Last Post 06 Aug 2015 09:15 AM by  ARTHUR WAUGH
Claim Reports
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ARTHUR WAUGH
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19 May 2014 12:54 PM

While information on claim reports may be going to the chapters, I can tell you straight up that I have not heard ANY information, other than a quick

"hey there is a new one or this one is now gone" at my chapter meeting in over 3 years.......  so that information is not getting to the ground in some cases, and when we do get something, it is what is in the P&S.

 

Note-----your experience may vary by chapter.........

 

 

We have a claim that I have been told has been turned over with dredges at least three times, and another that unless you are a healthy 18 year old or have wings or a UH-60 you are not going to get to(virtually a vertical slope and at least 800 feet to the creek).  The last one all it says is the road gets rough getting to it (true enough)

Dominic Ricci
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19 May 2014 02:13 PM
Hi Arthur,
Thanks for jumping in and sharing. I will work with our claims department and chapters department to get a bettor streamline of communication out to the members in the field. I thank you for bringing it to our attention. Any suggestions are always welcome.
ARTHUR WAUGH
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19 May 2014 03:22 PM
No problem.  I am trying to get them to adopt the first one I mentioned as well as another about a mile away that I have done pretty well on every time I get to it.  Maybe the next meeting or the one after  they might do it.
WALTER EASON
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20 May 2014 06:41 AM

HI All

Thought I might jump in with some information from my point of view. The mining reports could have a great positive effect on individual knowledge of each claim before a member goes out and this would be very valuable in my opinion. There are other very valuable items also in mining reports such as administrative knowledge of how much a claim or claims in an area are being used to lesson damage percentages. How valuable a claim is to members so we do not remove one that members like and the opposite is also true. Where we need to add and where we have to many so we can add more somewhere else. The one issue we have in the claims department is that we do not get enough reports overall to be able to accurately figure out data from one claim to another. This takes multiple reports on groups of claims, not everyone mind you an analysis can be made on occurrences of reports and lack there of.  We have the tools to create the models already just not any wide spread data to justify action. This type of modeling also would generate accuracies for claim updates. For instance I will transverse roads in a 2-wheel drive pickup that other members even in the office when we went out said they would never think of taking their 4x4 truck out on. So much of what one report says is in the eyes and experiences of the beholder. So send in reports and get others to send them in, through the internet (web mining report) is best and most usable.

With regards to a physical mining guide vs a electronic one. The electronic Mining Guide would be great for updates I fully agree. A physical Mining Guide and the need to have it with you is very important in some instances also. These days there are many claims that are back to back and some that are over-staked. A person can make a mistake in where they are suppose to be and some over enthusiastic agency personnel have been known to ask for a person to show proof of where they are allowed to be as in mining claim rights are different from collecting rights. If you accidentally get in the wrong location the guide shows an intent to get it right or if another person is in the wrong place or they think it is an open area it show reasonable proof of claim location. The same is true if your location is in question and the map may provide help in getting you to the correct location. So both Mining Guide types have their uses. Hope this helps and I really like the valuable input that is coming out in this forum. The members ideas helps our direction and keep up the good work.    

SYLVESTER CULLEN
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20 May 2014 07:02 AM
Hi Walter, thanks for chiming in.

I believe this is a "one hand washes the other" situation. I think if the GPAA were to provide access to actual claim reports so that people can see other members experiences with a claim, you will probably get more of them.

The next time I fill one out, it'll be posted in the members area as well as sent in on the usual channels.
ARTHUR WAUGH
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20 May 2014 07:37 AM
I will agree with Mr. Cullen in that it would probably feed off of each other were it on the site and accessible, but is going to take some time.
WALTER EASON
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21 May 2014 07:14 AM
looking forward to your reports. 
ARTHUR WAUGH
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21 May 2014 07:56 AM
Done and sent.
BRENT GOLDEN
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07 Jun 2014 03:17 PM
Only a handful of people may not access the net or computer in this day and time. Send out a CD of guide rather than print. Including vender ads is fine. If feedback on sites is important enough to have a an online spot why not have an online guide with interactive links to satellite data and other links. Many of the maps are not real clear as printed and would be better online. Really time to upgrade.
Leo Lorenz
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07 Jun 2014 07:44 PM

Nicole,

The mining guide should be available in a PDF version, either online or downloadable...that way we can print pages as we need. I know that you all are probably thinking...."Oh well other people will get it that shouldnt have it." Well the bottom line to that is....if people are caught on the claims that don't have a right to be there prosecute them. If you need help to create the PDF document, let me know, I have the means.

