Prospecting

[homebrew]

The other day the wife and I were watching a show about panning for gold and thought that it'd be something that the kids may enjoy doing other then watching TV or playing on the computer. Was looking online but couldn't find any real clear answers as far as where we could pan or if there was a business type place where we could go. Hoping someone here has some insight.

 

[nightfoam]

Were you watching the show about the crazy rednecks from Sandy who gave up everything and moved to Alaska.

I've seen simple panning kits at outdoors stores. I know Cabela's has them...

 

[homebrew]

hahaha those guys kill me. Sarah Palins show, she took her kids out which gave us the idea to take ours.

 

[RaVenCCorax]

there is actually a gold prospectors club in washington. cant remember the name of it but was like $40 to join and they gave you maps of all their claims. ive got some pans and been tempted to go out several times jus dont wanna go out alone

 

[BoringDave]

To bad your so far away from Portland. There is a place here specializes in gold mining. My buddy is big into it and is trying to get me to go help him this next summer. At $1425.00 an oz. it's getting pretty tempting.

Dave

http://www.dk-nugget.com/

 

[AwesomeXJ]

check these out.
http://www.washingtonprospectors.org/

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/HarvestingCollecting/Pages/gem_clubs.aspx

 

[LongRooster420]

hey i live in portland im down to pan for gold let me know when and where

 

[FiveNdime]

Ive done a fair ammount of panning for gold. Ive been to Southern Oregon and even made a trip to Alaska for it a while back. Your pretty safe if your just a recreational panner such as if you only have a couple pans and are hanging out with your family doing it most if not all guys will allow you onto there claim. I know of a few local areas around me that are great for panning. Its a good family hobby but remember that stuff you seen on Sarah Palin's show is way overdone. You will never get that much color in a pan around here unless you take the bits from a sluce box. But its the thrill of the hunt thats for sure! That GPAA or Gold Prospectors Association of America is a good groupe to get in contact with to find out the details. Here is there website. They have meetings all over the place maybe even near you? www.goldprospectors.org

 

[Hardcore XJer]

knoebles in elysburg PA has a "mining tour" and you can souvineer pan minerals and stuff, great amusement park for all ages. inexpensive too! only its seasonal i go there several times a year, better than 6flags. in in nj.

 

[Sideshow]

The other day the wife and I were watching a show about panning for gold and thought that it'd be something that the kids may enjoy doing other then watching TV or playing on the computer. Was looking online but couldn't find any real clear answers as far as where we could pan or if there was a business type place where we could go. Hoping someone here has some insight.

I've done some gold panning in California and here in Washington. I even bought a little sluice box a few years back. Recently on a fishing trip in our RV I met a guy, my neighbor at the RV park who's part of this club: http://www.prospectorsplus.com/default.aspx

He was super nice and said as part of the membership dues the club lets you work their claims. He had some gold to show off he had found around the sultan area, probably worth about $300-400. He told me he didn't really start finding stuff until he recently bought a high-banker. I can attest you wont find much with just a pan and a small sluice box like mine, it simply doesn't process enough material. Im thinking about building a DIY a high banker and joining this club.
Here's the high banker the club promotes:
http://www.prospectorsplus.com/default.aspx

 

[moto_ridah]

Check into the GPAA for sure. Decent amount of information through them and access to quite a few claims. Panning would be a great hobby to get everyone outdoors. Just don't expect to see much color in your pan until you get to moving a lot of material, but for kids even a little bit of dust looks amazing.

At least pickup a couple pans and a few classifiers.

 

[BenDiesel]

ya prospecting looks like fun. my mom has some old time bronze pans from way back lol. id definately be into a weekend trip or to during the summer