Mac

Good God! This would get old. At least the eroding of more soils puts more gold in your claim perhaps. You have a great perspective and attitude about it. Your small scale commercial operation intrigues me due to having the same interest/ desire. And that rig is going to be added to my want list to one day hire someone to build one for me. What an awesome tool. What makes that site a detectorist site? Is it the lack of water for dredging or tailings piles or on a creek with public panning? I'm old hat when it comes to prospecting/ mining but am a fairly and was a very reluctant newcomer to detecting. So I hold "some" ignorance I will readily admit lol. As for those bows you speak of ... as a fly rodder x 40 years that is honestly an epic challenge beyond measure for me -- gold mining versus fishing. Very difficult to manage those two competing passions. You must be on/ near the KR or the Anchor River ... true paradise. Headed to Resurrection River in 2 days for a 4 day detecting/ sluicing adventure at the public zone. Having/ working a claim as a small scale solo commercial miner, free from others being around, would be better! Thanks for the note. Good hunting ... and soon, good fishing!

That is spot on. For many years I battled the dilemma of fly fishing versus gold prospecting ... which to do ... impossible to do both well, so I'd set out with all the gear for both, hit a stream, see the trout, the dollies, the grayling, the salmon. Fly fishing won out every time. But then, x number of years ago it shifted to the 60/40 gold prospecting/ fly fishing, and each summer since shifted more and more to gold, gold, gold. Now it's all I do. But anyway, man can I identify with what you state ... have been a serious recreational miner most passionate about field trips looking for the geology that indicates gold, that research being how I got through many a long winter. Busting rocks with rock hammer is pure joy. But so is sluicing. I can dig, concentrate, sit next to and feed a sluice all day. Love it. I can also detect all day. Love it too. Find myself wanting to do both. So I detect for x hours then go sluice for x hours. Sluicing now competes with detecting for time availability -- same dilemma that use to apply between fly fishing versus panning. And here I am this summer for the first time, and for reasons I really don't understand, I find myself very seriously debating getting into commercial mining in some way. Not for gold income at all either but the intense passion/ joy/ pleasure I find in these activities. And ya, exactly like you said "when get 'bit' by Gold Fever you are bit deeply, and go in with body, mind, soul ... in reverse order! And wallet, indeed. But oddly that part is enjoyable too; more joy spending cash on gold prospecting/ mining related stuff than any other purchase ever made, although firearms may be a tie. What is both benefit and curse at the same time, is my wife encourages all of this spending and mining activity because she is just as passionately addicted to it as I am. So am likely to stay a recreational prospector/ miner due to being pulled in so many directions/ commitments but I covet the idea of being a commercial operator. One of those "grass always more green on other side" type things, except in our case (all of us bit by gold) it's gold over there on the other side too, and naturally it pulls us over there, same as a water source pulls a divining rod. ... oh well, there are much worse addictions eh?

Absolutely love your operation! That trailer equipped mini excavator has me in lust mode ... did you design/ build that thing? Ingenious mate! Flood gold on the Kenai Pen to that extent is just great! Nothing better than having one's own claim. How often do the DNR folks drop in to check your system out? You sure do some seriously strenuous work moving those boulders. Thanks for the pics and the enjoyable read.

I do not think of ANY native gold as "ugly" ... all of it is beautiful. I agree with beatup -- keep it natural. I'd place it in a shadow box with other nuggets that are different in appearance and have the box on my coffee table.

This line of questioning doesn't fit any of the forums. I'm interested to know who is involved -- present and/or past -- in any capacity whatsoever, with commercial gold mining operations? There are many aspects of mining commercially that I hold zero awareness of and wish to change that. Commercial mining fascinates me and sometimes consumes my mind. More like all the time. So, I simply would like to know who's who on this forum: Who is into gold prospecting and mining recreationally only? Who is into it for commercial purposes and/or has a business as a commercial miner, thus into it for the financial ROI not just pleasure? This is curiosity mostly, but also wish to know who's who so that I can follow everything provided by them and learn before asking any questions/ avoiding asking stupid questions. And for personal and business interests also (would find it rewarding personally to serve/ do business with or work in the mining industry).

