Noli trip, finally explained

I am sorry it has been so long. Like I said before, trying to recover the video and working this new job has been a time crunch. Still missing a main clip but made something out of the leftovers. Video is at the bottom of this post.

I started out at Uncle Johnnys Hostel in Erwin, Tn. I stopped in the store to make sure where I was parked would be fine for me to do the day trip without getting towed or ticketed. I also spent a little time in the store to see what all they had and asked about "Lost Cove". The guys in the shop were helpful.

I walked back out to my van an put on the pack and grabbed my hiking stick. Heading on up the road, I pass the Appalachian Trail head on my right. The Nolichucky River flowing nicely on my left. I saw also on my left that there were some tent campers right on the Noli at a few spots. Before making it to the RR Track, I saw the spring well that continuously flows out of a pipe on the side of the road. Across from that is an abandoned house that looks like it was custom built for a little person. I am 5' 9" and I had to duck to fit under the front porch roof. The front door was pretty short too. Onwards to the tracks.

I made it to the track and eastward bound. I kept my ears open for trains as much as I could. For about the first half mile or so, I kept finding tent camping spots along the Noli. All with signs of use such as Beer Bottles, trash and fire spots. The Noli goes through various phases of smooth to rough. Walking the tracks was not easy. Trying to keep on the ties shorted my pace. Rocks thrown everywhere. Walking the ties would be easier than walking on the rocks though.

I kept a watch on my phones GPS app. Even though no cell phone signal, the GPS worked fine. I was around 1 1/2 miles into the trip when I took a break. I was carrying about 20 pounds of gear, food and water in the pack and needed a break from that and the straps getting to me. I sat along the Noli eating a Cliff Bar and drinking from my water bottle in the pack, leaving the outside canteen alone. This is when I saw my first train. It was headed to North Carolina.

Back to moving my feet, I kept the water bottle out so I could access it better. The sun was up and things were starting to warm up. Nothing eventful and the same scenery. Took another break along the way. Finally, I drank my water bottle close to empty and I realized that I was not going to make it to the island. I started looking for a spot to stop and set up to at least do some prospecting. Found a place that had some nice rock formations and across the river I could see bedrock poking out. I did not even make it to Devils Creek.

I had to walk down a slightly steep railroad rock embankment, without breaking an ankle or go for a tumble. I dropped my pack and broke out the machete to hack into a small area along the Noli, then go retrieve the pack.

I was a nice place to sit and relax and I did just that. Listening to the sounds of the river. I walked around the area scouting where I would want to dig and checking for any critters that might want to nibble on me. All clear and 3 spots that looked good. Changed out from Hiking Boots to Water Shoes and broke out the e-tool, 1/4" classifier and pan. No signs of anyone anywhere.

There was Mica around but not as heavy as it is up at the Chestoa Rec. Area further downstream. I dug around and tested for about 2 hours finding different rocks but not one speck of gold. I broke for lunch. That is when I had the second train pass by and I also saw the first group of rafters on the Noli. I waved and got funny looks from them as they waved back. I guess they were not expecting to see anyone where I was at. Oh, if I only had a Banjo...LMAO.

I found a few more spots to dig and still no signs of gold. All these spots, I went to bedrock because it was not that far down. Maybe 10 inches or so to hit it. Spent about another hour until I gave up. I was collecting different rocks I thought were interesting too. More rafters and more waving. I was done here. Time to go.

On the way back, it was getting pretty hot and my calf muscle that I pulled a couple weeks earlier started giving me trouble again. I was also getting low on water. I passed 2 guys walking the tracks with 6 packs in hand, one also with a fishing pole with a artificial lure on it. Exchanged greetings in passing with no problems.

A short while later, I was out of water, legs were hurting because the calf muscle threw off my gait, working the other muscles harder. Not that walking the tracks was making it any easier. It started creeping into my mind that I was in over my head. Time to toughen up and move on. Just taking more frequent breaks. One more train to pass by on my journey.

Eventually, I could see the Nolichucky Campground across the way, I knew I was getting close to the road. Made it to the road and to the earlier spotted spring. Filled up the canteen. Man, mineralized spring water is not my taste but it was wet and I needed a big drink. About halfway down the road, I took a nice long break to enjoy the shade, that is not on the tracks, and enjoy the view. I was also pretty spent and hurting.

