What to expect - The Cripple River Mining Camp is primitive and rustic. Our streets and paths are sand and gravel. It is dusty when dry and has puddles if the weather turns foul. Generators run the main camp, kitchen, showers/wash room, camp office and outer work buildings; No electricity is available in the hooches. The generator hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Extended hours are Friday through Sunday. This is arduous living with few home comforts. The crew is there to instruct and assist, not to do the work for you.

Camp Meetings – Every Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. is a camp meeting in the Chow Hall. The Monday morning meeting is a mandatory orientation for all participants and crew. The new arrivals are introduced to the different departments and the overall camp workings, rules, guidelines, activities, etc. The rest of the morning meetings are to update, or add to, the daily or weekly activities, weather conditions and any other pertinent information at that time. The Cripple River Mining Camp will not be responsible for any participant not knowing about any activities, change of plans, or other important information as a result of missing these meetings. It is the participant’s choice to attend, or not attend.

Accommodations - The hooches are primitive and rustic. There is no water or electricity in the hooches. Participants are assigned to either one of the six-man hooches or couples/partners to two-couple semi private hooch. No promises or guarantees will be given to special accommodation requests. Scheduling of accommodations is determined by the quantity of participants and hooch design and availability during the given week(s). You will need a sleeping bag, pillow, foam pad or twin-size air mattress, personal gear, foul weather gear, and personal items. A “What to Bring List” will be provided.

Weather – The average temperature for July and August is in the low 50’s. However, temperatures in the high 70’s are not uncommon with clear skies. Because of the close proximity to the horizon, we get the appearance of 24 hours of daylight which decreases by approximately six minutes per day. The weather can change from sunny skies to fog then rain quickly.

How to dress – Use the layered look. Add or remove clothing as needed to be comfortable. A waterproof jacket is a must. A good quality rain suit is also desirable. Staying dry is of extreme importance. Be prepared for sudden changes in the weather.

Fishing - You may go fishing at any time during your stay (subject to fish and game special closures). Fishing licenses are available in the Trading Post. We recommend you bring your own fishing equipment. Bright color spoons are good for salmon, spinners for trout. Some fishing supplies are available for purchase in the camp Trading Post.

Food - A wide variety of individual serving pop top foods are available for your selection and preparation. Items include clam chowder, beef stew, corned beef hash, pork and beans, tuna fish, puddings, apple sauce, crackers, peanut butter, jams, hot chocolate, etc. There are endless pots of hot coffee and hot water for tea or hot chocolate. Specialty items are available in the camp store or can be purchased from town. Friday evening there is a spaghetti dinner followed by the gold draw and entertainment. You will be able to eat every meal in the Chow Hall. Microwaves and hot water are always available. Barbecues and a smoker are available for personal use for cooking fish or other items on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cooking utensils would be needed.

Water - All water in camp is filtered, treated, and safe to drink - if it comes out of a sink! The shower water is NOT safe to drink. Bottled water is available for purchase at the Trading Post.

Showers and Restrooms - Showers and restrooms (outhouses) are located in camp.

Classes - Classes are conducted several times a week, covering topics such as beach mining, basic geology, fine gold recovery, rock and mineral, flowers and birds, etc. Schedules are posted in the Grizzly Bears Chow Hall and are subject to change.

Mining & Equipment- Each participant is supplied with a gold pan, bucket, a No. 2 shovel and other equipment which is checked out from the supply department. For the beach mining, you will be teamed with another participant. There are two teams per engine/pump, two beach box/high-bankers per pump and one team per beach box. Gas and oil are provided. All the gold you find on your own is yours to keep. You are welcome to bring your own equipment but you are responsible for and getting it to camp.

Gold Draw – Each week you spend in camp entitles you to participate in the Friday night gold draw for that week. The gold for the draw comes from the common dredge and trommel operated by crew members on Arctic Creek.

Where to find GOLD – There is gold in the beach sand. This gold is very fine and requires some patience to recover it in quantity. Larger pieces of gold are recovered along the creek banks feeding into the Cripple River. Inland, there are several ancient beach lines that are readily visible and accessible as you climb the trail leading up river. These ancient beach lines are known to be productive gold-bearing areas but they have not been worked. The Cripple River Mining Camp is a recreation mining camp with a flavor of the early northwest. Prospecting is fun, adventurous and oftentimes rewarding, but for the majority of us it certainly constitutes no avenue to material wealth. You will be informed of the designated areas where you can prospect. You cannot prospect on private claims or native land!

