June 1st Opener
Every year patented claims with mining rights come open to the public. This is usually because the taxes haven't been paid. Sometimes they are leases come due. At any rate, they always come open on June 1st. If you are paying attention you can attain some valuable ground this way.
We acquired one of these properties in the Savant Lake area. Katarina, Ruth, and I were sent in for the job. We camped the night before on a nearby lake.
Ruth and Jess in the boat
We acquired one of these properties in the Savant Lake area. Katarina, Ruth, and I were sent in for the job. We camped the night before on a nearby lake.
Ruth and Jess in the boat
The next morning we awoke at 4:30a.m., determined to beat any contendors. Luckily, no one else was after the same ground.
A well-kept trapper's cabin
After finishing the claims, we poked around for the old trenches. This is always a good detective game. One must convert map information from a scale based on inches, feet and miles, to our current system using centimetres and metres. Usually, there are a few clues we have scavenged from old reports describing the location of the showing and the values claimed by the old prospectors.
We did find the trenches and here Katarina is choosing the best looking rock to carry out.
We did find the trenches and here Katarina is choosing the best looking rock to carry out.
Katarina peering down at me in a pit.
We made it out in good time, claims and rock samples included, but upon arriving at the landing: disaster. Somebody, didn't like our parking spot (some people get really possessive about their "private" lakes) and had taken my keys. Luckily, we had a satellite phone and our Dad and brother are very good guys. They had to drive 4 hours to get us and towed my truck to where CAA could tow me the rest. In order to get a key cut you have to be at the dealer with the truck and in person. How inconvenient. Not the greatest end to our day.
J. Bjorkman
J. Bjorkman
