I have a couple of gold pans and prospector shovels in my camping gear, I’ve collected about 8.2 grams of gold flakes/specks/dust and a single picker over the last 15 years.
If you know where (and when) to look, you can pretty reliably pull trivial amounts of gold out of the Sierras and it’s foothills.
Going gold panning is basically an excuse to go up to the mountains super early, hike to a remote part of the river, and enjoy nature for most of the day while also enjoying some beer, ciders, and sandwiches with some friends. We pan for gold but also collect some rocks.
People who do this seriously are certainly a type.
If you know where (and when) to look, you can pretty reliably pull trivial amounts of gold out of the Sierras and it’s foothills.
Going gold panning is basically an excuse to go up to the mountains super early, hike to a remote part of the river, and enjoy nature for most of the day while also enjoying some beer, ciders, and sandwiches with some friends. We pan for gold but also collect some rocks.
People who do this seriously are certainly a type.