best way to mine this deposit? Options

[rich on western ...]

Found a section of cut out bench placer. It is a verticle wall of gravel on bedrock. Has color in it. Problem is that it is several yards thick with a lot of larger boulders mixed in. There is a lot of stuff that has fallen at the base of it (lose sand and gravel forming a fan). What would be the best and safest way to dig into this matterial? It is dry and hard compacted alluvial deposit that is at least 100' above the existing river. Another problem is trying to get this stuff down to my truck or area where I can process it. There are several cobbly lenses mixed in. Would these be areas that acted as an armour layer? Also, would the lose matterial at the base probably have color in it as well?

Forgot to mention that I only have hand tools at my disposal and would be working this by myself. Anybody interested in going in on claiming this area? Would be nice to have a partner to help work it

[rich on western ...]

Will post some pics the next time I get out there. It is a very steep long drop down to the river. Otherwise it is probably around 300 yrds down a path to the river.