New to CP, Introduction |
New to CP, Introduction |
Mar 5 2017, 02:12 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 38 Joined: 3-March 17 From: Salida CO Member No.: 127,759 |
Hello Colorado Prospectors!
I am commonly referred as an "Ogre", hence my handle, but my real name is Mike. Nice to meet everyone and I am happy to have the wealth of information that is available to CP members. Do we get bumper stickers? Anyway, I live in Salida, and my favorite prospecting spot is Cache Creek, near Granite. There are a lot of claims and a lot of gold in Southern Colorado, but, in my opinion, only Cache Creek will give up 97% pure golden pieces. There is no need to smelt, refine, or filter. Once you've gotten it out of your Blue Bowl, that's it! You have "market quality" gold! I am a little protective of the area - Bill, the B.L.M. Geologist who is in charge of the area knows me pretty well. We aren't suppose to dig under those 100+ year old Ponderosa tree's, yet people do all the time. I will politely point out the signs when I see someone digging under them, and sometimes it gets a little heated - I haven't had to call in the Forest Service on anyone yet, but here is the thing: if we don't follow the rules out there, the BLM will shut us down. Then Cache Creek becomes a recreational site only. No fun for anyone. And YES, the Fed's have the authority to do whatever they want. A little about me: my father was a registered land surveyor for the state of Arizona and has a Master's in Geology. We have been prospecting since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Now he is older and is on an oxygen tank so I have taken up the reigns and we usually spend a month together once a year just digging in our favorite spots here in Southern Colorado. I am an O.I.F. Combat Veteran (Reg Army, 13Bang Bang, 2-17FA, 2ID, e5) and have been blown up a couple times. I took my Medical Retirement and got a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. I am one of the very few 46 year old's I have ever met who is already retired. I was born in Fort Collins, CO, and when me, my wife and our son moved to Salida, I was hired to be the General Manager of the local non-profit thrift store, the Caring & Sharing. As I found out, there is a huge difference between a "Good Soldier" and a "Good Christian" so that didn't work out for us. So instead we prospect most summers. I also run Point Barr with my buddy during the winter time, but frankly, the gold just isn't as good there. So if your out at those two public prospecting area's and you see a white Jeep Liberty with DV plates and Vet stickers all over it's butt, look for a tall skinny dude with a salt and pepper fu man chu and come say hello! Michael D. Shelest OIF Reg Army, BSEE, IEEE, (and now CP!) -------------------- Michael D. Shelest
OIF Reg Army, BSEE, IEEE "Fallen but not Forgotten" |
|
|
Mar 5 2017, 04:32 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 171 Joined: 19-October 14 From: Denver Member No.: 118,315 |
Welcome to the Club Ogre Mike!
Always nice to have more good company and prospecting experience! I live in Denver, but I just staked my first claim very close to you. It is a placer gold claim, closer to you than Cache Creek. When the snow melts, I will be posting an invite to my claim for Annual and Lifetime members, under the protected forums. There might be some invites for non-paying members to my claim as well. ( to help premote membership , and help educate prospectors in the field ) We have had a few members make prototype bumper stickers, but I don't know if there are any more available ( CP? Crusty? ) There are some public post on the website under [ CP Past Events, Club Outings with Dave ] , that show pics of us at my claim, and some of the gold. Again ..... David Sandmeier professional smart alec hopefully soon a professional miner/prospector -------------------- Thankful member of COLORADO PROSPECTOR CLUB
Level 2 Joined Oct. 19th 2014 (pay member since Apr. 1st 2015) Referral code: DS531 "Like a fine gemstone, the mind is more beautiful when it is open and free to receive the light." - (Dave's ramblings 52 : 80 ) |
|
|
Mar 5 2017, 05:23 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 563 Joined: 13-June 15 From: South of Gunnison in Gold Basin, Saguache County Member No.: 120,659 |
Welcome to CP Mike. Cache creek is a fun place and good gold I'll agree. I'm about 70 percent since a shoulder surgery in December but healing fast.