Allan Hardtke
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02 Mar 2015 10:53 AM
Are there any claim in the New River, AZ area?
Paul Piwetz
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16 Mar 2015 09:30 PM
For your consideration-
I took the family out to "GOLDEN GOBBLER" by Cleator, Arizona. A large dead cottonwood tree was home to a HUGE hive of wild bees. The section of trunk they occupied was about 50 feet long and the bees were very active. They seemed to be entering at the bottom end of the trunk and leaving from the top. I think a conservative estimate of the population would be 10,000 or more. All wild bees in Arizona should be considered Africanized, that's right Killer Bees. I was downwind of the hive when I was stung, so the bee I killed did not alert the entire hive by pheromone. This hive will only generate more hives and should be considered an immediate danger. Please post a warning. We feel greatly blessed and watched over to have been able to scoot out of there without the outing becoming a tragedy. The bee tree is at the downstream eastern end of the claim.
CHAR MCLEAR
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14 May 2015 09:35 AM
OK, so I'm a total newbie, but I set off in my Jeep two days ago to try my hand at some sluicing and panning in CA. I literally drove around for 11 hours looking for 5 different claims that were in my brand-new GPAA claim book. I looked for claims close by and the closest were in Placerville County about 2.5 hours away, so off I went.

The first claim, the directions in the book led me to nothing but "No Trespassing" signs. The next one I gave up on since I didn't want to drive 16 miles one way, then 9 the other, only to potentially find no access again.

The next one was an hour and a half away in Sierra County, but I chose it because it looked simple to get to and there were 2 other claims close by. Wrong...The directions in the book didn't even say which side of the river to drive on. So, I tried both. Both dead-ended. Then I asked a local who told me about a dirt road that I had missed. I went to it and found a totally rutted mountain-side road, but I started out on it anyway. 2 miles later after having climbed some 700-800 feet above river level, the road simply got worse and pointed straight up. I was unwilling to climb any further from river level and gave up, did a 15-point turn on the mountainside and left.

On to the next one. This one, I actually found the trailhead to. But is led up a mountain on the opposite side of the river. No panning there...

On to the next one. I found the reference point to the road referenced in the book and came across a GPAA member who was working in a recreational area near that road. When I asked him if he knew if that was the right road or not, he didn't even know that the claim existed since it wasn't in his book. As we chatted and I told him where I was from, he told me about "Nancy's" claim which would have been within an hour or so of where I live. Guess what...not in my brand-new book! To finish my story on the last site, I drove the 7.9 miles up the mountain to find a path that led down to the river (about 500 above river level). By now it was 4:30 in the afternoon, with no time to hike down and back again.

Now, after reading all the comments above, I realize that there's not even any point in sending in my reviews since there's no on-going method for members to read them. It all depends on what issue of the book you got.

I'm not totally disillusioned, but I was very much looking forward to simply trying my hand at some panning and sluicing somewhere where I knew I had a right to be. Now I'm back to square one, since the claims are simply not documented well enough and the organization doesn't seem willing to move forward to the electronic age. Surely creating a pdf of the book itself or of individual claims with members being able to provide feedback isn't that hard or expensive.

Please work on this for all of us.

William White
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04 Jun 2015 07:03 PM

An online addition to the claims book would be a good idea, as we have no way to access the info other members send in. I take my Mining Guide into the field or on trips so I can use the GPS info. Chances are you can't get internet service on a lot of claims anyways. Also there are a lots of info on Public Sites and Pay to Dig sites. I usually go to CA. every year, to the Sierras an try to do an outing whilst there, So cool being out there. As for claim jumpers, I have also had this privelidge as it's hard to find an unmarked claim at times an sometimes you are really close but maybe not close enough. Was told to move one time but have never been shot at. With my little suitcace sluice I can't harvest much gold anyways. Driving out is much better as it only takes me about 4 days and the drive is beautiful, once you get near Wyoming. An I can take lots of stuff. Plus there are cool places to go like Yosemite or Happy Camp. The State Forest Campgrounds NW of Reno are nice and there are quite a few of them. 

