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Posted by: Bones Jul 24 2014, 06:32 PM

Well things didnt turn out as I'd hoped but I had a great time in Colorado!

Day one.. I wanted to arrive at about 1-2 pm so that I had enough time to get to the Chaffee Cty Courthouse to do last minute research but alas I was held up for nearly 4 hrs on 24 heading into Buena Vista due to a car accident that had the bridge closed.

Day 2.. I spent the better half of the day picking up a rental truck from the Colo Springs airport. I shouldve double checked a map because it was over 2 hrs each way. The owner of the campground told me a while back that it was about a 45 minute drive, not so much! After picking this truck up (2013 Dodge Ram) I drove to the Antero trail. I walked up a few hundred feet and realized there was no way I was going to take this truck up and just wasted a bunch of money renting it for 2 weeks.

Day 3..Fishing! Cottonwood Lake...not even a bite lol

Day 4.. I decide to give it a go w the rental. I get to the base trail and there is alot of ppl waiting to go up. There happened to be an atv accident somewhere on the trail and we waited for emergency vehicles and personel to come down and give the ok. In the meantime, I get out and start talking to a guy named Derek...I ask questions about my truck and he seemed sure it would make it...that is until he reaches the front bumper which didnt have the clearance. Now I am really bummed! A lady standing in front of us caught my eye, turned out to be Yolanda Busse with Brian Busse not too far in front of her. I introduced myself and asked them a few questions. Brian adveised me to not even attempt it in that truck. He did go on to suggest renting a Jeep from his friend Craig Anderson in Salida and If I do make it up there to find him.

Day 5...Weather was not too pleasant on Antero so we went to the Cty Courthouse for research and went fishing again...Clear Creek and Twin Lakes

Day 6...I rent a Jeep and get to the switchbacks and did a little digging...We didnt find much, no Aquas thats for sure. I walked the switchbacks for a bit and seen Dereks truck at the Busse camp so I stopped in to say hello. Brian had just came in off the mtn and told me to give him a bit and we could talk. Well after 15 mins of small talk w Derek I started to feel intrusive so I split. I get to the Jeep and turn around to head down the trail and Brian was standing by the truck as they were all heading down for supplies...I pulled over and we started chatting...Eventually I asked him if he ever takes anyone on his claim...He said" Since the first time I met you, you have asked all the right questions and said all the right things.( I did fill him in on all the planning and research of claims Ive done over the last several months) Ill get you up there and let you dig." I felt so blessed to have ran into him again!

Day 7...Didnt look good for weather so just a lazy day at camp and a little fishing in BV

Day 8...Went into Salida to rent a Jeep again and Brian and his crew were all there and asked if we were coming up. He had a group of three that he was taking already, So we got to spend the day on the Thank You Lord claim w Brian and his family! My nephew found a few Aquas and some Smoky Quartz and I found one Aqua embedded in some other rock and a few small Smokies. I was told to come back if we made it up again

Day 9... I decided to cut my losses and head home 5 days early

I have to say, I learned alot as this was just an exploratory expedition.
There is no reason to pay to camp as there are plenty of spots to camp along the trail on the way up. A rental truck from Enterprise looks pretty but is useless as a trail vehicle. Prospecting is not easy work as the show Prospectors makes it seem. Tourist towns are overpriced and just suck in general haha!!!
Most importantly...No matter how much prep you do, map reading, google earth, mining claims...it does not prepare you for actually being on the mountain in all of its gigantic glory! As a first timer, even w maps and a gps i still felt lost and overwhelmed! Antero did not defeat me though and you betcha I will be back!!!

I cannot even say enough about the Busse family, they are great people! Some of the kindest Ive ever encountered anywhere in my life and I am eternally greatful for their hospitality and overall helpfulness! God bless them!

Posted by: Crusty Jul 24 2014, 08:55 PM

While you didn't find any goodies, sounds like the experience was pretty valuable! Great to know all the fan fare over the TV show hasn't make them reclusive and unwilling to help a stranger out. Can only imagine how many random folks show up completely unprepared.

Better luck next time!

Posted by: Bones Jul 24 2014, 09:38 PM

The first time I made it up and parked the Jeep I ran into a woman. She said her husband was up over the top of the valley we were in looking for Aquas, said they were big fans of the show. I asked her if she did any research as far as mining claims, she said no. That particular area had 24 claims...I told her to be careful, you dont want to step on any toes up here...

