Record-high price revives interest in gold panning
By Ray Lane Published: Aug 24, 2011 at 9:03 PM PDT Last Updated: Aug 24, 2011 at 9:21 PM PDT
SULTAN, Wash. -- The high price of gold has set off a new gold rush. And those without gold to sell are now rushing out to find it.
Panning for gold is a decades-old practice in Western Washington. But the practice is hotter than ever.
The lure of gold can bring men to their knees, even along a chilly creek bed.
"We got a couple flakes in there," said Justin Draper of Gold Bar.
Draper is a newcomer to the great scramble for gold.
On hand are machines that help them suck up sand and muck. Once the muck is cleared, simpler tools are used to shake things up.
And you might need a magnifying glass to see what they end up with. They're what Draper calls "nice flakes."
"I haven't gotten rich off it yet. I'll tell you that right now," he said. "I'm still working two jobs at a gas station, so I'm not getting rich quick. Figure it'll be a nice little retirement, especially if gold keeps going up the way it is."
Prospecting has hit a fevered pitch.
"You know, it's a gold rush," said Michael Gordon of Prospector's Plus.
The Gold Bar outfit says memberships to pan for gold on its mining claims has tripled. The business will sell you nearly anything you need to get started.
"Some people are doing it full-time right now," said Gordon. "Our unemployment rate is high, and people are supplementing their income with it."
Gordon insists there's still plenty of gold in our area, and adds one only needs the knowledge, experience, and a bit of luck to find it, especially those hoping to rake in an ounce to sell.
"Some people can do that in a weekend. Some people will go all season and still not get that ounce of gold," he said. "Panning for gold can be fun, time-consuming, even exhausting."
He says for some, hours of work can add up to pieces so small, you need eye droppers to fish them out.
But a lot of flakes can add up. And nuggets may be hiding out there.
"He says he found one awhile back that was worth about $400 - one nugget," said Terry Marts of Marysville. "But (I) wouldn't count on it. That's OK. If it happens, it happens."
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