Where I Panned Gold

Another clip from my Cannon 1080 HD digital camera, where I would pan gold, camp, play in the water. It has a zoom lense, 12.1 mega pixels.

This camera has several settings for both still shots and video. Using the 640 setting allows me to upload the clip easier, loosing some definition, but still seriously sweet.

Good memories, but the west calls.

Georgia Last Shots

Cannon Power Shot, video 640 resolution, digital camera, used to capture some last footage of my favorite stomping grounds near home. This great little camera only cost 118 bucks, and weighs five ounces, slips into my pocket. I love it.

How to Make a and Operate a Sluice Box

This is the youtube video I made for the sluice box hand operated system.


I think it's always important to test innovations. My exploration of the entire stream bed is possible by bringing a bucket and shovel and searching for areas where gold may have settled into sand bars, bottoms of small water slides or bends in the stream bed.

Watching Gold Rush Alaska has inspired me to check out nearby areas which yielded gold in the early 1800's, but were abandoned due to the California and Alaska finds.

Gold Mining with A Sluice Box

After watching some you tube videos on the subject, I created my own sluice box, took it down to my creek and tested it. The area is just below an abandoned gem mine in North East Georgia. The water was cold, so I built a fire on the sandbar. Having the alternative fuel stick as a starter really helped. First I lay down the wet rocks, piled dry branches on top of it, then small try twigs. Setting the fire starter on top of that, and adding a few more dry twigs, I soon had my fire. Using my can, I heated water in the fire to boiling. I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee in the plastic mug I brought along. The sluice box was created using a plastic drain pipe which has the built in riffles. It really did collect the black sand. No gold so far, but a successful testing of this home made equipment. The whole thing is anchored to a long water sodden log to keep it from sliding off the falls. My labor is really decreased when washing the material due to the action of the falls.

Two Strike Fire Starter

In the north east corner of Georgia there are great places to practice survival skills. While camping at this remote campsite, Rainmaker took a couple photos and shot some film of my method for making a fire with flint and blade.

You can watch this video at my channel on youtube:

http://youtube.com/user/brawny03

Brawny is my trail name since 1999 when it was bestowed on me by fellow hikers, but more about that later.

After attempting to light this dry grass and tinder with just a flint (no magnesium shavings added) and blade, and getting pitiful results, I added my "fire starter". With two strokes of the blade I had a great flame.

The fire starter is just a simple 100% cotton ball with a generous glob of petroleum jelly smeared on it. Vaseline is the brand name. I use Dollar store stuff. Sometimes you'll find the basic, unadulterated product is the cheapest. Look for it in dollar stores, or Wal-mart.

Petroleum jelly/Vaseline and cotton balls are things that I usually carry on a backpacking trip for general hygiene purposes, cleaning wounds, treating scrapes and sore feet.

Other good fire starters use dryer lint (if you use a dryer) charred cloth, and mouse nests. As you can see, cotton balls are readily available. Adding the petroleum is a smart move to increase temperature output.

To speed up fire making in wet weather use this "fire starter" as well. It will help dry out those small twigs with hot burning grease.

The trick with fires is using small tinder, adding slowly so that you don't suffocate it.

Always begin your fire on a dry base. If you are uncertain about the base, lay down a large rock or dry wood first. Wet ground, or a fire ring will cause moisture to leach into your tinder

and effectively twart any attempts at successful fire building.