Gerry in Idaho

How can you make life long lasting memories drinking merlot/pinot in the desert? Ya gots to let the hair down on occasion Peg. Only live once right.

Swegin - Your simple way of a quick look back could be, should be and as of now, will be mentioned during my Field Training and for more reasons than just a pick. Thanks for sharing. Klunker - It's funny you mentioned the small axe and wedges. I don't find many of them in NV, but have so in Eastern Oregon and now realize it is the loggers who probably lost them, not the prospectors. Interesting bit and thanks for contributing. Oh, and I think you found your keyboard... 1515Art - Yes I too have left things in other people's rigs. it is almost to the point I'd rather take folks in my own truck so I don't forget my stuff. I find scoops, headphones, pouches, jackets, a big sterling belt buckle that I sent back to the guy and even a nugget container in the truck one time. I keep my training customers emails, so when I get home and clean the truck, I usually have something extra and can get it back to them. Yes APEX is a great pick and luckily they are made here in Idaho, so I get them easily. Thanks for contributing. Flakmagnet - You bring up another good point about spicing up your gear. Since my headphones get passed around during the training, I have come up with yellow tape on both sides, so I can easily see who has them on. Thanks for contributing. Oneguy - We learn as we go, but as we age we sometimes forget the simple things. My wife is notorious for driving away from the house and then I see her drive around the block and by again. So I call her cell, to only find out, she wanted to make sure she closed the garage door. This is almost a weekly thing with her. At least she thinks of it before she gets too far down the road. Then she calls me to check the garage. Funny how we are. Thanks for sharing.

I've done the trip probably 100+ times so I have the mileage down pat. Timing is pretty close as well. I once did Boise to Winnemucca in 3 hrs 15 minutes when I was much younger and had to average 80 MPH, so the straight open was 105, but that is all the truck would do. I've since grew a few old man issues and at least 1 stop, sometimes 2 to water down a dried out sage bush. Plus I also stop in Winnemucca to gas up and of course Walmart is a lifesaver, for the items I seem to forget. Now the average trip from Boise with all my stops and then to the Burn Barrell at RP is right near 6 hours. Yes those rabbits are hard to peel from the front grille. Not good trying to swerve on that road when doing 80 though. Keep it straight and steady. BTW as for the flat tires at Rye Patch. I run 10 ply and go fast. That way, if I do get a puncture, I can get to camp just as it gets flat enough to stop. It is one of those centrifical force things that keeps the air from going out so fast. Glad you are making sure my stories are not stretched to much. But then, they would not be as entertaining...

Jim - Not losing the elevation on the side of a hill as we get older, is sometimes more of a challenge than the actual hunt. I agree, it's a mind over matter. Glad you were able to recover the pick. Thanks for contributing. Matt - Good point on a cost savings (Harbor Freight), but on last weeks hunt, I don't think there was one within 150 miles. Maybe if Elko, NV had one? Since I have seen so many lower quality picks break, I'll just add another APEX to the back of the truck. Good to see you on here and thanks for contributing. Joe - Glad I'm not the only who has done such. You being a beach hunter, I totally know the feeling of losing a scoop. I was with a staff member in Cancun a few yrs back and he got into some rocks, so the $300 scoop was no use. He did not want to lay it on the beach and have someone walk away with it. He laid it down in the rocks under the water. Well an hour later he comes over to me and says I need to help him find his scoop. Now you'd expect a couple guys with $2500 detectors that can find a gold ring 12" deep could find a big metal beach scoop? After about 30 minutes of us criss-crossing I finally get a whopper of a signal and sure enough it was his scoop. Thanks for sharing your same 50+ issues. Valens - You do bring up a point I have seen many timing while training groups of people. Sometimes the younger ones just feel it's easier to buy another than to try and find the original. I've learned, those few folks are normally not going to be good at metal detecting, as patients/persistence is half the battle. Thanks for your input. Skookum - Great points to paint the handles. I actually have a Staff Member who paints all his wood handle picks bright PINK for a couple reasons. 1st is we are doing quite a few trips with many customers when training and most of us all use APEX picks. Not once has a guy grabbed my staff members pink pick thinking it was theirs. Also, the pink pick is easier to spot at distance. BOOTS - I've done that before and now I keep a 2nd pair of detecting boots in my truck at all times. Only benefit of flip flops is there's no metal in them...now that is funny just trying to imagine you out there. Thanks for sharing. DDancer - You bring up a good point about the GPS on the 7000 and plotting your digs. When I was in MX earlier this yr I had one of my staff show me to use the GPS on the 7 and it was much easier than I had expected. It also made things much easier and safer when returning back to the rig after a days hike. I highly recommend those who have GPZ to learn the GPS for such occasions. Glad you were also able to find then night-light a month later. Did it still work? Thanks for adding input. Joe D - Or anyone else who may know. Has the cost of those small GPS Tracking things become relatively inexpensive yet? Yes I keep a 2nd pair of non metal boots in my truck.

