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Posted by: swizz Sep 1 2014, 07:27 PM

Get ready for pics to come from an EPIC outing!!!! There were no CP Annual Members that took me up on the offer and that's a shame, this was an incredible outing. This will now officially be an annual event, so maybe next year.
LT Members Brandon, Erin, Mike and Mike - this was by far one of the funnest times I have ever had in my life. I'm very blessed and lucky to have spent the last 4-5 days with you, how the hell did I get this lucky?! I cannot even imagine better people to have camped and mined with, we were the ultimate team! .... and the FOOD! Oh my God.
Besides the awesome mining and camping we did, I so much appreciate the help you gave me with mine tasks. The tree felling and dam improvements are especially appreciated in that regard. Yes, I know... when a claim owner says "hey, can you help me with this one thing, it'll only take about 20 minutes." Sucker!

Awesome teamwork, camping, mining, and friendship. You guys are TRULY THE BEST!!
Did we happen to hit bedrock? Check - 'My Mining Update' in the Protected Forum.
Many pics (and maybe a vid or two) to come. We'll need a day or two to git em all up but worth the wait I believe.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 2 2014, 06:11 AM

Chris,

It was an amazing weekend... Can't wait to start going through the pics! Here's a teaser; a photo of the motely crew!

For those who are on the fence about becoming an annual, or even a lifetime member, the opportunities to meet some great new friends, learn about prospecting from some pretty smart folks, and to have some great laughs around a campfire, it is more than worth the price of admission! This weekend was worth the price of a Lifetime membership, and I've still got the rest of my life to get in more fun!

AND I officially became a successful gold miner this weekend! :)

Posted by: Mrs.CP Sep 2 2014, 08:39 AM

Sounds like it was a great time!! Love the picture Crusty, saving that one for my computer background.

I hope you put some clothes on before you started digging Brandon.

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 2 2014, 09:37 AM

Nope, dug all weekend in my unmentionables!

Also had a great weekend and will post the pictures we got tonight after I get home. Chris is an awesome host and is very generous with all that he has up there. Sad that no annual members showed up, y'all have no idea the fun that you missed!

Posted by: Mrs.CP Sep 2 2014, 12:23 PM

Now that's fancy! Can't say your wife dressed you either since you never got dressed.
Those are pretty comfortable though I must say.


Looking forward to more pics guys!!

Posted by: russau Sep 2 2014, 02:38 PM

yep it sure sounds like everyone had a great time!

Posted by: NewRockHounder Sep 2 2014, 05:38 PM

Hopefully I can attend next years, trying to save a little from each paycheck so I can at the very least become a yearly member.

Can't wait to see pics.

Posted by: swizz Sep 2 2014, 06:03 PM

That would be great!
Admittedly, I did not take many pics on this trip since there were a couple of pros on board with primo equipment ( Scratch & Crusty). Scratch is still up there and I don't think he took a ton but Crusty did and I'm counting on him!

Here is a look at base camp.
https://flic.kr/p/oKRZEBhttps://flic.kr/p/oKRZEB by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Here is a peek into one of Crusty's pans, Garnets and a nice lil flake.
https://flic.kr/p/p36yB8https://flic.kr/p/p36yB8 by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Sep 2 2014, 06:47 PM

https://flic.kr/p/p3oEsghttps://flic.kr/p/p3oEsg by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 2 2014, 08:38 PM

Consider these previews, I have to get the full sized ones off of her phone.

[attachment=6855:1.jpg]
[attachment=6856:2.jpg]

Posted by: NewRockHounder Sep 2 2014, 08:56 PM

Who's who in the photos?

Just curious

Posted by: swizz Sep 2 2014, 09:10 PM

In the old-timey photo from left to right: Scratch, swizz, Dypheron, Crusty, and Brandon's wife Erin in front.
Good hail shot Brandon. That gave the camp a good drenching.

Posted by: NewRockHounder Sep 2 2014, 09:15 PM

Cool Beans. Thanks.

