Aug 2

Written by:
8/2/2004 12:00 AM 

Greetings from Cripple River! Yesterday at the 8 a.m. morning miner’s meeting there was a small difference of opinion as to the desired weather for this week. Marvin Rapose, Camp Manager wanted more days of sunshine. Perry Massie, who you all know, wanted a little rain. The rain settles the dust in camp, and re-supplies water to Arctic Creek where the dredge and trommel operations are located. The dredge and the trommel provide the gold for our Friday night gold draw, and both operations need good water to run. Some of the people in camp sided with Marv as everyone loves the sunshine. Those of us who know Perry dug out our rain gear! Perry, with years of Alaskan experience behind him, is just too savvy to bet against. (It was also rumored he has friends in High Places). Today, we are getting light intermittent rain showers! Sorry Marvin, Perry wins again!!!

This year the weather has been almost perfect for finding and getting that gold. For all our wild flower lovers, this year has been fantastic! The almost constant sunshine has the flowers on the tundra sparking like a necklace of precious gemstones on a chain of woven jade. Tall Fireweed, with shades ranging in color from a pinkish-magenta to a slightly blue-magenta, is growing everywhere in majestic splendor. In spring, the reddish brown shoots are edible and the flowers can be made into a jelly or honey. Dwarf Fireweed, its smaller sister, grows as a low shrub. Both are varieties of Evening Primrose. In the fall the leaves and stems turn orange-red, which, when seen from a distance, look like a campfire on the tundra. A popular, small delicate purple flower seen here is Monkshood, with the inside of the flower resembling a monk’s hood with a face in it. Iris, another beautiful wildflower, is a deep royal purple and white. (The local people talk about a very rare black Iris. It is considered extreme good luck to find one, but bad luck if you disturb it!) I have seen one Iris in the six years I’ve been coming to Cripple River, that was such a deep, dark purple it looked black. Next year I am going to try to find it again and take it’s picture. Caution, while many flowers and plants are edible, there are flowers and plants that are poisonous if eaten, including both Iris and Monkshood. Bluebells (with edible leaves and flowers) are also called Chiming Bells. Their flowers are colored a medium pink turning into blue. Add to these colors the bright gold of Tundra Rose also called Shrubby Cinquefoil, and the brilliant yellow tones of Bog Saxifrage and Lessing’s Arnica, you have a necklace fit for a queen, or even a lady gold prospector. Alaska Cotton Grass nicknamed “tundra cotton” has a bright fluffy snow-white head. In the distance it looks just like a field of snow. Another white flower everyone is familiar with is the Daisy, and while it seems to grow almost worldwide, it is especially beautiful in Alaska. Most wildflowers bloom in this area of Alaska from June–August, so we are here at the best possible time. Feel free to smell, touch and photograph these flowers colored with natures’ artistic touch, but please don’t eat them!

Animals continue to be seen in the areas around camp with a record number of moose, reindeer, and musk ox sightings being reported. Caribou are also seen, and many great photos of Arctic Red Foxes have been taken just outside of camp, as well as at the dredge cabins on Arctic Creek. Several people have shown me little “Fox Movies” taken with their digital cameras. Arctic Ground Squirrels called sisiliks are around and about, but are not as numerous as in past years. Seals are seen bobbing up and down among the waves, fishing for salmon (or playing a game of seal tag---you’re it!). The occasional walrus or two has been seen sleepily lounging on the beach between the Penny River and Nome. One unusual beach find was a penguin. Like our ocean going beaver that was seen three years ago, this penguin’s GPS (global positioning system) may have been malfunctioning. Or else, he had heard so many good things about our camp he decided to check us out for himself. We had an almost near sighting of Bessie our non-existent Bering Sea Sea Monster this week, but nobody has seen her. Yet.

A word of warning! Many of these wild animals are not overly afraid of people, and may come up close to you. Remember this is not a petting zoo. DO NOT try to hand feed these animals. They can and do BITE. Nature’s food is best for them and you.

The area around the Cripple and the Penny Rivers is an interesting place for birders, and several people are running around with binoculars, bird books, and cameras. One birder walked too close to an Arctic Tern’s nest site and was seen beating a hasty retreat chased by Momma Tern, Daddy Tern and the whole ‘dern’ Tern family. These birds are extremely protective of their babies and will attack with a vengeance when they perceive their families threatened. These birds will swoop, scream, peck, scratch and even dive bomb dropping bird poo bomblets. Anything to save their children. What great parents they are!

Friday night’s gold draw has been exciting the past three weeks with many nice nuggets and pickers to try for, as well as vials of coarser gold. In addition, platinum nuggets are currently being found, so some draws include small silvery looking platinum nuggets along with the gold. If you are lucky enough to draw a vial of gold with platinum in it everyone crowds around to oohhh and aahhh over the platinum. These nuggets have a special beauty all their own. As you know, platinum is much harder than gold and makes excellent jewelry that never wears out. This is reflected in its’ price. For example when gold was $400.00 an ounce, platinum was $800.00.