You hunt one side of a draw and only find trash. Your mind keeps telling you to cross the drainage below and go back up the other side (grass is always greener theory) so you start hiking away and eventually turn off the 7000 just to cover ground quickly. Eventually getting to the other side, you fire up the machine and start your search. Not 10 minutes into it and that sweet soft sound comes thru the sweaty headphones and I can tell it is not surface trash. I get a little gigglie as I reach over my shoulder to grab my pick and ....holy shit...I reach over my shoulder again to grab my pick...., Now the holy has left and it's just shit... as I realize there is no pick? This is the hard part for guys 50+ as I try to think of where my pick be? Well the sound of that target was too good to leave, so for the next 15/20 minutes I used my plastic scoop as it was not designed and or intended...and scooped/picked away removing bits of dirt, pebbles and clods 1/4" at a time. Eventually 6" later it is removed from the divot in the soil I've so feverishly been working. Now most of us at this point would use the big super magnet at the end of our picks and run it through the freshly removed dirt trying to suck up any iron trash targets. Well as you recall, I did the "holy shit" thing and lost my $100 pick. So going old school (for those of us who's been doing this a while and we had no magnet on our picks), I used the hand/scoop over coil method and eventually found my little treasure. Yes, there it was a nice .2 maybe .3 gram, 100+ yr old beauty of a boot tack. Now I'm not only upset at the old prospector who lost his tack, I'm still pissed at myself for losing that fancy APEX with the magnet. Where could it be?? as I'm thinking and can only guess to hike back down the ravine, across the wash, up the other side (holy shit - this is going to take a while) and then walk around trying to find my last dig spot. I'm just about to the point of calling it a loss and not giving a holy shit anymore and realizing $100 is gone, when I then realize something even more shittier, is the fact that I did not bring a spare pick. Well this would not normally be an issue if I was close to home, but the reality of it...I was in the 2nd of a 4 day prospecting hunt (new area and ground to me) and was almost 500 miles from home. So the reality of things is I better get my holy shit together, hike back up that ridge and walk the side of a mountain trying to find my last dig. Well I have to admit, I didn't think I'd find it, as the sagebrush was 10 to 14" tall and all the terrain looked the same. Luck would be on my side and I eventually did find the pick. You know, I'm usually pretty good at not losing my own pick and in fact have found 2 picks and many scoops in my many yrs of detecting. But I did learn a lesson for future trips. As I get older and these hills get steeper, I better start packing a spare. What is the longest hike back or time you have had to go to find your pick. BTW. The gold in the area is not known to be nuggets (according to the old research records), I guess they missed a few.

Mitchel, You know best. Only the folks who go and try to find gold will be lucky enough to accomplish it. Not all trips have a shiny ending, but we learn from each of them. I've done some crazy drive trips of my own on times past and will probably do another in the future. Yes our older bodies feel it, but our younger minds still think it is doable. I've driven from Boise, Idaho to Rye Patch, NV to hunt for the day and drove back home the same evening. That's over 300 miles to get there (5 hr driving) and then hunt for 8 hrs and then turn around and drive over 300 miles back to Boise. Only thing different, was I did manage to find a few nuggies. Love the pics and thanks for sharing.

