el pasos area

[highdesert]

so i have been pokin around the southern flank of the pasos for weeks now trying to find a fun, productive site to detect and drywash alittle to no avail. My question is i just want a spot that me, my wife and kids can go that i can find alittle and not trespass on someones claim. i see lots of white poles with colored tape on top out there, are these markers? is there a universal sign of possibly being on a claim, besides the owner chaseing me and my fam away lol. thanks

[FlakMagnet]

High Desert,

The white posts in the El Paso's are claim markers.

There are several clubs in the area that have claims in the area you mentioned.

I am sure the folks here will list them for you I am away from my reference stuff at the moment.

[Lucky Joe]

HD,

Some of the clubs with claims in the area are: Prospectors Club of Southern CA (PCSC), Taft Prospectors, OC 49ers, West End Prospectors and I'm sure there are a few others. But I think you will find most productive areas are under claim and the best way will be to join a club. I believe a family membership to the PCSC is $40.00 plus a one time initiation fee. Other clubs charge different amounts but nothing outrageous.

[highdesert]

Thanks again. I wanted to try the goler area but I heard on her its pretty much all claimed up.

[nuggethunting]

Hey Guys,

I've heard about and seen some really nice nuggets that have came from the El Paso's over the years from metal detectors. I would recommend joining one or several of those clubs and giving those gulches, benches and hillsides a run. Some pieces have been over a pound in weight!

[highdesert]

I am definitely going to keep that in mind thanks guys

[dutch john]

Highdesert.... I highly recomment you listen to Rob and join one of the prospecting associations... Over the

years large nuggets have been found in the El Paso range... Benson gulch has been noted for its past placer

finds. The PCSC's "Red Chispa" has been noted as a pretty good claim for many years. For 40 bucks you

can't go wrong...

Lucky Joe... I also recommend joining the PSCS. It is the "best bang for the buck." While I got your attention,

thanks for the "magnificent quest" remark in the newletter. I appreciate that coming from you (Sidebar:

Lucky Joe is a gold vacumn cleaner); and If'n anyone happens to have a copy of "3-hrs," check out the bottom

paragraph on pg. 52.

The (late) George Elwood, Juel, and I were pretty good friends over several years. George and I often hunted

together. George had a great knack of finding overtlooked placer patches in the Randsburg Quardrangle that were

originally associated with the many small epithermal placers that were associated with the early 1890 drywashers.

[highdesert]

Thanks jim, great advice from a very knowledgeable man. Let me know when you hit this area again so I can pick you and sandtraps brain over some coffee and donuts, my treat.