Ditto. Gold-specific geology and geophysical research having been my way of getting through the long winters for years and then come spring in late May to June getting out into the field on expeditions to find the indicators ... absolutely love it and is tough to pull back from that life-long interest. And on mountain climbs in the past, not for prospecting, but just to climb, having the know-how to spot and interpret rock formations specific to gold has really proved interesting. But ya what you, JW and Steve say is what has been realized just recently ... too much thinking makes it more complex than it has to be, and likely has led to walking right past some productive ground while out there pretending to be a geologist/ geophysicist.

You definately played it smart by calling first and being prepared. There are indeed too many restrictions and I fear more are coming. The cannot "disturb the soil in its natural state" is such BS. This is unncessary and discrimination against recreational prospectors and miners in my opinion, and as big of a double standard as it gets. Immense damage, irreversible destruction of the soil and vegetation, occurs in a commercial mining operation and yet that's just fine and dandy. But the recreational hand miner with a pick-axe, digging a 20 inch deep narrow hole by hand and returning the soils/ rock to cover the hole, is persecuted. It is possible but unlikely we could meet for detecting given I'm more of a loner than social when in the outdoors, especially when hunting gold, which consumes my mind even during the drive (am thinking of my hunting strategy during the drive rather than chatty) and also, my wife and I detect together and she's much like me in the loner category. A big factor is also how extremely short our summers are, which really severely limits what can be done due to other commitments be it the kids or our business, etc. And we detect on our claim as much as we can manage and it's not close by so that's an issue too. In a month it's moose hunting season which is really going to be tough fitting it all in ... summer now more than half over already and am not too happy about it either ha. My wife is winning the contest of whose going to find the most gold in 2018 and am running outta time to catch up

Thank you kindly for reading my post and making this very candid response. I have watched that particular video but not since having bought the ATX, so will rewatch it and will study what they talk of, not just watch it like I have in the past. I appreciate this suggestion. And to me, it's irrelevant you have no ATX experience -- you have experience with detectors and I trust your insights/ judgment and value your advice/ guidance, for this matter is of supreme frustration. The sensitivity-threshold-volume equation is a source of uncertainty, so I find myself experimenting at times without really knowing what to do. Steve's ATX experiences have been read/ studied in detail both before and after getting the ATX and it's actually his ATX settings for gold detecting that I use, which includes a max sensitivity of 13 ... but I think, in fact am convinced, that the key difference (in why his settings do fine for him and yet his settings do not serve me well) is because I lack his knowledge/ expertise/ high-level scientific knowledge of the machine, which he has figured out down to a fine science, not to mention his skill/ mastery of the detector technology across the board, which is then applied to each individual unit (make/ model) with ease. So, what I will have to do is remind myself when in the field to set/ find the settings that serve me best, at my level of ATX mastery which I'd put at the 65% level at best, and not attempt to set the ATX at settings that a master such as Steve uses. Thanks again for your help!