If I am to get taxed on my finds, then I'm going to write off every detector purchased, every set of tires, the ATV, the toy hauler and the $80K truck used to haul everything. I'm going to write perdiem on every trip taken and then anything else I can think of. It would not be cost efficient for the IRS if we did it this way. Interesting read.

That triangular Chevron prize is a stunner. Well done Rick and nice to see the pooch out there enjoying some fresh air.

Impressive gold and pics. Your dedication is proof that good gold is still for the taking. Hats of to your successful season.

I most certainly need to go back. Fantastic videos BTW. What a ripper of a 5 ozt.

Well done my friend. You most certainly have 4 very faithful friends and I hope the camaraderie was just as well shared. Looks like one of the guys results were from someone newer to the game. Good on you for sharing the tricks and knowledge. Very inspiring and wanting me to get back out there again. Deep Hole pic, how long is that pick handle? Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful gold Peg. The really flat one with chevron edges is amazing. I noticed you also scored a couple with quite a bit of silver. Were they from the same place as the others or different? Lundy has spent the time out there to learn some areas, so always be on a lookout for him. He's usually quite friendly anyway and his skills are better than most, so not many people is he worried about. Your drink of choice is not my cup of tea, so next time I'm down and or see you, I'll be sure to BMOB. 12 grams is fabulous. Thanks for sharing.

Certainly great timing on the move. I'm willing to bet the value of your CA place actually is down in today's market. I've always like the Reno area and have thought about moving their myself so I could be closer to Lake Tahoe for my water hunts and also closer to RP for my nugget fix. Glad you were able to score some yellow metal and enjoy a good steak and whiskey. See you down there this Fall sometime.

Mitchel, I have had the itch to turn on a machine for a week now and you just scratched it for me. What most folks don't realize? Night Hunting is for real and in many places our detectors will run more smooth and quiet. As an extra bonus, our own senses (brain does amazing things) ratchet up. As soon as ones eye vision is depleted our ears compensate and tune to a new level. My staff and I have spent many moon light nights digging gold with our detectors. Thanks for the scratch and letting us enjoy your travel.

Those are most certainly the best. When I do that with my detecting buddies, I just go back to the truck and have a couple drinks. Really nice looking gold and thanks for sharing.

Well done Allen. I have seen that beauty before somewhere, but it is nice to see it again. As you know those in the US are quite rare and especially the solid ones. Would enjoy seeing you on here more too, so don't be bashful, you have much to add and share. Dave- It is the only way to take my vitamins. Mitchel - We don't have any gold in Idaho, it is full of potatoes and California transplants. Now more from Portland and Seattle...but gold. I seen one once.

Chris Ben - Heck yea those are really nice ones. I really like your last pick with the 8 grams of solid nuggets and their character. You and Dave are going to start a mini gold rush down there and heck, I might even grab a couple of my guys and head that way this winter, just to get out out of the cold/into the gold. I usually head to MX and jump into the water for some ring/jewelry salvage, but not sure it will happen this winter with the CV-19. Thanks for sharing and you Dave for adding some southern NV comfort eye candy to my thread. Well done my friend. FlakMagnet - I'm hoping he does as well and will let him know there is more than me who wants him down there.

DolanDave, It is amazing to see bigger gold coming from Southern NV. So many people tell me there is no big gold and I tell them I have heard of bigger pieces coming from some of the ore dumps. Your pics prove there is good gold across most of Nevada. What so many people don't understand is when you should put down a big machine and grab a smaller VLF. It is one of the things my staff and I share and preach during the training we offer. Thanks for sharing your success and adding to the NV Gold thread.

That is certainly a world class nugget for US standards. I do remember another guy (if my memory is right) who was a Tesoro Dealer back East who I think retired and moved out West. His name was Arizona Al. Jim's place was known for lunkers as you probably recall "Lunker Hill".? Thanks for contributing.

