To start from the beginning, my Mother passed away in November 2012. The house I was living in was left to my sister and me as our inheritance. I packed all my belongings and instead of renting a place for however long it took to make the necessary improvements and sell the house, I returned to Tyler Foote crossing on the Middle Fork of the Yuba River and stayed there for 59 days. In the beginning of March 2013, I arrived at the bridge towing my utility trailer full of camping gear, mining supplies and grub. Yes, I brought a few luxury items. I brought my computer with 5.1 surround sound system. I downloaded a shit load of old programs I used to watch back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. ie: Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Tour of Duty, even Brisco County Jr. I figured I would have enough to last a year of rainy days and nights stuck in a tent. I also brought a mattress and box spring. I'm getting too old for sleeping on the ground and I estimated a 4 month stay.
DAY 1: My wife Lorie came up with me to drop off the trailer, my dog Buddy. She then left to go back to the Bay Area for her job. When she left she took my truck leaving me without any transportation. I watched her drive up the road and felt the feeling of being alone, by myself in the middle of the forest, no one within miles of me. God! this feels great! This is something I'm very accustom to and really enjoy the seclusion. Let the party begin! Party? Buddy was the only one that showed up.
To give you an Idea of how secluded I was I had no internet and no phone service, hardly any radio reception and certainly no pizza delivery. I could make a phone call if I hiked up hill a mile and 3/10th to a place only about 50 feet or so on the road. Took me about an hour.
It rained the first night and continued on for a few days non stop. Finally, I was able to set up the rest of my camp and dig trenches around the tent to divert the water. It rained so hard at times you could have run a sluice in the trenches I had made.
DAY 1: My wife Lorie came up with me to drop off the trailer, my dog Buddy. She then left to go back to the Bay Area for her job. When she left she took my truck leaving me without any transportation. I watched her drive up the road and felt the feeling of being alone, by myself in the middle of the forest, no one within miles of me. God! this feels great! This is something I'm very accustom to and really enjoy the seclusion. Let the party begin! Party? Buddy was the only one that showed up.
To give you an Idea of how secluded I was I had no internet and no phone service, hardly any radio reception and certainly no pizza delivery. I could make a phone call if I hiked up hill a mile and 3/10th to a place only about 50 feet or so on the road. Took me about an hour.
It rained the first night and continued on for a few days non stop. Finally, I was able to set up the rest of my camp and dig trenches around the tent to divert the water. It rained so hard at times you could have run a sluice in the trenches I had made.
I was in no hurry figuring that I had 3 or 4 months of camping here, so I took my time setting up camp and after it was put together I was ready to do some prospecting. I've spent many weekends in the past years dredging and what not along this river. I know this place has been pretty much raped but, I still wanted to go up Kanaka Creek to a place that is hard to get to and secluded. Knowing that would be my best chance of finding anything worth doing the dance for.
My plans had been, to meet up with a guy we will call David, who was to bring a highbanker. We were going to pack it all in together and make a secondary camp. Well, after waiting a week, looking up the road every day, anxiously anticipating his arrival any minute, he never showed up. This made me go to plan "B". I didn't have a plan "B" because I was sure he would show up. I didn't want to get too far over my head in the steep terrain all alone just in case I got hurt or find so much color I wouldn't be able to carry it all. Always safety first, no matter how bad you want to do something. So until I figured I would hit the exposed bedrock along 2 or 3 miles up and down river.
My plans had been, to meet up with a guy we will call David, who was to bring a highbanker. We were going to pack it all in together and make a secondary camp. Well, after waiting a week, looking up the road every day, anxiously anticipating his arrival any minute, he never showed up. This made me go to plan "B". I didn't have a plan "B" because I was sure he would show up. I didn't want to get too far over my head in the steep terrain all alone just in case I got hurt or find so much color I wouldn't be able to carry it all. Always safety first, no matter how bad you want to do something. So until I figured I would hit the exposed bedrock along 2 or 3 miles up and down river.
The nights were very cold, with two sleeping bags on me and wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Even Buddy was crawling under to stay warm. To make matters worse, I was having personal problems with my sister over the house that kept me awake nightly. Not to mention the sound of the rapids below my camp that were pretty loud and guess what... they never stop! Now I love the sound of a river like most miners and the way the river will talk to you especially at night. You can hear the soft sounds of people talking back and forth and even music. Unfortunately, I can never make out what they are saying because I too Tennessee Hillbilly instead of River in high school. Dopey me, what was I thinking.
