Metal Detectors

There are hobbies that take you out of your surroundings for a while, then there are those where you are able to take some items from your surrounding with you.  Hobbies such as metal detecting, fishing, coin collecting, camping and hiking are great ones on their own but even more relaxing and profitable at times if you combine some of them.

Take metal detecting and coin collecting for example.  Just preparing your supplies for such a trip starts the adrenaline pumping.  Taking your metal detector and fishing rod, diggers, pistol probe, backpack, and other metal detector accessories helps to create the sense of freedom of being in the great outdoors.

You can choose a perfect spot near a lake to set up camp and set out your fishing rods then you can grab your metal detector and start looking for coins and such items that we know you can find at campsites.  You don’t have to worry about fish getting away because you’ll have set a bell on your rod so this way you can hear when fish catch on your hook. Now if you are more into fishing than coin collecting then you can always stay near your rod and let your son, daughter, wife, or other hobby partner do the metal detecting.

The actual coin searching is exciting and profitable also because once you start to find coins it gets addictive; in fact you just love to hear the beeping of the metal detector when it hits pay dirt.  Before you know it you have a pocket full of coins, which could become an investment if you uncover any rare coins.  This in turn could become your first coin collection with many additions to come.

So as you can see, mixing these different hobbies fishing, camping, metal detecting, and coin collecting can be exciting and worthwhile.  The whole family can take part in them, bond and it can turn out to be an investment for future generations to come!

It was a about 8:00 a.m. on a December morning here in El Paso, Texas as I was hiking and treasure hunting up a steep mountain.  If you know anything about El Paso it is that it is called the Sun City, so December here feels like spring.  It was a beautiful morning, temperature was in the 70’s and there was a nice cool breeze.

We started up the mountain at about 8:00 a.m., after we had checked off the items from our supply list. Backpacks, metal detectors, batteries, metal detector headphones, and all metal detector tools that we usually carry with us. When I say we, I mean my two brothers, two nephews, our guide, and myself.  Our guide is a colorful, strange sort of person who believes in spiritual powers.  Anyway, our guide told us that he has an old map of buried treasure that would reveal the treasure of the Lost Padre Mine. (You can read this story of the mine on my upcoming post.)

We started climbing and my brother slipped with the loose rocks and fell down.  We knew just then that it was going to be a tough climb.  The trails, the ones we could make out, were treacherous, but the thought of the buried treasure kept us going.  I will tell you one thing, the view from where we started up to our final destination was breathtaking.  Half way there, most of us had fallen at least twice.  If we had not worked together constantly we would have ended up in a hospital or worse.  Three quarters of the way up the mountain, we had walked around, above, below, or straight through some of the desert’s beautiful and most prickly plants:  Prickly pear cactus, barrel cactus, ocotillo, yucca, mesquites and many other thorn ridden plants.  A week later I was still taking thorns out of my legs.  It is all part of the hiking and treasure hunting experience.

The last leg of the climb was the hardest if you can believe that. I was carrying my Garrett Ace 250 Metal Detector, my headphones, and all my metal detector accessories in my backpack usually they feel light but this time it felt like I was carrying a load of rocks.  There weren’t any prickly plants but it was a 30 foot almost vertical walk to pay dirt.  When I had about ten feet to go, my legs started to tighten and they were cramping.  The same thing happened to my brothers, and I thought, “I wish we were in our 20’s instead of our 40’s”.   Anyway, we were finally at the top and after we got our second wind we asked, “Now where do we go?” Our guide told us to find some markers that were left there by the man that made the map some 30 years earlier.  The man had made the map when he accidentally discovered a small hole in the mountain that led to a cave where he and two other men discovered this treasure many years ago, but because of certain circumstances were unable to retrieve it.  I have never seen the map but we were able to find the markers that this map mentions.  Since our climb had taken several hours and of course the decent would probably take just as long, we were unable to search for a certain type of rock that was used to seal the entrance.  We have vowed to return there this spring and claim the buried treasure.

