Gold probably is one of the easiest things in the world to cheat an absentee owner out of. He would generally have no way of really knowing if a guy had found 3 nuggets or 30 nuggets on his claim.

We started off excited and enthusiastic as we began hiking up the river, daydreaming about finding big gold.

He could tell that the top part just slid partway down over the bottom half. So, he tried to twist it apart with his hands. No go!

…while we were packing up, my wife called for me to help her with something, so I set the pan containing the gold down, off to the side of the parking area.

My right rib cage took the brunt of the blow from the fall, which left me feeling partially paralyzed and in immense pain.

…I was looking down on what was a frightening 500-foot sheer drop-off. We were precariously close to the edge as the shoulder was practically non-existent.

As we got closer to a wide stream bed, we started hearing some gunfire. It was single shots at first, then semi and automatic weapons fire…