Archive for the 'Club Outings' Category

Photo Credit: Doug B.

John Bucholzer and his wife sponsored an outing to Lytle Creek on 24 Sep 2011. Lytle Creek sits about 16 miles northwest of downtown San Bernardino, just 10 miles from the neighboring cities of Rialto and Fontana.  With a population of 701 as of the 2010 census, this remote canyon community is found on the eastern region of the San Gabriel Mountains and does not extend outside of the San Gabriel National Forest.

The group going on this expedition all met at the Jack-in-the-Box restaurant just off I15 at Sierra Ave and then proceeded to follow the route 9 miles until reaching the end of Middle Fork Road. This was a fun day planned for metal detecting in the Lytle Creek Canyon that is renowned for its gold mining, farming, and recreation activities of camping, hiking, fishing and picnicking since the 1870s.

The stream called Lytle Creek got its name from the Mormon settlers’ leader, Captain Andrew Lytle when they arrived in the valley in 1851. They made camp at the mouth of this briskly flowing creek that ran through the valley to the Santa Ana River. It was a source of abundant water that provided the dense growth of willows and sycamores, cottonwoods, mustard, and wild oats growing on the hillsides.

In the group, we had 21 members joining us for the day as we spread out in every direction of this beautiful landscape armed with metal detectors, prepared to find those remnants from  this settlement society and any others that may have come by since that time. After prospecting, the lunch break followed, then we gathered our finds for a drawing to award the smallest item found.

Sue B. won with a gold earring she found near the parking lot and Lorrie Y. won with a small lead piece. Everyone had a good time and sat around bragging about the unusual things they found.

Our next metal detecting outings are scheduled for 15 Oct 2011 at Canyon Lake and 19 Nov 2011 at 29 Palms. So come out and join us for another great detecting trip and if you need help learning to use a metal detector, there is always someone around to show you how.

Good Luck! And bring home the Gold & Silver!

City of Canyon Lake Website

On October 15, 2011, John and Mary Bucholzer hosted our latest metal detecting excursion that took us to beautiful Canyon Lake, also known as the Railroad Canyon Reservoir, which was created in 1927 back when the Railroad Canyon Dam was constructed. This reservoir is the result of storm runoff that pours in from the San Jacinto River from the mountains east of Hemet and winds its way through the Perris Valley, ending at Lake Elsinore. It’s the winter rains that has Salt Creek merging with the San Jacinto at Canyon Lake and amounts to approximately 383 acres with 15 miles of shoreline. It is currently owned and operated by the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.

City of Canyon Lake Website

The famous Santa Fe Railroad bought the California Southern Railroad that was originally built in 1882 and ran along the east side of the river from Perris to Elsinore, joining it with the San Bernardino line. After repeated floods washed out the tracks the line was eventually abandoned leading to the sale of the railroad right-of-way to the Temescal Water Company. This is when they began dam construction for the purpose of storing water and ended up producing the two parcels that comprise most of Canyon Lake today.

Photo credit: Google Earth

Canyon Lake is actually one of only five gated cities that exist in California and is a fully governed city in itself. It began as a master-planned community that was developed in 1968 by the Corona Land Company. The actual city of Canyon Lake wasn’t incorporated until 1990. It has become a recreation community with a population of nearly 11,000 today who enjoy the amenities of the lake stocked with fish, surrounded by stunning homes, a lovely lodge with restaurant and banquet facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 10-acre equestrian center, an 18-hole golf course and country club, plenty of campgrounds, beaches and beautiful parks.

It was at one of these parks where our Temecula Valley Prospectors enjoyed The Second Annual Metal Detecting Hunt. We were directed to Sierra Park with its accompanying beach, which was a site to behold and expansive enough to accommodate our largest showing to date: 52 treasure hunters.

Photo credit: Doug B

Amongst a group of this size we saw a wide variety of experienced metal detectors who were more than happy to show their skill to some of our newbies, thus allowing everyone to enjoy finding the salted treasures in the sands.

It proved to be a day that offered up a wealth of coins including pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, on up to half-dollars and dollar coins. Adding to the mystery were foreign coins and tokens. There were some diligent hunters who even found coins from our last treasure hunt held there. As an added bonus, there were two Grand Prize winners who were awarded $25 gift certificates for finding a casino poker chip.

Photo Credit: Doug B

We were able to have two treasure hunting sessions throughout our day at the park with one on the right side and the other on the left side of the beach. An added benefit of having a group this large armed with metal detectors is the result of having the majority of the scrap metal bits and pieces removed from the shore line. Between fishing line that had attached lures, hooks, some rusted nails and a variety of miscellaneous items, we left an area cleaner and safer than the way we found it.

