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OSPA Essay contest:
Here are the entries.
1.
My Best Summer Experience with the OSPA
In the summer of 2007 my brothers from Montana brought some dirt back to Ohio for my Mom to pan out. When I seen the gold coming from the dirt I thought that was so cool that anyone can find gold. After that I had a quest to see if there was gold in Ohio, I went online and found the Buckeye chapter of the GPAA. I looked at there properties and decided to join. We ended up going to a couple claims they had that year and found at least a dozen specks of gold that fall. Being new in this hobby and just armed with a pan I thought this was great, there is really gold in Ohio. Winter set in but it did not discourage me from learning more. I then seen the Ohio State Prospecting Association club was starting up, they had no property as of then but they had a goal of good gold. I took a chance and joined, this is where the best summer ever starts and so does the OSPA. As a month or so went by the OSPA looked diligently for property, not just wanting a place to go but to have good gold for all. The founders day outing was then put into place for the founders at Buckskin Creek.
I couldn’t wait to go. The forecast was rain, rain, rain but we headed out anyways. The closer we got the sky started to clear, we finally hit the road the property was on and the sun came out. We arrived and pulled in the property and met a few members and the owner of the property. Everyone being so helpful on were to try, Bill Hallam took us down the road and pointed us in the right direction. Needless to say the first test pan (I learned that during the winter) showed more gold than my first year panning. At that point I new this club wanted good gold for everyone. That evening I asked several members how they did, all much better than us but we are still green at this. As I asked more questions they shared there knowledge without hesitation and I found out much of what I wasn’t doing right. Needless to say it was a great outing I then knew that this club had great members. As the summer went on we had several circumstances that did not allow us to make it to Buckskin. When we were able to make it back down we stayed at the bridge entrance (scared to bring 12,000 lbs over the bridge) so we were kind of a welcome wagon. This turned out to be a good spot because we met many new friends as they came in. I wont mention names because I am bad at them and I would not want to leave anyone out. I also saw that the club lets any good person join as you can see. Just joking this was the Halloween party with a few members dressed up, it was a great party with and a good time sitting around the fire talking after a good day of prospecting. With the stress from work and sometimes at home it all seems to dissolve once we arrive. It was now that I new the gold was not the main objective to the trips but the solitude of being away from the rat race. With a four-hour drive coming from northern Ohio it has never discouraged me from the trip down and gas at four dollars a gallon it was well worth it for everything you got. I have met several members from several surrounding states that I am glad to have met. What really makes this the greatest summer ever is the disappearance of the day-to-day life we lead, even if it is for a day or a weekend. Sitting around a fire with good people I can honestly say it doesn’t get any better than that. Most of all is not the gold we find to be the treasure but it is in the hearts of the people we get to meet which makes the gold just another material item. There is no better feeling than to be part of something that is good for all. If you can share this with others in your life, just simple times in a complex world you will feel the same joy. I will continue to be a GPAA member as well as a OSPA member because this hobby must continue for all to share and not be diminished by people with to much time on there hands.
Hope to see you all on the creek.
Bill Kuchinsky, aka Nugget Bill
2.
Our summer at Buckskin Creek
Our summer of 08 did not start out as one of those great summers but by the end of the year it sure was. In the beginning, do to other responsibilities; we just didn’t get down to Buckskin Creek like we would of liked too. If you noticed I said down there, ya see, we are from the north about 30 miles south of Cleveland so it’s about a 4-hour drive. The first couple of times down we were still pretty green and we had only been prospecting for about a year, but the folks down there made us feel at home and they were just a wealth of knowledge. All we had at first was our little sluice box and we’d set it up and run it for a few hours and by the end of the day we would go back to camp get and go through the concentrates and it would always show so much promise good size specks and a few flakes. One time we when down and we didn’t have my teenage son (who usually does most of the digging) with us, and the kind gentlemen who owns the property let us use a dredge for the first time. All I can say is WOW. After a few hours of using the dredge we clean the mats and went through a little of the concentrates and as we swished the water to move the black sand boy oh boy, did the gold appear there were flakes, specks small little chunks our eyes were about the size of golf balls! We were hooked and we knew then we had to get a dredge. Well, a couple hundred dollars later we have our own dredge now. As we would make the drive more and more down there I noticed a transformation in our family, life’s pressures and troubles seem to disappear and time seem to slow down to a different pace. Ya see, when your at Buckskin we don’t get cell phone reception. The solitude at night, by the fire is peaceful and restful, and has brought our family closer together because of it. There is some thing for everyone at Buckskin. I’m kind of a rock hound and the rock there are absolutely beautiful with every color you could think of. I have been told that if it’s red, then it’s green. We are hoping that the 09-year will bring us an even more like a nugget, or a ruby, diamond, or even some great fossil. The people we have met are the best and I’ll be dreaming of next year because right now while I’m writing this we have 2 foot of snow and Buckskin is going to be 51 today.
