here, to share with you. 

So, strap on your seatbelt and come along for the ride to the best gold country in the world.  Enjoy!!

S. Fork of Yuba River at Confluence of Oregon Creek

South Yuba River -- such clear, cool water, and GOLD!

South Yuba River -- I dug material between these 3 boulders -- found some fines and small flakes!

1860 Oregon Creek covered bridge, just up from confluence at S. Yuba River -- in great shape!

 South Yuba River -- digging material avoiding the scorching sun in the mid-90s heat!

Randy sluicing in the S. Yuba River -- had to move into the scorching sun to get fast water flow...

Dinner at the National Hotel, 2nd floor veranda, Nevada City, CA, after a full day in the heat & sun.

Amazing sunset looking from the National Hotel veranda...kinda "golden"...if you look just right! 

 The night's final event--a fine Rocky Patel Cigar & sipping on some Johnnie Walker Scotch...

Our first 2 day's gold take - big rust stained flake cleaned up nice with some CLR!

 We had 2 dinners in Nevada City, at the National Hotel,  after hard days diggin for CA gold...good food, COLD beer! 

Cleaned this spot to the bedrock, Mineral Bar, NF American River -- found fines and several nice flakes!

Mineral Bar, NF American River - a ditch in bedrock I cleaned and sluiced the flow sand...

 
Nice flakes for cleaning out 1 small crevice in the bed rock at Minaeral Bar...

Mineral Bar, NF American River - last day with Steve to find gold...the best day all week!

Mineral Bar, NF American River - Steve running his Le Trap sluice...saw gold in the imprinted letters!

Mineral Bar, N. American River, with brother-in-law Steve...we both found gold.

Randy - one tired prospector - last day on Mineral Bar complete...sad my California gold adventure was over...can't wait until next time!!!

Randy's California gold...his share of the split!!

Hope you enjoyed these pictures and commentary...God bless & best of luck to you on YOUR next "Gold Adeventure!! 

Randy

What these pictures don't show is just how hot it was most days, with cloudless skies...most days were at least mid-90s, and several were just over 100 degrees.

Still, the gold didn't care how hot or cold it was!

Randy detecting at China Bar, on the American River near Auburn -- no nuggets, despite all the sweat! 

Susie ready to clean up the sluice at China Bar, American River...

Crevicing & sluicing exposed bedrock on North Fork of the Yuba River.

Carrying material from behind a large boulder on NF Yuba River to run thru my Wolf Trap sluice.

Gold and a Platinum piece we found on the NF Yuba River.

Randy sucking up fine gold sluiced on NF Yuba River.

Wolf Trap sluice running fast & furious...

My sister Susie with some of the simply amazing wild blackberries we picked and made a cobbler with...

 Randy and sister Susie visit the world famous Malakoff Diggins...

Malakoff Diggins hydraulic site - hills were washed away for gold...

Steel pans only on Humbug Creek, Malakoff Diggins - found a little gold!

Randy & famous "Hendy Giant" hydraulic monitor at Malakoff Diggins.

Some stuff we found detecting & sluicing -- coins, bullets, lead, iron and gold in that vial!!

SF American River bedrock at Miner's Cabin BLM area below Chili Bar. 

Fred digging on bedrock at the river's edge -- he got some good color! 

Amazing -- the river dropped 2 feet after the rafters went past!  Ended our sluicing day.  :(

Survived the hike from hell out of Miner's Cabin canyon...high 90's , steep up hill, carried all that equipment too!

Randy's California gold...his share of the split from panning & sluicing!!

Surprise of the trip!!  My twin sister Judy's High School ring I found detecting!

 Lost 30 years in my parent's back yard...still looked like brand new!! I found one gold thing with my MXT...enjoy your ring Judy!!