Jul 16

Written by:
7/16/2004 12:00 AM 

Greetings from the Cripple River Gold Camp!

Saturday was a sad day as everyone in camp gathered to honor and say a final farewell to Wilma Massie (1939-2003), a truly great woman and co-founder of the Gold Prospectors Association of America, and the Cripple River Gold Camp. Wilma is remembered as a warm, caring, generous person who was truly beautiful both inside and out. She was honest in her dealings with everyone, and was both deeply admired and respected. Her smile could light up a room or a heart. Every day was an adventure to Wilma. She took a refreshingly child-like delight in life’s blessings---a beautiful day, watching wild animals on the tundra, her grandchildren’s laughter, a cute joke, or a heart to heart chat with a friend. Her melodic laughter filled the air many times each year, causing everyone within hearing range to smile or laugh. Her joy was that contagious. Life is full of small miracles, and Wilma savored each and every one, living each day to the fullest. She is with George (the Buzzard) now, but her passing leaves an empty spot in the heart of everyone who knew and loved her. Wilma’s ashes were brought to the overlook at Bow Head Creek by the Cripple River to be placed next to George’s (1939-1993). The ceremony allowing friends to say good-bye started at two o’clock in the afternoon, when fifty-seven ATV’s rode single file to the point on Bowhead. Many of the ATVs were carrying two riders. Once at Bow Head the people gathered in small groups of three or four and quietly talked and reminisced about Wilma, George, and the golden days gone by. The ATVs were parked on both sides of the trail making a small pathway of honor for the Cripple River truck carrying Wilma’s ashes. As my husband and I left camp to attend the ceremony, we passed Perry and Sandy Massie’s hooch. Sitting in the road were Corey Rudolph and Kathy Raver. They pointed across the river where FOUR moose were standing watching the ATVs go by. I thought, “Four moose, one for each of the original Massies, George, Wilma, Perry, and Tom.” For a few seconds it seemed as though even the animals in Alaska were saying good-bye. Arriving at Bow Head we joined the people in quiet conversation, and waited for the truck to arrive. As the truck arrived bringing Wilma to George people started to slowly walk towards the cross that marks George’s resting place. The ceremony started with a prayer by Marvin Rapose. Everyone present sang “The Sweet Bye and Bye.” Perry Massie, swallowing his tears so he could speak, shared heartfelt memories of his beloved mother, and her deep and abiding love for her family. His honesty and grief touched our souls. When Perry finished the silence was at first broken only by the gentle splash of the waves washing in the river. Then the largest ptarmigan I have ever seen came flying at top speed; it’s snow-white wings shining, out of the underbrush on the next hill over. The ptarmigan squawked at the top of its’ lungs, crying comments to the sky! (Or was she perhaps also saying so long the only way she knew how?) Everyone turned around and looked in surprise. Tom Massie, always the prospector, then started to speak earnestly of Wilma and George being in heaven, and riding down “The Great Sluice Box in The Sky.” Tom gently reminded all of us present that someday we too will take our final trip, and see not only Wilma and George but all of our friends and loved ones. Death is the natural conclusion of life for all of God’s creatures. An invitation was given for those of us present to say a few words if we wanted and several people spoke from their heart. A poem was read written by Liz Sanderson about Wilma. Many of us who wanted so badly to say something couldn’t. We found our hearts bound tight with grief, our throats choked with tears and our eyes blurred with loss and sadness. For some of us talking through our pain was just not possible. Marvin Rapose sang a hauntingly beautiful rendition of “Peace in the Valley.” Flowers were placed gently over the urn, and each person placed a handful of soil back into the ground. After expressing our condolences to the still grieving family we rode back to camp lost in our own thoughts. We paid tribute to our dear friend. Like her husband George, Wilma Massie was absolutely larger than life! Goodbye dearest Wilma---until we meet again!

Today the weather is perfect at Cripple River, the sky is a bright turquoise blue, the Bering Sea a silky smooth carpet of blue and green, and as smooth as glass. We had a small rain last night that settled any dust, and the air so pure you can almost see forever. People in camp are running around in SHORTS, SHORT SLEEVED SHIRTS and SANDALS! Mosquito spray is being mixed with sunscreen. Several of the teen-age miners in camp decided to go swimming!!! This brave, adventurous group (also with too much time on their hands?) decided to go swim with the fish. The polar bears in training were Travis Arnold from Saginaw Tx., Andrew Latch from Renton Wa., Josh Yager from Lake Elsinore Ca., and Marcus Mayse from Puyallup Wa. The boys swam for a few minutes, played tag with the fish, and then it was off to the chow hall for snacks and on to the next adventure.

