Greetings from the Cripple River Gold Camp! The weather here has been unpredictable, hot and sunny, cold and drizzly, damp and sprinkley, then warm again. Then a storm blew in!
For a day or so the mosquitoes and the beach miners both were put out. The Bering Sea turned the color of cold hot chocolate and each wave crest was topped with row after row of snorting, rearing, cavorting dazzlingly snow white wave-horses. Crash after crash, wave after wave, this enormous herd of angry wild sea mares and stallions reared and pounded the beach - whipping the water into a thick foamy froth.
The offshore wind, (always a gossipy troublemaker), blew across the Bering Sea towards our camp, telling tales and angering the sea. Salt water waves chased the gentler fresh water back up the Penny and Cripple rivers, making them rise up in their banks, too high to cross safely with ATVs. Beach mining was out for a day or so!
Most of the beach miners did different things for the next few days. They worked on their concentrates, took trips to the trommel for coarse gold and a chance for pickers and nuggets, signed up for a dredge at the dredge camp, went to Ketchmark, an outer camp for prospecting and high-banking, or tried metal detecting, (some people can, and do, make little plastic baggie “rain coats” for their detectors for sprinkley days).
A few adventuresome souls headed out of camp and to prospect on their own, hoping to find a glory hole or two. They are out there, you know! Some people went to town to check out the local color, visit the Nome Museum, beach glass hunt, or stayed in camp and took classes to learn new skills.
The mosquitoes, confused, have not been bad at all this year but we have been using some bug dope on sunny days. All weather in the lower 48 starts way up here where we are, so if it works itself out here you get nicer weather down where you are! Here’s to more sunny days for those of us who need and want them!
Much to our camp’s disappointment, one of our favorite new instructors is leaving us Saturday. Kevin Hoagland from Prescott, Ariz., and with Mine Lab USA was invited by Camp Director Brandon Johnson to come up to our gold camp and teach metal detecting and basic geology for two weeks. Both were great classes, as Kevin really knows his business!
Kein not only has seen, or used, almost every detector there is (easy to believe as he has sold, tested, and used every major brand of metal detector on the market), he understands exactly how they work. This is key to being able to use a metal detector properly. Knowledge, ability and skill equal true power.
I attended the lecture part of Kevin's class, and even I understood what he said, and began to think I might be able to use a metal detector! Kevin’s 30-year “heavy metal “passion took him all over the United States and to seven other countries. Kevin relates that his greatest thrill is the look on someone else’s face when they find gold, especially their first nugget.
I am saddened that I have to leave, but duty calls me from across the pond. I will truly miss all of my friends here at the camp, old and new, the tundra, the sea, and Chip’s cooking. From the camp, good luck Kevin! May your travels be golden and return to us here next year, and try to stay longer.
Cripple River had a rather dismal showing in the Nome 4th of July Parade, as only five ATVs made it across the backed-up Penny River, and only one truck of people from the Cripple River Gold Camp made an appearance. Candy and Mardi Gras-style necklaces were thrown by the people riding on the truck to the waiting crowd, always a favorite with the Nome folks, young and old alike.
Our presence was felt in Nome, wishing our summer community a happy birthday, but not as much as most years. A little sad for us maybe, as everyone in Nome celebrates the 4th of July in a really big way, but for Nome, the festivities ran full tilt as usual!
NEWSFLASH!!! Al Marconi is back at the Cripple River Gold Camp this year. He will be Camp Manager the last three weeks. Al had an extremely serious coronary event last year, and it was thought that he would never be able to return to Cripple River Camp. His heart was sick, our hearts were broken. Everyone in their own way prayed, or if not religious wished Al well. Mr. Marconi fooled everyone, especially the doctors, and here he is again! Back in camp. He has lost weight, in fact he is down right svelte, but cheerful Al is back again. We have missed you, old friend. Welcome back!
John Paterson from Red Hook, N.Y., joined the GPAA 10 years ago. But after a few years of “not doing anything with it,” he let his membership lapse. This year, he had the opportunity to come to the Alaska Gold Camp, and called Sharina Davis at the Gold Prospectors office in Temecula Calif., rejoined the GPAA, and scheduled his Alaska trip.
When John came to our camp, he also brought his 18-year-old son Matt with him for a graduation trip. His wife, Virginia, didn’t attend but is keeping the home fires burning. (She may come next time). This trip has been extremely educational. Forget the gold aspect, just seeing and learning about all the equipment has been great. I did not even know what a highbanker looked like, and had never used a beach box before.
Learning about gold prospecting has been a fantastic experience. The photos I have taken are another thing that is worth the trip. I’ve seen and photographed all kinds of things and animals including moose, caribou, musk ox, and fox. And the unusual colors and shapes of the flowers here are amazing. More pictures, scenic views, people, tundra, camp, you name it.
One thing I wish, however, is that California would advertise the classes more. Everyone knows about the gold, but not about all the things you can learn up here. The crew was very helpful. At first, they give you all kinds of assistance. Then as you learn, they back off and just check on you now and again and let you do it yourself.
Matt is also having a good time here, enjoying adventuring around, fishing, and spending one-on-one time with his dad. When asked what he thought about our camp, Matt said, “This place is really unusual, and different!” Yes it is, and we’re proud of it. Those Hollywood reality shows have nothing on us.
Fishing is improving, and the pinks are starting to run. Last year the salmon run was two weeks early. This year it seems to be two weeks late. Some anglers are doing fine, some not so well!
Rumor has it the best luck is being had with a spoon type lure with pinkish spots and other spots that kind of resemble a small fish. The bright salmon egg color lures are not yet working that well. If you plan to fish and practice catch and release, flatten the barbs on your hooks and release the fish without removing it from the water.
We had a late evening visitor in camp last night when a lonely caribou wandered through and down one of our streets, maybe looking for a mate or possibly the Chow Hall for a late night snack of carob cookies, and herbal tea? The animal was surprised to be photographed before it had time to blink its large, beautiful, brown eyes. The disgruntled caribou sauntered away, off to hunt for love or cookies elsewhere.
Got to go prospecting before I bust something, so until next week, may your life and the bottom of your pan turn golden!
Your friend, Arctic Annie