Posted by: swizz Sep 2 2014, 09:21 PM

Yes, you did!

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 3 2014, 07:58 PM

Starting to show some good color! Got through running the 30-/50+ cons and panned them down. Ran the 50-/100+ and ran out of daylight. I'll pan those and run the 100- cons tomorrow and probably rerun the cons again this weekend. I got in a hurry when classifying and had some smaller material stuck to larger stuff so I'm pretty sure there's gold in my tailings bucket. Even had a few small bits of gold hang on with the larger stuff!

50+ gold.
[attachment=6858:IMG_2014...5405_438.jpg]

Posted by: Crusty Sep 3 2014, 10:44 PM

Nice! I just spent 2 hours picking garnets out of my cons, and am nowhere near close to getting them all. Definitely need to get some classifiers, because sluiced 1/2" doesn't weed out much lol

I also pulled out 5 flakes, including my "crunchy" one, and there are a lot more!

Posted by: NewRockHounder Sep 3 2014, 10:52 PM

"crunchy?" or "crusty?" =p

Posted by: Mrs.CP Sep 4 2014, 11:32 AM

You guys crack me up! I would have to agree on the "Crusty gold" ,after all it is your gold. Not to mention I have had guys take the gold (right out of the pan) I found and try to bite it to see if it was real. So I don't promote "crunchy gold".

Oooooh! Love the Garnets!! If you let the concentrates dry out when your done, you will find even more.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 4 2014, 04:10 PM

I was calling it my "rolly poly" flake, as it is not flat and rolls around lol

Being my first pan, I'm still trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing. Last night I was just hand picking out the garnets (there are probably over 100 lol), until my fingers pruned. Then I moved on to trying to get the flakes in to my vial, which I'm not good at either... tried the horsehair brush trick Chris told me about, but didn't have much luck there. Scared I'm going to lose a flake... no idea how I'm going to get all the little stuff lol

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 4 2014, 04:39 PM

What works well on all but the really fine stuff (for me anyway) is to fill the vial all the way to the top until there's a slight dome shape of liquid, press your finger down on the gold so it sticks to your fingertip, then dip your fingertip in the dome. The gold will fall into the vial. For the really small stuff it works sometimes, I had a few pieces from clear creek that were so small that I actually sucked them up with an insulin syringe.

Posted by: fenixsmom Sep 4 2014, 08:04 PM

This may sound really silly or really smart, I use a snuffer bottle. Suck up your mix of black sand and gold. Empty the snuffer bottle onto a aluminum foil lined cookie sheet. Set oven to broil
Heat until dry. Pull out paintbrush to scrub (gently) free gold/iron give small shake to distribute across cookie sheet. Use magnet to pull iron leaving gold behind. Create a funnel out of separate foil or paper. Set aside. Fold cookie sheet foil in half loosly, put vial in gold pan. Add funnel to vial and gently pour/tapping gold forward gently if needed. I use my paintbrush to loosen any stubborn gold.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 4 2014, 08:32 PM

Sounds like a great system! I need to get some classifiers, so I have less to sort through/pan

Posted by: russau Sep 5 2014, 04:18 AM

HMMMMMMMMMMMM?? what if that gold had some mercury on it and you didn't see it before you put it into the oven???????? wouldn't the mercury vaporize into the oven and now become contaminated from it. I don't think I would do this. instead take your cons/gold outside (downwind from your home) and place the cons on a old stainless steel cooking tray and let the sun do the cooking/drying.

Posted by: russau Sep 5 2014, 04:20 AM

also I don't think id be placing any gold nugget into my mouth considering what mercury can do to a person.

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 5 2014, 09:18 AM

I agree with Russ, anywhere downstream of an old mill site is likely to have amalgamated gold and mercury show up from time to time. I had a flake in my sluice at Vic's that was covered in it. The last thing I would do would be to heat it indoors, especially in something that food is prepared in. Mercury poisoning is nothing to fool around with.