Speaking of adventure, Jim Dailey from Marked Tree Ar., Ray Pruitt From Mount Vernon Wa., and “Doc” Lawrence Palmer from Houston Tx., decided to go to the Sinuk River for the day. A fish fry was planned. While there they saw a herd of reindeer, then another bunch of reindeer, and another! As the deer joined together there were approximately 200-300 reindeer in one area. The reindeer ignored the excited prospectors and waded from the river into the Bering Sea. During this time Jim Dailey was taking picture after picture of these beautiful creatures. The male reindeer already shed the velvet off of their antlers, but the females were still in velvet. The giant reindeer herd posed for more than seventy pictures! The herd was seen the next day close to the same place, and again many, many photos were snapped.

Nearer to camp, seal, salmon, musk ox, moose, fox, squirrel, ptarmigan, and a wide variety of birds are seen daily. Bessie our non-existent Bering Sea creature (now rumored to have a cousin named Nessie living in Loch Ness Scotland) still remains elusive.

The beach reports are showing good flour gold, and perfect conditions for gathering it. A few hardy prospectors are running their beach boxes into the late evening to get all the gold they can. Go for it! That gold is just waiting for you to gather it up and take it home with you. Some coarse gold is being found, along with several nice beach nuggets.

Perry Massie is out of camp again today escorting a group of ATVers to the trommel for a day. This is where participants get to do some high banking with the possibility of finding nice size nuggets. Yesterday he again led a group of ATV’s on his famous Sinuk River Trip and Picnic. As you may have guessed, a trip with Perry Massie is considered by many (and rightly so) to be the highlight of their stay in camp. The lunch menu on the Sinuk Trip was all you can eat fresh caught barbequed salmon.

This has been a great year for animal sightings with reindeer, caribou, moose, musk ox, seals, walrus, sisiliks or (Arctic Ground Squirrels) being seen frequently. We have fewer little sisiliks (ground squirrels) in camp this year, and many people wondered why. Then a large and very well fed red fox was seen strolling through camp one morning about three a.m. She was grinning from ear to ear and sniffing the sisilik tunnel openings. We think we know what happened to our missing ground squirrels.

The early summer has wildflowers blooming everywhere, a riot of beautiful colors, textures, shapes and sizes. I have taken many photographs, but the pictures do not do the natural beauty true justice.

Henry Henry, one of the camp’s premier fishermen, gave a glowing fish report. He stated that this year is the best year for fishing he has ever seen at Cripple River! Henry Henry has been coming to the Cripple River camp for twenty years, so he should know. The salmon are great, and the Dolly Varden, a variety of trout, are also plentiful. Fishing has been, and continues to be beyond fantastic!!!

People come to our camp for many reasons, gold is just one of the attractions. Many women who I talk to say their interest in coming to Cripple River was to be in the gold camp with their husbands. Not all women enjoy a lot of prospecting. They just love being with their husbands. These ladies do other things here, taking walks to explore the myriad of flowers, pick ripe berries, rock hound, collect garnets, visit with new found friends, or spend a day shopping in town. Many bring a camera and take some fantastic, once in a lifetime photos. Obviously the gold bug has yet to bite them! There are, however, also women who come to camp specifically to find GOLD! One woman prospector I met this week is Kim Beyering from Black River Falls Wi. She has been prospecting for three years with her loving husband Ron. They caught the bug watching the Gold Fever Show and the Prospecting America show on T.V. This year they came to Alaska to buy a house and plan a move to Alaska (another city-not Nome) in the future. Kim likes finding things, garnets, rocks, gold, antiquities, you name it. She and husband Ron love being in the great (real) outdoors. In many ways it sounds like Kim and Ron are prospectors who also treasure hunt. They both love being here and are finding gold, among other things.

Speaking of finding gold and things, it’s my time to go prospecting now, so until next time may your life and the bottom of your pan turn golden.

Arctic Annie