Joy, aka ohiorocks
3.
My Best Summer Experience with the OSPA
Keith Chasteen
- “kchacha” on the forum -
Gosh, where to begin? Hmm, “summer experience?” Oh, but the memories go back prior to summer-time. I could write about the excitement of attending my first meeting in the township hall in Clermont County. Gosh, here I was, a fella driving up from Louisville who had prospected for ten or twelve years, but had been out of it for quite sometime due to living in Southern Louisiana and Kentucky. But there I was, among 20 or so other folks interested in prospecting! Whoo-hoo! There was some equipment set up for viewing, some raffles were taking place, , Patrick had a table set up and was showing some beautiful gold, all the prospecting supplies you could need were available right there, and there was an auction for a fine Buckabilly sluice box. Man, if I didn’t have the Keene box, I sure could have bid up that Buckabilly! Being among others with similar interests was a wonderful experience in itself.
After the meeting, folks were heading out to Big Indian Creek. I followed Bigjohn out to the creek, since he knew the way. As soon as I got down to the creek, I set up on some exposed bedrock that was riddled with cracks! I claimed it as my own! I could practically smell the gold down in those cracks! Boy, oh boy, was I the smart one, grabbing up on that bedrock!! Sure enough, I found some nice yellow gold in those cracks as I opened up each piece of rock and washed it into my pan and sluicebox. Well, what I didn’t realize at the time was that I had “jumped” Scubadave’s spot. Oops, I guess I wasn’t the only insightful one eyeballing that bedrock!
Of course, from then on, the joke was on about me stealing everyone’s “secret spot!” Cough, cough…ah-um…well…er…I just didn’t know!
Of course, that wasn’t summer, that was late winter/early spring, so I can’t write about that. Maybe I should write about getting my first 3 inch dredge that I brought out a few months later at the first meeting at Buckskin Creek. Shoot, I didn’t know what I was doing, but I had the concept down being that I had run it one time before in Indiana. Well, folks were quite helpful, with Bill V. giving me some great pointers, others helping me carry stuff down to the creek, etc. I got it set up and going – even found a little color that day!
Whoops, that was still springtime, not a “summer experience”!
Well, the summer trip where I came to Buckskin Creek for a few days during the week might be something to talk about, but that was really just a bunch of work! Ken heard I was coming up, so he arranged to bring his mower up for a little help. Sure enough, we managed to mow the camp – with the wonderful help of Spencer – and we even managed to get in the creek for an hour or so before it started getting dark. Sitting around the fire shooting the breeze was fun, but I was kind of tired!
Well, now, I guess it wasn’t all work, since I was able to run my dredge non-stop (except for gas) the next day for 8 hours and then some more another day. Sure enough, I found some gold, too!
Okay, I guess I had better write about the ‘Pine Mountain Shaker’ experience! Now, just seeing that piece of equipment in operation was something, but a memorable part of this outing, besides getting to know Nugget Bill and Levi a bit, as well as getting to know Ken a bit better, oh, and there was getting to meet Kybob in person – we had e-mailed back and forth a few times in the past – and of course, getting to know Kevin (Goldeneye), and visiting with Danette some more, and meeting Joy, and the two Rogers who showed up, and…my goodness, isn’t it always the greatest - meeting, visiting with, working with, and just being with other prospectors? And the great contests that were arranged, including the costume contest where Kevin came out of his tent as “Little Ken”! Now, that was priceless! At any rate, back to my first thought, the memorable part of this outing was a nice little piece of gold! Some were calling it a picker, some made it grow into a nugget, some weren’t surprised, but do you know what? I got to take that shiny thing home!
Okay, first, a little background on the Shaker. Kybob owned it and he brought it for the meeting weekend for a little common dig. Well, as it turned out, there were only four of us who participated in this common dig, not counting Kybob who participated, but being that he was hoping to sell the thing, he chose not to be an official “participant” in the common operation. Of course, he did a lot of work of setting the thing up, showing us how to run it, etc, but being the gentleman that he is, he chose not to be a part of the split.
