Just moved to Alaska in September 2018

[ProspectingAK]

Just moved here in Sept. My wife is in the Air Force and I love to prospect. Relatively new at it but have tried to do a lot to educate myself. We lived in Eastern Wa and I found my first gold in Mineral country Montana near Superior MT. Started off with pans and some classifiers and then bought a 3 foot Keene Sluice and not just invested in my first Highbanker with dredge nozzle. Always looking for insight and guidance or ideas on tips tricks, techniques, areas etc. We live just a few miles east of Fairbank, AK. Glad I found the site and look forward to making some friends.
Cory

[Leonard]

Thank your wife for me on her service! I spent 2 years at Elmendorf 1963-1964. 4158th combat support group. That was SAC.
Leonard

[Jim_Alaska]

Welcome to the forums, nice to have you with us. I no longer live in Alaska, but did spend 37 years out on Chena Hot Springs Rd.

Salcha River and its tributaries are known as a good gold producer, it is just past your wife's base on the Richardson Hwy.

Get to know some miners in North Pole and Fairbanks, they will help you out and you may get some good info. from them.

[Joe S (AK)]

Say there, Welcome onboard!

I work South of you (by a lot) on the South edge of Denali Park. 39y 3 m AF enlisted. Jim is certainly right - find contacts in local mining supply stores, clubs and others with an interest. Always room for good folks in the mining community.

Joe

[chickenminer]

Welcome to the great north!
Lots of country out there to prospect ... have fun!

[ProspectingAK]

Appreciate the warm thoughts and advice. I am 42 and first became interested in gold when I was about 14 or 15 growing up in North Western Pennsylvania we did lots of 4 wheeling and hunting but no gold prospecting. I checked out every book from the local library on the gold rush of 1849 and then the Yukon. Ever since then I had wanted to find gold in a pan. In 2011 I moved to Cheyenne, WY then in 2013 to Spokane, WA. Finally making it to gold country I made my way to Montana several times and found gold on Cedar Creek. Then as fate would have it we got orders to Eielson, AFB and made it to town the last week of Sept. We purchased a house here in the North Pole.
I just had my high banker show up 2 weeks ago. I have slowly been putting it together as we still have a ways to go before the snow melts. If your not familiar with Gold Hog look him up on Youtube. His sluice mats are 2nd to none.

I'd be curious to hear about any of your past or present endeavors prospecting Alaska or in any other state for that matter.
Cory

[Geowizard]

Cory,

Yep... We've heard of Gold Hog matting and there are a few here that are acquainted with the Chena River!

You're in the right crowd!

- Geowizard

[Joe S (AK)]

Just in case you hadn't read this:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=111

Joe

[ProspectingAK]

Joe S How's the gold down around Denali as you mentioned in your post?

[Joe S (AK)]

Like anywhere I guess, spotty with none to (once in a long time) good finds for a small time operation.

I usually work a little one shovel highbanker operation in a mountainous area and at 72 years old I realistically don't expect to be "Hitting it Big" any time soon, now --- of course, I could well be wrong there.

I enjoy the mining, with the thrill of the chase over the years more rewarding than the actual weight of the Gold found. Once I found 10 ounces in 3 weeks, while clinging to the side of a mountain, all the way to nothing at all over the entire last season (and some other seasons, too, as well).

That's why they call it "Fishing" and not "Catching", I guess.

Thanks for asking.

Joe