Greetings; I'm just outside of Wasilla. I have been to Crow Creek but not with detectors, so can't help you there. As for Hatcher, may I ask whereabouts did you detect in Hatcher? Most of the Hatcher zone is off limits unless you own/ have access to a claim; and pretty much the whole region is claimed, and for some time now the lands the claims are located on is private property -- the owners of the claim own the land and own the mineral rights too, not just a state or federal claim on state or federal lands, but is their patented claim, which simply means private property including private ownership of the land and its surface/ subsurface minerals. All of those old mines are patented claims and privately owned lands now; and some of those old mines are active mines. Venture onto that land without written permission and you're at extreme high risk for liabilities -- it's considered not just trespassing but the intent to commit theft of minerals locatable on those patented claims. As for Independence Mine, not just the mine itself but the entire perimeter of the historical site -- which covers a large area; extends down to the road thru the pass; includes most of Skyscraper mountain, etc -- forbids detectors. All historical sites in the state have this law; and laws actually state it's illegal to have a detector in your possession. It doesn't even need to be in your hands; need not even be in use! If you are driving through or parked within the zone (Independence Mine State Historical Area), and have a detector in your vehicle, you're violating State statutes and can be fined rather substantially/ put on courtview and facebook. And I suspect they're fine-happy rather than prone to give warnings, same as ADFG/ AST, are likely intolerant of non-awareness and instead, giving of fines and court dates. Summit Lake is an AK State Park/ Recreational Area and those lands are also off limits; cannot do any digging nor defacing of vegatation in any Alaska State Park/ Recreational Area/ Wild & Scenic River, etc. The Hatcher Public Use area may allow detectors but I'd advise verifiying it via a call to the DNR or visiting their Anchorage office for info. I have only panned there. I have access to claims in Hatcher on upper Willow Creek but haven't detected there yet, just dredging and sluicing in the past. Unrelated to detecting, for a business project underway, I'm in the process of gaining permission to access old lode gold mines; wish to climb to the tailings and inspect/ photograph certain things. However, not even that is easily gained. Miners here by and large are wary and guarded and rightly so, the commercial mine owners and patented claim owners especially due to liabilities. So my advice before heading out is checking DNR online mapping system so you know what coordinates are off limits and plug these into your GPS/ cell phone so as to avoid risk of inadvertant trespass and/or claim jumping, or detecting in state/ federal areas that prohibit it. What I repeatedly find -- and find extremely frustrating -- is in much of the state, detecting is allowed yet searching for what is detected is prohibited; you can use a detector, but you cannot disturb the ground, nor disturb nor deface any vegetation, nor break a root, etc. So basically, detector use in the way a detector is meant to be used, is forbidden. No one uses a detector just to get a signal then move on to the next signal, never doing any digging to find the target. Yet the state laws and municipal and borough codes expect this and issue fines and court dates if you violate it. Thus, no City of Wasilla property including but not limited to parks allows you to use a detector and dig for a target. Since becoming a detectorist last summer I have discovered more restrictions for detecting, than restrictions/ regs for fishing and hunting combined, which is quite the statement but accurate. It's ridiculous and frustrating ... detecting/ digging targets is no more destructive to riparian habitat than digging to feed a sluice and dredging over cobbles where salmon fry thrive. But convince the state employees of that and don't hold your breath. All of this nonsense is largely why I opted to buy a mining claim for my own exclusive use and now own claims in different gold bearing districts just so that I have unrestricted access to detect at will. Problem with that, however, is the state demands a percent of your gold! So it's best to not go the claims route unless you're really heavily centered on full scale mining with excavators and dozers in addition to detectors, and that's where I am likely headed.

