I know this has been a year past when you posted your question. I recently  went up to the claim up there and it is very confusing. No Hard Wages claim signs or anything except a bunch of LU LU Bell claim signs. So not wanting to get into a gun battle about mining claims; we packed up and drove back home. My research on the BLM LR2000 database basically shows all of the LU LU Bell Claims I through XIII were all closed in the late 90's. The weird thing is these signs are not the metal claim markers i have seen in other areas and they look brand new not 18 years old. I plan on calling the BLM office tomorrow and try to get to the bottom of this. 

Mike-  contact Steve (WA state director).  I know he is working to get things on track up there (and here as well since he is OR director as well).  Signs have a habit of walking off into the sunset, sometimes as fast as they are put up.

You will find that all claims are administered by BLM, no matter if on BLM or USFS ground.  Since BLM uses one office for both OR and WA, all the claims in WA will have ORMC numbers.

I know Walt was right on top of an issue we had with a possible overfile here, and it turned out the guy just posted the sign in the wrong place--his new claim was the next one upstream of the GPAA claim.

Posted By Jason Tollefson on 08 Jun 2016 08:06 PM

I know this has been a year past when you posted your question. I recently  went up to the claim up there and it is very confusing. No Hard Wages claim signs or anything except a bunch of LU LU Bell claim signs. So not wanting to get into a gun battle about mining claims; we packed up and drove back home. My research on the BLM LR2000 database basically shows all of the LU LU Bell Claims I through XIII were all closed in the late 90's. The weird thing is these signs are not the metal claim markers i have seen in other areas and they look brand new not 18 years old. I plan on calling the BLM office tomorrow and try to get to the bottom of this. 

Looks like my first post has found your guy's thread!  Has anyone heard anything new on this?  @Jason- Were you able to get any information from the BLM office that would help sort things out?  I was thinking of heading to this location myself sometime and in my looking things up/trying to learn more about this location came across this thread,  Living a few hours away from it, I don't to drive all that way just to have lunch  .  I know this thread seems to be an older one, ranging from over a year ago up to a couple of months ago, and that most people are probably out in the field about now, but if anyone has any new information it would be appreciated.

Matthew,

I have not gotten in touch with the BLM. At the moment I am chasing a helicopter around the countryside. (fire season). I have been up there a few times and the "Elizabeth" claim signs both one and two are posted in the wrong township. They are posted in 31 and they should be in 32 or vice versa. I dont have everything in front of me. I would say there is a definite over signage. Thats not for me to decide though. I didn't make it to the claim marker but looking on the maps there are two prospects marked within the claim boundaries and i hiked to both of those. So I would say you are in the right area the Elizabeth signs are not. and keep an eye out for critters its called bear gap for a reason. Lots of fresh tracks and poo . So hopefully i just confused you even more now.

Wife and I planning on going to claim tomorrow, All I have is an IPHONE 6 and the Mining Guide. I'm doubting I having any success finding the claim let-along color from what it sounds like.  If I work any ground in our Books MAP would I be covered legally?

Also, how's access to the creek, map looks like steep elevation lines to get down, was thinking if I cant get down to the creek just digging round the hillsides and panning at home.

Posted By JEFF STONE on 05 Aug 2016 07:59 AM

Wife and I planning on going to claim tomorrow, All I have is an IPHONE 6 and the Mining Guide. I'm doubting I having any success finding the claim let-along color from what it sounds like.  If I work any ground in our Books MAP would I be covered legally?

Also, how's access to the creek, map looks like steep elevation lines to get down, was thinking if I cant get down to the creek just digging round the hillsides and panning at home.

                   Hello Jeff (No relation as far as I know   )  I had spoken with  Forest Services Recreational Supervisor Bill Simmer after reading on a local chapters web page that the NF462 was a little rough.  He had informed me that the road hadn't had much maintenance done on it  for a little bit and one of the smaller unnamed creeks had been rough on a certain part of it.  He stated that as long as someone have 4wd and some experience with it as well any sort of clearance under their vehicle they should be fine, he said there are not any drastic slopes that go up or down hill, but there is obviously a downhill slope right off the road.  I have taken my F150 down/up jeep trails before and that was stressful enough to not want to ever do that sort of thing again , but with what he said and how the elevation looks on the road on Google earth I don't feel it would be stressful getting out there, provided that things are dry on the road.  He said that most the snow has already melted off with a small bit remaining up a the peaks around the area.

               From what people are saying it shouldn't be too hard to find/make sure you are on the claim.  Don't know if you use it at all, but if you use google earth you can add points to it based off of Coordinates and that might give you a better idea where to look for markers, its one thing looking down at an area where it should be and another actually being on the ground and finding it though. I'll try to send you a message with what I have done on google earth.  Sorry for the long read, just trying to give as much info to your question that I am able .

              I plan on heading out next weekend just to check things out and look around and make sure of things and get a better idea and plan in my mind, who knows, might run into mike while up there.  You'll have to drop us a line and let us know what things were like.  Good luck, and have fun.  oh and one more thing, when your out even on the GPAA claims make sure you have your Gold and Fish pamphlet/book with you, I am fairly certain its required at all times in Washington State.

Hi Jeff,  A two wheel drive can get down to the clearing,  you might get a branch rub or two but do need more ground clearence . I never got down to the creek due the to much snow,  but what I did walk down that way a bit didn't look real bad.  I  parked at the clearing about 2.1 miles in just after crossing a small creek.  My GPS put me almost right in the middle of he claim and google map with cords did the same.  Personally and in my nonprofessional opinion that is the claim, and the other signs are in the wrong place.  If you park about where i did and look to  east there is a large dirt bank,  I got quite a few hits on the detector and we took several buckets home to pan,  a few nice colors, a few soda or beer tabs and a shell casing.  Oh well it was are first "wild" gold so we were pretty excited.  Good luck and have fun and let us know how you did.     

PS   might throw in a chain saw and a tow strap,  there were a few fresh downed trees when I was there

Sorry folks, I couldn't get to Hard Wages this weekend like Hoped, but did get to Peshastin Creek for the morning. Will try again in a coupe weeks, I hope.

A PIC of my Peshastin Creek color for Saturday.

I should be back up there this sunday the 14th. I will be in a 2500HD green blue silverado. Stop by and say hello beer will be cold!