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Placer river panning to be a nerd. I finally bought a panning set, a shovel, made some samiches and boiled eggs for lunch and I'm off in the AM to sit on the Fraser river 2hrs away. Never done this before but have been reading about it, watching videos, looks like a great way to waste a day. Spent a few hours navigating the placer claim database and holy smokes. Somemost claims have been owned by the same people for decades and the entire map is full to the brim of claim numbers.

Since I bought some bullion silver recently, I think I caught a bug for precious metals and I know there is still gold in them rivers. Just headed down to a placer reserve for the newbs but if I like it, I'll buy my own claim and get a sluice. That's the ticket.

*Placer* river panning to be a nerd. I finally bought a panning set, a shovel, made some samiches and boiled eggs for lunch and I'm off in the AM to sit on the Fraser river 2hrs away. Never done this before but have been reading about it, watching videos, looks like a great way to waste a day. Spent a few hours navigating the placer claim database and holy smokes. ~~Some~~most claims have been owned by the same people for decades and the entire map is full to the brim of claim numbers. Since I bought some bullion silver recently, I think I caught a bug for precious metals and I know there is still gold in them rivers. Just headed down to a placer reserve for the newbs but if I like it, I'll buy my own claim and get a sluice. That's the ticket.

(post is archived)

[–] • 3 pts

You're going to have a great time! Some of the best days ever were spent in the water panning.

Yes, you can find gold. In the right spot, with a little luck, you can find a good amount of gold. Finding somewhere to sell your gold is different. If you take it down to the "We Buy Gold and Silver" place they look at you like they are all air between their ears!

Don't let any of that bother you. Go pan for gold. It's a wonderful experience.

[–] • 0 pt

So what do you do if you find gold?

[–] • 1 pt

There are people that buy it. I just keep mine. If I wanted to sell any I would ask some members of the different associations around the country. GPAA is a good place to start. (Gold prospectors association of America) I haven't been panning as much as I would like and I don't have enough to make much of a difference. I do know a few guys that have several ounces. Two of them told me that they sold some of theirs. I always thought that if I found enough I would ask them where they sold it.

[–] • 1 pt

While I find the hunt for gold an entertaining idea, I don't actually believe gold is worth anything and I don't understand why anyone does. You can't eat it. It's not useful for most things. I understand the idea of needing a standard to measure other things by, but why not use a unit of work spent instead?

I'm drinking and rambling.

I hope you, and op, find a tremendous vein of gold.

[–] • 0 pt

Suck it up with a snuffer bottle and stick it in a vial.

[–] • 0 pt

And then?

[–] • 2 pts

Fraser River eh, go sturgeon fishing instead

[–] • 3 pts

But...Goold. You can't keep a sturgeon

[–] • 1 pt

I’ll meet you and fish you can pan we’ll see who has a better day lol.

[–] • 4 pts

With a challenge like that, he'll accidentally find some monstrous huge gold nugget!

[–] • 1 pt

Take a native fishing with you, they're allowed to keep anything.

[–] • 2 pts

Hey, I'm excited for you! I went panning once at the Crow Creek Historical Mine in Girdwood, AK. My brother was into it and I was visiting. I only managed to find "mosquito poop"? which was still pretty cool. As a group, we didn't really find much but there was a guy not too far away who pulled out a nugget supposedly worth $2k! Good luck out there!

[–] • 1 pt

That sounds like a good time. Have fun!

[–] • 1 pt

I started watching old episodes of - Gold Trails and Ghost Towns - and I got hooked.

If I had the money and ability, I'd spend a summer hiking, camping, and panning around Telegraph Creek or Atlin.

Even though I've never panned for gold, it seems like a hobby I'd get hooked on really quickly.

Good luck.

[–] • 0 pt

Telegraph Creek Only 6k for a mine? is that a good deal?

https://montanagoldandmineralmines.com/

[–] • 0 pt

I was talking about Telegraph Creek in Northern British Columbia. But like I said, I've never been gold mining, so I have no idea.

You'd probably need to go to a gold mining forum to get an answer.

[–] • 0 pt

Stay away from the bears.

[–] • 1 pt

They're sleeping. I think?

[–] • 0 pt

Yeah, they might be at that.

Be damned hungry if they wake up though.

[–] • 1 pt

I'll be on the outskirts of a town. No worries. Deep woods claims tho..

[–] • 0 pt

That sounds fucking exciting! I'd like to try that one day. Even if you find nothing, it the possibility that's the thrill ! Report back what you find, even if it's nothing.

[–] • 0 pt

i wish I lived where I could do that

[–] • 0 pt

Pan at the bends in the river. I honestly can't remember if it's on the inside or outside of the bend you should look, but that is where you want to be.

[–] • 0 pt

I caught the bug about 10 years ago. My advice, don't expect much and bring beer. You'll have a great time.

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