Shipping Personal Items- Please contact the Temecula office, Alaska Expedition Department for specific instructions.

Transportation - Pick up at Nome Airport and transportation between Nome and Cripple River is included. There will be times that you may have to ride in the bed of our truck. A schedule is posted in the Grizzly Bear Chow Hall to keep you informed.

In Camp & Out Camp Transportation - The best way to experience the Cripple River Mining Expedition is with your own transportation. A limited amount of ATV’s will be available in camp. The price is $370 per trip week (paid in advance) or $65 a day (paid in camp). Both are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Must be 16 years or older. Fuel fees may apply. Prices and information are subject to change.

Medical Clinic - A medical staff is available in camp. There are no clinic hours but the best time to be seen is around the noon or evening meal. Medical care is available 24 hours a day if needed. The nearest hospital is in Nome (one hour of a rough beach ride away). Medical care and medications dispensed from the clinic are provided free by the GPAA. If you need a medication prescription filled at the pharmacy, or are referred to the hospital in Nome, you will be responsible for paying for it. Please bring your medical insurance information and pharmacy cards with you. The Nome pharmacy is only open Monday through Friday. The Nome hospital has very limited services and most serious illnesses/injuries are flown to Anchorage.

Personal Hygiene - We will have about 200 people in camp every week, so personal hygiene is very important; especially with outhouses, a common chow hall, and people arriving from many different parts of the world. There are hand sanitizers in the outhouses and chow hall; please use them. Sinks are available for hand washing at the showers and in the chow hall. Be especially careful in handling items in the chow hall if you have a cold or GI problem.

Medications - If you are on any medications, you should bring enough for the entire time of your visit (even medications you only take "as needed"), as pharmacy services are very limited in Nome. You may want to bring extra medications in case of travel delays. Additionally, you should bring Tylenol and/or ibuprofen, aspirin, allergy medications, sunscreen, insect repellant and a small first- aid kit (Band-Aids, tape, antibiotic ointment) to carry with you when you are out of camp. If you are prone to GI problems, antacids and anti-diarrhea medications should be packed. You should bring a supply of your favorite cough and cold medications as well as throat lozenges.

Medical Information - Please complete the medical information form provided completely. It is very important that you list all of your medications, doses (amount) and frequency that you take them. Notify the clinic staff if you have any special medical needs or concerns when you arrive in camp. A refrigerator is available at the clinic for diabetics needing a place to store insulin. It would be a good idea to update your tetanus immunization prior to your trip if it has been longer than 10 years since you had one. If you previously had a pneumonia shot, you should ask your doctor if you need to have it updated. Returning participants and crew must complete a new form each year.

CPAP Machines - There is no electricity to the hooches and the electricity to the main camp is only available from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Because of this, if you have a CPAP machine, it will need to have its own battery source at night. The camp has a limited supply of 12-volt batteries that you may use, but on a first-come, first-serve availability. These can be recharged as needed while you are in camp. However, you will need equipment to connect your CPAP to the battery. These are not supplied by the camp and you will have to purchase or bring this equipment with you. Each company may have different equipment/adapters so you need to check which would work with your particular CPAP machine.

If you have a water reservoir/heater on you CPAP machine, it has been advised that you not use this when running your machine off of a battery as it may damage the unit.
There are many sources for this equipment; or you may also be able to obtain this equipment from your supplier who provided your CPAP machine. One contact is cpap.com or 1-(800) 356-5221. This is a good source if you have a Respironics product. Other sources, if you have something other than a Respironics product is thecpapstore.com or (877) 272-7626 or cpapsupplyusa.com or (866) 560-2727. You can also find other sources if you go to google.com and enter “CPAP equipment.” In searching, you want to look for power cords, battery packs, cables, adapter cable, etc. to connect your machine to a 12-volt battery.

Packing/airlines/baggage -  For this trip, it takes at least two bags plus a carry-on per person. The “What to Bring” list is detailed: “Necessary Items” and “Optional Items.” Military-type duffel bags are used by many participants, especially for sleeping bags, pillows, etc. Pack appropriate to the time you are on the trip and only bring what you believe you will use. The camp does have washer and dryers. Baggage regulations, weight and fees are determined and controlled by the airlines and are subject to change. All airlines will charge a fee for bags weighing over 50 pounds. Some airlines will charge one fee for the first bag and an additional fee for a second bag, etc. Again, the airlines are in control. You are responsible to contact your airline prior to your departure to verify baggage sizes and fees.

