Nomadic 2005 ‐ The Fever

2005-10-07

Southwest of Sturgis, South Dakota (44.380 N, 103.605 W)My keychain thermometer said the temperature in the car was below thirty, but my water bottles weren't frozen, so who knows. Either way, it was *cold* in here last night. But I slept good. It warmed up significantly during the day.

I spent most of the day hiking up the Deerfield Trail just West of Silver City. I hiked along Rapid Creek and then a little ways up Slate Creek. There I spent some time panning. Operating under a heightened degree of ignorance, I eventually managed to find two teeny little flakes of what I assumed was gold.

While hiking, I also discovered ample evidence of the gold rush of yesteryear, including two shallow mines that were following quartz veins into the granite. I believe I also found a vein of silver.

Upon returning to my car at the trailhead, I met a local who identified my flakes as pyrite, which is a nice way of saying, "fool's gold." I managed to pump him for a quick gold-panning tutorial, and, per his advice, have relocated myself to near a creek more suitable for gold extraction. By the time I arrived it was late in the day. I shall resume my fortune-seeking tomorrow.

It feels strange to be in basically the same place for a third day, but I've got it in my head that I AM going to get some gold! Tomorrow is my last chance, for Sunday promises rain and forty degree temps again.

I've been seeing a pile of deer and a good number of chipmunks and turkeys. I think there are mule deer up in these hills as well, which might account for a track I came across today.