As many storms as we have had here it could be closed because they still have flood warnings posted till next week. We were actually planning a trip to nearby Colfax but my cousin tells me to bring my hip waders but when the water goes down it will be fantastic with all the new material that has been moved. Tom

If I were you I would concentrate on Arizona where my partner is right now drywashing. This time of year even my own claims in Colorado are under 8ft of snow. I pray for a early spring so our 150% snowpack this year can start melting early but currently every time a new system moves in every few days the claims get feet of new snow.

Sit tight for now, study the claims in your area, get your equipment prepared, and gear up for this coming season. Now is also a good time to make friends to help you along the way, tell you where to go, and explain to you what you need. Come the Spring thaw we are going to have massive flooding in a great deal of the West, be patient, the last thing you want to do is go down to the river and try to work it and have a log take you miles down stream and deposit you in the rocks for some miner to find in the future.

Benjamin Crain
President of the Western Colorado Chapter of Gold Prospector Association of America

P.S. If you don't know how to use the LR2000 take the time to learn it but don't expect the BLM to help you one bit, find somebody local that knows it. The trick to using it is actually using two different websites. For all you know there may be a claim nearby that you can pickup for yourself.

 

It is snowing here in the Sierra Nevada's this mourning and heading Ben's way in the Rockies. The Bear and American rivers are running at full tilt in and around Auburn ca. and I talked to my buddy in az. yesterday who rounded up a small jaw crusher for me and he said the higher elevations have gotten rain and snow and other places are high and dry depending where you are in az. Our claims down there are at 3900 ft. and above so our trip to there will be Feb. or mar. Tom

 

It is snowing here in the Sierra Nevada's this mourning and heading Ben's way in the Rockies. The Bear and American rivers are running at full tilt in and around Auburn ca. and I talked to my buddy in az. yesterday who rounded up a small jaw crusher for me and he said the higher elevations have gotten rain and snow and other places are high and dry depending where you are in az. Our claims down there are at 3900 ft. and above so our trip to there will be Feb. or mar. Tom

It has been raining every where here in Arizona and it makes it hard to do any drywashing .I am running a wet system here as well .It has just been too wet to do much .Had one day of sun lately .And it is suppose to start raining again Monday.As it is going in CA it will be some time before much can be done in CA anytime soon if the rain and snow continue as it has lately.

Michael,

Welcome,

As has been mentioned California is making up for years of drought, we are getting hammered with rain and lots of snow up country
However, thats a good thing down the road, when rivers recede to something more manageable.
Now is not the time for working near rivers

You don't mention the time of year you are planning a trip.

Questions,
1 If you not using Lake Folsom, ie: boating and such, no permit required.

2 Within the park boundaries, no claims, outside yes claims not related to GPAA
If your in Auburn, stop by Pioneer Mining Supply, they could point you to open public areas
Plus there is a GPAA claim on Mosquito Ridge Rd up Forrest Hill Rd

3 If the park ranger wants to be a d**k about it, no small shovel
Don't know about MDs, but again only if the park ranger has heart burn
Depending on location, you may not see a ranger

Good Luck,

Bill