There are many stories about this Lost Padre Mine.  Some believe it’s in California or Phoenix etc…but it is the story of the Lost Padre Mine that is close to home that I will write about.  The Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas is where this mine is supposedly located.  One story says that the entrance to this mine could be seen from the church doors from across the border in Cd Juarez Mexico.  Pre 1680 the padres from this church were working this very rich mine, the very same one that the Indians worked when the Spaniards first came.  This is where the Indians got the gold to make their elaborate ornaments and jewelry that they wore.  Post 1680 the Indians revolted.  “Incursions of Apache and Comanche made the mountains unhealthy.” Then came the Pueblo rebellion and later the American invasion.  Amidst all this chaos, the Native Americans lost their mine.  Another version says that after 1680, the Indians revolted against the Spanish and the Padres decided that they should defend the settlement so they took all their gold bullion and all their precious vessels and other objects from their church and deposited everything at the bottom of the shaft and proceeded to seal it. Yet another story says that the Indians found the mine took all the contents out of the shaft and buried it somewhere else. Amidst all the confusion of the revolt, the mine was lost forever. Today people still look for this elusive mine, I read somewhere that people charter small planes to fly right over the Church in Cd Juarez Mexico and look at the Franklin Mountains hoping to catch a glimpse of the entrance to the treasure. So take your metal detector and try your luck up in the mountains of El Paso.

El Muerto, “the dead one”, is the story of a headless horseman that terrorizes the county side in west Texas/Southeast New Mexico and Northern Chihuahua Mexico.  Most of us have heard about “El Muerto” and consider it to be pure fiction, but according to Dobie J. Frank, in the mid 1800’s this tale of a headless horseman atop a fiery black stallion is actually true.

Vidal was the name of the man who became the headless horseman.  After the Mexican war, Mr. Vidal had betrayed his people and was working for the Americans when the war ended.  He could no longer go back to Mexico, so to make a living he resorted to stealing horses and taking them to Mexico to sell them to who ever would buy the horses without asking questions.  One night while most of the ranchers were off fighting against a Comanche raid, Vidal and his men struck a horse farm in San Antonio taking hundreds of horses.  Unlucky for them, two of the ranchers had not gone to fight the Comanche and had stayed behind to look after their ranch.  When they saw the thieves take the horses they gave chase.  On the way they were joined by “Bigfoot Wallace, a famous name in Texas history and by all accounts a cold blooded killer.” They caught up to the thieves and killed them.  It was Bigfoot Wallace who suggested that they should cut off Vidal’s head and strap his body to his horse to send a strong message to other horse thieves.  This is how the legend began.  People would see this abomination day or night as it terrorized the country side.  Some would shoot the rider but he would just continue riding as if nothing had happened.  People were scared out of their wits.  Some hardened frontiers men were afraid of nothing, they said, so they sprung a trap on the horse and with a shot they brought him down instantly.  When they approached the rider they saw it was mummified and full of bullet holes thus ending the mystery of the legend of “El Muerto” or did they?

There is a story of a husband and wife who bought a house in Anthony, New Mexico many years after the mystery was solved.  The husband was a big drinker and would go out drinking with his friends every night and his wife would stay home.  One night the wife heard what sounded like a horse was walking on the wooden bridge that was just outside the house.  When she went outside to see what it was, she was terrified at the sight of this ghostly body on a fiery black stallion.  When the husband returned from drinking all night, she told him what she had seen.  Convinced that she was making the whole thing up just to keep him from enjoying his pleasures, after the third time she had told him the same story, he decided to stay home and prove to her once and for all that there was no headless horseman or any fiery black stallion for that matter.  Sometime during the night, they both heard the horse steps on the wooden bridge.  They both ran outside to see what it was and low and behold there it was, “El Muerto”.

“One side note of interest about El Muerto it is said that if one follows the headless rider, the mighty stallion will lead the follower to buried treasure.” I recommend that if you see “El Muerto” grab your metal detector. He just might lead you to a treasure or maybe somewhere else, who knows.

It was a about 8:00 a.m. on a December morning here in El Paso, Texas as I was hiking and treasure hunting up a steep mountain.  If you know anything about El Paso it is that it is called the Sun City, so December here feels like spring.  It was a beautiful morning, temperature was in the 70’s and there was a nice cool breeze.

