[Montana]

Our hot summer months are just about over, and before long we will start seeing winter visitors arriving . I would expect that there might be fewer this year than in the past because of high fuel prices and just overall higher prices for everything. I've had several enquiries about inexpensive motels, camping areas near the goldfeilds, motels with cooking facilities in the room and other ways to save a few bucks. Many folks wouldn't miss their winter prospecting trip to Az for anything , and are willing to sacrifice some comforts rather than spend the winter shoveling snow. Anyone have any suggestions for these folks? Do you know of a clean motel or RV park that have bargain rates? Most prospectors don't need a rec room, swimming pool , exercize room , continental breakfast or the other frills that come with the $120.00 a night rooms. Do you know of someone who rents out a guest house for the winter? I rented my house to prospectors for 2 winters and these folks left it spotless and even mopped the floors and scrubbed the toilets before they left. I couldn't ask for better renters. Please help these folks out if you can so they can have another enjoyable visit this year.----Bob

[Dakota Slim]

Bob, I agree that the high fuel prices, inflation and overall economy are hurting everyone. I also know that millions of American baby boomers are now retiring. Many are interested in prospecting and most want to get away from that snow shovel. Time will tell but there could be more snowbirds this year.
I don't know about inexpensive hotels but I would imagine there are some good deals to be had on motor homes and campers. With a small investment they can be equipped with solar panels and a bank of batteries. At that point, dry camping is possible and there is lots of BLM and forest land to accomodate them.

* I'd also like to point out that Quartzsite is a great place to get a motorhome or camper set up to dry camp. When I bought my motorhome up north I stayed one step ahead of freezing weather and made it to Quartzsite where I added solar panels and did a bunch of other work.

[gilaoro]

Well if they want to be around Morristown or Wickenburg they should talk to Bill Southern, If around Congress then talk to Les at Weaver Mining Dist. If they belong to the SKP club they have dry camping in Congress, so does the grarge just after crossing the RR east bound.
Max

[Montana]

Good tips guys. Keep them coming. I'm sure there will be plenty of folks looking at this post as winter nears.----Bob

[Dakota Slim]

I bet we can get Uncle Ron to speak up here. He's got maps of most-if-not-all gold bearing areas in AZ and can point you to most-if-not-all clubs with claims. People should know that most of the good gold producing areas are claimed and joining a club (or clubs) makes it easy to find a place to prospect.
I'll give Elly and the 24K Gold Hunters a pitch here. It's a great club with arguably the best claims on Rich Hill. I found about 2.5 ounces on one of the 24K claims including a monster 57 gram nugget. The 24K web site is at www.24kgoldhunters.com and people can join online with a credit card or a PayPal account.

[gilaoro]

Also get on the WWW and check on goverment voleenter jobs, they have all kinds not just camp ground hosting but many others that mostly give you a full hookup camp site and some times a small salary! Most require about 20 hours a week commitment.Two of the best jobs allowing me to have time to prospect in a lot of places were these Jobs, one was with the FS, I worked 3 days a week, I picked the days (week days), I did hiking trails surveys,IE: Which sign was missing, where was a log down across the trail etc.
I got a trailer spot in the FS compound,free propane,free washer & dryer
and since I used my own PU I got paid milege. Made a bunch of life long friends, met all the ranchers for miles around which gives you acess to spots you can only dream of getting into normally, I really wonder why I didn't stay for years!!
Also check out this link:http://www.workamper.com/
When I think about it I wonder why I ever went back to a regular job most less a selfemployed one!
I had a volenter job with the BLM where my job was to hunt dino fossils, got the same bennys , full hookups, propane , expenses etc and had to look for pretty rocks and fossils 3 days a week!! Tough job, some times took me 6 days to do it!!!
Where there is a will there is a way!
Just drive up to the local BLM/FS Office and tell them who you are, what you can do and what your hobby is, you may be surprized!
Two friend of mine who were in Idaho were really surprized when the FS hired them to dredge streams!! YEP its true!! They spent the summer dredgeing to improve fish ahbitat is streams that were closed to you and me and the FS furnished the dredge and gas etc,etc!!
Well they was not really supposed to have that sluice attached but it helped distribute the silts out of the inside bends and other disireable spawning areas, well it helped remove that nasty old mercury and lead and that yelow stuf that was so heavy.
Give it a try!
Max

[Montana]

Max. I'd forgotten about those campground host jobs and other similar ones. They are sweet deals if you have a motorhome or comfortable camper. A prospecting freind spends part of the winter prospecting in the desert, and his summer as campground host on the edge of a beautiful fish filled lake in the White Mountains of eastern AZ. Don't forget if you are on social security disability , or 65 years old you can get a golden age pass which gives you big discounts at national parks, and some improved BLM and Forest service campgrounds. Those who know the ropes spend months in the desert during the winter for next to nothing and live very comfortably. I've even talked to some who say that with the gold they find drywashing and detecting , they actually make some pretty good extra income over and above expenses. I just hate to think that some will have to stay home for the winter when they would really love to be finding some gold instead.----Bob

[jagdoctor1]

This is a great thread Bob!

[gilaoro]

Here is another link if you need a little assistance to make the leap to fulltime R/V living and prospecting, this one will even get you to Alaska!

http://www.coolworks.com/older-bolder/