Greetings From The California Motherlode Region!

[Wild Bill]

Hi Craig!  I grew up in SoCal.  I was an aircraft mechanic.  When I found out how the monetary system works, the federal reserve, 1913, 1933-1971… I became interested in gold and its history.  I could have bought gold but instead I became fascinated by gold rush history and mining.  I spent some weekends prospecting in different areas and detecting.  I quit my job and did it full time, lode and placer.  Started with a 2 1/2” dredge, a 4” 6” and finally a 8” after ten years I did some pipe welding and switched to heavy equipment mechanic for another decade but in Nevada gold mining.  In my seventies, I have arthritis but stay active and enjoy detecting a lot.  Find a little gold now and then and enjoy relic hunting and coins.  My wife found two old wagon wheels along the gold rush trail in Nevada near our home not long ago.  About 20” deep.  We both use Garrett AT Max for general detecting and I use a Gold Kruzer for prospecting.  I’ve found some high grade occasionally with small specks of color so far.  We need to get out more!  I’ve been distracted with other things but my favorite place to be is in some old gold district looking at the geology and prospecting.  I manage a large group of lode claims but that’s a different thing all together.  

[Craig Peer]

On 3/21/2025 at 7:41 PM, Wild Bill said:

Hi Craig!  I grew up in SoCal.  I was an aircraft mechanic.  When I found out how the monetary system works, the federal reserve, 1913, 1933-1971… I became interested in gold and its history.  I could have bought gold but instead I became fascinated by gold rush history and mining.  I spent some weekends prospecting in different areas and detecting.  I quit my job and did it full time, lode and placer.  Started with a 2 1/2” dredge, a 4” 6” and finally a 8” after ten years I did some pipe welding and switched to heavy equipment mechanic for another decade but in Nevada gold mining.  In my seventies, I have arthritis but stay active and enjoy detecting a lot.  Find a little gold now and then and enjoy relic hunting and coins.  My wife found two old wagon wheels along the gold rush trail in Nevada near our home not long ago.  About 20” deep.  We both use Garrett AT Max for general detecting and I use a Gold Kruzer for prospecting.  I’ve found some high grade occasionally with small specks of color so far.  We need to get out more!  I’ve been distracted with other things but my favorite place to be is in some old gold district looking at the geology and prospecting.  I manage a large group of lode claims but that’s a different thing all together.  

Now that's the way to move some dirt! I grew up in Southern California too. Best thing I ever did was move to Northern California! Now that I'm done xc skate skiing ( call it cross training ), I can't wait to get back out prospecting. Just as soon as it stops raining!