If you must dry cons out for any reason I would either sun dry them as Russ suggested, or use a dedicated toaster oven that is clearly marked not for food use so there is no confusion down the road. Still a lot of work to get gold into a vial. Why not just pan away the black sand and let the gold dry in the pan?

Moving the thread back on track, here's the final result from my cons. I'll process the cons again when I get some time but I'm quite happy so far.


[attachment=6864:IMG_2014...5422_889.jpg]

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 09:32 AM

Nice! I still haven't gotten serious about doing mine... will sit down & knock it out this weekend; at least get the big stuff and keep the rest to run through a blue bowl when I eventually get one.

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Sep 5 2014, 10:40 AM

Nice pic on the clean up Brandon, very "crusty" looking gold !
We'll be looking forward to seeing more of all the pics Chris says everyone took too.
Crusty and Scratch both need to get them cons cleaned and photo'd

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 11:51 AM

I started editing my pics this morning and will work to get the big gold and most of the garnets out this weekend, so I'll have pics by Sunday evening :) Will also be ordering a blue bowl and classifiers, so I can be sure and get all the little bits of golden goodness!

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 5 2014, 03:14 PM

I keep saying it over and over but I love the Garrett 10 inch Backpacker pan for cleanup. It doesn't have a lip around the bottom and I can cut away the black sands faster.


I think Crusty is scared of his cons because they're the Army colors, and if he gets a blue bowl then he'll have Black and Gold all over his Air Force Blue!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 05:23 PM

Dang, you figured me out! ;)

Chris, I looked at the Angus MacKirk site; which model do you have and would you get that one again?

http://angusmackirk.com/products/stream-and-speciality-sluices/production-sluices/

Cabelas has the Sluice Master Alaskan Flair Sluice on sale for $89; it is $139 on the ANgus' site.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Metal-Detectors-Gold-Prospecting/Gold-Detectors-Prospecting%7C/pc/104795280/c/104750280/sc/106741080/Sluice-Master-Alaskan-Flair-Sluice/1661051.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1109058%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd1344834&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd1344834%3Bcat106741080

Posted by: swizz Sep 5 2014, 05:57 PM

That Alaskan Flare sluice is a heck of a good deal and it may be the same one that sunspirit has.
It's 12" wide as opposed to mine which is only 4" wide. That means it would require approximately 3X more flow.... so less versatile but it can hold a lot more concentrate and be fed faster.
I have the Mini Long Tom which I got for low flows and tiny creeks but it can be set up in any size river, just have to clean it more frequently and feed it slower than a larger sluice.

Posted by: Dypheron Sep 5 2014, 06:59 PM

It sure works wonders for reducing cons from a highbanker though! Mighty fine unit, well thought out, and easy to clean out.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 07:38 PM

Hmmmm... sounds like going smaller would be better, as good flow is no guarantee. Or just get both, since the AK on sale plus the mini long is the same as the AK at retail on the AM site lol

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 08:44 PM

all right, here's my first batch of pics!

My truck at the top of the hill

First project of the day: Cutting down a tree!











TIMBER!!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 08:53 PM

The theme of the weekend... RAIN

Mike the Dutch Oven Whisperer, about to serve us up some yummy grub for lunch!




Smoked sausage, taters, broccoli... phenomenal!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 08:56 PM

Macro shot of water drops on a leaf

Cool old car door!




Mi Casa




OH HAIL!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 08:58 PM

The old cabin up the hill

Posted by: Crusty Sep 5 2014, 09:02 PM

Mike having fun with the FrankenBanker!

Chris working on the dam




Mike and Brandon working it.




Mike hamming it up with Erin in the background.




Elk dookie

Posted by: Mrs.CP Sep 6 2014, 05:52 AM

Sweet finds Brandon! Thanks for the pictures Crusty! Looks like it was a blast, even with the rain!

