@@TheLensSchwendi Not Swiss but have some relatives in the Graubunden and a daughter in Zurich. I have prospected in Alaska too, at the great Ganes Creek Mine when they used to host metal detectorists for a fee. trophy nugget country!
@@NorthOlbo Ah, so I guess you know Steve Herrschbach. I made a video with him about how he found a 6.5oz nugget in Alaska. You find the video on my channel, if you are interested. Definitively trophy nugget country. But I found my largest nuggets in Switzerland 🤠. My brother in Law lives also in the Zurich area. It was nice chatting with you 👍
What a wonderful video representing what VIPMA does, and thank you member you are awesome. This is the greatest way to show the public how mining affects anything on Vancouver island. In all the areas we mine, we are pan and shovel and the sediment let into the water is settled in no time. There is nothing but respect for the river - and members of VIPMA are the only people who remove the mercury and other contaminates that have been in the rivers for years. Panning for gold is doing the exact thing that put British Columbia on the map and joined Vancouver Island to British Columbia or we would have been part of the USA. There is so much heritage that is tied to Placer Mining, and it is a pity and a shame that large local governments are shrinking our abilities to utilize these areas, and keep this historical art alive. The Iron Wheel is just above the confluence where the Leech River and the Sooke River meet and where gold was discovered in 1864 by J. Foley under the leadership of Mr. Peter Leech, to whom the river is named, and this is such a historical site for all of British Colombians, but unfortunately small local governments keep you away from your history and do all to deter this honoring of our simple beginnings. The water that supplies Victoria and area comes from the Sooke Lake Reservoir, plans are underway in 60 years or so to develop an area just above the Iron Wheel to fill the reservoir, as it can only be done in the dead of winter when the harshest of rains come and the rivers are roaring and no members are mining. So the most turbid and violent times when the water is filled with sediment is when the water can be caught. Yet, there is a movement to restrict our access further. Does it make any sense? The people paid $60 million dollars for this to happen, it is 60 years away, why are the people so restricted from exposing their children to enjoying the "Wildwood" which is so close to Victoria and Sooke - why are there no campgrounds so that children can actually enjoy this great out of doors, and understand the heritage of the province. There is a golden rule, that before pleasure delivering water to people is more important and I could not agree more. But that is 60 years away, and it truly bothers me how many children are denied the opportunity to experience how this Island became part of British Columbia and why British Columbia became part of Canada. This is powerful history that is being sliced off. Support for VIPMA would be appreciated, as we seem to be the only people on the island who care about how this island was put on the map. That's my vent for the day.
So well said..thank you. It is ironic that now we are trying to fix the mistakes of our past by removing statues and making public apologies, and at the same time literally burying (under water!) the successes of our past, our extractive resource history, the reason for our being a province and having a national railway, by wiping out the hobby gold planners. Like most fishers and hunters we know our past-times best, are careful stewards of the natural environment and follow the rules. The office beaurocrats and armchair critics who create punitive and confiscatory regulations should respect that history and support the efforts and energy of those that still keep that discovery spirit alive.
VIPMA is the Vancouver Island Placer Mining Association, a group of dedicated panners looking for gold west of Victoria BC. This video highlights the Iron Wheel claim about 20 minutes north of Sooke and only accessible by VIPMA members. With good luck and much effort the historic Leech River yields fine particles and the occasional flake of gold.
hi how can i become member to your vipma gold prospecting club i ben to victoris ,bc years ago where does your club members meet i been to sooke musem love to hear back
Thanks! A much better than average day for sure. Best part was I actually recorded that on my phone just for the training experience and ended up with that amazing flake. It's the second largest I've found there, biggest was a .5 gram flake, about the size of a small cornflake. I've seen up to 5 gram nuggets found, but very rare and usually underwater from the deepest river with a wetsuit and snorkel.
I haven't been a member for over a year so I don't know what they are doing during covid restrictions. I see they don't have their own website anymore. But they are on, and active on Facebook facebook.com/Vancouver-Island-Placer-Mining-Association-352254315271024/
+9150LX To access the VIPMA claims you need to be a member, it covers off the fire insurance and a formal agreement between the surface landowners, Timber West, Capital Regional District (Victoria) watershed authority, and VIPMA. Also the group provides backup in case of an accident. Good way to go, check the website for membership info.
@@shawnsmithson1650 every River has some gold, potholes are great, but don’t go outside the park or you’re claim jumping, and respect the rules and nature in the park or it will be taken away from us all…D-bags have almost ruined it all already🙄
hi nice gold....might take out a membership...live on saltspring island ..have a 1 mile claim on the fraser up near fosters bar ..it would be nice to get away for a few days on van isle instead of a big trip ...will check out your website thanks ...mickey miner
Awesome video! Hello from a Swiss gold prospector
Gruezi! good luck panning in the lovely Rhine by Disentis…I’ve been there many times
@@NorthOlbo haha, how cool is that :) Gruezi. You Swiss? I was gold prospecting in Alaska many times... Hello from the Disentis area to Canada!
@@TheLensSchwendi Not Swiss but have some relatives in the Graubunden and a daughter in Zurich. I have prospected in Alaska too, at the great Ganes Creek Mine when they used to host metal detectorists for a fee. trophy nugget country!
