Claims available!!

　
Our weather has been sensational and we’ve been taking advantage of the moderate fall temps to get out on the creek and do some panning!

Before we get into that discussion, we have scouted out some very desirable Northern Hills claims. Bob has personally worked these drainages with friends during past years. There are somewhat remote and good claims for someone physically fit! For obvious reasons, we are offering them for sale, meaning we will prepare claim certificates, give you direction on filing, and help with discovery! Everything in this area is spring-fed and therefore intermittent streams.

We’re also happy to receive word from the U.S. Forest Service is that they are ready to sign our Plan of Operations for our small-scale placer mining permit! Each step we take we learn, and we’re elated that one portion of the permitting process is nearing completion!

We’ve been hearing from the media that a hatch of Pine Bark beetles is going to happen.

I’m not an entomologist, but by the description and photos I’ve seen, I think it has happened… my panning tub seems to attract them, so I have beetles bouncing off my head into the water every time I pan!


I’m not sure if they are suicidal or not, they are great swimmers and get back to the edge of the tub to crawl out, then usually end up dropping back into the tub. Diving antics intersperse attempts to escape.

Seth Bullock, among his many other enterprises, was the Forest Service manager in the Black Hills around the turn of the century (1900).  There was a Pine Bark beetle infestation at that time and a lumber camp employee noticed that the Pine Bark beetle swarmed to a can of turpentine left open, landed and died out in the turpentine. Water in my panning tub did not seem to have the same result.
A later outbreak (1960s) was treated extensively with insecticides that are no longer approved for use in the U.S. Forest.

Despite bouncing beetles, we had a very enjoyable weekend! The colors are at about 50% of their peak, and we suggest a drive sometime this coming week to wherever your favorite viewing spot might be. The traditional drive up Spearfish Canyon is a “must” for many, but any drive will present a plentitude of colorful aspen, birch and undergrowth.