Detected an area that has a history of producing gold including small nuggets -- and have found pickers and larger yet small nuggets in my sluice here in past years with predictable confidence of finding more if put in the energy/ time -- but has a lot of ferrous trash above and below surface, and high mineralization. Experienced difficulty with the GB/ threshold and/or volume of the ATX. Did 4 resets -- factory reset 1st, then a freq scan, and then a GB readjustment, in that order -- trying to achieve a uniform response/ background noise. Detected and dug up nails and trash so it was working. But it was difficult to find the "right" threshold to assure a stable reliable pattern of signaling. At times, despite having just redone the GB, the ATX sounded nonstop -- loud continuous signaling despite having volume set at default (10) and headphones volume barely audible, and also tried with volume set higher and at max volume, with headphones volume adjusted low as could go, as is advised. But had the sensitivity set at the max of 13, not default setting of 10. So maybe that is the cause for the trouble finding its stability sweet spot. IDK Also at times, the very same areas where this incessant signaling occurred then yielded no signal at all -- total silence as if the ATX was switched off. For example, I'd sweep slowly to the left and the voice was loud/ nonstop loud signaling as if the volume was set at max (which it wasn't; volume was set at 10); sweeping back to the right over the same area it would do the same; sweeping further to the right however led to total silence/ not a peep; but then, I swept the area to the left again, and that same area that had had the loud incessant chatter was then totally silent as if the ATX was off. This was a repetitive issue and totally destroyed my confidence in its use. I tried it in water and on land. And regardless of location in that area it was the same pattern. I got so frustrated with it I put it away and got out the shovel, buckets and sluice. GB2 however (used by my wife) found gold minus any of these GB/ threshold issues. On a related note ... I have read (on other forums and websites) that others say the VLF and PI both produce a steady, stable background hum. Not for me. The GB2 has a reliable hum that makes it super easy to detect the faintest shift change. ATX? Not even close. ATX doesn't have a reliable hum at all. ATX hum is virtually impossible to discern distinct from its signaling (hard to know what the hum is, and is supposed to be, versus what is assumed to be a false signaling). Creates a frustrating guessing game.... So, it seems to me the VLF and PI differ markedly in what kind of hum is produced; and the PI absent of such a hum perhaps. So, am wondering do other ATX users find the same thing? Or might the hum/ lack of hum experience differ by type of ground detected -- water versus land; highly mineralized versus low to none; heavily trashed versus negligible ferrous crap littering the subsurface layers, etc. Maybe I just don't grasp the volume/ threshold equation specific to the ATX. Dare I admit it, more often than not, I have trouble setting it to a barely audible threshold/ volume. If I put the ATX volume at max (level 25) and try to adjust the headphones volume to barely audible, it's impossible to get the noise level that low. It's loud. And my hearing isn't even all that great yet the noise remains loud, not barely audible. Volume settings between factory default of 10 and max of 25 just do not allow me to adjust the headphones to barely audible -- the detector's voice remains loud regardless. Countless detectorists on YT videos and forums advise "turning the detector volume to its max and adjust the headphones volume low enough as that the detector's voice/ threshold/ hum/ background is just barely audible, which makes it easy to detect a variance." This is a piece of cake on the GB2. What am I doing wrong on the ATX???

I have owned a VLF and done well with it. Like you, I was ready for a PI and favored the ATX for 4 reasons: (1) its collapsable design, for the same reasons you state; (2) waterproof, for prospecting in streams and beaches, and no need to stop when it rains; (3) the reputable reviews as to its ease of learning; and (4) most of all, its small to large nugget detecting at depths not too far off from the GPX 5000, yet considerably less costly and not as complex to learn as this one is. So a few months ago I bought the ATX, including its deepseeker 15x20 open mono coil (which I really don't see much use for where I am detecting, and have only used it a few times and found it's not an easy coil to use, for my use anyway/ my skill level with it, and debating selling it). I also bought the 11x13 DD closed coil (which is used only on land) and have the standard open DD 10x12 coil which gets a lot of use underwater and near water. For the most part, yes I do like the ATX. I have yet to find any gold -- just a lot of nails and all other FT imaginable -- but I have only used it in the field at most maybe 10 hours so have not quite "paid my dues yet" and is just a matter of time. Its weight is not an issue for me, but I am a hunter and also carry a shotgun for bear safety, so the weight issue is mute due to having that conditioning/ being use to having a heavy object in hand for long durations/ treks. The biggest negative I have with it is twofold -- the ground balancing can be a challenge at times. It is automatic, yes and easy to do, yes ... but sometimes I find I have to do a factory reset and repeat the GB 2 to 4 times in the same area, due to reasons I really don't understand. But it erodes my confidence in it being able to detect and so that is a concern. Also, unlike the VLF, the ATX doesn't put out a constant background hum/ threshold. And it's damn challenging to borderline maddening to get the volume set right ... Sometimes the damn thing sounds constantly and loud, then goes silent -- in the very same area. Sometimes, such as yesterday in a highly mineralized zone, it behaved erractically despite 5 GB's each preceeded with a factory reset just in case I'd not done the prior GB well. Unlike when using the GB2, in many areas/ situations I can't seem to find a discernable pattern in the background noise -- it lacks any sort of pattern, which makes me unsure if I'll notice its detecting of something non ferrous, if that makes any sense. But mind you, perhaps and most likely frankly, these issues are not so much the ATX -- if at all -- but rather the operator, namely me. So take the above with that in mind; am still learning it and not even close to being its master by any means. But am determined to get there. And now for this last note ... all that having been said I kinda wish I'd spent the extra $500 or so for a GPX 4500. ATX just isn't in the same league as Minelab; they design their gear to find gold, whereas Garrett's ATX finds everything -- they ought to have named it AMX -- All Metal Xtra Deep Digging Required -- hint hint. Be sure to have a shovel with you on your hikes and ready to use it. A lot.