I would make fires in the evening time and buddy would keep an ear out for critters that may wander in camp all night
A raccoon would make his appearance so often that Buddy would just tell me "it's him again" and not leave his warm spot next to me in bed. It was still too early for bears, but I knew that soon they would be roaming the area for a take out dinner. Come that time I will have to set up my trip wires to give an early warning that I have company for supper.
I'm going to have to keep a close eye on Buddy because I'm sure that they will consider him the special of the day.
A raccoon would make his appearance so often that Buddy would just tell me "it's him again" and not leave his warm spot next to me in bed. It was still too early for bears, but I knew that soon they would be roaming the area for a take out dinner. Come that time I will have to set up my trip wires to give an early warning that I have company for supper.
I'm going to have to keep a close eye on Buddy because I'm sure that they will consider him the special of the day.
I hit the area above and below my camp, breaking bedrock and looking for cracks, finding only fines and lots of bullets, shot and mercury. Nothing worth making the hike up the hill to call home about.
DAY 9: I met a guy named Ron who is a part owner of the claim just below my camp called, Eagle Wings. He was the first person I had seen in a few weeks. If it wasn't for me talking to Buddy, I was afraid I might forget the English language. Needless to say, Ron was a welcome site. We shot the shit and he gave me permission to do panning on his claim across the river from his camp. Cool! The next day I headed down river to the end of the trail which let me end up right across from his camp. Found a nice picker about earring size. I hit the area for a few days more finding still nothing but fines.
I kept a journal on my computer, writing in it every night on my thoughts, things I did and the people I met. I am so glad that I did. Even now I look back, read and remember that day. I won't bore you with my writing but I'm betting that Penthouse Magazine would be interested in a few entries.
DAY 12: Lorie came back. On her way she picked up big juicy delicious hamburgers. How did she know I had been wanting one. She also replenished my food supply and gas for my generator. Lorie told me that she was going to stay a week with me. Great, they goes my date with the raccoon. Ok... I was happy to see her.
DAY 13: The next day I took her on a drive up the road that follows Kanaka Creed Canyon 12 miles to Allagahany, a small mining town in Sierra County. The rain had developed a few waterfalls on the side of the dirt road on the way. It was worth stopping and taking pictures. It was a nice slow drive due to the ruts and washouts from the rain. It was worth the drive just getting away and doing something together. Really nothing to see or do there so a few hours later we were back at camp and ready to start dinner. Featuring a nice campfire cooked steak and all the fixin's. When it comes to cooking over a campfire I do quite well. I can make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Even with Lorie there, I was still having restless nights finding myself sitting on the side of the bed deep in thought. Being there was the best thing for me. I was raised my whole life to be an outdoors man. Being surrounded by the beauty of mountains and the sound of a river I feel content with myself and happy. Even though I'm starting to get tired of hearing the rapids 24/7. They never shut up! Sometimes it's like hearing static from a radio. I begin to think "if I just move that big rock will the sound be different?" But the water is too swift and too cold. It has been over a week of rain and now the weather is drying up a bit. It's time for Lorie to go back to her job and leave me again. Once again,
I watched her drive up the hill and disappear. My food is in good supply, gas is fair, moral is high and the raccoon is getting nervous.
I spent the next few days breaking bedrock and exploring the Eagle Wings claim. Still nothing but fines.
I'm so spoiled from spending 13 years on the Horseshoe Bar on the Middle Fork of the American River as a staff member for the Gold Country Miners. Great gold on the property, it was our home away from home. I know I will never find another place like it again in my life.
With the weather getting better I started seeing dirt bikes and ATV's during the weekends. They take the long all day trip to Alleghany and Downieville.
I watched her drive up the hill and disappear. My food is in good supply, gas is fair, moral is high and the raccoon is getting nervous.
I spent the next few days breaking bedrock and exploring the Eagle Wings claim. Still nothing but fines.
I'm so spoiled from spending 13 years on the Horseshoe Bar on the Middle Fork of the American River as a staff member for the Gold Country Miners. Great gold on the property, it was our home away from home. I know I will never find another place like it again in my life.
With the weather getting better I started seeing dirt bikes and ATV's during the weekends. They take the long all day trip to Alleghany and Downieville.
A fellow miner named Joe made camp across the bridge. Joe is a local that works in a nearby mine. That night he came to my camp, we shot the shit, and traded stories. He told me some history of the area he knows. Since I spent several years dredging starting in 79 and stayed in what we all middle camp about 1/2 mile up river, I found out that we knew some of the same people and got along well. He kept his camp set up for several weeks. A couple of times a week he would drive up the few miles to his home to check on things.
