Hello everyone, it’s Terry!
Gold mining isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life that’s been handed down in my family for generations. I know many of you are curious about what a day in the life of a Yukon gold miner looks like, so I thought I’d give you a peek into my typical day.
Morning: The Yukon wilderness doesn’t come with a snooze button. My day usually begins with the rising sun, the call of the loons on the river, and a cup of strong black coffee. The first order of the day is a hearty breakfast because mining is energy-intensive work. After breakfast, I do a quick check of my gear, ensuring everything is in working order.
Mid-Morning: This is when the actual mining work starts. Depending on the day, I might be prospecting for new potential gold hotspots, running soil through the sluice box, or panning in the river. The work is physical, and the weather can be challenging, but there’s an indescribable joy in working the earth, knowing it might reveal its golden secrets to you.
Lunch: Around midday, I break for lunch. Sometimes, if the weather is good and the fish are biting, I’ll catch a fish from the river to grill over an open fire.
Afternoon: Post lunch, it’s back to work. If I’m onto a good spot, the hours fly by in a blur of dirt, water, and the occasional glint of gold. On a good day, the sight of a gold nugget or even just a few flakes can make all the effort worthwhile.
Evening: As the sun dips low, it’s time to wind down the mining operations. I clean and store the equipment and take stock of any gold found during the day.
Dinner: Dinner is a simple affair, often a hot stew, cooked over the fire, and a slice or two of sourdough bread, a staple in any miner’s diet. Post-dinner, I might record my findings and thoughts in my journal or spend some time stargazing.
Night: By nightfall, I’m usually ready to turn in. A miner’s day starts early, and a good night’s sleep is vital. I fall asleep to the sounds of the Yukon wilderness, ready to rise and repeat it all over again.
It’s not an easy life, but it’s a fulfilling one. Each day brings its own challenges and rewards, and there’s a certain romance to chasing the gleam of gold. Stay tuned for more glimpses into the life of a Yukon gold miner, and remember – not all that glitters is gold, but in the Yukon, you never know!
Until next time, keep digging!
Gold Mining Around Whitehorse Yukon
Many of you seem intrigued by the ins and outs of being a gold miner in the Yukon, so I’m back with a closer look at my daily life, spiced up with a hilarious tale from the heart of our local town, Whitehorse.
Morning routines in the Yukon wilderness, as I’ve mentioned before, involve the rising sun, a strong cup of black coffee, and gearing up for a full day of mining. The middle part of my day revolves around working the earth, seeking its golden treasures.
Now, let me take you on a brief detour to Whitehorse. Roughly once a month, I venture into town to stock up on supplies. Whitehorse, fondly referred to as ‘the Wilderness City,’ provides a much-needed connection to civilization and the occasional wacky encounter.
One such day, I walked into a local hardware store to pick up some mining supplies. A shiny object in the corner of the store caught my eye. It was a state-of-the-art metal detector, the kind that could find a gold tooth in a haystack from a mile away. An excited salesperson saw my interest and launched into a sales pitch about its ability to detect gold deep underground.
Intrigued by the prospect of easing my gold hunting endeavors, I asked, “Just how effective is this gadget?”
The salesman, ever so enthusiastic, guaranteed it was foolproof and would pay for itself with the gold I’d find. Unable to resist, I purchased it, thinking of all the undiscovered gold on my plot.
Eager to try out my new toy, I returned to my claim and started scanning. After about an hour of incessant beeping and digging, all I had found were rusty nails, bottle caps, and an ancient, half-eaten sandwich (the detector apparently had a setting for detecting ‘organic matter’).
Feeling a tad disheartened but still hopeful, I decided to give it one last shot. Suddenly, the detector started beeping furiously. This was it; I was sure. I dug feverishly, and there it was – an old, rusty horseshoe. No gold, no hidden treasures, just a reminder of a horse that once roamed these parts.
Needless to say, the metal detector now resides in my shed, occasionally brought out as a party trick to find lost keys. Meanwhile, I’ve gone back to the tried-and-true methods of gold panning. The incident served as a reminder that in gold mining, as in life, there are no shortcuts.
I’ll sign off for now, but stay tuned for more tales from the Yukon wilderness and the life of a gold miner. Until then, keep your pans shaking, and beware of fool’s gold and over-enthusiastic salespeople!
Until next time, happy prospecting!