Thank you, Kodiak. Much appreciate the link too. I just read the letter. Your word for them -- "clowns'" -- is spot on. What a joke. So DNR withdrew their proposed changes in the current law, so they can petition the legislature to create a new law instead .. hmmm, makes me wonder what more the DNR may demand via such a new law.

Is this why the ATX is ideal for heavily mineralized conditions? ... and by "forgiving on GB" does this mean the ATX will perform well despite operator error in GB adjustment? btw, LipCa this same thing happened to me, was baffled why it made no sound pumping it to GB, so reading your post and what Steve provided helped me too ... thanks, both of you

I wish Garrett produced "instructional videos" rather than advertising videos marketed/ labelled as instruction

Hi Jim, much regards for your note. The interior huh?! That's paradise. Gold related no doubt ... so hmmm, may I ask where? If had to venture a guess, would it have been McGrath or Valdez Creek? I live in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, between Willow and Wasilla. For the most part my prospecting/ mining is in the Dutch Hills on Cache Creek. Nothing like this crap happens there. That's a remote area and difficult to get to even with 4WD. And miners there are not to be messed with if you know what I mean, so scumbags aren't there. The incident mentioned was on Nome Creek, in the White Mountains, north of the Steese Hwy, about 120 miles northeast of Fairbanks. About 3 miles of the creek is void of mineral entry and set aside for public use mining via BLM. For a public site it's got a lot of coarse gold and is fairly remote, really nice setting. But the damn feds widened the road and put in a bridge which now allows anyone to get back there. Had been about 8 or so years since my last visit. Use to be a 4WD only type road and all you'd see were other miners. I don't know about crime in Fairbanks district but in our region here in south central all crime has exploded exponentially since 2012 -- it's bad, as in sickening and sad to see happening. We're talking thefts, vehicle break ins, stolen trucks and cars, home invasions, armed and violent robberies, car jackings, abductions, shootings, drive by shootings, murder ... much of it drug related and high homeless rates. Sadly the Alaska that use to be is gone in areas and fading in others. Off the road system likely is better. The buddy who had his dredge stolen had a claim along Willow Creek in the Hatcher backcountry, the road is an old mining road but very popular in the summer months, the Anchorage folks come up to drive the road and that creek is right at road's edge. So gear is vulnerable, no surprise it got stolen. I had 2 detectors stolen on a public panning site on the Kenai Peninsula ... Bears DO have some odd fetishes! Have known folks who had bears getting into their cabins seemingly for the kerosene nothing more, and messing with their gas cans in boats ... yes it is odd, then again so are bears ha ... funny how we all here have had our fair share of bear related experiences ... live in Alaska for any stretch of time and you'll "meet some bears" sooner than later! Whereabouts are you living now, Jim? What made you leave Alaska? Have you been back since 2003?

That's generally how it is here too among fellow miners and prospectors and most resident adventurers. Most are friendly -- visitors tend to be a bit too chatty. Like you, I do my best to avoid those encounters. Alaska use to be a place where a guy could set down his gear on a rock/ trail, walk 100 feet into the brush to take a leak among the trees, come back and find his gear undisturbed. Same for leaving a truck at a trailhead and returning to find it as left it. Not anymore. Thefts are extremely commonplace. Set your gear down and if someone is in the area, it will be taken. Vehicles get stolen and broken into and vandalized. I have sophisticated alarm system and 1080p HD surveillance camera system inside my truck for this purpose. Detects motion and records 24-7; front, side, rear cameras. A few weeks ago I ventured about 30 miles off the road, on a rugged remote 4WD only "path" through creeks, etc. Perhaps 150 miles from the nearest "town" more like a spot on the map. A few others but not many encountered back in there, all of whom were mining/ sluicing and camping out along the creek. Well, I park my truck in this area and walk a short ways down the hill to the creek to look around, before pulling everything out of the truck. My key FOB alerted that my truck vibration sensor was activated. So I come up the hill from the creek and find these two guys are within a foot of my truck, their truck parked so as to obscure their presence if some other vehicle happened by, one had been looking in the rear windows, his hand prints on the glass and camera footage (viewed when got home) shows him staring right into the lens, trying to see what was in my truck to break in and steal no doubt. My gun strapped to my chest led to an outcome of them runnin to their truck and taking off. Not an exaggeration, I was away from my truck for 20 minutes at most. Parked next to the middle of nowhere where I ought to be able to trust my gear being okay without babysitting it. Another true story: a pal got to his claim, set up his dredge, had to go #2, locks his dredge to a tree, goes to his outhouse. Hears a chainsaw. By the time he comes out his dredge is gone. Some asshole cut the birch and stole the dredge. Where there's a road here, there's access for the thieves to get to your stuff. That's why I am armed and so are most other miners

