Recently my work scheduled has changed and I have a lot more free time. I live about an hour away from Sacramento and Ive read and heard that you can pan for gold in the water ways of the surrounding region. I was thinking of picking it up as a hobby to enjoy the outdoors more and maybe collecting enough to make a little keepsake out of what I find. I’ve looked into some of the prospecting organizations in the area but they seem mostly comprised of really old folks and I was hoping to be able to adventure with someone closer to my age and vitality both to learn from but also for added protection against crazies.
I’m not expecting to strike it rich or anything just looking for a bit of fun. I don’t currently have any gear so I was also hoping someone on /out/ could suggest a solid beginner load out and dish out some tips.
I’m also aware that you can’t simply go where you please to look for gold and there are a lot of property laws that need to be respected, another reason to be with someone experienced so I don’t mistakenly run afoul of the law.
So does anyone here have experience with prospecting? Cool stories and helpful advice welcome!