Posted by: swizz Sep 6 2014, 08:09 AM

hehe.... I'm pretty sure we almost had all four seasons last weekend (no snow thankfully). I haven't gone through my cons yet but am pretty excited to start sorting them, I have a cup or two from the highbanker (only did one cleanup from 4 days running).
Great pics Mike - keep em coming!! Scratch's dutch oven was a most excellent addition to camp, extremely high quality food. I will definitely be getting one for camp next year.
If you could post up a few pics of the glory hole in the Protected Forum (My Mining Update) I'd appreciate it... would like to have a round-table discussion there regarding expansion and safety. Thanks!!!!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 08:30 AM

Will do! Do you want the hole shots only posted inside the wire?

Just played around with my star track attempts; not so good. Editing my milky way shots now.

Posted by: swizz Sep 6 2014, 08:35 AM

Thanks! Yes... hole shots in Protected Forum for the most part.... but throw one up in this thread with Brandon in the hole, classic!

Posted by: russau Sep 6 2014, 09:42 AM

yep dinner looked really good ! I can almost smell it! NOW IM HUNGERY ! :):)

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 10:00 AM

Swizz's Deluxe Suite

I added a West Wing to the encampment




My "room" with a view (re-enactment lol)



Can't beat the view!

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 6 2014, 10:00 AM

Okay, OKAY, boss! The blue bowl will be here Tuesday. I'm assigning myself a steep learning curve and I'll try to post some results by Friday.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 10:10 AM

Swizz giving Scratch (and me!) some shit! (pertified dino dookie) Thanks for this very cool gift! I can't take a camera in to my office, so I can't show pics, but it is sitting on my desk!

Scratch's deluxe galley!




The damn fine dam!



My first shovel of dirt as an official gold miner!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 10:20 AM

Since I've never mined for gold before, and not having any gear, I was just planning on hanging out, helping around the claim, watching the others, and searching for cool rocks, but Chris, being the great host and friend he is, loaned me his trusty Angus MacKirk sluice and his favorite sluicing spot. Then he took the time to teach me how to operate it and turned me loose. Must admit, I am hooked! Thank you so much to Chris (and Brandon & Mike) for all your time and patience... I look forward to sharing many more night around the campfire and day shoveling dirt with you fine folk!

Pouring material in to the 1/2" classifier

Working the classifier




Being a rock nut, I spent a lot of time checking out the goodies in the classifier; took quite a few home to put in the tumbler!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 10:22 AM

Feeding my new best friend Angus!

Ordering one (or two) of my own today!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 10:23 AM

A few cool shots Brandon's wife Erin took with my camera

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 10:27 AM

We took a break from the digging to test out an old vest Brandon had. We figured it would have been compromised, as it was almost 20 years old, but were amazed to learn it stopped better than we expected!

here is the results of a .22, 9mm, 40, 45, and Brandon's 454cannon!

Posted by: RhodoRose Sep 6 2014, 12:12 PM

Great pics - love that old timer one! Looks like fun, count me in for a future outing!

Rhodo

Posted by: Crusty Sep 6 2014, 01:40 PM

OK, couldn't pass up the good deal, so I got the Alaskan. Will also pick up a mini long tom for slower water. Now to find classifiers and a blue bowl :)

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 6 2014, 02:39 PM

Spaceship Jeep and cargo module at apogee.

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 6 2014, 02:44 PM

Brandon, Erin and Mike arrive.

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 6 2014, 02:46 PM

Stratergizing.

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 6 2014, 02:49 PM

Swizz appeals to weather gods...

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 6 2014, 02:51 PM

In response, we get a cart full of hail.


It's not my fault.

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 6 2014, 02:54 PM

Swizz and Crusty keep stratergizing while Erin and Brandon wrestle with their tent.

Posted by: Mrs.CP Sep 7 2014, 10:44 AM

You crack me up Crusty!! Love the re-enactment photo on page three of this thread. Classic!
Great photos!!

