I was watching North to Alaska this evening, you know the old John Wayne movie. I was thinking that it'd be fun and kind of neat to take a vacation to Alaska and go on a few of the Gold Tours they have up there just to play around. Sure, I know...ain't gonna strike it rich but it sounds like it'd be neat and a fun vacation. I was wondering if anyone else here ever did it or thought about it.
I've thought about it. My BIL has done some gold mining down here in the south. Btw, love John Wayne. That's one of my favorite movies of his!
Many years ago I was stationed in Alaska...actually, 3 different assignments (Eielson AFB, Utopia Creek, and King Salmon AFS). Eielson AFB is about 25 miles outside of Fairbanks...lots of gold "dredging" went on in that area "back in the day". On weekends I would use a small sluice box to run dirt from the bottom of the dredged tailing piles. Always got some gold, some days more than others - it was placer gold (small flakes and small nuggets). Back then gold was selling for between $75 and $100 an ounce...I'd sell what I found to a jewelry store in Fairbanks. No, never made myself rich, but it was a heck of a lot of fun. Bill
I used to watch a gold mining show on TV, can't remember the name of it, think it was on the outdoor channel or RFD or something, Buzzard gold prospecting or something like that. It was a fun show to watch. I just always thought it'd be something fun to try.
That's what I was thinking, that it'd be fun and a cool experience. If I wanted to get rich, I'd go be a crooked stockbroker or something, lol.
Just be cautious if booking a gold mining experience up here... Most places are pretty cheesy tourist traps. The areas I've heard that are more fun to go are way pricier to get to logistics wise (like Nome, Alaska). Personally I'd have 20x more fun driving around sight seeing, hiking, fishing, eating seafood, trying craft brews, camping, etc than gold panning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah I figured that about the tourist traps, that's okay...I figured 90% of the fun would be exactly what you say anyway. I always had a visit to Alaska on my bucket list for all the things you mention except the brewskies since I don't really drink but still might be something fun to try while there if I ever get to go.
I really want to go try it..pipe dream I know, but i'd love for a bush plane to take me and a buddy out, maybe hunt a little and hit the creeks for a week to just see if I could do it. I think that would be a blast if I found anything or not. Just for the experience.
I was pretty disappointed in Alaska when I was there, then again I was in Fairbanks avoid that city it is a crap hole.
That's the problem with visiting Alaska... people view it as a state (like they would Michigan or Colorado). Alaska is bigger than Texas, Montana, and California combined. 90% of the state is inaccessible by roads. You won't even scratch the surface at seeing what Alaska is truly known for without driving for DAYS mixed in with flights out into the bush or various villages. You definitely won't see everything in a week. Fairbanks is the worst part of the state for scenic views though, thats for sure.
Yeah I drove from Fairbanks to Denalli it is beautiful but I have to ask if you have a homestead outside of city limits is it mandated that you have a minimum of 3 junk piles in the yard?
I think it would be a very interesting trip! I'm not one for Discovery channel reality series but Gold Rush has grown on me for some reason - Peaks my interest even more.
