Jul 10

Written by:
7/10/2007 12:00 AM 

Tom Massie, Champion Hider of Treasure Tins, is in camp! It seems that two of last years treasure tins are still hiding somewhere in camp. These small tins, about the size of Altoid Mint boxes are wrapped with duct tape to protect the surprises inside. What’s inside you may ask? Well, it varies. It could be carved jade, a gold coin, some walrus ivory jewelry, a gold nugget, or other great things! Only Tom knows--- (and Cindy of course). All I know is that they are well worth finding! As of this writing, no treasure has been hidden yet this year, but maybe in the near future? We can only hope. Tom talked about what will happen with the beach this year, “This will be a veerrry interesting year for our beach prospectors. Last year’s fall storms kind of fluffed up the black sands, and it is just starting to concentrate down. Usually the storms concentrate the gold bearing sand more by this time. So as I said, this will be a very interesting year.”

Tuesday Perry Massie, accompanied by Sandy and Georgia, led his famous (or infamous) ATV trip to the Sinuk River. More than thirty-eight quads followed him out of camp and on to adventure. The day was hot and sunny; the beach road along the sea went past small lakes, and high mountains. A seal was playing in the Bering Sea, and obligingly came close enough for pictures to be taken. The cookout on the beach was held where the mouth of the Sinuk River kisses her lover, the Bering Sea. Hot dogs were the main course as the fish

weren’t biting very well, which is unusual. After beach combing for rocks, shells, driftwood or other treasures, and eating a picnic lunch, the group made their way back to camp. They may have been tired, and sun burned group, but everyone was smiling ear to ear. Another perfect day!

Lindsey Rudolph our trusty Beach Master was happy to report that the gold looks good! Working the beach for flour gold is hard work, but it can also be very rewarding. Some small pickers or what we call ‘beach nuggets’ have been found, and there is good flour gold recovery. The weather has been great so far, hot and sunny. If you are down on the beach for the day remember your bug goop, and sunscreen!

On a sadder note, one of our favorite crew members did not make it back to Alaska this year. Snoop Massie, the Famous Gold Sniffing dog was bit by a snake while out jogging with his friend last fall. This tough little rebel who had survived an encounter, in which he was bitten and mauled by coyotes a few years ago, lost his life to rattlesnake venom. Even emergency veterinarian care failed. Snoop, a Yorkshire terrier was almost eight years old. As a young puppy Tom Massie gave him his very own gold pan to drink out of. On his first trip to Cripple River Snoop was running on the beach one day, and saw a gold pan with water in it. Being thirsty he ran over to get a drink, and there on the bottom of the pan was a beautiful fanning of gold ready to be snuffered up. So Snoop, lapping up the salty water lapped up gold and all! The beach miner yelled, “Tom, your dog just ate my gold!” And he had! Snoop, unsure what all the yelling was about thought, “Silly person to put his gold in my water dish. And the water was yucky too!” And off he trotted down the beach, without a care in the world. Snoop was a favorite in camp, and never met a person he didn’t like. Snoop was cremated, and he is gone from this world, but he is still here in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Snoop: smart, tough, gutsy, adorable, the gold sniffing dog with a heart of gold, Called away from his loved ones---off to heaven too soon---he wasn’t very old. Remember the saying, “Only the good die young”? Dogs too it would seem! “I’m off to guard the golden gates for St. Peter!” Snoop would say if he could. “But I have one thing to say to my family, and friends and those near and dear, Don’t cry, I’m not gone away from you forever---I’ll be waiting for you here.”

On a much happier note, Chip and Yorde, (Marion and Laverne Yorde) are celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary this July. The date will be 7-07-07. If seven’s are truly lucky, this will be the luckiest of years for them. When asked her secret for a long and happy marriage Chip admits she has one, “Just say ‘what ever’ or ‘sure’ and then when you turn around think what you like!” Not bad advice at all! Yorde’s response to the same question, “pick the right person from the start.” Also darn good advice. So to Chip and Yorde, and all the other long term loves out there congratulations! And many happy returns!