Fishing continues to be excellent. Last week Henry Henry, a fisherman of exceptional skill, caught a 10 lb Silver Salmon on the Sinuk River trip. Perry Massie, also a highly skilled angler, (following suggestions from his better-half Sandy), caught a 9 ½ lb Silver! The water of the Cripple River, already choc-a-block full and teeming with Pink Salmon and Dolly Varden Trout, is now hosting the Silver Salmon. Golden Nuggets and Silver Salmon, what a dynamite combination. The honors for the biggest fish caught this week go to a small red fox. Today this little huntress was seen trotting up the left side of the Cripple River with a fish in her mouth almost as big as she was. With green willow and tundra in the background, the water a pristine blue, the little bright red fox held a silver gray fish in her mouth as she pranced up the river. With her paws splashing up little spouts of water, she was a study in natural beauty. The fish was so large it hung out of both sides of her mouth with the fish’s head and tail almost dragging in the water. I stopped my ATV and Susan and I watched her go up the river about 50 yards, then climb out of the water at a shallow cut in the bank, disappearing into the green bushes to enjoy her fishy feast. She may even have a family of little ones to share it with. Sights like this I collect like precious jewels to fill my heart with enough joy and beauty to last until I can return to Cripple River next year.

News Flash!!! The Great Hunt is ON! Tom Massie, who hosted last years’ popular treasure hunt, has again hidden treasure packages through out the camp. The treasure packets are small to medium size containers wrapped up in silver duct tape. These diminutive treasure chests all contain different valuables, with no two exactly alike. Listed amongst the goodies are carved Walrus Ivory or Jade figurines, gold nuggets, gold coins, tickets redeemable for a special free cap, and other fantastic finds. Twenty-three of these boxes have been secreted throughout camp, and/or within a quarter mile of camp. All of these boxes are in areas that everyone in camp has access to. None of the booty is hidden in private containers, hooches, in the workshops, or any other off limits place. If you think the treasure may be stashed in an area you shouldn’t be in, don’t go there, as it won’t be there either, according to Tom Massie. Have fun hunting, but respect other people’s privacy. Last year’s treasure hunt was a big success, at the end four treasure boxes still were unlocated. This year Tom dug up two of the four boxes, one was found with a metal detector the second week of camp by a person who had no idea of what it was, (upon opening it they danced a jig for joy), and the fourth treasure box is still unaccounted for. Tom remembers the last box from 2003 has a small set of Russian Nesting Dolls, and in the innermost doll are several nice small nuggets. There is some speculation that Tom Massie may have been a pirate in his last life, Long Tom Silver!!!

This week our gold camp was visited by Ralph Rieckman from Grand Rapids MI. Ralph, who is an accomplished bagpiper, brought his pipes along with him to Alaska. Ralph has been playing for seven years. To learn the pipes you first learn to play a part of the pipes called the chanter. Ralph, after playing the chanter for approximately four years, graduated to the full pipes. Sunday, resplendently dressed in black and gold regalia, (alas a marching suit not a kilt), Ralph marched through camp to the chapel in full cacophony. After the short service Ralph again played his pipes as he walked to the chow hall, where he posed for numerous pictures, and answered many questions. One exciting thing about the Cripple River Gold Camp is you never know what is going to happen here.

This week Perry Massie’s ATV trip to the Sinuk River was taken on a rainy day. The group of 26 ATVers refused to let a day of showers get in the way of their adventuring. Wearing rain gear they sped out of camp in high spirits, happy to follow Perry wherever he led. A herd of about 14 musk ox was seen by our adventurers, and the picnic with fresh caught salmon was a real hit. Fifteen minutes from river to grill insures this is the freshest fish you will ever taste. (Unless you are a seal or a walrus).

Jim Lee from Canon (pronounced Canyon) City, CO., came to Cripple River gold camp for two weeks. Jim is an experienced prospector as Colorado has a lot of gold mines as well as placer gold. A member of the Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association he has been planning this trip for the past fourteen years. Jim has had a great time here, and especially likes to see and prospect country that is not overly populated. He loves taking long rides on his ATV. The beach gold has been good and the trommel trip provided him several nice pickers and good coarse gold. Jim will be back next year with Jeri, his beautiful bride of 27 years.

This week Ken Rucker, the finder of the Wolf Eel head, was hunting Jade at the mouth of the Cripple River. Instead of Jade he found a piece of fossil walrus ivory about six inches long and an inch or so wide. It was identified as the tip of a walrus tusk. It had been well worn by the Bering Sea, but was still in great shape.

Back by popular demand! Here is another recipe from our champion cook Chip Yorde:

Chip’s Poppy Seed Salad

4 stalks broccoli 8 large fresh mushrooms 1 medium bell pepper

1 small head cauliflower ½ cup black olives 4 sliced carrots ½ red onion

Top with: 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1 ½ cup vegetable oil, ½ cup red wine vinegar, 1-tablespoon salt, 1-cup sugar, 1-tablespoon dry mustard

Serve and enjoy

The sun is out, and the Blueberries and Salmonberries (called Cloudberries in other areas of Alaska) are ripe and TASTY. The Crowberries (also called Blackberries) are also ripe, and sweet, but are full of seeds. Now I have a difficult choice to make. Do I go prospecting for that heavy gold stuff, take a camera and capture some of nature’s beauty, or go berry picking? So much to do, so little time! Until next week, may your life and the bottom of your pan be golden (or maybe platinum!)

Arctic Annie