Goldpanning on Caribou Creek

Hi Blog!

As you know, we are on our second voyage through Alaska. The first time we came through, we tried to do as many of the "touristy" things as we could. On this voyage, we were hoping to get out and about and experience some of the real Alaska. We had a great time flipping for Sockeye on the Kenai Peninsula. Now that we are heading back up into the mountains, we thought we would give gold panning a try. Just a few miles from our campground is the Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area. These recreational mining areas are open to the public to try their hand at panning for gold.

On our way to the recreation area, we stopped at a view point overlooking Caribou Creek. As luck would have it, someone left a couple of almost red chairs at the viewpoint!

From the parking area, we followed an ATV trail down to the creek. The Lion Head is lost in the clouds.

A small wooden bridge helps us traverse a muddy area.

The willow and alder have grown so high, it creates a canopy over us as we hike along the muddy trail.

We emerge from the dense brush on the side of a braided glacial stream. We drop our backs and don our fishing waders. Instead of fishing for trout, today we were fishing for gold.

Just as we were getting set up, several rafts passed by on their way down Caribou Creek toward the mighty Matanuska. They looked ready for adventure!

Aside from the passing rafters, we had the place to ourselves. Well, at least we thought we did. The area was covered in moose prints, but we never did see them.

Here's a look up Caribou Creek.

Here is the view down the creek.

Gold can be as elusive as trout. You know its there -- but where? When fishing for trout, you try to think like a fish. For example, where is the safest place for the trout to be? Where do they get easy access to food? When fishing for gold, you have to try and predict where the gold landed. You have to dig deep because gold is heavier than most of the rocks around it. Here Kathy tries a point of a gravel bar that might have trapped some gold.

With a bucket of gravelly paydirt, she headed back to a quiet area to pan her findings.

Having a gentle flow of water nearby makes the panning easier.

After trying several different locations, the pan came up empty.

However, while Kathy was seeking the golden rocks, David was out gathering less valuable, although still pretty, non-golden rocks.  There were still plenty of them for us to admire!

We obviously have not figured out the whole gold panning thing, but we have not given up. We have two more chances before leaving Alaska. We will keep you posted.

Until then, stay thirsty my friends.