Posted by: russau Sep 7 2014, 11:40 AM

Crusty were you out there "counting leaves"?? I guess you didn't have a door to close!:):):) Leonard knows what im talking about. so should D & D! Hint if you forgot....After the RMMR over at Vics..

Posted by: swizz Sep 7 2014, 05:28 PM

I have to agree! I seriously busted out laughing when I saw that.
Great pics Mike and Mike, man how I wish we were still there right now. Did any pics of my "magic trick" at the campfire turn out?

Posted by: Crusty Sep 7 2014, 08:57 PM

Chris, I've still got more pics to go through. Spent today with a magnifying glass, picking garnets and then panning. I think I did do a pretty good job of getting most of the gold, but of course saved the concentrates to run when I finally get some classifiers and a blue bowl. There are also still quite a few smaller garnets, but I got most of the bigger ones. For my rookie experience, I'm pretty happy with what I got from 13 buckets of material!!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 7 2014, 09:03 PM

And now for the good stuff!!

Chris told me that even these small little bits have quite a bit of character, so I broke out my macro and reverse mounted a 50mm to the front, to get some good closeup shots. WOW!!

Posted by: swizz Sep 8 2014, 07:10 AM

Note: I moved this thread to "CP Past Events"
Crusty, those macro pics are outstanding! Really shows the character, coarseness, and color of that Gold. I need to monkey with macro more to see what I'm missing!
You did well for just casual hand sluicing.
If I get rained-out today I'll have a little time to start sorting my cons.

Posted by: swizz Sep 8 2014, 08:11 AM

Crusty gifted me this excellent military coin. It is exceptional and unique... and I am very honored to have received it. .... and that is a high rank Mike!
I am keeping it in a safe place until I can figure out a worthy display. Thank you Mike, and I deeply thank all military personnel for serving our country. You are all fine people.

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 8 2014, 04:35 PM

Crusty,
great job on the clean up! Those macro shots are amazing. That field of focus must be about the thickness of a playing card.
Okay, question for the old salts: What is making those shapes and impressions in those gold bits? Is it because gold is so malleable that anything can impinge on it? Or stretch/smash it?

Posted by: swizz Sep 8 2014, 05:51 PM

You are looking at Gold that has not been river-worn. All of my Gold has been of that coarse variety (and I've never seen a lick of Mercury up there). The shape could be it's natural shape since being liberated from it's source (unknown).... or, since it is indeed so malleable as you suggested, it could have assumed the shape of it's surroundings under extreme compression and travel if glacially deposited.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 8 2014, 06:44 PM

Looking at the "rolly polly" it looks like it has some quartz inclusions.

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 8 2014, 06:57 PM

So am I right in assuming the glacier would act like a slow-motion hammer mill? Larger rocks grinding down smaller stones. Maybe more like a pug mill.

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 06:28 AM

That's certainly a possibility based on my basic understanding of glaciers. The effect on Gold carried (glacially) can be influenced by many things happening within the glacier including melt rate, steepness of glacial path, glacial speed, water erosion within the glacier, movement or compaction of the Gold after it has been deposited by the glacier, type/shape/weight/size/hardness/quantity/concentration of other materials carried within the glacier, and other factors. The Gold could also travel without it's shape effected, or little effect depending upon how it was acquired and deposited by the glacier.
Excluding glacial deposits, coarse Gold like that can also be an indication that it hasn't traveled far from it's source (lode) or matrix.

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 08:44 AM

Ok... it's raining today so I just started screening these cons from our trip.
My highbanker yielded a lil over two cups of heavy concentrate.
https://flic.kr/p/oRDrEchttps://flic.kr/p/oRDrEc by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

So far.... two lil pickers showed up in the +20 mesh screen.
They are coarse and I'll do some macro shots of them in this thread later so I can get a better look. One is shaped kinda like a mushroom, both have chunk to them - not flat.
https://flic.kr/p/p9fbAzhttps://flic.kr/p/p9fbAz by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 09:09 AM

Only one piece in the +30 screen, same characteristics. The rest of the concentrate goes into the Blue Bowl.
https://flic.kr/p/p917jchttps://flic.kr/p/p917jc by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 09:26 AM

nice find so far!! Can't wait to see what the blue bowl comes up with!

