Israel,

Read and research all you can on the subject, your a chapter member use that resource, search the MG for areas in your area.
You live in the back yard of the mother lode. You have 4WD, use it. It has been my experience, the harder it is to get to the less peoples go there.
Kinda like fishing, if you can drive right up, get out and put in, you probably aint gonna catch/find any thing.
Look in places its been found before and since.
Its also been my experience, most miners don't talk much about where they are finding or how much they have found.
Its not personal, most of us a tight lipped for many reasons.
Just do it.....get out there.

Bill

I've been looking to partner up with someone in Sacramento. Shoot me an email, and i'll give you my number, don't know if we can send private messages here. My email address is .....csb6772@yahoo.com. Just mention GPAA in the subject line so I don't think it's spam.