Recreational prospecting is described as a hobby because most of us have a
regular job and only get to enjoy treasure hunting on the weekends or on
vacation. I've met a lot of educators, teachers who can sometimes spend weeks
of their summer vacation having a great time with their family while they pan
for gold or hunt relics with metal detectors. You have to enjoy being outdoors
or you won't stick with this kind of hobby. Many of us were scouts as a kid and
have a little basic camping experience from way back when or maybe we started
out by
doing a little geocaching.
The places you'll probably want to go may not always have well paved roads so
it really limits your opportunities if you haul along a camper or a lot of
extra comfort equipment. Learn to go basic and you'll get to go much farther
off the beaten path in your searches.
Your clothing needs to be comfortable, from the socks and boots to your hat or
helmet. The rules are simple: use common sense in choosing your clothing for
roughing it. It is great to shop around as long as you are checking out more
than just the prices because the cheapest gear is not always the best value. If
you are going to depend on those boots in rough and rocky terrain, in the sun
and rain be sure that you get the features you need and skip over the style to
get to good, long lasting comfortable footwear.
Clothing made of cotton
or wool will breathe with your body, let your perspiration wick away and cool
you off. Microfibers are a good choice for outerwear that is lightweight and
works hard at keeping you comfortable. We're putting together some of our
personal recommendations for men, women and children too. You're welcome to
share your own finds: Brands that are consistently good values from the
prospector's perspective.
What do you need to take along? Depends on where you're going and for how
long. Some general guidelines: Getting lost in wild country can be a life
threatening situation so carry a dependable compass at least, and preferably a
reliable GPS
to find your way back to where you want to be. Check the weather forecast for
where you plan to stay. A lot of our best days are spent along waterways, so
heavy rain in surrounding elevations can bring suddenly higher water levels. A
local radio station may be the best way to keep up with localized conditions,
bring along a dependable radio with plenty of good batteries. A canvas or
plastic tarp can be used in so many ways and packs flat for storage. It's
protection from damp rough ground and can become a quick short term shelter.
Towels don't need to be big and fluffy, kitchen towels pack smaller and soak up
lots of water, they dry by the fire and double as head covering under your hat
to give you shade. A campfire is fine for cooking most anything but you can't
make coffee in a skillet, bring at least one pot suitable for tea or coffee
along with your other camp kitchen gear and utensils; use paper plates you can
burn in the campfire.
It is handy to have camping chairs, but a log or rock makes a good seat too. A
friend packs all his gear in plastic "milk crates" and uses those for his chair
and table. With a backpack, this man carries everything he needs for a weekend.
I prefer big 5 gallon paint buckets because they double up to take samples home
in and I found
a great way to label them!
I've got a camp table I wouldn't do without, and
my sleeping bag
is as necessary as my clothes. Don't forget to bring along any supplies you'll
need for the kids, especially if they aren't old enough to plan ahead for
themselves. This is not intended to be a checklist of what to bring, your
equipment like screens and picks and
brushes
- you need to decide for yourself what is important to have with you because
it depends on where you are going and your own preferences for hauling vs.
having. I am camping to be close to nature, close to my hobby and my family and
friends. We do without a lot of home comforts but it's made up with time well
spent and an appreciation of nature's bounty.
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Next: Getting Started:
A Checklist of Basic Camping Supplies
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