Oh ya, what was that GPS app you had on your phone?

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 10:50 AM

The app is called ViewRanger.
BB is set, level, and ready to spin! I start with the minus 30 (in the black pan) and stage my way down to -50 and -100 which I have sitting in separate pans now.
https://flic.kr/p/p7j8fmhttps://flic.kr/p/p7j8fm by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 9 2014, 10:57 AM

That's enough right there to raise your heart rate...

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 11:18 AM

A little bit..... BUT.... since the known bedrock is sandstone....
... one theory of mine is -
Sandstone and some of the clay above it can be an indication of decomposing bedrock. This would lend me to believe that this is a pebble of a mtn compared to what it once may have been, there is no 'exposed' bedrock to speak of. The original lode or vein may have disintegrated/eroded along with the rest of the top of the mtn and lay where mother nature and gravity let it rest. This likely would have happened over a very long period of time. Pre or post glacial, I don't know. Even though it's over 9Kft, that mtn is a nub compared to what it once was I'm bettin.
I'll leave this up but probably a better discussion for the Protected Forum if we discuss much more in depth.

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 12:22 PM

More cleanup...
First classification has run through the BB.
This is the 30 to 50 mesh Gold in the bowl and ready to be snuffered. Like the rest, coarse and crunchy. Two more classifications to go.
https://flic.kr/p/p9pTMzhttps://flic.kr/p/p9pTMz by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 01:03 PM

... and this is the 50 to 100 mesh. Not much to speak of, I think most of the Gold in this hole is in the 30 to 50 class as previous samples have shown. One more class to go.... the micron stuff.
https://flic.kr/p/p9b6athttps://flic.kr/p/p9b6at by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 01:48 PM

... and finally, the micron stuff that is minus 100 mesh. As I suspected there is very little of this. I've never found a good amount of flour Gold at the mine so I'm not surprised. The Blue Bowling is done, now to dry it all and I'll be able to get some better pics. Scratch, I'll be curious to see if your BB results are similar by classification. Tip: After classifying change the water prior to BBing.
https://flic.kr/p/oRY9SXhttps://flic.kr/p/oRY9SX by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 01:51 PM

Damn, gotta get me a blue bowl... took me days to sort through my one pan lol

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 02:22 PM

That's the exact reason I got one.

Posted by: swizz Sep 9 2014, 06:04 PM

Finished.
This is the dry Gold still in the pan and now ready for vial. This sample tells me more about place we were digging.
Crusty, you can chuck this up on CP facebook if you wanna.
https://flic.kr/p/p7AvWGhttps://flic.kr/p/p7AvWG by https://www.flickr.com/people/121086004@N07/, on Flickr

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 07:44 PM

Nice looking pan! Can't wait to get back up there and get to digging again! Will be interesting to see how well we do in the next trip, as I suspect we'll be lucky if we get through all the cave-in material.

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 9 2014, 08:45 PM

These two flakes are from the first two scoops of cons into the blue bowl.
The vial contains the ten flakes altogether. Some are small and some are headache-inducing small. All this from the 30 mesh.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 09:05 PM

Too bad you didn't have the same results as Chris out of the 30 :(

Posted by: Scratch60 Sep 9 2014, 09:34 PM

I think Chris had the right idea. He ran his banker slower. Next time I'll set it up to run with less volume of water over a steeper angle. The riffles were getting backfilled and it never looked quite right.
Gotta remember, I'm still a tenderfoot.

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 09:44 PM

So I should pan the drain channel from your banker then? ;)

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 09:55 PM

More pics!

Trying to warm up in the morning rain

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 09:58 PM

Working in the rain (and a bit of hail)

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 10:00 PM

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 10:04 PM

Hard days work!