Well, after we shut the thing down after running it for a good five hours or so, I got to pan out the first tray, which had the nugget trap. Holy cow if I didn’t find the biggest piece of gold that I had come across in the Midwest right there out of that tray! Well, I immediately showed it off to the rest and was very excited to get to the rest of the concentrates! One problem, though. That Shaker was loaded with blacksands! To go through them right there on the side of the creek (yes, I had a safety tub) would have taken a week of Sundays! So, we all agreed to just split up those concentrates among the four of us. Of course, that left a dilemma of some nice gold being in my snuffer bottle! Nugget Bill suggested that we just put that gold into a vial and then have a drawing for it. So, that is what we did. Bill H. was kind enough to make the draw for us. He was even MORE KIND to draw my ticket! Whoo-hoo!! I won the gold!!
Now, let me say, it might not really be a nugget. It might not even really be a picker, but you know what? When I shake it in that glass vial, it makes a wonderful “tink, tink, tink” noise! Sounds a whole lot better than what my flour gold sounds like!
I still have my concentrates from that day to go through. I’m looking forward to that winter project, as soon as I get my woodstove hooked up out in my garage. So yes, I met some great people there on Buckskin Creek, helped to move some dirt, got to see that Pine Mountain Shaker in action, and had a great weekend. But in the end, as I have already said, I WON THE GOLD!! Being a member of the OSPA made this happen for me!
Keith, aka kchacha
4.
My best summer experience with the OSPA
Prospectors have always been the pragmatic sort, the kind of folks who aren't afraid to open up a toolbox and get their hands dirty. With sheer will and determination they know there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome, no challenge to be left unmet. Even here in Ohio, where the gold is known to be sparse and minute, we hopeful sappers can be found sifting through river and creek gravels seeking our small rewards. Like modern-day 49ers, we dig on with belief that the next shovelful could hold the nugget of our dreams. We dig through the warm months chasing our dreams and we pass the winter months dreaming of the chase.
Unlike independent prospectors of the old days, many small miners today have banded into social organizations where the actual prospecting has become almost a secondary pursuit. I am a member of such an association. We meet each month in our futile quest for the Ohio mother-lode. So far, El Dorado has eluded us but even so, we continue to gather. Our children play together on the shore with watchful mothers sharing favorite recipes while the prospectors who brought them all together may be discussing where they will eventually set up their digging operations or just shooting the breeze. Here in Ohio, prospecting discussion often revolves around taking a trip or eventually moving to someplace where there is "better gold". We share meals and campfire stories while comparing the scant results of our day's effort. Stories of the lucky few who have managed to find a piece or two of gold larger than a speck somewhere nearby are told and retold, only building our hopes that one day we will be the subject of a similar good-luck story.
Some prospectors in southern Ohio decided that they would like to start their own prospecting club to give local prospectors and their families the opportunity to prospect and camp on properties that are otherwise not available to them. The Ohio State Prospectors Association (OSPA) was soon born. As a long-time member of another popular prospecting club, I have come to know quite a few prospectors across the state and the founders of the OSPA invited me to participate in their endeavor. I have to admit, I was a bit leery at first but as I watched the club grow in it's first year, I became impressed with their enthusiasm and organization.
As one of the activity organizers for my national prospecting club's local chapter, one of my duties is to coordinate day trips for our members. After speaking with chapter members and officers of the OSPA, a joint outing was held last season at the OSPA-leased claim on Buckskin creek. The OSPA were gracious hosts and the entire claim was bustling with activity. The humming of small dredge engines, children laughing, and tall tales could be heard the length of the property. There were even some larger than average gold nuggets unearthed that day. For me, that was one of the best prospecting days I can remember and I barely found any gold at all. I only wished that I had brought my camping gear. Between Ken's camp stew and Aaron's onion rings, perfect weather, and so many good friends gathered together, it was a shame to have to leave. As the sun set behind the hills to the west and the campfires began illuminating the site, I said my goodbyes and grudgingly headed home, already making plans to repeat the outing next season.
I have since decided that I could not really be a gold prospector in Ohio without belonging to the OSPA. I heartily recommend anyone in the region who is interested in seeking gold visit an OSPA meeting and outing. The fact of the matter is that while we Ohio prospectors may or may not find a few flakes of gold in a day's work, the "better gold" is not tucked away in the crevices of some gulch in California or Arizona, it's right there on the bank where our children are romping; It's in the smiling eyes of our most loved who support our ambitions and it's in the camaraderie and friendships we make with others who share our values and dreams.
Pat
5.
