I posted this on another Colorado forum earlier.
I found a dredge up Washington gulch today just outside of crested butte exploring some new spots. Its on forestry land so i didnt think you could leave machines like that sitting out there unattended. Its about the size of a Subaru hood square...or close to that size. Bigger and heavier looking than a backpack dredge for sure.
Looked like it had been tied to the bank for a couple years now with a half rotted rope tied to a tree root. I'm surprised I hasn't washed away but its slightly high centered on a couple of large rocks just above the current. I couldn't really get out to it with the water flowing so fast and deep so I can't tell much more about it. The fittings and valves all looked to be in place.
I don't know why it would have been left out there but it was a strange find for me. I also found a fiberglass handled shovel about fifty yards downstream and there were quite a few little dig holes around like someone had a detector out there.
I don't know much about dredges but it wouldn't seem to me that someone would leave it out there sitting in he water like that.
It was missing the gas cap but the suction hose was wrapped around it and it was wired up. The nozzle was all rusted like it had just been rotting away there. Maybe it seized up and they gave up on it but as soon as the water drops I'm going back to check it out. Might be worth saving if I can pack it out of there. I couldn't imagine how they got it down there to begin with. It looks to be maybe a few years old its hard to tell but it has the sluice under it still and seems to mostly be intact. Would it be worth anything if I could get it out of there? The engine might need work but the rest of it was there I think.
What's your thoughts?
My wife found an old steel button probably from the old timers and a 5x5 elk skull and rack intact. Good day for both of us!

Welcome to the CP forums Johnnybravo. I moved your post to the found section. Make yourself at home around the website, lots of great info here.
Definitely some strange finds for you that day. Colorado has some great things to offer and find but a dredge wasn't what I was thinking.

Welcome!

Gotta love finding cool random stuff! Definitely curious why someone would just leave it up there. Hope on the next trip up you don't find the miner who left it!

Welcome to the forums johnnybravo300!

It is not unusual for a miner to leave mining equipment on an active mine claim. Leaving a dredge in the river for a long time is unusual. Maybe someone went for a weekend trip and left it in the water overnight and was unable to get it out because the water levels went up through the night. They may have not came back for it.

With the rivers being swollen he may have been swept downstream. (Someone had to be morbid)

Beat ya to it... that's what I meant when I said, I hope you don't find the miner! GMTA :)

Maybe your superb power of suggestion inspired me lol.