Brad Lamb
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14 Jul 2015 05:33 AM
I joined in June 2015, after being a long time observer, lol. (watched too many Gold Rush, Gold Fever, Bering Sea Gold and of course, Kevin's Gold Trails episodes)
The only premium channels we have is on The Outdoor Network.

BTT;
I found that reading the guide as a "baseline" information source was quite educating. But, it needs more detail/updating.

My Mining Guide is the 2014 edition and to be frank, several maps are not very useful, even to a landnav trained USARMY Vet. The maps should be updated to include the closest town seat and direction to it. Also, many major roads and interstates are not accurately depicted.

For instance, the 2014 Guide does not tell me which side of the road the claim is on in Buchanan, GA.

I love our hobby and recently purchased a Keene 2.5 Highbanker dredge combo....would be nice to know exactly where the claims are and how to get to them.
Benjamin Crain
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14 Jul 2015 01:46 PM
Brad,

The easiest way to update the maps for people that don't have a GPS is to put mile markers down, or distance away from nearest mile marker so people can at least find them that way. I WISH I could get my hands on the 1/50,000 scale maps we used for landnav in the Army, I would prefer the oldschool method with a pace count and compass any day over a GPS. Anybody that has ever successfully complete the SF Star Landnav program at night can get a person within 10m of their desired destination, but the problem is I have never met a civilian that has had any of that training outside of the military.

What the maps should say is follow this road to mile marker such and such, 100 meters past the mile marker pull off on left side of road and look for trail to claim or if the claims could actually have the claim markers up that would help even more.

I understand your frustration, I have dealt with some of it myself here in Colorado.

One concern I do have about using the Compass system is that magnetic North is shifting right now and I am willing to bet my angle of declination has changed more than a few degrees since the last time out, I would have to recalculate. The old corps of engineer maps we used will be off by a few degrees and without recalculating at a thousand meters you could be off by at least 60 meters. Don't you miss it though?
Brad Lamb
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16 Jul 2015 06:44 AM
Posted By Benjamin Crain on 14 Jul 2015 01:46 PM
Brad,

The easiest way to update the maps for people that don't have a GPS is to put mile markers down, or distance away from nearest mile marker so people can at least find them that way. I WISH I could get my hands on the 1/50,000 scale maps we used for landnav in the Army, I would prefer the oldschool method with a pace count and compass any day over a GPS. Anybody that has ever successfully complete the SF Star Landnav program at night can get a person within 10m of their desired destination, but the problem is I have never met a civilian that has had any of that training outside of the military.

What the maps should say is follow this road to mile marker such and such, 100 meters past the mile marker pull off on left side of road and look for trail to claim or if the claims could actually have the claim markers up that would help even more.

I understand your frustration, I have dealt with some of it myself here in Colorado.

One concern I do have about using the Compass system is that magnetic North is shifting right now and I am willing to bet my angle of declination has changed more than a few degrees since the last time out, I would have to recalculate. The old corps of engineer maps we used will be off by a few degrees and without recalculating at a thousand meters you could be off by at least 60 meters. Don't you miss it though?

Benjamin,

Love your post, brought back some memories of landnav at Benning and other less hospitable locales.

Yeah, I do miss roaming through the pines of NW Georgia with my PC marching though my consciousness (which {pace count} has greatly increased since the early 90's, lol)... and not so much on missing the MREs.

Benjamin Crain
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05 Aug 2015 06:15 PM
Brad,

I will also never miss MRE's. I also served in the 90's so we dined on the same chow. Remember the crackers and cheese spread that made sure you wouldn't go to the bathroom for at least a week? We learned to eat the protein and the rest was Ranger Pudding, with a healthy dose of Ranger tabs also known as Motrin 800mg. We gave our crackers and cheese to the incoming LT's coming right out of school.

Never a dull moment.
Tim Leibel
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05 Aug 2015 07:26 PM
I have to agree the maps are hard to read in the guide. The GPS coordinates are off sometimes, so that is why there is a thread here to report what you find to the claims department. By the By the Buchanan Claim in on the north side of the road, the right if you are coming down 120 from Buchanan. Look for the big white silo. I recently bought the topo map books for Arizona, California and Nevade, along with Google Earth I hope to mark them as I am going to take a trip west this Fall or Winter and do some metal detecting.
Tim Leibel
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06 Aug 2015 06:54 AM
You know there used to be a Claims Reporting area on this site. It was the same form from the mining guide. I wonder where that went.
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