During the week one or two trucks would make their way down the hill passing with a wave with buddy running beside them asking if they had a dog to play with. One of those trucks had stopped and out jumped a few dogs much to Buddy's delight. They played in the water, sniffed each other and had fun. Buddy needed that. Not too many flatlanders know of this place, that's why I like it so much.
The weeks went by pretty quick keeping some what the same routine every day. Buddy wasn't eating very much for awhile so I told him he better eat or the squirrels were going to get it. He ran over to his dish and ate it all up. So now I tell him that all the time and he's finally eating.
The weeks went by pretty quick keeping some what the same routine every day. Buddy wasn't eating very much for awhile so I told him he better eat or the squirrels were going to get it. He ran over to his dish and ate it all up. So now I tell him that all the time and he's finally eating.
By the 17th day Lorie was back again with more supplies and news that house still had not been sold. It was late afternoon when two guys walked into our camp. They had walked from their delivery truck up the road. They were lost and had a flat tire. They were looking for Long Point Road. Roads around here are not marked. Fortunately for them, I knew where it was. We all jumped in my truck to see if I could fix the tire. They were delivering a mattress and box spring from their store. We put it in the back of my truck and made the delivery while one of the guys stayed at reception point to make a call to get some help. They thanked up for helping and saving the store's reputation. Lorie and I didn't mind at all.
The Friday before Easter we were thinking about what we were going to do. Maybe hide some treats for Buddy to find? A white truck was coming down the road and as usual Buddy ran to the bridge to greet them. We were surprised when three guys got out of the truck holding a huge Easter basket. They were the guys we helped last week. The basket was full of candy, batteries, canned food, toilet paper, playing cards, Jack Daniels bottle and more stuff we could use. We had tears in our eyes not believing what we were seeing. They said it was from their boss and them for helping them out. We exchanged phone numbers and hoped to see each other again.
The Friday before Easter we were thinking about what we were going to do. Maybe hide some treats for Buddy to find? A white truck was coming down the road and as usual Buddy ran to the bridge to greet them. We were surprised when three guys got out of the truck holding a huge Easter basket. They were the guys we helped last week. The basket was full of candy, batteries, canned food, toilet paper, playing cards, Jack Daniels bottle and more stuff we could use. We had tears in our eyes not believing what we were seeing. They said it was from their boss and them for helping them out. We exchanged phone numbers and hoped to see each other again.
With it raining again the next day, we went for a drive through North San Juan. You can hardly call it a town. There is nothing there. We drove on to Grass Valley and ate at Lumberjacks. Great food! I've been eating rice with soup poured on top and once in awhile some dehydrated food. No wonder it was so good.
A week or so Lorie had to leave again for a few days and once again Buddy and I were left alone. Now it's Buddy getting bored. I had recorded Lassie for him but he didn't like that so, I tried to teach him poker. He cheats! Tried dominos and he couldn't pick them up. I think he just likes to lay on his back and have his belly scratched. I have started calling him Wilson, but like the volleyball he wouldn't respond.
A week or so Lorie had to leave again for a few days and once again Buddy and I were left alone. Now it's Buddy getting bored. I had recorded Lassie for him but he didn't like that so, I tried to teach him poker. He cheats! Tried dominos and he couldn't pick them up. I think he just likes to lay on his back and have his belly scratched. I have started calling him Wilson, but like the volleyball he wouldn't respond.
Day 33 A guy named Eric drove up and when we talked he told me he was going to set up camp and explore down river and take his equipment to a claim called Del High. He had a brand new Gold Hog highbanker still in the box he wanted to set up and get the kinks out before floating it down river. As we both set it up he offered me a partnership and we started moving dirt and rocks. We ran about 60 buckets pretty quick. The clean up after was ok, we had lots of black sand but lill to no color. I had told him that the place had been raped but since we dug into hard packed dirt and on the banks we should have showed some good color but guess not.
Eric was in no hurry to go down river so he settled in awhile sharing the camp with me. We hiked up river for hours and prospected in spots that looked promising.
Eric was in no hurry to go down river so he settled in awhile sharing the camp with me. We hiked up river for hours and prospected in spots that looked promising.
Eric planned on going ahead with his first plan, moving down to Del High. He paid his fee and started rafting his equipment down two trips a day. It took three days.