QUOTE (Crusty @ Jul 24 2014, 11:55 PM)

Posted by: NewRockHounder Jul 25 2014, 11:40 PM

Good story, reminds me a bit about myself, tho I was camped just shy of Mt. Antero, looking for some other stuff, really.. before I got serious about hounding/prospecting - Thankfully I didn't get anywhere near claims/aquas cause I didn't have the knowledge I have now.. but I figured, knowing about the aquas, that there had to be claims all over.. dodged a bullet literally there.. I think. =) Have yet to go back, mostly due to lack of funds, but there's closer stuff, so it's A-Okay by me. =P

Posted by: Crusty Jul 26 2014, 06:48 AM

QUOTE (Bones @ Jul 24 2014, 10:38 PM)

Posted by: 720fly Jul 26 2014, 06:00 PM

The time you spent driving up here is what " we " ( those who live in these sucky overpriced towns) call skier traffic. Those who choose to live on the front range ( gag me ) spend a large amount of their time clogging the hi-ways and freeways ( kinda funny the dude told you 45 minute in a way ) there are shuttles that run people back and forth to the airports to the MNTS. ( might want to check into that next time ) you can rent jeep ( or have a really cool one like me, cause I work at Tomken yeah baby :) (here in our sucky little town ) right in Buena Vista instead of driving to salida and back, gas money, and wasted road time.
Sound like a little more research your itinerary a bit more and you would have had a far better time. So I freely ( hope that priced right hehehe ) give you these little " traveling to the Rockies " tips.
Accidents happen all the time cause folks just don't know how to drive with all this magnificent Mnt views
Busse are out of Howard, one of my good buddies, little brother party's with the busse boys,. And even tho Howard isn't a " tourist town " But these are the same kind of people we ( mostly ) all try to be. Even if you got a crappy $8.00 burger at K's ( but their only open for a few months a year :-/ gotsta pay those bills for the year ( common sucky tourist town kinda thing )

We truely thank you for coming here with your vacation dollars here but REALLLLYYYY

I've had the privlige of traveling all over the place. Most every time things go wrong it's because I overplayed and missed the small details or I
And just so ya know I'm not just being a jerk, next time you come to my town I'll take you up there in my rig. I'm serious
I love living in Colorado

Posted by: Bones Jul 27 2014, 11:40 PM

720fly...I shouldve thought my tourist town comment through better. I certainly didnt mean to step on any toes or to offend anyone. I didnt take into account the fact that people live and work there and have to put up with tourists such as myself clogging the streets and taking the good parking spots at all the stores among other things. My humblest apologies to anyone who may take offense...

QUOTE (720fly @ Jul 26 2014, 09:00 PM)

Posted by: OklaPony Jul 30 2014, 08:16 AM

Bueny is a great little town. I can't begin to count the number of times I've driven through, stopped, shopped, or grabbed a bite to eat there over the last 40 years or so.
The Evergreen Café is one of my favorites for breakfast and the ArkAnglers Fly shop is my regular stop for a season license and whatever fishing supplies I failed to bring on my trek.
I can't ever recall having a negative experience there with any of the people, that's for sure!

Bones - Sounds like you had a very educational trip and apparently a very enjoyable one as well, hopefully there'll be many more to come. Unfortunately I'm missing my annual
high country trek this year, perhaps in the future we'll cross paths.

720 - That's a very generous offer you made to Bones, typical of most of the natives / locals I've encountered in that neck of the woods.

Posted by: swizz Jul 30 2014, 08:45 AM

Bones,
Thank you very much for posting your trip. You certainly didn't step on any toes and what a great adventure.
I totally commend you on your land status research efforts!
I respect your efforts and if you're ever in my neck of the woods (northern Colorado high country), contact me.... happy to put you on some Gold and/or fossils.

Posted by: russau Jul 31 2014, 04:02 PM

B.V. Co. is where I wanted to retire to 5 years ago. I really liked that town ! but due to health and $$$$ I don't think itll ever happen now!

