Archive for August, 2009

Jay led us up the mountain to Big Bear for our August 2009 outing.

What a great place to go when the weather is still hot. Plus, “everyone” likes the mountains and there is actually gold to be found.

Holcomb Valley is the site of Southern California’s largest gold rush in 1860. It is now home to the Holcomb Valley Scout Ranch.

The Gold Mountain and Holcomb Gold claims are part of the GPAA Claims Guide and are a great place to visit and prospect. Drywashing and Metal Detecting are the recommended means of finding the yellow metal and you have to remember to take lots of water for drinking and panning.

Most of us met Jay at the Big Bear Kmart around 8:00am and hung around until 8:30am to make sure we didn’t miss anyone. I think we had around 20 TVPer’s.

The road up to the claims is rough in places, but most vehicles can make it. It’s just better if you have a truck or SUV.

What a beautiful place to spend the day. We checked the temperature most of the day and it held at 72 deg with a nice breeze. You couldn’t ask for better weather.

After checking, most prospectors using a drywasher were finding some fine gold. They had to work very hard and move a lot of material to get it, but they were getting it. (See pictures)

Prospectors metal detecting picked up the usual, a few coins, ammo brass, nails, cans, etc.

Yes, it was another great day, whether you found gold or just enjoyed a beautiful day in the mountains.

Thank you again Jay, for your leadership and help.

Tom

The August 15th outing will be at the GPAA’s  Holcombe Gold and Gold mountain claims in the Big bear area. Many TVP’ers have been there.

We will meet at the K-Mart on the east end of the lake at 8 AM and depart for the diggins as a group at 8:15 or so. The adress is 42126 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear lake CA 92315.

It is a dry washing and metal detecting spot. Bring water for panning and for drinking as the area is desolate and none is immediately available. Make sure to bring anything you might need like food, tools, and first aid. It is the great outdoors and there is not a lot of stuff out there. We will be meeting at the K-mart so you can get some last minute items there.

For more info,  you can call Jay at (909) 821-0979 for outing info or directions, or refrence the GPAA guidebook for directions to the claims.

With Governor Schwarzenegger’s signature at the bottom of California Senate bill SB-670 on August 5th, 2009, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has issued an immediate moratorium on “Instream Suction Dredge Mining.”

Here is an excerpt from the DFG notice:

“The new law, SB 670 (Wiggins), prohibits the use of vacuum or other suction dredging equipment for instream mining in any California river, stream or lake… A violation of the ban on instream suction dredge mining is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and six months in jail.”

This new law impacts current permit holders by making their permits null and void (with no refunds by the way) and prevents any new permits from being issued until the environmental review by the California Environmental Quality Act is complete which could take until Summer 2011 according to the public notice issued by the DFG.

If you would like to read the public notice issued by the California Department of Fish and Game, click here for the pdf version.

If you would like to read the bill as signed into law on August 5, 2009, click here for the pdf version.

If you are mad about this action, as many of us are, let yourself be heard. Here are some ways to make some noise:

1. Contact the Governor’s office directly and let him know how unhappy you are.
2. Contact the folks at Public Lands for the People to find out what you can do to help with their efforts to over turn this law.
3. Leave a post here.

Just make sure you do something, or you may never be able to use your dredge again in California.

Please do what you can to help support the PLP. If you can make a donation that is great. But don’t forget to tell your friends about this and get the word out that this will hurt the prospecting community and California.

United we stand. Divided we fall.

Everyone is welcome to come.

We have been looking hard to find a place to meet for this and upcoming meetings.  It has been difficult to find a place that fits our needs and that we can afford. The building we have found is not available for August, so we will be meeting on a member’s property. It is a nice grassy spot with some trees and a nice breeze and should work great.

We will be meeting on August 8th. The address is 37000 East Benton rd. Temecula, ca 92592. We will be there at 8am to start setting up. The meeting will start at 9am and run until around 11am

It is on the left hand side of the road. We will have signs up at the gate. There will be a little uneven walking from the parking spots to the meeting place. If you have a problem getting around or need help getting up to the meeting place, we have a golf cart that will come and get you. Just beep your horn twice and we will come.

Please bring yourself a chair if you don’t want to sit on the grass. If you have  a few extra chairs, folding table, or an  easyup please bring them. I dont know if we will need them, but it is better to have and not need then need and not have.

We do not have to be out of the place at any time so we have decided to turn the meeting into a BBQ after. We will provide the burgers and hot dogs. Please bring a side or if you feel like bringing something else please email me at president@gpaatvp.com or call me at 951-244-3442.