What to expect - The Cripple River Mining Camp is primitive and rustic. Our streets and paths are sand and gravel. It is dusty when dry and has puddles if the weather turns foul. Generators run the main camp, kitchen, showers/wash room, camp office and outer work buildings; No electricity is available in the hooches. The generator hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Extended hours are Friday through Sunday. This is arduous living with few home comforts. The crew is there to instruct and assist, not to do the work for you.

Camp Meetings – Every Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. is a camp meeting in the Chow Hall. The Monday morning meeting is a mandatory orientation for all participants and crew. The new arrivals are introduced to the different departments and the overall camp workings, rules, guidelines, activities, etc. The rest of the morning meetings are to update, or add to, the daily or weekly activities, weather conditions and any other pertinent information at that time. The Cripple River Mining Camp will not be responsible for any participant not knowing about any activities, change of plans, or other important information as a result of missing these meetings. It is the participant’s choice to attend, or not attend.

Accommodations - The hooches are primitive and rustic. There is no water or electricity in the hooches. Participants are assigned to either one of the six-man hooches or couples/partners to two-couple semi private hooch. No promises or guarantees will be given to special accommodation requests. Scheduling of accommodations is determined by the quantity of participants and hooch design and availability during the given week(s). You will need a sleeping bag, pillow, foam pad or twin-size air mattress, personal gear, foul weather gear, and personal items. A “What to Bring List” will be provided.

Weather – The average temperature for July and August is in the low 50’s. However, temperatures in the high 70’s are not uncommon with clear skies. Because of the close proximity to the horizon, we get the appearance of 24 hours of daylight which decreases by approximately six minutes per day. The weather can change from sunny skies to fog then rain quickly.

How to dress – Use the layered look. Add or remove clothing as needed to be comfortable. A waterproof jacket is a must. A good quality rain suit is also desirable. Staying dry is of extreme importance. Be prepared for sudden changes in the weather.

Fishing - You may go fishing at any time during your stay (subject to fish and game special closures). Fishing licenses are available in the Trading Post. We recommend you bring your own fishing equipment. Bright color spoons are good for salmon, spinners for trout. Some fishing supplies are available for purchase in the camp Trading Post.

Food - A wide variety of individual serving pop top foods are available for your selection and preparation. Items include clam chowder, beef stew, corned beef hash, pork and beans, tuna fish, puddings, apple sauce, crackers, peanut butter, jams, hot chocolate, etc. There are endless pots of hot coffee and hot water for tea or hot chocolate. Specialty items are available in the camp store or can be purchased from town. Friday evening there is a spaghetti dinner followed by the gold draw and entertainment. You will be able to eat every meal in the Chow Hall. Microwaves and hot water are always available. Barbecues and a smoker are available for personal use for cooking fish or other items on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cooking utensils would be needed.

Water - All water in camp is filtered, treated, and safe to drink - if it comes out of a sink! The shower water is NOT safe to drink. Bottled water is available for purchase at the Trading Post.

Showers and Restrooms - Showers and restrooms (outhouses) are located in camp.

Classes - Classes are conducted several times a week, covering topics such as beach mining, basic geology, fine gold recovery, rock and mineral, flowers and birds, etc. Schedules are posted in the Grizzly Bears Chow Hall and are subject to change.

Mining & Equipment- Each participant is supplied with a gold pan, bucket, a No. 2 shovel and other equipment which is checked out from the supply department. For the beach mining, you will be teamed with another participant. There are two teams per engine/pump, two beach box/high-bankers per pump and one team per beach box. Gas and oil are provided. All the gold you find on your own is yours to keep. You are welcome to bring your own equipment but you are responsible for and getting it to camp.

Gold Draw – Each week you spend in camp entitles you to participate in the Friday night gold draw for that week. The gold for the draw comes from the common dredge and trommel operated by crew members on Arctic Creek.

Where to find GOLD – There is gold in the beach sand. This gold is very fine and requires some patience to recover it in quantity. Larger pieces of gold are recovered along the creek banks feeding into the Cripple River. Inland, there are several ancient beach lines that are readily visible and accessible as you climb the trail leading up river. These ancient beach lines are known to be productive gold-bearing areas but they have not been worked. The Cripple River Mining Camp is a recreation mining camp with a flavor of the early northwest. Prospecting is fun, adventurous and oftentimes rewarding, but for the majority of us it certainly constitutes no avenue to material wealth. You will be informed of the designated areas where you can prospect. You cannot prospect on private claims or native land!