@@NorthOlbo Ah, so I guess you know Steve Herrschbach. I made a video with him about how he found a 6.5oz nugget in Alaska. You find the video on my channel, if you are interested. Definitively trophy nugget country. But I found my largest nuggets in Switzerland 🤠. My brother in Law lives also in the Zurich area. It was nice chatting with you 👍
Very nice
What a wonderful video representing what VIPMA does, and thank you member you are awesome. This is the greatest way to show the public how mining affects anything on Vancouver island. In all the areas we mine, we are pan and shovel and the sediment let into the water is settled in no time. There is nothing but respect for the river - and members of VIPMA are the only people who remove the mercury and other contaminates that have been in the rivers for years. Panning for gold is doing the exact thing that put British Columbia on the map and joined Vancouver Island to British Columbia or we would have been part of the USA. There is so much heritage that is tied to Placer Mining, and it is a pity and a shame that large local governments are shrinking our abilities to utilize these areas, and keep this historical art alive. The Iron Wheel is just above the confluence where the Leech River and the Sooke River meet and where gold was discovered in 1864 by J. Foley under the leadership of Mr. Peter Leech, to whom the river is named, and this is such a historical site for all of British Colombians, but unfortunately small local governments keep you away from your history and do all to deter this honoring of our simple beginnings. The water that supplies Victoria and area comes from the Sooke Lake Reservoir, plans are underway in 60 years or so to develop an area just above the Iron Wheel to fill the reservoir, as it can only be done in the dead of winter when the harshest of rains come and the rivers are roaring and no members are mining. So the most turbid and violent times when the water is filled with sediment is when the water can be caught. Yet, there is a movement to restrict our access further. Does it make any sense? The people paid $60 million dollars for this to happen, it is 60 years away, why are the people so restricted from exposing their children to enjoying the "Wildwood" which is so close to Victoria and Sooke - why are there no campgrounds so that children can actually enjoy this great out of doors, and understand the heritage of the province. There is a golden rule, that before pleasure delivering water to people is more important and I could not agree more. But that is 60 years away, and it truly bothers me how many children are denied the opportunity to experience how this Island became part of British Columbia and why British Columbia became part of Canada. This is powerful history that is being sliced off. Support for VIPMA would be appreciated, as we seem to be the only people on the island who care about how this island was put on the map. That's my vent for the day.
So well said..thank you. It is ironic that now we are trying to fix the mistakes of our past by removing statues and making public apologies, and at the same time literally burying (under water!) the successes of our past, our extractive resource history, the reason for our being a province and having a national railway, by wiping out the hobby gold planners. Like most fishers and hunters we know our past-times best, are careful stewards of the natural environment and follow the rules. The office beaurocrats and armchair critics who create punitive and confiscatory regulations should respect that history and support the efforts and energy of those that still keep that discovery spirit alive.
VIPMA is the Vancouver Island Placer Mining Association, a group of dedicated panners looking for gold west of Victoria BC. This video highlights the Iron Wheel claim about 20 minutes north of Sooke and only accessible by VIPMA members. With good luck and much effort the historic Leech River yields fine particles and the occasional flake of gold.
hi how can i become member to your vipma gold prospecting club i ben to victoris ,bc years ago where does your club members meet i been to sooke musem love to hear back
not sure if VIPMA exists anymore...since covid etc. just try hunting down gold panning on the island online and see if there are any groups doing it.
Your video is Gold! What a great experience that must have been.
Thanks! A much better than average day for sure. Best part was I actually recorded that on my phone just for the training experience and ended up with that amazing flake. It's the second largest I've found there, biggest was a .5 gram flake, about the size of a small cornflake. I've seen up to 5 gram nuggets found, but very rare and usually underwater from the deepest river with a wetsuit and snorkel.
how does one joing the club ?
I haven't been a member for over a year so I don't know what they are doing during covid restrictions. I see they don't have their own website anymore. But they are on, and active on Facebook facebook.com/Vancouver-Island-Placer-Mining-Association-352254315271024/
@@NorthOlbo thanks ! i joined the facebook page and sent them a message .
new to panning , ill just have to go it on my own for now :)
Great vid, I’ve wanted to join the club for years now... maybe this next spring:)
looks really nice there, good vid too. gotta luv those big pieces of gold.....=)
Do you have to become a member of the VIPMA to go on the Leech? Im up Island in Nanaimo and would love to make a day trip to do some panning
+9150LX To access the VIPMA claims you need to be a member, it covers off the fire insurance and a formal agreement between the surface landowners, Timber West, Capital Regional District (Victoria) watershed authority, and VIPMA. Also the group provides backup in case of an accident. Good way to go, check the website for membership info.
9150LX also it’s all claimed up, so join the group or stay in the potholes park ground ;)
Also Nanaimo rib has good gold!
How does one join up as i am starting out and would love to learn how to.
@@micsmarvelousmusic8686 pot holes has gold?!
@@shawnsmithson1650 every River has some gold, potholes are great, but don’t go outside the park or you’re claim jumping, and respect the rules and nature in the park or it will be taken away from us all…D-bags have almost ruined it all already🙄
hi nice gold....might take out a membership...live on saltspring island ..have a 1 mile claim on the fraser up near fosters bar ..it would be nice to get away for a few days on van isle instead of a big trip ...will check out your website thanks ...mickey miner
rest in peace mickey miner...you are remembered...
Spent a few days on the island recently: ua-cam.com/video/1MAfRMDOHWk/v-deo.html Amazing place!!