Hi
The first time I picked up a gold pan was in 2003. My wife and I quit our jobs in 2004 and went on a trip to the Yukon. We felt that is where the gold would be. Before we left I bought a Minelab Extreme metal detector, a Gold spear and a couple of shovels and pans. Our journey was very educational. We spent six weeks there. We were lucky enough to meet up with 2 different mining outfits. They were kind enough to show us some things, like how to pan. At the time I thought I would be able to make money using my detector. LOL (Lots Of Laughs) That summer was when we realized that if we were going to make money with gold we would have to look at a bigger picture.
When we got back home, Mackenzie BC. We met up with someone that we knew had knowledge of placer gold. He took us to a spot that he had mined with his family years ago. We have been working that site ever since.
In 2005 we started with pick and shovel. 1 yard / day. Made 12 test pits and did some calculations and thought, well we are here for the life style and we could posibly make some money while doing it. So in 2006 we bought a trommel with no sluice or motor. Never seen it run before and only seen one run in the Yukon. The trommel in the Yukon that we saw was owned by the same people that showed us how to pan. At the time I would have never guessed I would be using a trommel. So I missed big learning opportunities with those people while I was there. Our trommel will process around 8/yards/hr . Theirs was 35 yards/hr.
Mining is my main source of income now. It is a 2 person operation, full time work for my wife and me. It is work from sun up to sun down but I can't think of anything else I would rather do, I think my wife likes it too lol.
Don't get me wrong we have our bad days on the mine site but the good ones far out way the bad.
Thats my story, short but to the point. I hope someone finds it entertaining.

Meke