Jul 18

Written by:
7/18/2001 12:00 AM 

Greetings from Cripple River! Alaska Weather is a popular topic of conversation particularly at the Cripple River Camp. The better the weather, the more you can be out and get that GOLD! Of course, even less than perfect weather doesn’t stop the serious gold prospector, but the nicer the weather, the more fun you can have. This week the weather was, (in my opinion), GREAT! There was a light misting rain, which kept the mosquitoes away, yet your rain gear kept you dry and warm. Several light layers of clothes made it easy to adjust yourself to the temperature changes.

Friday was so warm; many people were running around on the beach, in their shirtsleeves. Reports about the quantity of gold found vary a little, with some areas of the beach producing more gold than other areas, but GOLD was found on all the claims. Many prospectors tried other areas with dredges, high bankers, sluices, pans and metal detectors. And Gold wasn’t the only thing hunted this week. On trips out of camp, there were many animals sighted: Moose; reindeer; caribou; arctic fox; musk ox; and even a baby seal sitting on the beach. One group of people collected wild flowers and pressed them in a book. The sea shell and sea glass collector’s were out hunting their treasures and some people were picking up unusual mixes of quartz and other gemstones to take back for their rock tumblers. Cameras clicked constantly freezing memories for all time.

I ATV’d to Artic Creek with my husband Jim and two new found friends. The trail is challenging as it runs along the river and then climbs up a mountain trail. The top of the mountain was cloud covered and when we stopped our ATV’s, the silence was loud. As I turned around in a circle, I could see miles in all directions, but the only other living things I saw were a moose in the brush and Artic Terns gliding by in the sky. Below was a panoramic view so pristine and unspoiled it took my breath away. The air was crystal clean and pure! Above me close enough to touch were fluffy clouds reaching down to caress the mountain tops. I was breathing air that normally only Angels breathe. What a truly golden moment this was. Too soon the time came to start up our ATV’s and continue our journey down the trail and on to Artic Creek. The Cripple River Camp can truly be a place of wonder!!

In the main camp this week, 4 new couples cabins were completed and the NEW CHAPEL was finished enough to have a Sunday morning service there. Thirty people were in attendance. The funds for the lumber were raised over the past year from donations, auctions and raffles. The official dedication will be Saturday, July 28 2001. Things are always happening in camp. Wednesday was an Alaska King Crab feast and Friday night in front of all the camp, Danny Bailey proposed again to Tera, his wife of 25 years. She said yes – again – so this summer the Cripple River Chapel will host it’s first wedding. (Or at least a re-affirming of their vows – a marriage truly blessed with life long love and commitment). An interesting note, their rings were made with Cripple River Gold. Some of this gold had been given to their children as gifts in the past – now their children wanted their gold to be added to the gold used for the new rings!

Again (yes again) Ralph Yager found a small nugget on the ground. It was claimed by half the camp who described the lost item as; roundish, gold colored, heavy metal and theirs. As no name was found on it Ralph decided the descriptions weren't close enough, so he claimed it himself. This matter may be addressed at the future meeting of the vigilante committee.

In Anchorage, the largest nugget ever found in Alaska is up for sale. Found in 1998 by Barry Clay, who has been mining off and on since 1970, the nugget weighs 294.1 ounces, or approximately 19 pounds. It is only about three percent quartz. Mr. Clay also is selling a 28-ounce nugget he found in Alaska in 1982. I know there is a twenty plus pounder out there waiting to be found by someone!!! Maybe me? Or you?

This Friday GPAA is sponsoring the annual gold panning competition in Nome and then the Mayor is coming to camp to participate in the dedication of a stone and bronze memorial to our founder George Massie. After the dedication there will be a spaghetti dinner, gold draw, and the Cripple River Review and party in the saloon.

So whether you are a sourdough (a name for an Alaska or Yukon old timer) or a cheechako ([chee-chak-ko] means greenhorn or tenderfoot in the old days) today a name given to a first time visitor to Alaska or the Yukon, take your muktuk (an Eskimo delicacy made from the outer skin of a whale), and watching out for the noseeums (tiny hard to see Alaska biting gnats) – Go Prospecting!! And may the bottom of your pan turn golden.