Snow On My Roof This Morning

[Steve Herschbach]

Up until last week I have been out prospecting five days a week. October in northern Nevada has been great but winter storms were predicted so last week was my last. It chilled off considerably in Reno the last couple days with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s. Main development was snow in the high country and even a little on the roofs in Reno this morning. Snow in the mountains is a good thing what with the drought and all, but puts an end to my maybe going up into the Sierras on day trips. Looks like time to settle down into winter mode.

When I moved to Reno I had visions of hunting here until fall, and then hunting Arizona in the winter. Reality has set in and I have found that after prospecting more or less non-stop for two thirds of the year that taking the other third off seems like a good thing. The plan now is to do a little detecting for jewelry in the parks during warmer spells of weather or maybe even a day trip prospecting now and then if it warms enough. But the week long trips are done for now. The good news is more time to work on the website/forum and do a little more writing.

Anyone have any great winter plans? You guys farther south are no doubt gearing up with the cooler weather. Chris and I are looking at a trip to Arizona in February but main goal there is to visit the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show.

[Tortuga]

I've got time off work around Thanksgiving and Christmas and plan to do some detecting and maybe camping. I'd like to explore some different areas than the norm like maybe Rich Hill or the Bradshaws. Still need to get up to Gold Basin and Quartzite one of these days too.

I always take a few days off work to attend the gem show too. Never know what kinda cool stuff you're going to find there.

[californiagold]

Yeah steve it is definitely getting colder outside. We definitely need the snow pack and alot of rain. I hate to say I would like it to be a really wet winter, cause it screws up my gold detecting time. But we really need it bad. Last few winters it was like spring in Dec/jan. We seen manzanita bushes blossom in December. Usually they blossom in February. Ill just have to go when the weather is good. Last good el nino in 97'-98 was a good washing down of the hills and alot more gold was exposed. So atleast next spring we can look forward to that. I know reno gets really cold so hope you stay warm this winter. I will look forward to your wintertime writings.

Good luck

[klunker]

 Since Steve owns this forum I guess he can use four letter words like sn--. Looks like we've been had in the high country as this last bit of sn-- hasn't melted of at all and sn-- is prediced for next Sunday. D--- it.

[vanursepaul]

I can't believe a man who has been known to put on a dry suit,  and then jump right in to Crow Creek river in  AK in the middle of winter, is letting a little fall weather deter his nugget hunting!!!!

[Steve Herschbach]

Funny thing, I used to really pride myself on my resistance to cold. I guess I still have it to a degree but the reality is after dealing with it for my entire life I have just had enough of it. That and I am not the hot blooded youngster I used to be. I could stick my hands in ice water back in the day that would hurt me now. Fingers and toes are not circulating like they used to. Nope, I am a warm weather weenie now and proud of it!

The Cremation of Sam McGee
By Robert W. Service

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
      By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
      That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
      But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
      I cremated Sam McGee.

Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee, where the cotton blooms and blows.
Why he left his home in the South to roam 'round the Pole, God only knows.
He was always cold, but the land of gold seemed to hold him like a spell;
Though he'd often say in his homely way that "he'd sooner live in hell."

On a Christmas Day we were mushing our way over the Dawson trail.
Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven nail.
If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze till sometimes we couldn't see;
It wasn't much fun, but the only one to whimper was Sam McGee.

And that very night, as we lay packed tight in our robes beneath the snow,
And the dogs were fed, and the stars o'erhead were dancing heel and toe,
He turned to me, and "Cap," says he, "I'll cash in this trip, I guess;
And if I do, I'm asking that you won't refuse my last request."

Well, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no; then he says with a sort of moan:
"It's the cursèd cold, and it's got right hold till I'm chilled clean through to the bone.
Yet 'tain't being dead—it's my awful dread of the icy grave that pains;
So I want you to swear that, foul or fair, you'll cremate my last remains."

A pal's last need is a thing to heed, so I swore I would not fail;
And we started on at the streak of dawn; but God! he looked ghastly pale.
He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day of his home in Tennessee;
And before nightfall a corpse was all that was left of Sam McGee.

There wasn't a breath in that land of death, and I hurried, horror-driven,
With a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid, because of a promise given;
It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: "You may tax your brawn and brains,
But you promised true, and it's up to you to cremate those last remains."

Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code.
In the days to come, though my lips were dumb, in my heart how I cursed that load.
In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, while the huskies, round in a ring,
Howled out their woes to the homeless snows— O God! how I loathed the thing.

And every day that quiet clay seemed to heavy and heavier grow;
And on I went, though the dogs were spent and the grub was getting low;
The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give in;
And I'd often sing to the hateful thing, and it hearkened with a grin.

Till I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge, and a derelict there lay;
It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice it was called the "Alice May."
And I looked at it, and I thought a bit, and I looked at my frozen chum;
Then "Here," said I, with a sudden cry, "is my cre-ma-tor-eum."

Some planks I tore from the cabin floor, and I lit the boiler fire;
Some coal I found that was lying around, and I heaped the fuel higher;
The flames just soared, and the furnace roared—such a blaze you seldom see;
And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and I stuffed in Sam McGee.

Then I made a hike, for I didn't like to hear him sizzle so;
And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, and the wind began to blow.
It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled down my cheeks, and I don't know why;
And the greasy smoke in an inky cloak went streaking down the sky.

I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear;
But the stars came out and they danced about ere again I ventured near;
I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: "I'll just take a peep inside.
I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked"; ... then the door I opened wide.

And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar;
And he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: "Please close that door.
It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm—
Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm."

There are strange things done in the midnight sun

      By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
      That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
      But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
      I cremated Sam McGee.

[vanursepaul]

HAhahahaha...

I hear you!!

 

Funny thing bout Sam McGee---Scott and I just went over that poem about a month ago on facebook----

 

Service def knew the Yukon and miners, but i read he was actually a late arriving bank clerk....

 

I have a feeling he was a good listener too!!!!

[Sourdough Scott]

I hear you on the winter blues. I get depressed not being able to go out in the sticks and prospecting and detecting. So I plan on doing some parks and old homesteads this winter weather permitting. Maybe some rye patch. Also waiting for a invite from Lucky Lundy to go hit the foothills near Oroville and Yuba city.lol

[mn90403]

Our season is just getting started down here.

 

Stay tuned and watch Lunk get the gold!

 

Mitchel

[vanursepaul]

Hahaha lol