CompuServe Messages

Frank! Glad to hear there are other "yellow fever" souls out there besides myself. I have been out several times this summer in the back hills of Trinity Co and have had some good success with my trusty mask, screw driver, and turkey baster. Sniping is the only way to find good chunky gold without a dredge. As far as references go I have never come across any for sluicing. I would be happy to convey my techniques for sniping however. Look for bedrock control stream reaches. I tend to do quite well where an old alder or maple has given way to age and fallen into the stream. The tree roots have a tendency to open up cracks, fissures, crevices, etc and readily allow for Au accumulation. Please don't attack live trees!!! There are generally plenty of dead ones that will pay off. Also look behind large rocks resting on top or near bedrock. A general consistant correlation exists between the amount of rocks one moves and the amount of gold retrieved. Analgesic balm for the back is a must! Good luck and if you're ever in Nor Cal let me know and I'll point you in a yellow direction….John V