klunker

Come ahead on up. But beware of the Sierra Croc! Now there's a nugget digging son of a gun, but you'll have to wait about another year for my report about them.

Photo of a Plumas Kwail as promised

Ornithologists and biologist all believe that they have been extinct for nearly a century but us old time Plumas County prospectors know that they are alive and well and thriving. I am referring, of course, to the Plumas Kwail. This is a very unique bird and is quite important to the local prospectors. It is unique in that it hibernates in the winter and emerges each year about the first of April. it is important to the knowledgeable Plumas County prospector because it is known to pick up and swallow the densely scattered small sunbaker gold nuggets that are so abundant here in Plumas county. All you have to do is sneak up on one of the birds and jump up and scare it, then detect it's droppings. If you by chance find a covey of Plumas Kwail a multi ounce day is common. I will post a photo forthwith.

Not far from here is an old town on the north fork of the Feather River with a fabulous history. One of the few residents there posted a sign "Welcome to Rich Bar. A quaint drinking town with a mining problem". I, being a very self disciplined prospector, only drink when I'm depressed because I found no gold or when I celebrate because I found gold.

Goldbrick might show up about then and Sourdough Scott is just up th' road a ' piece. Heck, we could have our own spring break party.

Mr. VAPaul; Please wear your mask when you pass through. I'm not concerned about a virus but your mug scares my horses. keep me posted on your journey.

We have a winner for 2 klunker points. you may turn your points in now for a chintzy prize or collect them for a less chintzy prize.

I have dowsed so much gold that I don't need $61000.00.

But you know darned well I would never "build a story".

If one of them danged things hits my Jeep I'm going to be ------.

Caught me a tertiary trout one time. If your going to prospect the Sierras the above mentioned publications are the place to start. Here is a little secret, but don't tell anyone. These ancient channels were fed by smaller tributaries the same as today's rivers. Some of these are not covered by immense depths of andesite and mud flows and can be very productive. I have my own theories about the age and processes by which these channels were formed but what do I know.

A little bit on Rich Mountain in Polk County.

I have never owned a detector. I do remember walking past a GPX 4000 that was standing in the corner of my workshop when my foot became mysteriously tangled in the power cord. The only way to escape was to take it detecting. So I did. And just the other day when I moved my GPZ7000 my hand became locked onto the handle. I knew it wouldn't release me until I took it out detecting. So I did. I have had things like this happen with numerous models of Minelab detectors. My detectors own me.

My favorites are whatever Sourdough Scott has with him. The quantity varies depending on the quality of my starving prospector act. When I am by myself I carry various forms of salted cholesterol. When I Forget my lunch (with my pick) I resort to pine nuts and acorns. I do always keep a meal or two of whatever will survive for weeks in the bottom of my backpack -sardines, dried fruits, jerky...

Mr. Zortan; I will purchase a GPX6000 based on your predictions. Did you sign up for "Detector Prospector Post Insurance" just for the off chance that you might be wrong?

Yikes! I am the type that could break the horn off an anvil. I use my 7000 about as hard as anyone on this planet and contrary to my initial fears it has held up very well (3+ years) but I do put a bit more effort in not knocking it around. The foot on my 7000 lasted 2 days. I never replaced it. I have broken about 37 lower shafts Until I made my own fix. I have to agree with Steve- The GPX7000 is not fragile.

I take the bear minimum. which means I don't take much more than a bear takes. I go to sleep looking at the stars. I wake up looking at the rain clouds. I go back to sleep looking at the transmission. My coffee tastes like mud because it's ground every morning. Warm beer and Oreo cookies and warm beer are delicious if properly prepared (when you forget your can opener). You will have to use your imagination instead of photos. Just picture a beat up old Jeep with bald tires, a cardboard box full of dust and canned goods and a 1 quart mayonnaise jar half full of nuggets.

Me thinks you guys need to learn prospecting "Klunker Style".

Change to "peanut butter jar". In this area things can change in less time than it takes to dig a deep nugget. My detecting style can best be described as "flappin' in th' breeze". I am also shamefully lazy so my prospecting tools are kept to a light minimum - detector, pick, a folding pruning saw and sometimes a scoop. However I do carry a backpack with some items to get me by if I really screw up (Just think about what you would need if you were stuck out overnight). Cell phone coverage in this area is probably less than 30%.

Whew! until I saw this I was feeling a bit left out.

Nugget hunting in the Sierra snow. The only guaranteed cure.

Use a pickup bar on an electric guitar.

Adding a live thumb.

Mr. G,H. You have just received some very good time and money saving advise. The only thing I might add is I have nothing to add except I wish you the best of luck. Please keep us posted about you up coming adventures.

Sheecan wood is wood hat I bring home that "shee can split".