Another satisying day of exploring and prospecting. Today's quest took us up the Little Joe River to the Idaho State Line. We then back tracked across the ridge and returned via Two Mile Creek. The Lolo National Forest remains verdant green after all the rain we have enjoyed this month. August is normally "Fire Season" so we in the northwest are thankful for the moisture.
The Two Mile Creek drainage is an intriguing area to prospect. This is remote and inaccessible country and there are only a few places where it is easy to reach the creek from Two Mile Road. We climbed down the bank at the bridge and tried a few pans and set up a mini-sluice box: lots of black sand but until I work down my concentrates, I will not know if I found any flour gold.
This area is often worked by local recreational prospectors, so I did not really expect to find much color with my limited efforts. I plan to return with a prospecting buddy and his backpack dredge and check the riffles in the culvert. This creek runs high, hard and fast during the spring melt. "Gold Is Where You Find It" and this culvert merits investigation.
Just across from the culvert, Coyle Creek enters Two Mile Creek, another place to check out.
We did not see a bear, but there was a lot of bear sign; claw marks on a cedar tree, ravaged huckleberries bushes and lots of scat on the trail.
The bears are feasting on all the berries that are ripe; huckleberries, elderberry, chokecherries and Oregon grape are abundant this year. The bears are happy.
Have you every tried elderberry wine? Thimble berries also make an excellent cordial as well as tasty james or jelly.
Wishing you a sunshine filled day and color in your pan.
Do you have gold fever?
Do you want your own claim in NW Montana?
Please visit the sites below for full information on the claims for sale.
Comments