Detecting Under Ski Lifts

[phrunt]

I ski a fair few times a week over the ski season, and often in summer I go to the ski fields and detect under the lifts, it's been quite good for finds, more phones than you can imagine as they just fall out of pockets and instantly sink out of sight.  The snow under lifts is usually not groomed and soft and fluffy, if someone drops something it's instantly gone.

Today much to my surprise only about 10 minutes after the ski field opened I saw a girl under the lift trying to use a metal detector she'd obviously borrowed off someone to try find something she dropped.  I have no idea what detector it is but it didn't sound too great.  No display screen, like an old Minelab musketeer or something I have no idea.  The coil might be a giveaway to someone as to what it is.  She left her helmet and goggles on all day, probably to hide her face as she was embarrassed by it all.

Every time I went on that particular lift she was still there, and she was digging a massive hole.  I felt quite bad as whatever she dropped was likely yesterday and it wouldn't be too far down, I doubt out of the reach of a Equinox with a bigger coil, I've detected on snow quite a lot and the Equinox is amazing the depth it can get through snow, basically air test depth.  

It's going to take a long time to back fill that hole 🙂

What to me it appeared she did wrong was she started digging in the area she thought she'd lost whatever it was, rather than walking around on the surface using the detector, she was then trying to use the detector in the hole she was digging.  Disturbing the snow probably wasn't a good idea and in my opinion she'd be better off detecting the area before digging as what if she had whatever it was in the shovel and threw it away.   I was tempted to go and give her some advice and help but I didn't want to intrude and act the know it all, especially as I had no idea about the detector she was using. 

Unfortunately she was there all day, digging like mad, I often saw her fall over, she was on quite a slope.  I'm not sure I did the right thing by not offering to help, but after I went in for lunch and next rode the lift a bunch of people were down there helping her.  I was going to go talk to her towards the end of the day and see what went on and if she didn't find it I was going to offer to go there in spring once the snow melts and recover whatever it was for her, but I went back just before the ski field closed and it appeared she'd finally given up and left. 

A guy was trying to use the detector for her at this stage.

If she's there tomorrow trying again I will offer her some help, I'll throw the Nox and CTX with big coils into the car just in case.  Otherwise I'll just find whatever it is in summer and let the ski field know I found it so if she speaks to lost and found they'll be able to give it back to her.  I suspect a ring, perhaps one with some family importance as I can't see a phone or some coins being enough motivation to spend a day trying to find it.

What would you do in this situation?  I know I'll find whatever it is she lost in late spring or summer if she doesn't find it before then, but I'll struggle to find a way to contact her and that's my fault for not going to talk to her at the time.

[strick]

Wow she gets an A for effort there. I would have been to curious so I would have stopped and ask what she was looking for...it seems pointless in that deep of snow but anything is possible...at least you know where to go once the snow melts. I live in N California and there are plenty of ski lifts here. Been planning on getting under them for some time now but never get past the planning stage lol. 

Strick

[Joe D.]

    I think you did the right thing! Using some unknown and probably inferior detector would have been a pointless endeavor! And besides, judging from the shadow, it look's like you were enjoying time with the family! That's more important!!

   Good on you, for a possible next day hunt with equipment you know and trust! Better to not have her around anyway, to avoid a thousand questions; to distraction! And possibly more disappointment, from her and others, probably burying it deeper with their efforts!😵 And who know's if that is even where it was lost? May have been a guess on her part!! Just finding out what was lost, and returning it if possible, is sufficiently kind of you!! 

Good luck!🍀 On and off the slopes!👍👍

[geof_junk]

It looks like she has had a major loss. Hope you can help her tomorrow Simon. Some of my best finds were for those that I helped to get back their lost treasures.

[Hardtimehermit]

Well Simon, you know out here in the mountains we have a saying No friends on a powder day! I have hunted at a ski area and it was not to productive, lots of runoff making for swamp conditions, and the walk gets pretty steep fast. Hope you can get her some help, or good luck in the off season.  ht

[GaryC/Oregon Coast]

I've hunted many years at Southern California ski lifts.  They don't let you get on the slopes with a detector until the snow melts there.  Employees usually have the first shot at it anyway.  I always came back with more than $20.00 US dollars at a time.  Some jewelery even stuck in the branches of small bushes that the snow covered and when it melted the bush caught it. Ya, ya should have gone by and talked to her.  At least in her mind someone would had her back in the melt season and you would have had a contact number.  I just don't trust turning things in to unknowns as a third party.  Great looking place!!!  GaryC/Oregon Coast

[kac]

Probably better off checking the slope after the snow melts. Wonder if she was in the wrong spot in the first place.

[Joe D.]

37 minutes ago, GaryC/Oregon Coast said:

I just don't trust turning things in to unknowns as a third party.  Great looking place!!!  Ga

   Good point Gary, 

   I feel the same way!  I'm sure she left contact info, if she did not find whatever it was she was looking for!

   Simon, you could have just beaned her with a snowball, or empty soda bottle, with your contact info stuffed inside! She was wearing a helmet, after all!! ⛷⛑🤣👍👍 

** (just kidding guys!)

[Rivers rat]

Snow?????fo real??

 

RR

[phrunt]

I went back today, she wasn't there, I guess she's given up.  I'll see how I go in late spring when the snows melted a bit and not so deep and try find whatever it was.  It's snowing tonight so whatever it was will be even deeper by tomorrow.

This is the lift it's under, unfortunately it's a long way to the base so I'm going to have a fair hike in summer to get to the spot.