The Cripple River Gold Camp turned out almost ‘enmasse’ for the 4th of July parade down the main street of Nome, called Front Street. A long line of Cripple River ATVers rode two by two down the street throwing candy and bead necklaces to spectators, young and old alike. People yelled, waved, whistled, and took pictures, and videos of the parade. Some miners from our camp rode in our giant freshly washed white trucks with the camp logo, which were all decked out for the parade with flags, and red white and blue bunting and sparklies. Nomeites turn out in force for the celebration of our nation’s independence. After the parade whether you were three or eighty-three there were contests and races to enter. Pie eating, egg races, tricycle races, bicycle races, three legged races, you name it. The fire station gave away ice cream, and several merchants had tables of discounted merchandise for sale. Some of our friends from camp went tumbled glass hunting for Bering Sea Beach Glass. Some nice pieces were found, but due to fewer storms this year, the amount of well tumbled glass was in shorter supply than usual. Riding back to camp with our friends was great. The cooling breeze seemed to caress our faces, the smooth sparkling water on our left side glistened and you could smell the clean scent of salt on the air. If I rode closer to the high tide line, the green tundra to my right exuded an exotic earthy smell. As the five ATV’s moved back and forth in line, changing places and the lead now and then our travel down the sandy beach to camp became almost like a dance. A sense of happiness, joy, and peace and contentment suffused my whole being. I thought, “The whole trip up here was worth this one most perfect of days.” When I spoke to one of my friends in the chow hall, amazingly, she had felt the same way!

The gold draw on Friday Night is always a camp favorite, with everyone getting a chance to draw the number one nugget! This week the gold looks real good, with some very nice nuggets, lots of pickers and coarse gold. Together with our spaghetti feed, and entertainment in our “saloon” Friday is a great day at Cripple River.

There is great cheering in camp this week as Crabby Wednesday’s, the day you can purchase tickets for a crab feast; is back! Fresh caught succulent Alaska King Crab, melted butter, and all the trimmings! For those who don’t like crab, there will be an alternate meal entree for you.

And now, even more loudly cheering! Corey Rudolph, one of the quintessential horseshoes players in camp was defeated in Friday night’s games. A young lady, Jen Smith who hails from Las Vegas Nevada, defeated Corey 21 to 18, much to his chagrin. Corey had ‘no comment’! It does these guys in camp good to lose to the true members of the superior sex. When I was growing up, women were expected not to win against men, as it was unseemly, and it might hurt the delicate male ego. But things are changing now! Ms. Smith then went on to beat Ralph Yager by a blistering score of 21 to 3! The ladies in camp were cheering for Jen! Way to go. In the last game Jen cut back a little and ‘let’ the poor guys win. Most important of all, everyone had a great time.

Donna Fairless, one of the camp hosts at Ketchmark just reported that animal sightings on the way to this outer camp are up this year. There are two herds of Musk Ox, one of about 20 or so cows with calves, and the other smaller herd is mixed with some young males. Also near Ketchmark are several moose, Arctic Squirrels also called ‘sisiliks’, fox families, a wolf and many species of birds. Take lots of pictures, but do NOT approach to close! These are wild creatures, and not animals in a petting zoo. Scare them, or let them feel threatened and they can chase you. A mad Musk Ox can accelerate from zero to 25 miles per hour in about eight seconds, and can run for several hundred yards at top speed, can you? See the sights, have fun, take picks, but most important of all be safe!

Tom Massie, our Camp Leader, will be going on a prospecting trip this week to Shirosky River to check out its golden possibilities. Tom will be primarily using a sluice box, and of course, his trusty gold pan. (Note: I said trusty, not rusty as he uses a green plastic G.P.A.A. pan of course!) Tom is one of the best gold panners I have ever seen! If you could bottle his skill and sell it you would be rich overnight. Tom plans to be back in plenty of time for the Friday gold draw. Good Luck Tom!

The weather is so great that sitting here writing is getting impossible. There are adventures to be had, and prospecting to do, so until next time, may your life and the bottom of your pan turn golden!

Your friend, Arctic Annie!