That is exactly right. Per the discussion above, I must chime in. In addition to prospecting/ mining I'm an avid angler, hunter, hiker and mountaineer -- not as much as I use to, these days mining is #1 -- but nonetheless where I prospect and have access to claims is prime bear habitat and just in fact the other day came across fresh sign of grizzly activity (yes, took pics). It was rather unnerving because on the way in those signs were not present. 10 hours later on the hike down the mountain, unmistakable sign of bear activity. For bears -- and dare I say it, assholes -- plenty of whom are in Alaska -- I am always armed in outdoor settings. Pics I may post of me will show me packing a .44 magnum revolver in a chest holster; and at times I also have with me a 12 gauge shotgun brush gun with a short barrel; and also carry concealed and open carry both, a 9mm pistol. The 9mm is for personal safety with people and is a very effective detterant. The other 2 are strictly for bear safety purposes but both also serve as a deterrant for assholes be it those whose paths are crossed in wildernesses or at trailhead parking lots, etc. I'm trained and proficient in firearms, but what's more important than that is being knowledgeable about bears and wolves too for that matter, same for moose. All are unpredictable. All have killed people in Alaska. More deaths actually occur due to moose than bears and wolves combined. That is fact. And as a life long adventurer, especially here in Alaska, I have had literally countless encounters as well as close range sightings of bears -- a majority of which were way too close range, a few that were distant sightings but quickly led to a closer sighting or encounter due to the fact an adult bear covers 10 or more feet every other step! A bear can run 38 to 40+ mph and that means even if see a bear at 100 yards, that gap will be closed in about 8 seconds.... I've experienced coastal brown bears emerging from brush and charging me. And I have experienced the bluff charge that occurs due to having, despite making noise and taking other precautions, surprised a bear -- the scariest such encounter was a brown bear sow at a salmon stream with two first year cubs, and the sow immediately -- I mean immediately -- charging me as soon as she saw me. And in all those cases there's not a damn thing I could have done to save my ass with those bears. It was the bears that opted to break off their charge and veer into the brush instead. The latter encounter happened so bloody quick that I couldn't even react in time,. I was armed yet there wasn't enough time to even twitch a muscle fiber toward reaching for my gun. And hell, it was over before my nervous system even sent the message to my brain that what was happening was happening. It was a real wake up call as to how fast these incidents occur and is why I started carrying a 12 guage brush gun with slugs, rather than just my .44 magnum. It's "easier" to aim and fire a lethal dose of 12 gauge birdshot or slug from the hip, than to draw/ unholster, bring the handgun up to face level, aim, and fire a handgun under immense pressure and stress especially, in fractions of a second. Worse are the black bears. Grizzlies and coastal brown bears will get pissy and charge you, and will maul you out of anger and defense of their space, cubs and food. But a black bear will do this too and track you like prey to eat you alive. Three times I've had a bear act in a predatory way -- following me on trails, stalking me, flanking me, repeatedly making themselves known. Other bears don't do that. If a black bear takes interest in you, you're being hunted. I have killed only one bear and that was an intentional hunt for a black bear. The stalkings by black bears were dealt with via a shotgun blast over their body and it sent them running. It's doing something stupid that triggers their attack like turning your back on a bear or worse, turning and running. Every summer at least one person gets killed. Brown bears and grizzlies are thought of in other regions as the same but here in Alaska the bear biologists consider them different and so do I -- these have the same DNA but different habitats and way different temperaments and tolerances. I encountered a grizzly sow and cub near the arctic coast in 2015 that resulted in some incredible footage of their natural behavior at literally point blank range. Had we not been in our large 4WD SUV that would have been exponentially more terrifying than anything I have ever encountered in wilderness or urban areas. Due to my work in risk/ safety and security management in the past, years ago I started amassing and keeping track of every bear-human encounter that caused injuries or a fatality, same for moose, same for wolves, and same for every type/ cause of outdoor death in Alaska, statewide, including bush plane accidents, boating fatalities, you name it. I have those data. I researched cases back to the 1940's and to understand what happened so that I could avoid the same fate and help others do the same. There are a lot of ways to die in wildernesses and mining/ prospecting and other adventures demand knowing what the hazards are. Bears by and large, though dangerous and deadly if they reach out and touch you, aren't the apex danger in wilderness that many people assume. Yes, they are problematic. But people -- the assholes -- are far worse than any bear and just as unpredictable. Bears are just doing what bears do. It's their home we're in. Assholes in Alaska are what I am armed for. Odds are good the same goes for these two folks. Bush pilots are a savvy bunch. They know that the 2-legged kind encountered in a remote area is more risk that a bear, because normal bear behavior is to fear human presence and take off running when they pick up our scent or sound. Humans on the other hand come into our space regardless and not too often for honorable purposes. So, am armed for that reason. It's not really the bears that concern me. In close, we (wife/ I) are rather like JW (kiwijw) in regards to the attitude about bears and have countless photos of the bears we have encountered at close range including some videos, some are incredible images and were not captured with telephoto zoom lens ... the bear fills the frame because it was 20 feet from us. Some really cool experiences occur here... My apologies for the long note.

