HardPack

Been experiencing Spring like weather for the last couple of days but that is about to change. The National Weather Service just issued a blizzard warning for the Sierra Nevada west slope for Thursday 2/29/24 through Sunday 3/3/24.

“…One to four feet of snow is forecast above 4,000 feet. Four to ten feet of snow is expected above 6,000 feet. Snowfall will range from 2 to 4 inches per hour. Winds could gust as high as thirty-five to sixty-five mph, especially on exposed ridgetops and along the crest. Widespread blowing snow will create blizzard conditions, with white-out conditions and near zero visibility. Very strong winds, combined with a heavy snow load could cause extensive tree damage and extended power outages. Wind chills as low as fifteen to twenty below zero can be expected.”

link to California Weather Watch

Be prepared, stay warm, stay safe and good luck!

“ a storm is coming”… sounds like something is about to be blown away. Did notice Garrett is offering an Australian “Axiom Lite” version, on sale until March 31st. The day after on April 1st is Garrett’s 60th anniversary….an ATX  CamoLite?😗

The property owner should check the property deed and title search documents to verify if the mineral rights were included in the purchase of the property. You may discover that the sub-surface mineral rights were retained by prior sellers. Never came across a situation where the surface minerals right were retained by the seller. 

There’s a link to a vendor with DIY Lithium battery kits and several YouTube “How to” videos:

https://jag35.com/

The vendor has developed a stackable PCB system for several types of Li batteries which does not require welding or soldering the batteries banks in series or parallel. You can expand the stack to fit your needs plus add a BMS (battery management system) board, DC/AC invertors, solar charge controller, etc. He also has an “ammo can” setup which may be a good fit for the wet of placer claims. 

I have a small truck camper equipped with solar/LFP which allows for dc battery recharging via an interior 12v/10a car plug. Also installed an exterior solar plug so a portable solar panel could be kept in the sun. A USB plug can also be inserted into the car plug for additional device charging. If equipped you can also recharge via a vehicle 12v car plug while traveling down the road. Lots of flexible options out there. 

2 hours ago, moondog69 said:

Options always options.

The box appears large enough for a small mppt solar charge controller if needed. Two separate battery banks would allow recharging of one unit while the other is in use then swapping out batteries. The solar panel(s) could remain back in camp or mounted on a RV roof with charging via a 12vdc carport. This option may require more exploring. Thanks for sharing.

56 minutes ago, moondog69 said:

I used a cigar travel box as the case

What is the brand and dimensions of the travel box. Definitely appears more portable, could recharge if needed back at camp. 

7 hours ago, Valens Legacy said:

You may want to try Eco-Worthy

Been following the Eco-Worthy solar tracker. Also tested the Jackery 100 watt solar saga panel, it is only two folding panels which makes for an easier setup. Same DC7909 input jack plus when the sun was not behind the clouds produced 90 watts and more. After the next storms past through I’ll take the HB setup out to the claim and run some dirt. 

Brief test run of the Bluetti EB3A and SP120. The EB3A power station has a DC/Solar input rated at 12-28vdc / 8.5 amps; The output car-plug is rated at 12vdc / 10 amps. The SP120 folding solar panel is rated at 120 watts, VOC 23.7vdc, ISC 6.66.amps. The bilge pump is rated at 90 watts, 12vdc / 7.5 amps. 

Normally the power station would be placed in the shade of the solar panel.

Sky: cloudy. The solar panel provided 69 watts; the pump draw was 85 watts; note the 12.8 hours of remaining runtime. Apparently the smaller Bluetti EB3A is less efficient testing at 85 watts than the Jackery E1500 tested at 73 watts. In full sun the solar panel should provide in excess of 85 watts. 

6 hours ago, Valens Legacy said:

Looks like just the right amount of snow to be able to use your metal detector for a few hours

Been working on a rechargeable 12v heat gun coil adaptation plus deep seeking Bluetooth equipped snowshoes. My thinking is that it’ll be similar to snorkeling without the wet of liquid water. If this all works out the next cabin shack build is planned for a beach along a South Pacific Island.

Make note of the power station DC/solar input jack size & type. What you are looking for is the ability to use a solar panel of your choice. The EB3A has a female 8mm thin pin barrel input DC 7909 plug. The solar adapter cable has a male DC 7909 that branches to two MC4 connectors. The MC4 connectors open the door for a wider selection of solar panels. The power station DC input jack and the internal charge controller wattage/amperage rating determines the maximum solar panel size & input. The higher the capacity the power station the longer the runtime but also the longer the recharge time. Another advantage of a power station as opposed to a stand alone LFP battery is that must power stations have USB ports that can be used to charge up a metal detector, headphones, headlamps, cell phones, etc. 