Time to retreat to the campfire

Chris and Brandon sword fighting!




mmmmm




Powedered coffee creamer is flammable?!? Before




AFTER!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 9 2014, 10:08 PM

Dessert time!!

Roastin' monster mallows!

Ultimate s'more!




Man vs ultimate s'more. MAN WINS!!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 10 2014, 05:00 AM

Downloading now! THanks!

Posted by: russau Sep 10 2014, 12:57 PM

That's "smore" than anyone man should take on!!:)

Posted by: Caveman Sep 10 2014, 12:59 PM

Yeah, my heart almost stopped just lookin' at that!

Posted by: swizz Sep 11 2014, 05:35 AM

Great pics Mike!!
That was indeed an epic Smore.

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Sep 11 2014, 10:30 AM

Great pics everyone! It's a wonder Mike didn't choke on that honker smore!!

Real nice gold pics too on the previous pages everyone, love the close ups. I think the formations in the shapes are the crusty edges from it's matrix situ before the gold was liberated to placers. Crusty, crunchy edges means it's close to where it came from geologically!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 15 2014, 06:05 PM

Still have a few more pics to go through.

Was a bit chilly Sunday morning!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 15 2014, 06:08 PM

Chilly view this morning!

Brandon & Mike don't mess around when it comes to breakfast!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 15 2014, 06:12 PM

Time to head home

Posted by: Crusty Sep 15 2014, 06:19 PM

My ukanite, epidote and other assorted cool rocks headed to the tumbler. Can't wait to see what they look like in a couple months all shined up!

Posted by: Caveman Sep 15 2014, 06:27 PM

Epic pic's... and son great lookin' rock for the tumbler. I also have some really nice unakite and epidote here, if you would like to collect some, Crusty!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 15 2014, 06:29 PM

Sweet! I can't wait to see how they shine up; with all the character and color in them, I know they'll be cool!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 19 2014, 05:48 AM

Just got done making my own classifier extender. I think I might be excited to go, given I woke up at 0430 (alarm set for 0515) and decided to do this.

Posted by: swizz Sep 19 2014, 06:59 AM

The Aspens are gonna be peaking up there this weekend, take some good pics and have fun!

Posted by: Crusty Sep 19 2014, 07:45 AM

I was thinking the same thing; the ones in my back yard are turning, so I was guessing the ones up there will be in full "bloom!" Hope to get some cool shots!

And thanks again for your hospitality... greatly appreciated my friend!

Posted by: swizz Sep 19 2014, 07:48 AM

Thanks for providing a vicarious adventure for me while I'm slaving away!

Posted by: EMac Sep 19 2014, 12:18 PM

The last pic in the series looks mighty familiar...that's my neck of the woods! Looks to be around 58th Ave or so; just a little south of me. I definitely look forward to joining y'all on future outings.

Posted by: swizz Sep 19 2014, 12:46 PM

If you mean 58th Ave in Laramie, WY you might be kinda close. well... you'd be closer anyways.

Posted by: EMac Sep 19 2014, 01:28 PM

I'm wondering if we're referring to the same pic. The last pic from Crusty @ Sep 15 2014, 07:12 PM, looks a lot like this view: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8659277,-104.9877144,3a,75y,181.24h,87.27t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1slE-dxEhjDQQhfluoy7AkLA!2e0 The google cam distorts distance, but they look the same to me.

I've definitely gotten locations wrong before, so not sure...

Posted by: swizz Sep 20 2014, 06:50 AM

nope, I was looking at the first three under his caption, the last looks like metro front range I-25

Posted by: Crusty Sep 21 2014, 04:33 PM

Checking in. In ft Collins. Wife bailed on me, so I had a nice quiet weekend!

Water flow was pretty low; not enough to run the Alaskan Flair (wish I'd have bought that mini long Tom!) So I classified to 1/4 and have 12 buckets to keep me busy over the winter!

Leaves were phenomenal!!

Pics to follow. Thanks again Swizz!!