I'll try to get him to reach out to you. It has been a few yrs since he has been down there and as you know, he used to be a regular on a couple forums including this one. Are you going to be down there around then?

Burns Brothers was the name of the Truck Stop. 2 pound Dick (Dick Bailey) used to enjoy introducing himself to the traveling gals coming through. He told me he was slapped in the face one time, but it was worth it. The stories those early electronic prospectors could tell. Where is your piece of heaven at down there?

Sorry to hear of his loss. It's so sad to see the names of folks who have been in the detecting realm for such a long time, finally have to leave us. Hopefully his son follows in his footsteps, but the times have changed and so many of todays generation don't see/dream like we do. I hope the family shares his adventures/dreams/passion and they all should be proud of his accomplishments. Wishing them well during these difficult times. Thanks for the update.

Peg - In 2012 when you hit your 1st RP patch, it had to be a phone call...I'm just in the last year learning the cell phone does more than make a call. Texting is new to me, but I'm learning. The 2nd pic of your 1+ ozt nuggets is amazing and you better have a blown up pic of them hanging on the wall somewhere, maybe in your FL home to keep you smiling every day. Thanks for adding. jrbeatty - Us Yanks dream of that red dirt stained gold of higher purity. Guess the old saying still holds true. "Most everyone thinks the gold is better on the other side of the hills/world". Fact is, we get used to finding one type and so it is quite interesting to see something golden that is different. We all want to put different kids of gold in our collection. Thanks for adding. GB - Glad you enjoyed it so much. As for the Elevation, I feel it has to do more with the region you are in and the elevation most others are finding gold. Yes the NNW part of NV is a lot alike, but I do know of exceptions too. Jason mentioned in an earlier post for North NV and I would have to agree for the most part. Relative to the area is what I prefer. As for % of claimed and open land. Don't take this wrong, but I feel big mining companies claimed land is still open to the guy and his dog walking around with a metal detector. I have yet in all my years been chased of of big mining company claims as they are chasing a different kind of gold. So if I take them out of the equation, I feel there is at least 50% of open land to swing a detector. Thanks for adding.

It was not all through it but if I remember right, I think over a pound of the yellow stuff was in it. Close to a 100 pound boulder and that there is a 25" round coil to give everyone an idea of the size of hole he had to dig. Thanks for all your great posts as well.

