Small Adventure.......

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mobydick

mobydick

Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Threads
94
Messages
2,733
Location
Medford, Oregon.
Anyone in the club with a smaller sized rig, like a Sammy or even a quad who wants to go on an adventure some afternoon. I wish you could reconnoiter a route for me and see what you think about getting larger rigs to a certain spot. On a topo map the entire route shows as an unimproved dirt road but I can tell you it is clear the last mile or two have not been used by trucks for some time. I have hiked that last 2 miles a couple times but have not paid enough attention to the creek crossings whether or not they can still be managed by a 4X4. Most of the trail is clearly a slightly overgrown roadbed and fairly smooth and level. If you are interested PM me and I will give you the directions. There is an old mining claim at the trail end and the remains of a dilapidated old cabin. Nowhere have I seen anything signed regarding road closures of any kind.
 
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On this last mile or two there is one spot where the old road used to cross the creek on a timber bridge. I don't know the present condition of the bridge except to say it could hold a lot of people at one time, maybe a rig if you can get up onto the bridge itself. I think the approaches would need some ramps built. This bridge, if I recall correctly had an old bypass downstream which crossed w/o a bridge. If you try this trip you will need brush clippers and maybe a chainsaw. Also lots of overgrown bushes to deal with and cut back. There is a great deal of trash there at the cabin and another completely collapsed cabin. I'd like to offer to haul out trash and do general site cleanup for the Forest service and if we can get vehicles all the way there we could camp there and do some gold panning.
 
Sounds fun, I'm down when my rig is up and running. I will go scope it out in the next week or so. I found the details on my topo map.
 
You know where I'm talking about?? Did I tell you where it's at?

OK, checked my pm to you and I guess I did. Bobby and I cancelled our hike because of the weather and the fact I could not find my old mummy bag. Plus I just chickened out. If I have to hike it someday I'll do it when it's not so cold. Let me know if you go maybe we can join up. Really don't see me getting my rig in there but hey it'd be worth trying. Probably not a good run for those concerned about their paint job!
 
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some pictures

Creek area...
Dad's Camera DL 054.webp
Dad's Camera DL 059.webp
Dad's Camera DL 066.webp
 
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And a few more....this would be where we'd split up our gold dust and head for town.
Dad's Camera DL 063.webp
Dad's Camera DL 057.webp
Dad's Camera DL 058.webp
 
Cool, can't wait to head up and check it out. Looks like the perfect place to hide a geocache.
 
I'd have to show you guys where the "prospects" are up on the hill. Also I've never really had a chance to really scout out the area. I've got a great pic somewhere of the old guy who was living in that cabin 3-4 years ago(before a tree fell and made it only semi-liveable). He showed me how he worked the diggings up on the hill using primitive tools and plastic plumbing traps he used to trap his paydirt and then he'd pour it into a pan to finish the task. 3 traps of dirt and about 10 minutes later he had gold flecks in his pan. Not alot but with the sun shining it made a good pic. He also demonstrated his skill at smoking home grown out of 6 feet of rolled up garden hose. He was a man to envy for sure. :D I think the club should investigate the status of the claim and file on it if possible, if nothing else then to have a private camping spot to enjoy that is fairly close to town. :meh:

I've removed all mention of the actual location from these public postings. Don't want to get "claim jumped".
 
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I have no idea on how to proceed on a claim. I do know that Wheelers Off Road has rights to at least one claim that they can go wheel and camp in. I do know you have to actually "work" the claim to some degree to keep it legit. My dad would have no problem with participating on that part. The monetary cost is very low too if I remember correctly, should be easily offset by some shiney worked throughout the year.
 
mind pm'ing me those locations? I would love to check this spot out
 
Went out there today....

Few notes,

I don't see rigs getting in there without quite a bit of work. Definitely do-able with a dedicated crew, lots of gas trimmers/chainsaws and several weekends of work though. The stream crossings don't seem too bad and would be fairly easy to make safe and environmentally friendly. The most worriesome is the one pictured above with the logs lashed together.

There is a massive amount of trash all over the area dating from the 30's/40's to present day. The worst of it was around the buildings. Definitely needs cleaned up before kids/pet friendly.

The area is beautiful! Lots of quartz in the rock (may still be gold around), the streams are really pretty, and there are elk, deer, and bear in the area. Found a few dug out areas and what appeared to be the channel for the old sluice box. Would be interesting to know the history.
 
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I hear you about the trash. That was one of the big reasons I wanted to get rigs in there so we could dispose of what we could properly. I was disappointed to see that one cabin so deteriorated. When i was there about 4 years ago there was an old guy living in it. That was before it was damaged- I think a tree came down and messed up that one corner pretty good. If we had the time and the tools to do the job it would be really neat to scrounge through all that stuff while cleaning for any recoverable historical items. And that guy was panning gold but up on the hill across from where the cabin sits. I thought it would be a nice spot for the club to camp out and do a little panning.

I was thinking maybe we could work out some deal with the Forest service to use the club to go in and clean the area up and make it more user friendly. It would make a good article in the paper for the club to send in to TLCA. Not to mention, restoring the trail so that it still keeps most vehicles out.
 
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If a public land claim is not maintained it can be re-claimed with the proper protocol in some cases- not sure on the legality of it, it then gives you the right to it.. Then there is no "deal" with the forest service, it is just excercising your rights. You then have to provide a certain amount of upkeep each year or it can be taken over by someone else. I'm in..
 
I'm in on a claim.

Not sure this is the right one of us or not, but sounds interesting to say the least.
 
Well.......how should we proceed?? :hhmm::meh:
 
We need to see if the claim is registered and if so who it is registered to. I don't know where to go for this info but I'm sure it can be found.
 
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