Shipping Personal Items- Please contact the Temecula office, Alaska Expedition Department for specific instructions.

Transportation - Pick up at Nome Airport and transportation between Nome and Cripple River is included. There will be times that you may have to ride in the bed of our truck. A schedule is posted in the Grizzly Bear Chow Hall to keep you informed.

In Camp & Out Camp Transportation - The best way to experience the Cripple River Mining Expedition is with your own transportation. A limited amount of ATV’s will be available in camp. The price is $370 per trip week (paid in advance) or $65 a day (paid in camp). Both are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Must be 16 years or older. Fuel fees may apply. Prices and information are subject to change.

Medical Clinic - A medical staff is available in camp. There are no clinic hours but the best time to be seen is around the noon or evening meal. Medical care is available 24 hours a day if needed. The nearest hospital is in Nome (one hour of a rough beach ride away). Medical care and medications dispensed from the clinic are provided free by the GPAA. If you need a medication prescription filled at the pharmacy, or are referred to the hospital in Nome, you will be responsible for paying for it. Please bring your medical insurance information and pharmacy cards with you. The Nome pharmacy is only open Monday through Friday. The Nome hospital has very limited services and most serious illnesses/injuries are flown to Anchorage.

Personal Hygiene - We will have about 200 people in camp every week, so personal hygiene is very important; especially with outhouses, a common chow hall, and people arriving from many different parts of the world. There are hand sanitizers in the outhouses and chow hall; please use them. Sinks are available for hand washing at the showers and in the chow hall. Be especially careful in handling items in the chow hall if you have a cold or GI problem.

Medications - If you are on any medications, you should bring enough for the entire time of your visit (even medications you only take "as needed"), as pharmacy services are very limited in Nome. You may want to bring extra medications in case of travel delays. Additionally, you should bring Tylenol and/or ibuprofen, aspirin, allergy medications, sunscreen, insect repellant and a small first- aid kit (Band-Aids, tape, antibiotic ointment) to carry with you when you are out of camp. If you are prone to GI problems, antacids and anti-diarrhea medications should be packed. You should bring a supply of your favorite cough and cold medications as well as throat lozenges.

Medical Information - Please complete the medical information form provided completely. It is very important that you list all of your medications, doses (amount) and frequency that you take them. Notify the clinic staff if you have any special medical needs or concerns when you arrive in camp. A refrigerator is available at the clinic for diabetics needing a place to store insulin. It would be a good idea to update your tetanus immunization prior to your trip if it has been longer than 10 years since you had one. If you previously had a pneumonia shot, you should ask your doctor if you need to have it updated. Returning participants and crew must complete a new form each year.

CPAP Machines - There is no electricity to the hooches and the electricity to the main camp is only available from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Because of this, if you have a CPAP machine, it will need to have its own battery source at night. The camp has a limited supply of 12-volt batteries that you may use, but on a first-come, first-serve availability. These can be recharged as needed while you are in camp. However, you will need equipment to connect your CPAP to the battery. These are not supplied by the camp and you will have to purchase or bring this equipment with you. Each company may have different equipment/adapters so you need to check which would work with your particular CPAP machine.

If you have a water reservoir/heater on you CPAP machine, it has been advised that you not use this when running your machine off of a battery as it may damage the unit.
There are many sources for this equipment; or you may also be able to obtain this equipment from your supplier who provided your CPAP machine. One contact is cpap.com or 1-(800) 356-5221. This is a good source if you have a Respironics product. Other sources, if you have something other than a Respironics product is thecpapstore.com or (877) 272-7626 or cpapsupplyusa.com or (866) 560-2727. You can also find other sources if you go to google.com and enter “CPAP equipment.” In searching, you want to look for power cords, battery packs, cables, adapter cable, etc. to connect your machine to a 12-volt battery.

Packing/airlines/baggage -  For this trip, it takes at least two bags plus a carry-on per person. The “What to Bring” list is detailed: “Necessary Items” and “Optional Items.” Military-type duffel bags are used by many participants, especially for sleeping bags, pillows, etc. Pack appropriate to the time you are on the trip and only bring what you believe you will use. The camp does have washer and dryers. Baggage regulations, weight and fees are determined and controlled by the airlines and are subject to change. All airlines will charge a fee for bags weighing over 50 pounds. Some airlines will charge one fee for the first bag and an additional fee for a second bag, etc. Again, the airlines are in control. You are responsible to contact your airline prior to your departure to verify baggage sizes and fees.