Photo credit: Doug B

It is always comforting to know that our presence leaves a place safer for future beach goers who likely enjoy running around in the sands sans kicks (without shoes).

Another advantage to such a successful showing at an outing of this size is the pot luck lunch that always serves to provide a bounty of food and refreshment. This time was no less abundant and delicious.

The Temecula Valley Prospectors would like to extend our appreciation and many thanks to Cynthia K. for sponsoring this group on such a fun and fruitful day. Without her qualified support, this memorable event could not have occurred. Thank you, again. We would also like to extend our appreciation and special thanks to Cliff D. for donating two of his Silver Eagle coins that were prize drawings won by John McK and Ken R.

This was a day of great fun and memories and leaves us all anxious for the next outing scheduled for November.

Good Luck! And bring home the Gold & Silver!

The June Metal Detecting Outing will be held on Saturday, June 25th and will be guided by John B.

Everyone will be meeting at 8:00 am at the corner of Rim of the World & N. Shore Drive in Fawnskin (near the restrooms). Click here for a map.

Please note that Hwy 330 is still closed, so you may need to give yourself some extra time getting up the mountain.

June 18,2011: Just got word that Highway 330 has been reopened.

We had originally scheduled to go Benson Canyon this month, but due to the wet conditions it’s not going to work out. So we are headed back to Quartzite Arizona. Be sure to check the forum for the details of the outing.

January Forum Post
December Forum Post

The outing will be lead by wagon master Jack and should be a good time.

Here is the Metal Detecting Schedule for 2011:

January 8 : after meeting at Sam Hicks Park
February 26 : 29 Palms
March 13 : Huntington Beach 6:00 a.m. all day event. We will be getting a fire pit for barbecuing hot dogs. Bring food and drinks. $15.00 parking
April 1-9 Oro Grande
May 14 : Lake Elsinore after meeting
June 25 : Holcomb Valley / Big Bear
July 10 : San Clemente Beach
August Trinity River date to be determined
September 24 : Lytle Creek
October 15 : Canyon Lake Bar-B-Que and Hunt
November : 29 Palms

** Note: these are subject to change, so please check the club forum prior to the outing for details.

Here is the Prospecting Outing Schedule for 2011:

January 15 : Last Chance Canyon / Benson Canyon
January 22-23: GPAA Gold Show Pomona
February 19 : Hauser Geode Beds Blythe
March 19 : Cargo Muchacho Mts Winterhaven
March 31 – April 3 : Oro Grande / Roy Rogers Ranch Area
May 21 : 29 Palms
June 17 – 19 Kern River / Keysville
July 16 : East Fork San Gabriel River
August : week long outing to the Trinity River the
exact date to still be determined. This will be to
claim owned by Martin
September 17 : Gold Mt. / Big Bear
October 15 : Canyon Lake Bar-B-Que and Hunt

** Note: these are subject to change, so please check the club forum prior to the outing for details.

We will be having a metal detecting outing on Saturday, January 8th, 2011, directly following the club meeting. It will be lead by John and we are going to the Sam Hicks Monument Park in Temecula. It is located at 41970 Moreno Road, Temecula (click to see a map). The City of Temecula has given our club permission to hold the outing there, but has asked us to limit it to 15 members. That means there are only 14 spots available (need 1 for John), so if you are interested in attending this outing, please post a comment to this item stating your name and that you would like to attend. All comments will be recorded and given to John for the outing roster.

**Note: The comments are public, so please do not post any personal information that you don’t want the whole world seeing (i.e. phone numbers, email addresses, etc.).

This month we are heading out to the TVP claim East of 29 Palms. Please check the Forum for more information.

http://gpaatvp.com/forum/index.php?topic=307.0

The Temecula Valley Prospectors & the Treasure Seekers of San Diego are having a joint metal detecting outing on Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 8:00 am. This outing is to support the Temecula Historical Society and we will be detecting on an old historical area that is scheduled for new construction. All items found will be donated to the Temecula Historical Society and may be displayed at the museum.

To participate in this outing you need to be pre-registered and have signed the release form. You must also have your own metal detector and understand how to operate it. No instruction will be offered at this outing.

To register or if you have any questions, please contact Sue Jeffery at 951-676-2555.

By popular demand, we are heading back to the Barstow area this month to continue our adventures out at the Two Quartz claim. Please check the Forum for more information.

http://gpaatvp.com/forum/index.php?topic=293.0