14 hours ago, Guys gold said:

Maybe the lakes can hold the runoff

It appears the storage reservoirs are currently at 90% capacity. If a pineapple express hits during March there may be some flooding in the lower elevations and Central Valley . Right now the stream flows are normal for winter….frozen.

Picked up a Bluetti EB3A power station ($200), figured runtime at 3 hour at 73 watts for the 12v/7.5 amp pump plus the Bluetti SP120 watt solar panel should provide at least 73 watts per hour.

Homestead Cabin on January 28, 2024

Homestead Cabin on February 23, 2024

Homestead Cabin on March 8, 2024

.

10 minutes ago, F350Platinum said:

Happy Spouse, Happy House

Nope, missed that one too. In hind sight probably explains why I was staying with grandma. 🤨

37 minutes ago, F350Platinum said:

Y'all know the saying.

Not unless you are referring to “better late than never” or “you’ve really stepped in it now”. Truly thought I had found the perfect Valentines gift. Apparently Old Grandma mentioned  the “saying” you’re alluding to while I was out cutting a fresh willow switching stick. Do recall “can you hear me now”.  🥸

Looks good but appears to draw a lot of hostile fire. All I can say is them elk hunters need to get themselves a good mule that doesn’t balk at a stream crossing plus a retainer clip for their Poseidon battery pack. Oddly enough I do find it comforting to know there is a water-proof, bullet-proof battery pack prepared to take on the next ice age but is it…bear proof?

7 hours ago, Lost Scout said:

but I know that I have to research, practice and spend the time with the coil to the ground and pay attention to what I'm doing

For me whether a pan or a detector it is the research of the history and the geology. Sometimes it is being out of doors but mainly it is the exploring. Over a period of time a detector will draw a picture of those who lived a life most only read about. The only thing remaining is the gold they missed and the trash they left behind. If they of had ate bean from aluminum cans, we’d all be rich. 

Still exploring the LFP battery options. Already have a Bluetti SP120 watt solar panel plus two Jackery Solar Saga 100 watt solar panels. The Jackery Explorer 300 plus and Bluetti EB3A have to low a watt hour rating. The Jackery 500 has a shorter life cycle Li Ion battery, the Ecoflow River 2 Max has low DC efficiency rating plus a higher price. The Bluetti EB55 works except for the price point of $398. The only other option is to purchase a 12v 50 a/h LFP battery and a PWM solar charge controller ($50) for one of the solar panels. The Li Time LFP battery ($169) has a few good reviews. The Renogy and Battleborn 12v 50 a/h batteries are the price of the EB55 then some. Weather is moving back in, so no hurry.

“…it’s the truth, it’s actual, everything is satis-factual.” 

45 minutes ago, Jeff McClendon said:

Of course, that comparison was done with 4 to 5" of moderate to highly iron mineralized dirt not 8 to 10"

Understood, I am seeing similar moderate depths in the field with the Legend LG24, started carrying a small rake with a magnet to layer downward. Solid machine the Legend. 

On 8/2/2022 at 2:52 AM, Victorius said:

By analogy with the bends in the river?

Yes. Gold will settle in low pressure areas, back eddies, etc and will move downward towards bedrock (or false bedrock) as the particles travel down slope or down stream. On the hillside look for a decrease in the degree of slope such as a narrow bench or even a path or trail and around large boulders. You could pan sample up stream until the gold drops off then dry pan sample or detect upslope on one or both sides of the drainage. Keep a look out for hillside surface quartz float with rust from iron oxidation. Once the hillside quartz float drops off move back down slope looking for a quartz vein outcropping. The major quartz veins will run with the faults often with minor quartz vein crossings. If iron is present at these crossings (pockets) the gold will drop out. Keep in mind these vein may not surface. The old timers would dig a trench to bedrock below and parallel to the suspected quartz vein. Gold can travel for miles downstream from the original source. Do some research on pocket gold mining and sampling.  Good luck.

The results of the Legend in Goldfield M plus hitting a nickel at 10 inches with the LG24 is encouraging.  A lot to think about in the results. Thanks for the effort.

You make it look easy.

19 hours ago, streak said:

spend many hours researching before buying any gear

Yes.

Clay mud pounding zone with a small punch plate locked behind a 1/2 inch raised lip. Using an assortment of Gold Hog mats. Moved the rubber flap forward for the photo.