Bill, the gold miner that was busted for dredging during the moratorium in California last year is located just down river from me. Met him a few times. Nice guy but just ran into bad luck. He received around 80 hours of community service for his fine. The judge apparently went easy on him because he was filmed for television. If you notice his red truck was parked on the road. Yep, it still is parked there.
Still not sleeping well, I wondered how things were at home, so in the morning I took a break from the sounds of the rapids and made the hike up the road to Reception point. It's quiet up there only the sound of the breeze through the trees. I can hear myself think now. Called Lorie, the house sold! and for more than the asking price. Split in half, minus the amount to upgrade all my mining equipment, I can go to Reno and put it all on 14 black and let her ride. Yeah, like Lorie will let that happen. Looking to move to the area around Auburn, buy a house with property and a gold bearing stream running through my living room so I can sit in my easy chair and dredge from there. It would be cool to ride a raft to the kitchen for dinner. Ahhh dreams.
Anyways, it looks like I didn't have to stay as long as I thought. Just until escrow closes.
Anyways, it looks like I didn't have to stay as long as I thought. Just until escrow closes.
Day 40 Lorie showed up and informed me she is able to stay with me until we decide to go home. The raccoon never did come back, hope it wasn't something I said. It was best she knew anyway. Needing to get out of camp again and just as it stopped snowing, Lorie and I went to Downieville. I showed her places I had dredged and stayed along the North Fork of the Yuba River and small towns nearby. We went the back roads to Malakoff Diggings, North Bloomfield, crossed the South Fork of the Yuba at Edwards Crossing and ended up in Grass Valley at Lumberjacks again for dinner.
I had missed the final episode of NCIS so we parked at McDonalds while Lorie downloaded it so we could watch it back at camp. Lorie had been downloading all the other episodes for me so I wouldn't miss anything. How nice of her
and I'm suppose to be roughing it out there? I am but you can't blame me for taking advantage of the latest technology. Oh and ok I admit, I posted on Facebook to that I was still alive and well.
I had missed the final episode of NCIS so we parked at McDonalds while Lorie downloaded it so we could watch it back at camp. Lorie had been downloading all the other episodes for me so I wouldn't miss anything. How nice of her
and I'm suppose to be roughing it out there? I am but you can't blame me for taking advantage of the latest technology. Oh and ok I admit, I posted on Facebook to that I was still alive and well.
Day 51 Met two guys named Mike and Larry. We hit it off great. Took them to Kanaka and showed them how to prospect bedrock. We talked, got to know each other and even got a realtor referral which we are using. They spent the night and had to leave the next day. Mike returned the next weekend with his daughter and her friend and we had a great weekend. Lorie and I were breaking camp that weekend, loading the trailer and heading out on Sunday. Mike offered to tow my heavy trailer up the road and switch at the General Store. Saved a lot of wear on my truck. We made sure the camp was cleaner than when we arrived. I even raked the whole are for the next campers.
As we drove across the bridge leaving, I stopped and thanked the spirits and the river for the safe and enjoyable time we had. I'm going to miss the sound of the rapids now. it is embedded in my hearing. How will I be able to sleep without it now? I'll also miss sitting on the bridge with my feet kicked up on the railing watching the sunset. Real soon I'll be living in the area. No more 4 hour drives almost every weekend like I did for 35+ years. Now it will be just under an hour and I can be anywhere I desire. Can't wait to become a local.
We got back to Fremont found out that the division of the inheritance had hit a snag and our lawyers are working it out. A friend said we could stay at her house but since she had cats Buddy would have to stay out. So, on Day 102, here we sit under a blue tarp on the side of her house on our bed, just like at the river. No television, no internet outside. Occasionally we bring our computer in and hook up to get on line but what a hassle. I'm writing this with the sound of BART construction behind us, wheels screeching, neighbors talking, sirens in the distance and a street light shinning down on us like a moon. We have gone from the entire forest as our home to the hustle and bustle of city life.
Should have stayed on the river longer. Go figure. We left all the wildlife up there and when we go back Buddy gets sprayed by a skunk passing the yard at 4am. We are going to to leave the Bay Area and not look back.
I do however, find myself turning on the radio just to ear the static sound like the rapids jut to put me to sleep at night.
"Reb"
Should have stayed on the river longer. Go figure. We left all the wildlife up there and when we go back Buddy gets sprayed by a skunk passing the yard at 4am. We are going to to leave the Bay Area and not look back.
I do however, find myself turning on the radio just to ear the static sound like the rapids jut to put me to sleep at night.
"Reb"