I'm just over monarch from you not far from Doyleville and we are in salida regularly for supplies and to enjoy the warmer weather. I like that area. I was 11Bravo during Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and I'm about your age. I was stationed at Ft Benning but we were then attached to the 24 Infantry Division and deployed from Ft Stewart. Luckily I walked away mostly unscathed and all my brothers came home and I was grateful for that. When it was time to reenlist my wife informed me we were done with the military life haha. It wasn't so much of a rush for her and I understand. It's a time of my life I'll never forget. I've been in the construction trades my entire life mostly with no retirement in sight! Hehe I'm trying to focus on staking my own claim this summer. I did quite a bit of field work last summer but there's still more to do and more areas to prospect. My land research if pretty much complete so I just need to get out and dig and test. -------------------- Level 2 member -12/25/16
Referral code JL697 |
|
|
Mar 5 2017, 09:05 PM
Post
#4
|
|
Master Mucker! Group: Members Posts: 2,430 Joined: 6-June 13 From: Falcon, CO Member No.: 82,915 |
Welcome! Sounds like you'll fit right in here! Look forward to meeting you!
-------------------- Find Colorado Prospector on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/170314493176558
CP Lifetime Member |
|
|
Mar 6 2017, 05:25 PM
Post
#5
|
|
Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 563 Joined: 13-June 15 From: South of Gunnison in Gold Basin, Saguache County Member No.: 120,659 |
I heard a rumor on another site that cache creek might allow other equipment this year such as dry washers? Know anything about that?
-------------------- Level 2 member -12/25/16
Referral code JL697 |
|
|
Mar 6 2017, 06:33 PM
Post
#6
|
|
Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 898 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Denver, CO Member No.: 116,265 |
Welcome to the forums Ogre!
Thank you for your service. Mountains of great info on here and great people. Glad to have you aboard! -------------------- |
|
|
Mar 6 2017, 08:01 PM
Post
#7
|
|
Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 38 Joined: 3-March 17 From: Salida CO Member No.: 127,759 |
I heard a rumor on another site that cache creek might allow other equipment this year such as dry washers? Know anything about that? Bill and Michele both spoke of something in the "works", but definitely no mechanized permits for 2017. Sorry. -------------------- Michael D. Shelest
OIF Reg Army, BSEE, IEEE "Fallen but not Forgotten" |
|
|
Mar 6 2017, 08:08 PM
Post
#8
|
|
Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 38 Joined: 3-March 17 From: Salida CO Member No.: 127,759 |
Welcome to CP Mike. Cache creek is a fun place and good gold I'll agree. I'm about 70 percent since a shoulder surgery in December but healing fast. I'm just over monarch from you not far from Doyleville and we are in salida regularly for supplies and to enjoy the warmer weather. I like that area. I was 11Bravo during Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and I'm about your age. I was stationed at Ft Benning but we were then attached to the 24 Infantry Division and deployed from Ft Stewart. Luckily I walked away mostly unscathed and all my brothers came home and I was grateful for that. When it was time to reenlist my wife informed me we were done with the military life haha. It wasn't so much of a rush for her and I understand. It's a time of my life I'll never forget. I've been in the construction trades my entire life mostly with no retirement in sight! Hehe I'm trying to focus on staking my own claim this summer. I did quite a bit of field work last summer but there's still more to do and more areas to prospect. My land research if pretty much complete so I just need to get out and dig and test. Hi Johnny! Thank you very much for the warm welcome. A claim is always good, and if you ever want a hand with it, just send me a shout out. I spent most of my enlistment deployed to some hole or another: South Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq... my one duty station on Garrison was 3-16FA, 4ID out at Ft. Hood, TX. I understand that Division moved here to Ft. Carson not long after I got out. I left for several reasons, mostly health. Getting blown up hurts. Thank you for your service -------------------- Michael D. Shelest
OIF Reg Army, BSEE, IEEE "Fallen but not Forgotten" |
|
|
Mar 6 2017, 08:11 PM
Post
#9
|
|
Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 38 Joined: 3-March 17 From: Salida CO Member No.: 127,759 |
Thanks Dave, Crusty, and MikeS!