Nevada has always been one of my most enjoyable treasure states to visit. Part of why I wanted to make this post (and why I'd like to see others give their input) , is to help guide some of the newer gold prospectors that has joined on with the rise in Au prices around $2000 an ounce. A little history about Nevada and I. I first started detecting Nevada for natural gold in the mid 90's with a local guy from Boise who goes by the name of Largo. He's had some health issues the last few years and not been to RP but promised I'd try to get him down there one more time this Fall. Some of the Gold Experts at the time, I was able to cross paths with and learn a bit or two (if they slipped the tongue- were usually pretty quiet) are names like Smokey Baird, Dog Water, T-Bone, Duffey, Jim Malone, Jim Straight, Gordon Zahara, 7 Up Jerry, Chuck Graff, Digger Bob, Jim Williams and of course Ed Spears...and probably a half dozen other names I can't think of at this moment. If any of you old timers on DP know where some of these folks are, I'd sure like an update. Yes I realize a good part of them have pasted to more golden patches, but I think some are still around and talking the stories of old. These were the guys you needed to watch, listen and listen even more. You paid attention to what they drove and where they traveled. You'd better be at the T & A (for many yrs I thought it was tits & ass) truck stop in Imlay, early in morning to sit a booth down and listen to their stories of the recent hunts and or finds. Eventually after quite some time of seeing the same dusty faces, they might give you time of day. Some of the others never hung there much (guess the T & A wasn't that good), but you might spot the dust cloud of their rig heading to a new patch. Many a times, I would run into 1 or 2 of them out Sawtooth or Jungo way, and they would occasionally toss a bone of knowledge my way. After all I was still pretty new to Nevada and learning the gold detector ropes. Heck in fact, I was still on the VLF band wagon and since I was finding gold every day, thought I was hot shit. Little did I know at the time, those high dollar Minelab PI's were the real deal. My 1st Minelab Gold was with a borrowed SD-2100 (the green one) and it took me about 3 days straight of hunting before I flipped my 1st gold. It was at that depth and time I realized their true power. I've been tethered to one almost ever since. Yes I go back to the VLF's on occasion (actually more than most would think), but I have earned many yrs of detector knowledge and skills, so knowing when to grab the VLF speedster is a must. Still plenty of gold to be found in Northern Nevada, but you need to do your homework. After all, it's not easy to find and that's why some of us on DP who post/comment, we know how hard it is and rewarding at the same time. So here's some help to the newer generation of gold hunters who wants to work hard, walk plenty and do research. I don't have it in stock right now, so it's not about me making a sale... Get this book. Placer Deposits of Nevada by Maureen Johnson. Study the recorded gold recoveries and realize some of the smaller sites will not get the attention they deserve. Lack or water in NV was one of the reasons those sites were so short lived. Google Earth - Using the computer on Google Earth and look for old mining areas, ore dumps and even recent years scrapes. These tip offs will almost always provided a few missed pieces of gold. What I like about G.E. is the ability to see on the other sides of mountains, hills and or areas that I could never get my truck. Elevation - Most of the placer nuggets seem to be in the same elevation zone within a few hundred feet anyway. If you are a follower on DP, then you recently seen this info was spoken and posted. Do your do diligence and read. Indicators - Learn the terminology of Desert Asphalt, Dry Wash Piles, Pushes, Scraps, Iron Cubes and some other terms others might add to this post. Detector Knowledge - Know your detector and then some. Au is around $2000 an ounce. If you have not found gold with it or are going home skunked more than you go home with gold, it might be of wisdom to take some genuine in the field training. Yes it will cost you money, but your learning curve and chances of golden dreams of Success are drastically improved. Location - Go and hunt were gold has been found before. DO NOT try to be the 1st at finding gold in a region, mountain drainage that has never produced and or doesn't show any signs. Just because you were hiking a mountain ridge while chasing Chucker and seen a quarts blowout. Once you have become proficient at finding gold and building up your patience, then you might do an occasional "prospecting" trip. Best advice is stay in the areas that has already produced. Todays never detectors and their technologies still finds a few the old machines missed. Patience - If you can't handle detecting for hours with no gold, please stick to coin/relic hunting as their rewards are much easier and faster. As I mentioned earlier in the post, those of us who have passed the patience test are the same ones who get that tickle in the tummy, giggle of the grin and joy of doing what so many can't, finding a piece of gold with the detector. Prepared - Know your body and its limitations. No metal boots is a MUST if you swing a powerful PI, ZED or bigger coil on a VLF. Rare Earth Super Magnet on the end of a good quality pick. Super Bungee, Harness, Swing Arm, Hip Stick are all designed to allow for more comfort that allows for longer/easier time in the field swinging a detector. Non Metal Plastic Nugget Cup or Trowel to help speed up the recovery of targets. Common Courtesy - Pack out your trash and even some of those who don't. Never toss a dug up piece of trash back on the ground, please put it in your pouch. Fill your holes as the ranches cows and those of us who hunts nights hate stepping in a hole. Respect Private Property and or Claims. Wildlife - Northern Nevada has an abundance of wild horses and some burros, deer elk, mountain lions, bears, big horn sheep and plenty of moo cows. A variety of reptiles, some poisonous and most not, even a few tortoise, tarantulas. As I get older more mature and wise, I learn to appreciate each of the species I might be fortunate to cross paths with and now let them all live. Yes on occasion a rattlesnake in camp might need to be exterminated, but for the most part, this is their land and they are not trying to hurt us. Now for some pics (I do hope others who have had success will take the time to share their pics) of Nevada gold. HooverRover.bmp