Post by catmandewe on Jun 17, 2011 1:45:22 GMT -5
We had a Search and Rescue Convention in Orofino, Idaho last weekend and it was within a couple hour drive of the Forest Service Star Garnet dig at Emerald Creek which is something Chris and I have always wanted to do.
So after the convention was over Sunday afternoon we drove up to Emerald Creek to check it out. We got there late in the afternoon and just walked up to the dig site to see what it was all about. There were people there sifting and screening and just about finishing up their day.
We then went on to St Maries for the night and headed back in the morning to dig for the day. The site opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm. We got up early to be there at 9 and it was pouring outside so we opted for a relaxed breakfast to wait for the rain to clear. It never did clear so we headed up there anyways and arrived about 10 am.
We got checked in and paid for our permits and started digging for garnets. You get a couple buckets full of dry gravelly dirt, (but that morning it was all just mud) and then take them down to the sifting area and sift the dirt out of them through some screens, ( all tools provided by the forest service) then you take the gravel you sifted out down to the sluices (they have one that is big people height and one that is little people height, if you use the little people one you will develop a back ache in about 15 minutes) and clean off your gravel in the running water, then you go through it and pick out any garnets you can find then wash it again and look through it again. After you are satisfied that you have picked out all the garnets you throw the gravel in a tailings pile and go back and get a couple more buckets of mud.
You are allowed to take 5 pounds of garnets per permit, but I think you would be hard pressed to find 5 pounds in a day. Chris, Tomi and I each purchased a permit and between the three of us we had 24 ounces of garnets for the whole day, so you can expect to get about a half pound to a pound and a half each in a normal day. We only found one large garnet and it weighed a half an ounce. Of course you might hit a big pocket of garnets and get enough, so you never know.
My daughter Tomi went with us and at the end of the day she said you know dad, this was not near as lame as I though it was gonna be. My grandaughter Lizee even had fun after she got over the I wanna go home now stage.
All in all a great family outing.
They said the sifting is easier in July when the dirt is dry but it is also much hotter then, so it is a tradeoff either way. Dry dirt makes it easier to find the garnets, but you have to work in the heat and bugs.
We took a camera up there with us, but we all got so busy doing what we were doing that not one picture got taken, so you have to put up with my story!
Thats my story and I am stickin to it!
Have a great day everyone!
Tony
PS- I got a whole bunch of garnet sand from the bottom of the wash out area and I have some running in two 15 lb barrels instead of grit to see if it will work or not. I will let you know if it works.
So after the convention was over Sunday afternoon we drove up to Emerald Creek to check it out. We got there late in the afternoon and just walked up to the dig site to see what it was all about. There were people there sifting and screening and just about finishing up their day.
We then went on to St Maries for the night and headed back in the morning to dig for the day. The site opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm. We got up early to be there at 9 and it was pouring outside so we opted for a relaxed breakfast to wait for the rain to clear. It never did clear so we headed up there anyways and arrived about 10 am.
We got checked in and paid for our permits and started digging for garnets. You get a couple buckets full of dry gravelly dirt, (but that morning it was all just mud) and then take them down to the sifting area and sift the dirt out of them through some screens, ( all tools provided by the forest service) then you take the gravel you sifted out down to the sluices (they have one that is big people height and one that is little people height, if you use the little people one you will develop a back ache in about 15 minutes) and clean off your gravel in the running water, then you go through it and pick out any garnets you can find then wash it again and look through it again. After you are satisfied that you have picked out all the garnets you throw the gravel in a tailings pile and go back and get a couple more buckets of mud.
You are allowed to take 5 pounds of garnets per permit, but I think you would be hard pressed to find 5 pounds in a day. Chris, Tomi and I each purchased a permit and between the three of us we had 24 ounces of garnets for the whole day, so you can expect to get about a half pound to a pound and a half each in a normal day. We only found one large garnet and it weighed a half an ounce. Of course you might hit a big pocket of garnets and get enough, so you never know.
My daughter Tomi went with us and at the end of the day she said you know dad, this was not near as lame as I though it was gonna be. My grandaughter Lizee even had fun after she got over the I wanna go home now stage.
All in all a great family outing.
They said the sifting is easier in July when the dirt is dry but it is also much hotter then, so it is a tradeoff either way. Dry dirt makes it easier to find the garnets, but you have to work in the heat and bugs.
We took a camera up there with us, but we all got so busy doing what we were doing that not one picture got taken, so you have to put up with my story!
Thats my story and I am stickin to it!
Have a great day everyone!
Tony
PS- I got a whole bunch of garnet sand from the bottom of the wash out area and I have some running in two 15 lb barrels instead of grit to see if it will work or not. I will let you know if it works.