Last Post 14 Dec 2016 07:16 AM by  Wayne Crowder
The big adventure begins
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Dave Dollar
Greenhorn
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08 Dec 2016 07:04 AM

      Hey guys!

      I should be camping tonight somewhere in the Gold Basin area.  I'm in a big 5th wheel and am set up for serious boondocking--no services required.  Has anyone camped a big rv out that way before?  Any advice for first timer? :-)

      Here are my gear options for use on this trip...

      I have a drywasher...(but have discovered that I need a "VAC-PACK" to be fully effective in this...need to make one of those...or buy one.)

      I have a Gold Cube..(need to build a trommel  (sp?) for that...) 

      Desert Fox small spiral wheel...

      Small and LG Bazooka Gold trap...

      Basic Panning set from Garrett.

      Ok metal detector...(Fisher F75)  Should be able to find nuggets, but not as fine as a dedicated gold-machine...

      This is what I got...

      An RV...two dogs, and this stuff.  Now I just have to find enough shiny bits to scrape out a meager living on.

      (KIDS!  Plan your retirement EARLY!)  Haha!

      My plan is to find a set of decent BLM campsites (Read that as "Flat spot in the BLM desert lands") and rotate between them.  (The rules for BLM camping state that you can pretty much stay in one spot for two weeks.  Then the rangers will run you off.  You can't come back to that same spot for another two weeks, I think.  SO...

      I would probably try and explore around for a *couple* of good sites, around the basin and rotate between them.  As little as possible--I hate moving this trailer.

      Unless there's a super cheap campground or hookups somewhere in the area...this camper is my "spaceship", built for long term off-grid use, because of COST.  (Kids! Retirement! Early!)  So the plan was to mostly be off-grid running on solar, evaporating gray water, composting toilets, and tanking in propane and water as needed with the pickup....or better yet building a rain catch (yeah, I know...good luck with that out here).

      From these camp spots I figure I will fan out and sample various spots, looking for free mill and nuggets.  I will start by taking "Bunny" (Little ATV) out and bringing lots of samples back to the ship, to run through the gold cube.  From the samples I will determine the best place to start drywashing.

      Then I will use the spiral wheel for final cleanup...

      Does that sound like a plan to you old timers out there?  Am I missing any critical steps anyone can see offhand?

      I hear you can find garnets and meteorites out here too?  Any other gemstones or valuable rare earths I should be looking for out in the Gold Basin?

      Any advice much appreciated!  Getting pant-peeing excited here....

         Thanks!

             Dave

      

     

     

     

     

     
    Tim Leibel
    Buzzard
    Buzzard
    Posts:608



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    08 Dec 2016 07:48 AM
    If you are alone, try and let people know where you heading, just in case. Watch for cactus and snakes. Stay hydrated. And above all else have fun. I learned these things on my great adventure to Arizona last March.
    Wayne Crowder
    Highbanker
    Highbanker
    Posts:105



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    08 Dec 2016 08:24 AM
    Dave,
    From what I've heard, keep some moisturizer for your skin handy too. The air can be pretty dry this time of year.

    Wayne
    Dave Dollar
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:



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    11 Dec 2016 04:44 PM
    Dropped gear in Dolan Springs!
    Decent little RV park. Nice folks so far. Every other RV here has prospecting gear of some kind hanging off it.
    Finally got to take the bike out and do some exploring. Went up to what I think was the Bahde/Hoppy claim area...
    Appx coordinates I got from here...hehe.
    People next door to me have offered to take me out and show me the ropes a little...but I don't think they are hunting a GPAA area...
    Without my mining guide I am pretty uncertain...
    Tomorrow I will scout for more spots...
    Banging around here on all the little dirt roads in the Gold Basin area, if I come to a spot, supposedly in BLM controlled area, but NOT a GPAA claim, can I dig there? How can I tell if there is another claim on a spot I want to dig on?
    Now that I know what town I am going to be in, I need to start soliciting to get a new mining guide...seems like prospecting is the big thing to do out here, I don't want to get arrested on my first trip.
    Keith Perron
    New Member
    New Member
    Posts:26



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    12 Dec 2016 02:38 PM
    Go to landmatters.org and look under current claims on the right side of the site, real easy to use, it will let you know if there is an active claim in the area you are looking at.
    ADAM ANDREWS
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:



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    12 Dec 2016 08:23 PM

        Your adventure sounds fun, I used to call them Gold missions. The last time I was in Az. in Dec., I froze my rear off. It was 29* in Prescott by Lynx Creek. Some friends camped in tents but since the motels with heaters were ten minutes away, we stayed there. I remember having lots of fun, I hope to see some Gold from your Gold mission soon. Have fun.
    Dave Dollar
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:



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    13 Dec 2016 03:06 AM

      What a great day!  

      First day in the dirt at the Gold Basin...and actually found a little gold with my drywasher!

      Ran into some other members who have been mentoring me!  They showed me right to the big GPAA claim and even let me dig in their area!

      People surprise you sometimes.  Restores my faith in humanity. :-)

      This desert is savage on tires.  Everything I have has a flat...haha.
    Leo Lorenz
    Basic Member
    Basic Member
    Posts:486



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    13 Dec 2016 08:23 AM
    Sounds like your having a great time Dave. Did you get flats on the RV or just the ATV?
    Dave Dollar
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:



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    13 Dec 2016 03:01 PM

     Between here and Colorado I have had flats on just about everything.  The RV, the truck the bike and the buggy. :-(

      I hope this Slime stuff is all it's cracked up to be.

      Got a big bucket of drywasher cons to run tonight...if I can get off my arse.

      Gold mining is hard work...
    Dave Dollar
    Greenhorn
    Greenhorn
    Posts:



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    14 Dec 2016 12:06 AM
    Wayne...you weren't kiddin' about the moisturizer....man.
    I feel like a raisin coming out of that hole at the end of the day.
    Wayne Crowder
    Highbanker
    Highbanker
    Posts:105



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    14 Dec 2016 07:08 AM
    Dave:
    Dry skin didn't happen to me, but did to my son's father-in-law in Sedona a few years ago, but I don't remember if it was winter or summer there at the time.

    Just thought I'd pass the message along since you're spending a bit of time in Arizona.

    Wayne
    Wayne Crowder
    Highbanker
    Highbanker
    Posts:105



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    14 Dec 2016 07:16 AM
    Keith:
    I think it is my landmatters.com.

    Probably either way will get you there on Google.

    Wayne
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