I very much looking forward to contributing in any way I can. Blessings -------------------- Michael D. Shelest
OIF Reg Army, BSEE, IEEE "Fallen but not Forgotten" |
|
|
Mar 7 2017, 08:43 AM
Post
#10
|
|
Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Welcome Mike!
Thank you very much for your service to our country, it is appreciated. -------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
|
|
Mar 12 2017, 01:07 PM
Post
#11
|
|
Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 4,149 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 3 |
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your service to our country and welcome to the club! Great to have you on board! As you see we have an awesome bunch of folks in the club! I agree, I think you'll fit right in as well! Bumper stickers is something we're currently working to get completed, check out the new bumper sticker thread in the club members protected forum for details on that coming up. We all look forward to your future participation and contributions! Jump right in and post when you like or start up new threads if needed with posts or questions etc. -------------------- CP-Owner/Administrator
www.ColoradoProspector.com IF YOU USE IT, THE GROUND PRODUCED IT! MINERS MAKE "IT" HAPPEN!! |
|
|
Mar 20 2017, 01:49 PM
Post
#12
|
|
Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 875 Joined: 25-July 14 From: Westminster, CO Member No.: 117,949 |
Welcome to the club! I was hoping we'd get another Mike or two to make things really confusing in the field.
I haven't spent much time on Cache Creek, but there has been A LOT of digging there. I hope to see you out somewhere sometime! On a personal note, I am curious if you're able to use your EE over in Salida? ~Eric -------------------- Lifetime Member
opera non verba "All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer." ~Niccolò Machiavelli Ref Code: EM448 |
|
|
Mar 28 2017, 12:28 PM
Post
#13
|
|
Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 38 Joined: 3-March 17 From: Salida CO Member No.: 127,759 |
Hi Eric!
Yea, I noticed a common theme with names too. Mike, Dave, and Randy seem to be the most common among us prospectors. Quit a few Chris's out there too. I never did get to use my EE. I graduated after a military career, and engineering corporations in America want fresh faced kids straight out of high school and college. I spent a few years and thousands of dollars traveling the United States trying to land an entry level engineering position and despite outstanding grades and a highly decorated military career I just couldn't land a job. I think I hold the record of 117 interviews, and I aced every last one of them. Owell. Y'know, off topic, but I noticed something when I was searching for my career - American technology is run and led by the very same Middle Easterns we have been at war with for over 14 years. Yea, they ain't gonna give an American Combat Vet a job - no way in hell. Even Raythion, Lock-Heed and Martin, Bell Labs - all currently being run by people who have family across the big pond. Our nations enemies are firmly embedded in our technology. I don't know if people are aware of it or not but I think they will end up winning. So though here in Salida there are very few options for someone of my background, the degree itself as well as my military record gets me some pretty good opportunities. I currently wash dishes for 50 Burger because I like the lack of responsibility. I was the general manager for Caring and Sharing, but that left some deep scars and a very sour taste in my mouth for organized religion so I took something that will allow me to focus on Gold Prospecting. Besides, I have more fun developing my own projects and toys than I ever would helping develop a new radar detection system or "Smart Bomb". Thanks for asking Eric. -------------------- Michael D. Shelest
OIF Reg Army, BSEE, IEEE "Fallen but not Forgotten" |
|
|
Sep 3 2017, 08:34 PM
Post
#14
|
|
Master Mucker! Group: Members Posts: 2,430 Joined: 6-June 13 From: Falcon, CO Member No.: 82,915 |
Hi Eric! So though here in Salida there are very few options for someone of my background, the degree itself as well as my military record gets me some pretty good opportunities. I currently wash dishes for 50 Burger because I like the lack of responsibility. Wasn't sure if that was you back there and y'all were swamped so we didn't want to bother you. We'll hit you up next time!! -------------------- Find Colorado Prospector on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/170314493176558
CP Lifetime Member |
|
|
Dec 28 2017, 05:53 PM
Post
#15
|
|
Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: 28-December 17 Member No.: 139,420 |
Welcome!!!!
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 16th June 2024 - 08:02 AM |