"My Best Summer Experience with the OSPA"
Although I never knew where to start, it’s always been a fantasy of mine to pan for gold and actually find some. After talking to my stepsons in California about their adventures out prospecting, I decided to surf the web to better understand what they were talking about. I was surprised to find out there was gold in Ohio and then stumbled on the OSPA website. I signed up on the OSPA forum and soon had some invites to come to the claim and check the place out, so I did. After the meeting, I got me a pan and snuffer then a few people took me to the creek and showed me the basics of panning. It was a little nerve racking trying it my first time while they were watching me and giving me tips. Well I finally got to the bottom of the pan and saw some yellow stuff. I was real excited and just realized I fulfilled one of my fantasies.
Soon after that a member had me follow him upstream, gave me a vial and showed me one of the “sweet spots.” I stayed in that spot for a few hours, found even more gold and soon had even more gold in my vial. I was hooked and joined the club that day. Here’s a pic of what I found that first day.
I also found out that day I could spend the night in their campground. I saw some big bass in the stream but I didn’t try for any because I was there to learn how to find gold. With all the stuff to do there I decided to join that day and have enjoyed myself every time I go.
Thanks everyone
Kenny (Imfishinohio)
6.
OSPA Fun?
Saturday morning the day for the weekend trip to the claim started well. I woke up. It was pretty much down hill from there. I packed the camping trailer. I checked and re-checked the contents. I have packed the tent, tarps, lantern, bottled gas, lighter, 12v fan, and fire wood. I loaded my dredge, my suction hose, dredge nozzle, my lay-flat discharge hose, verified clamps, screw drivers, wrench’s and all the things you should need.
We are all set. We do the general things when leaving for a few days. We turn off all the lights, check the stove, turn off the AC, lock up the house, and say by to the dog. Finally on the road! Well my wife and I started to pull out of the drive and I noticed a fuel can for the lawn mower. Dummy! I retrieved the can and put it in the truck. I think it might be helpful to fuel the pump.
Finally on the road! We stop to fuel the car, gas can, in Lancaster. I take one last scan of the truck contents. I think wile I am here I’ll just fill the pump, Where is the pump? It was a nice 30 minute side trip home to Baltimore to retrieve the pump. Finally on the road!
Tried a few shortcuts I found on the GPS. Just to make up time for the pump fiasco. Did you know that some farm fair weather roads are listed? OK farm paths between fields. Did you know not all short cuts are not actually short? Some are long ways back to where you started them. I call them dead ends? This is not a problem if you have room to turn around wile pulling a trailer. If you do not have room to turn around you drive until you can. Like me you just call it a happy side trip. Not a minuet too soon the side trip is over. Finally on the road!
Wifey really enjoys this! Not a word just that smug smile! Yes you know the one. I decide to go directly to the claim, no more short cuts, no more screw ups. I was on the knife’s edge, guy's you know it, you've been there too. I am “we are doing “ an activity that wifey supports as long as it is not too incontinent. I was there, the knife's edge! I knew it and I tucked my tail between my legs and kissed butt. And it was good. A quick glance at the clock tells me we should be 15 minutes away, with the meeting in 30 minuets, however with all the fun we had with side trips we were more like an hour or so. Finally on the road!
We arrive in Chillicothe, Ohio finally. I ask my wife. Are you hungry? “Are we in civilization yet? With your short cuts I don‘t know if I like the food in this country” The knife is starting to cut! We stop and eat. I earn brownie points, Yahoo, Look at me, Yahoo! Finally on the road again!
We enter the town of Bainbridge, Ohio. We stop at the corner gas station to buy hot dogs, ice and pop. $35.00 later we start up the road to the claim. I help my wife’s lunch settle by driving on the shoulder as I watch the creek instead of the road. I said goodbye to my newly acquired brownie points, and almost hello to the sharp left turn sign right ahead. (How did they know? I need an extra hard left at that very instant?). The meeting was just ending as we pull in. I run over to the OSPA store and buy a few things.
I, We start to set up camp, tarp, tent, table, stove?, stove? At home I cleaned it form the last trip. It is on the work bench, small gas grill, (could be used like a stove), lantern, (mantel broken no spares), ice chest, awning. We lay out the tarps, stake down the tent, (Karen my wife) helps me insert the polls, and we erect the tent. I blow up the air mattress. We assemble the kitchen and we load the tent with gear.
