An Unexpectedly Rich Mine Exploring Area

When we’re driven out of the highest reaches of the Sierra Nevadas by snow, we must normally content ourselves with international trips or desert trips (the odd winter trip to Alaska notwithstanding)… However, we recently started looking into an area in the lower parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Feather River Canyon. We have flirted with the Feather River Canyon in the past (and actually had our worst mine exploring experience to date on one fateful evening there several years ago when visiting the Five Bears Mine). However, I had discounted the potential around Forbestown and other parts of the lower Feather River Canyon. Sure, the area has a rich history of gold mining. However, this was so long ago that maps with accurate locations for historical mines and other sites are nonexistent or very rare. Furthermore, this area does not have the hard rock characteristics that keep the mines in the high country open more often. Instead, this area has thick layers of dirt that are created by the