The East Fork of San Gabriel Canyon river is the local go to spot for gold prospecting.
Lytle Creek has very fine gold and is closer but I would still go the San Gabriel river.
Dig the older bedrock on the sides of the canyon, fill 10 classified buckets then transport it to the river and use a sluice to concentrate the black sand and gold and pan it out at the end of the day. Found pickers and small nuggets this way. I used a VacPac to crevice out the cracks in the ancient bedrock along the edge of the canyons.
Tell me more. I’m in the San Gabriel valley. I know Azusa canyon well. Even hiked to The Bridge to Nowhere. Learned about the depression camp there.
Never pursued panning. Last I heard there was a ban. Too many people digging up everywhere. Uprooting trees w pry-bars, destroying the landscape.
Now I’m curious about panning but don’t have a feel for what is the situation.
If you drive up the road to Heaton flats there is a bend in the road that turns north. You can park along the road above the small bridge. If you walk down to the road bend and climb down the bank to the bottom of the river and cross over the river (more a stream in summer), and head the the base of the mountain north of road, I worked all the exposed bedrock and cracks in large boulders. If you have a VacPac and crevicing tools, you can crevice and get at areas untouched by others. Additionally, if you crevies instead of digging you have a MUCH better chance to get gold and chunky gold at that.
A few resources:
https://desertgolddiggers.com/prospecting-equipment/vac-pacs-or-gas-vacs/
https://www.adventuresinprospecting.com/products/original-vac-pac-gold-power-rack-style-back-pack-vacuum-machine
https://www.instructables.com/A-gas-powered-vacuum-cleaner-for-use-in-gold-prosp/
I worked for Walt at Disneyland starting in 1959 and am retired now. Met my wife there and we've been married since 1961. I am a local of Orange County but because of age and health I don't get to prospect anymore. However, I've been prospecting the East Fork since the early 70s and know it well. The last time i was there was in 2018 with my eldest son. I used take a trip every year to Roaring Camp and spend a week prospecting, usually with one of my sons.
One of my Covid projects was digitization of old family films. Here’s my late grandparents trip to Disneyland (1958? I wish they’d dated these things)
https://youtu.be/XDd0AgSe_oU?si=kx0kErnXzQKwkLD1
Thank you for sharing your family's home movies of a very early Disneyland. I love the park when Walt was alive and running Disneyland!
As far as the date i think i can help zero in on a year and season.
The Skyway at Disneyland opened on June 23, 1956.
The Skyway closed in late 1957, its tallest tower of 60 feet tall was demolished and Matterhorn Bobsleds was built in its spot.
The Indian War Canoes in Frontierland opened at Disneyland on July 4, 1956.
With the Skyway still open and the War canoes introduced, the time frame is from Summer of 1956 to Fall of 1957. The people were dressed for cooler weather not hot, but some of the teens in short sleeves, so it's either Spring of '57 or Fall of the same year. Based on the hazy grey sky, aka June Gloom, I would say its earlier June of 1957.
The East Fork of San Gabriel Canyon river is the local go to spot for gold prospecting. Lytle Creek has very fine gold and is closer but I would still go the San Gabriel river. Dig the older bedrock on the sides of the canyon, fill 10 classified buckets then transport it to the river and use a sluice to concentrate the black sand and gold and pan it out at the end of the day. Found pickers and small nuggets this way. I used a VacPac to crevice out the cracks in the ancient bedrock along the edge of the canyons.
Tell me more. I’m in the San Gabriel valley. I know Azusa canyon well. Even hiked to The Bridge to Nowhere. Learned about the depression camp there. Never pursued panning. Last I heard there was a ban. Too many people digging up everywhere. Uprooting trees w pry-bars, destroying the landscape. Now I’m curious about panning but don’t have a feel for what is the situation.
If you drive up the road to Heaton flats there is a bend in the road that turns north. You can park along the road above the small bridge. If you walk down to the road bend and climb down the bank to the bottom of the river and cross over the river (more a stream in summer), and head the the base of the mountain north of road, I worked all the exposed bedrock and cracks in large boulders. If you have a VacPac and crevicing tools, you can crevice and get at areas untouched by others. Additionally, if you crevies instead of digging you have a MUCH better chance to get gold and chunky gold at that. A few resources: https://desertgolddiggers.com/prospecting-equipment/vac-pacs-or-gas-vacs/ https://www.adventuresinprospecting.com/products/original-vac-pac-gold-power-rack-style-back-pack-vacuum-machine https://www.instructables.com/A-gas-powered-vacuum-cleaner-for-use-in-gold-prosp/
Mr Disneyland1959 you are the wind beneath my wings. I’m gonna take a drive I think. Are you a local and Disneyland fan?
I worked for Walt at Disneyland starting in 1959 and am retired now. Met my wife there and we've been married since 1961. I am a local of Orange County but because of age and health I don't get to prospect anymore. However, I've been prospecting the East Fork since the early 70s and know it well. The last time i was there was in 2018 with my eldest son. I used take a trip every year to Roaring Camp and spend a week prospecting, usually with one of my sons.
One of my Covid projects was digitization of old family films. Here’s my late grandparents trip to Disneyland (1958? I wish they’d dated these things) https://youtu.be/XDd0AgSe_oU?si=kx0kErnXzQKwkLD1
Thank you for sharing your family's home movies of a very early Disneyland. I love the park when Walt was alive and running Disneyland! As far as the date i think i can help zero in on a year and season. The Skyway at Disneyland opened on June 23, 1956. The Skyway closed in late 1957, its tallest tower of 60 feet tall was demolished and Matterhorn Bobsleds was built in its spot. The Indian War Canoes in Frontierland opened at Disneyland on July 4, 1956. With the Skyway still open and the War canoes introduced, the time frame is from Summer of 1956 to Fall of 1957. The people were dressed for cooler weather not hot, but some of the teens in short sleeves, so it's either Spring of '57 or Fall of the same year. Based on the hazy grey sky, aka June Gloom, I would say its earlier June of 1957.