Peg’s California Gold Trip

[IdahoPeg]

Packed up the toy hauler and headed out to meet up with some friends and hit a few hydraulic pits in the Sierra Nevadas. MikeB was, as usual, happy to share his knowledge and give some good advice; only had one skunk day during the trip. I had forgotten how rugged and steep the terrain is out there compared to Idaho! After 5 days of lugging the 7000 up and down rocky, slippery, manzanita covered steep ravines, Chet and I decided to work as a team on a hillside where nuggets were found. We dug and detected: he used the 7000, then I used Gold Monster to quickly identify and locate the nuggets...we pulled a quarter ounce out of a 6 x 6’ area that day! Can you believe this guy is over 80 years old? He can work that pick like a man half his age! This great hobby certainly keeps us in shape!

One day I was down deep in a narrow ravine when I heard a distant shout....then Chet came on the radio saying he just saw the biggest bear he’s ever seen, up close and personal, and that it was heading down the ravine. Crap! You mean the ravine I’m in that’s only about 5’ wide here at the bottom?!?! Luckily, I then could hear it crashing through the brush running up the hill to my left. Wish I could’ve seen him though. 

No big lunker nuggets on this trip, but a few chunkies were found:

And here’s  my total for the 7 or so days detecting....I’m happy with it!

On the last day, I sat overlooking The Motherlode country....thanking her for a good time, good friends, and for sharing a bit of her riches with me!😊

[jasong]

Good job both of you. That's some rich ground there, wow. Nice change to see some trees for once in some nugget ground... I need to get out of the deserts one day and enjoy some great scenery like that.

[delnorter]

Real nice Peg. Yes, stay off the couch and get out there. 

Mike

[jrbeatty]

Nice work Peg.

Love those smooth colours -  :)

[madtuna]

Nice water warn bits Miss Peg.

Still trying to get my head around bears! They say we have deadly wild life but I think you trump us lot

[geof_junk]

21 hours ago, IdahoPeg said:

Can you believe this guy is over 80 years old? He can work that pick like a man half his age! This great hobby certainly keeps us in shape!

 

Sure can Peg going by my grand kids they are a quarter his age. I am heading towards his age and hope to fit enough to chase gold at 80. 😀

[GB_Amateur]

Nice report and photos, Peg.  (The only photo my gold hunting experiences can relate to are the last one.)

You didn't mention the temps.  Was this high up enough that they weren't an issue?  I see Chet wearing long sleaves but maybe that is to protect from the sun.  Seems like Western USA has been hit hard with a heat dome (or whatever it's called) this month, or did you get out of there before it arrived?

 

[beatup]

Good on you Peg

 

[Hardtimehermit]

Right on Peg, glad you had a good time in the Sierras with gold and bear to boot, you and Chet are inspirational way to go! 

[MSC]

Good going Peg, great photos.