El Dorado

Just though I would share a few pictures of my nugget patch which is located behind my gate. It's a great place to hang when the temps get into tripple digits, not to mention the gold! Did I mention it is downright beautifull too?

One of the fundamental core values of this country is the ownsership of land. One of the core values of ownership of private property is being able to legally protect it! More public land is being closed to the public by The Forest Service and Park Service than any private land owners. They are the ones that you need to put your misdirected energy towards. But then again, I forget,you are new to the West and have not experienced just how much land the FS has closed off to the public as you have not witnessed it for the last 35 years as I have. Just as one example, do a google on the Elko Shovel brigade and you will see the kind of thing I am talking about...... There are thousands of cases just like that. I am very sensative towards anyone and any agency that wants to erode my privalages as a landowner. I am also very sensitive towards any agency that is constantly taking away access to public land or rights under current law.

Wes, Thanks for the heads up as I have been dinking around Rock creek road now that I have to use it for access to my Gated Road. Slim, your scenario is so far fetched that I will not address it.

The road had not been used by the public for at least 20 years and is on private property. When I talked to the county surveyor he did not even list it as a road. That is all the research I did as I felt the county surveyers office would know more than anyone. I feel the combination of the county records and now the BLM via the geocommunicator just reinforces my decision. Slim I do not know why you are taking such a personal stand against me, could it be jeoulousness? Please remember. It took me over 20 years to find just such a spot that I have now, not to mention the cost of buying a 40 acre patent and paying the taxes. If you really feel like you need to get down to the BLM controlled river area, there is a road showing on the map north of my gate that leads to Mosquito creek. Problem is you will have to spend 2 weeks to clear the road to get in. Then when you do get down to the river, you cannot prospect because of existing claims! I think you will find that if there is a river or creek in a similar situation, you will find that a valid claim will keep you from prospecting there anyway. But I forget, you need cell coverage and there is none. There is lots of open property at higher elevations that is not claimed and fairly accessable, oops I forgot not really accessable with a big RV and no cell coverage. Your problem my friend is that you limit yourself and try to blame other for your self imposed limits. I coud show you miles and miles of just perfect land you need but your self imposed rules eliminate them. You need to get away from populated areas and private propery. As you get away from populated areas out here in the mountains, there are many places to go.

After a quick look I find that my road does not have a public right of way........... YAHOOOOOOOOO :

JUst to add a bit more to this thread, There is a "NATIONAL PARK" is Alaska you can't even drive to. How is that for public land not open to the public!

And those ranchers pay a hefty lease price every year for that land knowing well that the BLM can take it away from them. Personally, I think that the BLM does a great job managing the land, it is my opinion that the Forest Circus does not do well. They have a hidden green aganda that will in many areas take away access to public land in the name of the public good. Just try to deal with the FS in an attempt to start up a real mining op vs. the BLM. Hands down the BLM will bend over backwards to do their job and the FS will bend over backwards to bury you in red tape! Been there and done that. And Slim, eventhough you think I am a "Piggy" you are still welcome to come on my land and or claim to try to find some of my yellow metal! I will be going there this week to set up a summer camp and I will post when if you want to come on down, but not in the Slimmobile (no room to turn it around). The construction crew doing the road project will only let me in from the Mosquito side.

In my case, I had to clear 3/4 mile of road of manzanita, brush and poison oak so it could be passable even with my ATV. The road has obvioulsly not been used by the public for at least 20-30 years judging by the age of the manzanita. There is also another road north of my property that is totally overgrown that is accessable by the public through BLM land. so if someone want to access the river they are free to do so, but they will have to spend the 2 to 3 weeks clearing the road just as I did with mine. Mind you, that my area did not get trashed out untill I put forth all the time and effort to clear the road. It is not like it was an open road for years and I just closed it. I find that is is very sad that some have to spoil things for so many. I am also the one that does the yearly maintenance on the road with no assistance from the BLM. And, I must do it with hand tools not machinery because the reclamation bond I am forced to post with the BLM would go up tenfold if I were to use machinery to do the work. On the 40 acres that I also have under claim adjacent to my property I do Pay taxes to El Dorado county, not to mention the rather steep taxes on my 40 acres. Once again, I have never refused access to my property when someone has requested it, And people can certainly walk to the river through my property. Anyone that wishes to take me to court on my actions is more than willing to, but it will be a waste of their money. Also, in order the get the sheriff to take action on the people dumping, there has to be a witness.. fat chance! AND fire agencies have a key available to them and or permission to destroy the gate if needed!

Slim, I will definatly put my two cents in this. I am one of those that put a gate across my private property where the road EVENTUALLY turns into a trail that leads to BLM land (my claim). For years I kept the road open and accessable to all. I wish you could have seen it when we were there together. People have dumped dead microwave ovens, refrigerators, boxes of unknown trash, much miscellaneous trash over the embankment on MY road. When I caught some one that built a fire in the middle of the road during a no fire in the forest time, that was my limit and I gated the road. So be it because the general public does not care one hoot about my land and looks at it like a dump. This has happened in many places in Eldorado County and the there are numerous islands of BLM land surrounded by private property. The BLM and the county told me it was my right to be able to protect my property and restrict acess anyway I see fit. I have also given permission to pass to any that ask. So if you want to think of me as a "piggy" owner that is up to you. My 40 acres was parceled in 1911 and signed into private property via patent by President Taft. Personally I thing you should take that anger to our wonderfull politicians that are constantly attempting to take away all access to public land by converting it to wilderness. http://www.petitiononline.com/boxer/petition.html