Very nice map! Any idea what if anything is available online/ free for Alaska? As for your options, if that district is known for gold-quartz host rock I'd scout/ prospect the gulches, starting with the steepest and ideally, the steepest one that directly intersects the active channel or a potentially buried one. As opposed to a gulch that empties into and cuts across lowlands for a ways before entering the creek. The gulch on lower left appears to meet both criteria. The upper left gulch is also appealing because of the terrain below it -- that may be a terrace worth detecting and digging into to detect lower. Might be an ancient channel connecting gulch to creek buried below. I'd head to the 1st option (steep gulch) first, with just my rock hammer, pickaxe, and pinpointer. Navigate/ climb up the gulch itself, all the way up, past those 3 pits, staying in the main stem, closely examining hillsides looking for exposed country rock or digging for it with a pickax

Very well stated; similar experience for me ... 1984-1985 = first used detector, I had rented it from a shop, found it too stressful .. did find some rings and a watch, but too hit-miss for my tastes, and back then wasn't into gadgets. Nugget Hunter: Dredging, in my opinion is superior to every method including metal detecting unless you're in a known nugget producing area with the right detector with the right GB set and right settings and know how to use it proficiently as if it were your hand ... then okay, detecting is the edge, otherwise it's suction dredging, but not with a 1.5 inch hose unless sniping is all you've got opportunity to do. 4" minimum for me. But really, it depends on the location and situation (e.g., if you can get to the prime areas in the location) BTW ... I didn't get back into detecting until 2012. In 2013 both of my detectors were stolen. Took me about 3 years to deal with that loss not just the theft but unable to go out and do it/ lost opportunities ... still is a sore issue for me. Not until 2015 did I replace one but really, not till last year did I get into it fully committed. Looking back I do wish I'd given the detector a better chance but lacked the patience.

