With the backhoe in the shop and not much processing happening, we decided to take a day and attempt to do some field prospecting on the other side of the creek.  We don’t currently have good access over there, and as far as we know its pretty much untouched, meaning half our claim is virgin ground.

We started out trying to get there via atv from a power line a few miles away.  It was apparent soon after unloading that the ground was still too muddy, unless we wanted to spend the day winching ourselves out of the muck.  No choice but to hike it then.  Back to the camp, get the waders on, and cross the creek.

Along for the trip with us this day was our good friend Si.  Si has the worst case of gold fever I have ever seen, he’s gone as far as the amateur inventing stage, and as you all know that’s pretty acute.  Hes also the best field prospector I have ever seen, he can find gold just about anywhere.

We had a great time, identified some great dig sites over there, and yes, even found a little gold down by the creek.

One strange thing we did notice is that in some places all the large trees were cut and nothing but old rotting stumps were left.  I’m not sure what to make of that, what were they doing over there?  Getting ready to mine?  What were the logs for? Its not really good access for logging or anything else like that to have taken place.

Rounded the day out picking some fiddlehead ferns with the kid.  These things are great fried or steamed, just don’t forget the bacon!