Remote Prospecting?

[easy goer]

Give me a few days, work is somewhat hectic right now. Its not a short story!!

Easy goer

[Geowizard]

Remote Prospecting at Ophir;

Prospecting at a remote location that has a history of GOLD production with the "prospect" of the discovery of more GOLD!

When I am asked by others, "Where should I look for GOLD?", I reply with the answer, "Look for a GOLD mine!"

Existing GOLD mines offer the best potential of having GOLD because they have already been discovered! Someone at some point in time went through the process of finding a source of GOLD and developed for what it may be worth, a GOLD mine.

That's where the work begins for the modern prospector! The GOLD mine produced GOLD.

Stay tuned for more!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

The Iditarod Trail;

The Iditarod Trail connects Anchorage to Nome. The trail was originally used as an access and supply route for early miners. The trail connects with many important mining camps in the interior of Alaska. Roadhouses were set up along the trail at intervals of 20 miles. That was considered the distance a traveler on foot could hike in one day. In those early days, the only reliable means of transport for a miner was to travel on foot.

Stick around, there's more!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Geowizards' World;

Planning and Logistics;

Mining in Alaska requires a plan. The mining plan is permitted and happens during the summer. I plan on eating and I order supplies during the winter where possible. Provisions arrive and are stored safely until I arrive in the spring.

- Geowizard

[Jim_Alaska]

Although I lived in Alaska for almost forty years, I can't even imagine the complexity and expense of trying to spend a summer mining there if I lived where I do now; Northern California.

As an aside Chuck, My mining partner also lives in Southern AZ. He is in Tucson, actually above Tucson in the hills about 20 miles S.E.

[Geowizard]

Jim,

Yes. I remember trying to sleep in Ted Stevens Intl. Airport rather than paying out $200 for a skid row motel room on Spenard for the night. All the while thinking... I'm going to spend a thousand dollars to fly out into the bush and return to the same place.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Getting there from here (and back):

Anyone can check the rates to fly from Tucson to Anchorage. There are a few variables depending on services provided, but it runs about a thousand dollars round trip. I plan on staying the night in Anchorage and flying out to Takotna next day on Alaska Air Transit. When I arrive in Takotna, usually in the early afternoon, I pull the tarp off and throw my luggage on the back of my 4 wheeler and laptop and groceries on the front. I have a local "Uber" driver that loads up my stored provisions and follows me 25 miles down the Takotna - Ophir Road to the mine.

Getting there is only half of the fun.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Opening camp;

The Uber driver helps unload the boxes representing my life support system for the next three months. The place is locked up, cabin condition and status unknown. After an exchange of monetary consideration, the driver leaves. I am alone and only the resounding sound of the mosquitoes and flowing water in the river break the silence.

What possibilities await my arrival?

- Geowizard

[Leonard]

I wish I could have made it up to your place but now old age and health prevent it. I did have plenty of other great trips to remember though. That's a lot more than a most people have. Now I get to go along with you vicariously.
Leonard

[Jim_Alaska]

The possibilities as well as the surprises are endless, but all exciting things to be anxiously awaited and put in place or overcome; departure time will arrive sooner than you want or need it to. But oh, the anticipation of what will be accomplished this season, that is always reward in itself.

Overburden removed/Ripping bedrock
Steese Highway Alaska, midway between Fairbanks and Central. Summer 1998