I opted only to drop in for a visit here and there, for years before joining just recently. Would hit the forum to gain one specific piece of wisdom for some quest/ goal/ problem ... geophysical sciences content Geowizard provides, mining history tidbits such as bucketline dredging locations, detectors and evaluations, etc. I'd look at the forums for just one thing. So the 6 view limit never was an issue for me. Am shocked ad revenues per click are just a few pennies on the dollar. Geez ... you should be earning commissions on gear recommendations ... I bought my detectors largely due to your evals/ trusting your judgment given your AK-specific experience. Not Fisher nor Garrett nor the retailer I purchased through offered anything close to what you provided. So, to me you made the sale not their marketing thus ought to get a healthy kickback. Just sayin

You're welcome, Watermain ... One more thing to share -- regardless of what you get, affix a good quality (not cheap, easily opened) carabiner and attach it to a heavy duty zinger (small devices that have a retractable coated wire inside, which clip, via safety pin, to a coat/ vest/ backpack ... fly fishers use these for their hemostats, hook sharpeners and other tools, so are found in any fishing tackle retailer that sells fly fishing gear, and are dirt cheap as in maybe $3 if that. But the heavy duty ones are better and have longer wires. Those are about $11 at the most. This way, you reach for and grab your GPS unit then can just let go, not have to bother to cram it in a pocket, nor ever worry about leaving it behind, or where the hell you put it ... I also have this system for the pinpointer to prevent the same thing. The flaw on these zingers is the safety pin, they tend to be way too cheap/ easily detached pins, yet is the critical link in the chain! So what I do after taking it out of the package, is snip it off with needlenose wire cutters, then using a "glue gun" I affix a large heavy duty safety pin such as those used to hold a toddler's diaper together, they're about 2 inches long and won't come unattached accidentally, ever. The glue sticks used in a glue gun will solidify quickly too and are strong bonds. These are sold in crafts stores; one of the most versatile and nifty tools to have on hand at home btw, lots of uses for them ... also very inexpensive, maybe $7 at most. Have fun out there!

Excellent! Good hunts no doubt, ideally no rattlers encountered in the desert and no feral housecat attacks if in Hawaii detecting ... your reports are top tier so am eager to read about your adventure!

I have a Garmin InReach satellite phone with GPS and other capabilities. The phone was about $500 or so but plans are very reasonable given what you get (I pay about $35/ month for all features including calls and sending/ receiving texts, but the # of each is limited per month ... I would only use calls/ texts for absolute worse case emergencies for myself or others, but the texting feature is nice to have in the event I'm late/ overdue from an adventure and can notify my wife/ friend that am on my way down from a mountain or when back at the truck, to avoid them calling the Alaska Search & Rescue hotline because I didn't call them at x time I said I would -- yes this has been done before and is not good. The phone also has a "hot button" that when pushed automatically dials the emergency services center, which comes in handy in the event a fall is suffered or a bear has mauled you ... all of this gets routed through the satellite systems/ networks so it's 24-7 and functional literally everywhere. Also, the plans need not be paid for every month. You can activate it for one month only, such as if you know you're going to be in areas where no cell signals are. Then, not activate it for months and months, such as not going anywhere for the winter. Then reactivate it x future month, pay the monthly fee for that month, and so on. No penalties for doing this sort of "wave plan" as I call it. It's a very functional and cost effective/ affordable tool to have.

thanks for the info, Steve had no idea ... me too, JW (thought the same thing). I have been liking posts based on what is really helpful, appreciation for x thing, those who respond to what have asked/ said, cool finds, photos, and yes envy lol. I'll have to step it up and make sure I give out all 20/ day .. a neat, classy system for a web forum btw

I value these comments and the video above. Have considered and looked into GPAA membership for both my wife and I last year, but had ruled it out due to us only being in Alaska and vacationing only here too, by choice. So the membership doesn't seem to offer much in terms of claim access here ... Canyon Creek/ Six Mile which I have read is a top area, but where else are there GPAA claims? As is, we hit the public panning areas, BLM sites, claims I have permission to detect on (Dutch Hills), and Crow Creek which for two days costs half of what a GPAA annual membership is for both of us but is worth it, yet GPAA membership doesn't seem to be. Gold is good but am just as much fixated on gaining as much experience as I can per summer with the ATX and GB2 irrelevant of what I dig. I say all this to gain feedback/ criticism of my thinking process, whatever may apply.