what to expect when moving to nome alaska? (Willow, Hope: live, stats)

[HollandOH]

I will possibly be moving to nome alaska very soon if specific job falls in to place for my other half. Other then the obvious culture shock and cold what i should i be expecting? I've been trying to do some research so i would know a little more about the area before we get there but i cant find much on this specific area. I know its rather small, on the bering sea and that theres no road access, i know the general population and stats that i could find online but no real information on what it is like or the culture in the are. I would appreciate any help as to what to expect...

[stiffnecked]

We have a member on here that lives in Nome. Hopefully they'll reply. Your lucky if your wife gets the job. Nome is an awesome place. Start working on you gold panning skills. I've spent a few summers working the beach placers.

My diggings just out the west beach.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by HollandOH

I will possibly be moving to nome alaska very soon if specific job falls in to place for my other half. Other then the obvious culture shock and cold what i should i be expecting? I've been trying to do some research so i would know a little more about the area before we get there but i cant find much on this specific area. I know its rather small, on the bering sea and that theres no road access, i know the general population and stats that i could find online but no real information on what it is like or the culture in the are. I would appreciate any help as to what to expect...

Well if you don't expect anything when you get there, the rest will fall into place.

If you go there with lots of expectations, you may be heavily disapointed.

Hey siffnecked, do you use soap with the box? Glad you were able to get a shot of the city docks in there!

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by starlite9

Hey siffnecked, do you use soap with the box? Glad you were able to get a shot of the city docks in there!

I'm sure churning up a lot of suds aren't I???

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

I'm sure churning up a lot of suds aren't I???

Yeah, some guys use soap to thin the water down so the flakes/nuggets come out of the dirt easier too...

The soap also gets rid of the leaking oil sheen from the four wheeler too!

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by starlite9

Yeah, some guys use soap to thin the water down so the flakes/nuggets come out of the dirt easier too...

The soap also gets rid of the leaking oil sheen from the four wheeler too!

oh good now the sea kitty's will be squeaky clean inside and out!! an blow'n bubbles to boot!!

[stiffnecked]

In all honesty soap is only used in the final panning process. With beach gold it is so fine and small that you don't want any foam or bubbles in your clean up water. It's the only gold I have ever seen that will float on the surface of the water. But then you have to realize you can't save every single speck or you'll end up like me with a terminal case of gold fever...

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

In all honesty soap is only used in the final panning process. With beach gold it is so fine and small that you don't want any foam or bubbles in your clean up water. It's the only gold I have ever seen that will float on the surface of the water. But then you have to realize you can't save every single speck or you'll end up like me with a terminal case of gold fever...

Dang...panned on the 40 mile river years ago and still have my little vial of gold I panned but didn't know about soap for all those pesky little tiny tiny flakes I couldn't snag!!

[stiffnecked]

Soaps, like Dawn, help break the surface tension of the water. Plus they help cut any oil that may be in your concentrates. It doesn't take much though. In a 5 gallon bucket of water you only need a couple of drops. Too much and you'll get the dreaded suds. Plus a lot depends on how small the gold is you are dealing with. Nome beach gold is very small. Some of it will float on top of the water. Once the soap hits the water you can see the gold start to drop.

[starlite9]

My dad had gold fever for a couple of years up at Hatcher Pass on the Willow side. I hauled his dirt down from about 2000 feet up to the creek where be ran the rocker box.

Needless to say, I don't get very excited about gold unless the nuggets are bigger than my little finger. Way too much work moving tons of dirt for pennies on the pound.

Did finely get about a few grams of the gold I hauled down the mountain. Only took about some 40 odd years too!