Posted by: 720fly Jul 31 2014, 08:10 PM

I was probably little over seny. I've spent many years watching people come up to ski resorts with thier families and do nothing more than complain the whole time. It's mind boggling to me, but....
B.v. Isn't a ski resort or resort town, so picking' can be slim. Any way I would totally take you up there. I meet people ( pretty often ) that have meet, prospected, and what not with Brain. They all are so happy ( star struck-ish as well ) and I think it cool that you had tha expirance

Folks can get quite protective of thier ski mnt, town, outfit they work for and so on and I did just that and apologize for being a bit of a ^#%{

Tourist town could not exist with out tourist, so thank you for coming this way

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Aug 1 2014, 06:14 AM

QUOTE (Bones @ Jul 24 2014, 06:32 PM)

Posted by: RhodoRose Aug 1 2014, 10:52 PM

Bones,
Next time you come out to Colorado, please feel free to contact me (and I know other CP members) who will be delighted to help make things easier for you!

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit, despite all the misinformation you were fed. I couldn't have blamed you if you'd left CO in your rear view mirror and said "Never again!" But you didn't, choosing instead to take what can only be described as a fantastic attitude and channel what you learned into what will undoubtedly be wonderful future trips!

Come back soon!
RhodoRose

p.s. Uh...720? Some of us who "choose" to live on the Front Range do so because it's where we can fulfill our career dreams, make good money doing so, and choose to bring ourselves and our money to towns like Salida and BV and keep them from turning into another ghost town or gambling joint. Ja?

Posted by: 720fly Aug 1 2014, 11:18 PM

Just cause I apologize doesn't mean I'm fully sorry for my coments. Did 3 years in Denver and it by far one of the worst places I ever lived. The place was very poorly planed. Seeing the smog infused coloring on the hills to the west, the I-25 parking lot ( opp's sorry freeway ) ,....... That's why I say gag me. And will say it again
I'm not a tourist hater, well some can be pretty redicous, but those who complain about where they go spend their vacation saying the place " SUCKS" ( in a public forum ) cause things aren't the way they want it, in the place they chose to come
There meth head, heroin needle freak, a shady types any where you live so B.V isn't any better than city ( well got ta take that back cause it is )

I try to smooth the water I put a ripple in,( my bad shouldnt be saying my town sucks ) if that ain't good enough, well whatever then have fun
Most any and all of the places we vist will do every thing to make sure people feel welcome and help make sure you have a good time
Told the guy I'd drive him up, what more you want
This will be my last post to this thread

Posted by: Bones Aug 3 2014, 01:35 PM

720fly...I appreciate and I accept your apology as I hope you accept mine for my misguided comment...and I certainly appreciate you offering to still take me up in your rig, even after a shaky start...There is certainly nothing wrong w defending the town you live and work in and Im sure love, I took your statements as some serious ribbing, not offensive and Id have done the same...

Swizz,RhodoRose and anyone else that chimed in offers of a possible meet, I truly appreciate the offers and when I come back (I WILL) I will certainly let you all know!

CP...Thank you for the encouraging words...Even though I did all the research I still felt unprepared. Alot of claim paperwork as far as details on exactly where they are is sketchy at best. I did find a few maps that were pretty accurate...Next time Im there will be alot smoother, I have a tiny bit of experience now and know what to expect. Thats huge compared to my first outing...Ill be buying a Jeep for sure! Id really like to get out there one more time this season before the snow and Im already planning on spending the season there next year!

QUOTE (720fly @ Aug 2 2014, 02:18 AM)

Posted by: 720fly Aug 3 2014, 02:29 PM

Water under the bridge man

Posted by: MikeS Aug 3 2014, 06:28 PM

Sounds like a awesome first trip Bones! You may have been a little discouraged, but your first trip was likely better than most peoples first. Most new rock hounders didn't do any research and came home empty handed. If you and your nephew found aquamarine and smokies on the first trip, I would say it was productive. You also found a little of the REAL treasure to be found there. Like respect for the mountain and respect from the community that works and plays there. I have lived in Denver all my life and have been thinking about going to Antero since the late 90's, but I still have yet to make it there. I hope my first trip is as productive as yours.
By the way.... how did your GPS do for you? My handeld unit has proven itself to be a very useful tool.

Posted by: Bones Aug 4 2014, 05:21 PM

MikeS...

I have the Garmin Etrex 30....it worked well! I had ordered the Southwest Topo dvd to download those maps to my gps. The maps also include the USGS info...I put waypoints in the center of sections so at least I would know what section I was in. Unfortunatly you cannot download the boundaries of those sections as you see on your computer when setting waypoints. Would be really cool if Garmin would make that possible...

QUOTE (MikeS @ Aug 3 2014, 09:28 PM)