Finally reached the Van and tossed in the pack. Went to the store inside Uncle Johnnys and got a nice cold Gatoraid. Oh that was so nice!  Hobbled back to the Van and head home.

I am working on it, I promise

I did my Nolichucky trip. I have video. Loaded from phone to computer... and a few days later... computer crash. So, been trying to recover the videos and 1 segment I am still trying to bring back to life.

Also, I did secure a Temp. Laborer job at actually decent pay (above $10 an hour). Also doing a continuous job hunt and 2 prospects out of that. That is going to take up some of my time again and I am not complaining...lol.

Back to the Noli trip. If I don't get a good video made up, I will break down and write about it. I promise, I am working on the video though.

Tired of getting faked out

Yup. Tired of it. I have been holding off on going on my Nolichucky hike mainly because of weather forecast. So much for that. Stay home just to see no rain. Well I am done with waiting. My calf muscle is feeling better now and only a 30% chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday. Looks like the water will be a little higher than I want but dang it, I am itching to see if there is or is not gold in the Noli.

After some more research, I decided not to make it a overnight trip. As hard as I sleep, I would not want to risk a Black Bear intrusion in my camp alone. I still look at personal safety as an important decision. That is also going to make my pack lighter by removing my overnight items. I guess I will drive out while it is dark and make as much of a day of it as I can on either Saturday or Sunday.

Going to go through the pack as soon as I am done with this post. I think I will scotch guard the pack too. Hopefully my next post will be on my trip and hoping with gold found.

Cheers!

In the Bag

I wanted to repack my backpack so I took a little time to show off what was in it. Trying to hurry before some rains rolled in. Unfortunately, I did not realize how the audio would turn out.

This was just a basic pack and some things were not in there, like more food and I used a bottle of Heet the other weekend. I need to replace it.

I have not made the hike out to the island in the Nolichucky yet. One, it has been raining here and there keeping the water level up. I want it low. The second reason is I pulled a calf muscle this weekend. Today I tried to slowly stretch it out and it felt like a "pop" in the muscle. Ultimately hurting and limping again. Real fun I tell ya. So, the long range forecast looks better right now. Might be able to try for the island in 2 weekends.

Planning a Nolichucky Hike

I think I found a spot on the Nolichucky River that should tell me if there is any color is flowing in from North Carolina. This will be about a 4 mile hike to get to from Erwin, Tn. I do have a couple of concerns though.

 First one is, the guy who is an experienced hiker and wanted to come and learn prospecting and teach me his knowledge of hiking, has seemed to drop out of contact. I would have loved the paired up hike for conversation on the way as well as safety reasons. Oh well, looks like it will be a solo trip.

Second one is the route will be on a Railroad track. "Lost Cove" is known by hikers in the area and that is the direction I am headed. I have read many pages on the trek to Lost Cove. Most talk about keep watching your rear because the Trains can sneak up on you. It is also illegal to walk the rails but that seems to not give any problems to those who have made it to Lost Cove. The rails are the quickest route. Since this hike will be just the way I get to a place to prospect, not for hiking enjoyment, I will use this way.

The route also puts me at the bottom of at least 2 streams that flow into the Noli that I want to test also. That helps me mark off places off my map to test.

I am hoping to go in a few weeks. Time is iffy right now as I am also in the hunt for a job. Thats why I try to reserve these outings for the weekend since during the week I do my job hunting and wishing and playing Daddy. I am determined to do an overnighter in this spot though. Going to stop by Uncle Johnnys Hostel in Erwin to try to gather some more info next weekend.

So, there is the plan. Now, here is the photo of the spot. You can see why I think it would tell me if anything flows into Tennessee from it. It's a nice choke point for the Noli.

Ran some paydirt I sniped off Ebay. This is pretty much how I run material at home. The dirt was already classified down enough that I did not have to do it myself. Enjoy

Make yourself a Penny Stove

For those of you that like to make stuff, I am throwing this in for you. This is basically the same Penny Stove I use. I followed some other instructions to make mine but this is basically the same. I did not have any Fiberglass on hand so I use a piece of old cotton towel on the inside. Still works nicely. I did seal the sides on mine with High Temp Silicone (the red stuff). They are using HEET (Yellow Bottle) for the fuel, found in Automotive sections. I also did not see a penny or something to cover the center fill holes. Here is the video (not mine)..