Done with my domestic chores for now I go prospecting among the members, Who, what, when, and where? I am told that high banking is real good up stream by the third bend. I setup there and look for the #2 shovel, I look some more, It is at home next to the tomatoes. Finally I walk back down to camp to see if I can borrow one. It was a wonderful day and evening. If I dug this much at home my 1.5 Ac. would be turned over monthly. As it is, I don't have the time to put tomatoes in until after the forth of July. Wonder why they never do any good? Oh by the way. After I had been digging 3 hours I was told “I said the next BEND”! Thanks “Santa on summer vacation”. Well all in all cleanup was fun. It is still in a bucket in my yard. I may have found the mother load! Yea Right! It is to dark tonight to continue. I break down the high banker and drive back to the campsite.
This is where the OSPA really shines. When I am there the drive, the trip, the hassle of camping, the hassle of packing, become bearable. I am with true friends. I was lent the #2 shovel, I am given a spare mantel, we are invited to a community dinner. Later we shared a fire, roasted march mellows, watched the stars rise, and made fun of Corissa. (The height of the weekend by the way) (Why do 50 year old men get such pleasure out of antagonizing a young woman?) Oh and by the way just a word of warning. Her age is exact. Here is an example. She would tell you she is 17 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours and 16 seconds. Get it right don't round up or down or you will be told the exact date just like above. I truly enjoyed the engaging fun conversation, story telling, and just great friendship and camaraderie.
Until next time GreenPanSteve and Karen Kastelic
7.
My Day at the OSPA
I am not a member of the OSPA, due to my husbands health.
So, I know I cannot enter your essay contest. I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all about the day I spent at the OSPA
Camp. I was there is June for a day watching the dredgers busy at work. The camp area is in a great location.
And the creek is beautiful. If you are a prospector or rock collector this creek is great for both. Nice scenery for picture taking. And the prospectors I met are bunch of nice people. Tales of the gold they’ve found and what they hope to find. Cooking over open fires, sitting around the campfire visiting. And finding the GOLD……………………….. I’m a panner. Don’t know much about dredging, but I know when
My husbands health gets better and I can join, the people in this
Group wil help me.
They’ll show me the right way to pan and dredge. Hope to meet more of you next time I get to visit.
Mary G. aka, Heferdust, aka trapperken's mom!
8.
Hi You’ll
Well I’m just getting around to writing my essay for the Jobe’s store. I have been looking for the address and saw I could E-mail it to you so here goes.
I became a Paid Member just after the die line for founding members and saw the claim on BIG INDIAN CREEK in Clermont Co.!!! I got my best one day gold there on BIG INDIAN CREEK!!! I was sorry to hear we don’t get it!!! But I like all the people in the OSPA. I even had old Joe join. And he came up from Florida.
I liked the first camp site at Bill’s Place on Buckskin Creek on Ross Co. Joe and I camped there for a week. There is a good spring just down the road.
I had a good time up at Swank GPAA claim for the GOLD RUSH DAYS and stayed a week, it was too bad we lost the finals in the tug of war to the big boys from Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Chapter, but we did bet the guy’s from Michigan!!! On the first day of the tug of war!!!
We also had a good time at the Dayton Gold show. I got the Dry Land Dredge Nozzle off of Chuck L. By the way I have not gotten the tape of his. Think you for picking it up for me. I have order from the Jobe’s Store before, and liked it.
I may have three new members for the club if we can get a claim back down in Clermont Co.
Jim DeWeese, aka Cranky Old Prospector
9.
I think my best day was one that I didn't realize. It started one day last winter when I stumbled on a site about prospecting. Not knowing crap about using acomputer I never entered the forum. Then in July I came upon the site again and was curios about the OHIO STATE PROSPECTORS. I contacted Ken via email and found a meeting scheduled for the upcoming sunday. After getting directions to claim I headed for Humboldt,where I was greeted by the officers and members of the club. Of course I arrived early so mostly all were still sleeping, so I spent a little time talking to the one up and about. The meeting started at 10 am and was informative for club activities. Yea, I was hooked from the moment I seen the creek.After the meeting I tried out my BUCKABILLY SLUICE for the first time. Found a nice looking spot and started running material. After about 20 minutes I heard somebody,turning around I saw Ken upstream trying to tell me. {YOU'RE OFF THE PROPERTY} So I packed and headed to camp where I could sign up.I guess my best day is actually two days. The first was not knowing what I found and the second JULY 27 2008 when I joined the OHIO STATE PROSPECTORS.
Kevin "goldeneye" Adkins 12/7/2008
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And the winner is...
Bill62, aka Nugget Bill!
Congratz Bill!
OSPA Forum