We started up the mountain at about 8:00 a.m., after we had checked off the items from our supply list. Backpacks, metal detectors, batteries, metal detector headphones, and all metal detector tools that we usually carry with us. When I say we, I mean my two brothers, two nephews, our guide, and myself.  Our guide is a colorful, strange sort of person who believes in spiritual powers.  Anyway, our guide told us that he has an old map of buried treasure that would reveal the treasure of the Lost Padre Mine. (You can read this story of the mine on my upcoming post.)

We started climbing and my brother slipped with the loose rocks and fell down.  We knew just then that it was going to be a tough climb.  The trails, the ones we could make out, were treacherous, but the thought of the buried treasure kept us going.  I will tell you one thing, the view from where we started up to our final destination was breathtaking.  Half way there, most of us had fallen at least twice.  If we had not worked together constantly we would have ended up in a hospital or worse.  Three quarters of the way up the mountain, we had walked around, above, below, or straight through some of the desert’s beautiful and most prickly plants:  Prickly pear cactus, barrel cactus, ocotillo, yucca, mesquites and many other thorn ridden plants.  A week later I was still taking thorns out of my legs.  It is all part of the hiking and treasure hunting experience.

The last leg of the climb was the hardest if you can believe that. I was carrying my Garrett Ace 250 Metal Detector, my headphones, and all my metal detector accessories in my backpack usually they feel light but this time it felt like I was carrying a load of rocks.  There weren’t any prickly plants but it was a 30 foot almost vertical walk to pay dirt.  When I had about ten feet to go, my legs started to tighten and they were cramping.  The same thing happened to my brothers, and I thought, “I wish we were in our 20’s instead of our 40’s”.   Anyway, we were finally at the top and after we got our second wind we asked, “Now where do we go?” Our guide told us to find some markers that were left there by the man that made the map some 30 years earlier.  The man had made the map when he accidentally discovered a small hole in the mountain that led to a cave where he and two other men discovered this treasure many years ago, but because of certain circumstances were unable to retrieve it.  I have never seen the map but we were able to find the markers that this map mentions.  Since our climb had taken several hours and of course the decent would probably take just as long, we were unable to search for a certain type of rock that was used to seal the entrance.  We have vowed to return there this spring and claim the buried treasure.

“The idea of trekking and detecting through trails up and down mountains is exciting but always remember to follow these prerequisites for your safety.”

You might be climbing steep slopes or walking leisurely on level trails, so you should always have your health in mind before you hit the steep slopes.  It may also be best to stay on the well worn trails until you build up your stamina.  Remember you may encounter slippery trails, rocks, and you may even walk across a ravine so make sure that you have the proper footwear.  A good pair of slip resistant boots is a must.

The area and amount of time that you will be detecting on the mountain will aid in determining the amount of supplies you will need.  For example, a short treasure hunting hike for two to four hours will require:  adequate knowledge of the area you want to hunt in, your metal detector and metal detector accessories, adequate amount of water to keep yourself hydrated and some trail mix to keep yourself energized.  On the other hand, a whole day on the mountain requires more planning.  The danger of getting lost or being exposed to more unpredictable situations increases.  You should bring along drink and food for the entire day. Don’t forget your

Garrett metal detector, Garrett headphones and all your metal detector accessories, and batteries so that you won’t have to cut your trip short. Always plan for certain weather conditions and listen to the weather forecast on the radio to be informed and well prepared.  A backpack also comes in handy so that you may carry more supplies. There is a wonderful product called The Travel Toilet that would be great to take along with you. For a multi-day camping and hiking trip it may require more preparation for an adequate amount of supplies.

Water, food, shelter, number of people going and getting information on weather conditions are very important details that will aid in making a list of supplies that you will need.  Other items that you may find helpful are a flashlight, matches and don’t forget your map and compass. So, happy trekking and stay safe!

Metal Detecting Treasure Hunting Safety Tips

“The idea of trekking and detecting through trails up and down mountains is exciting but always remember to follow these prerequisites for your safety.”

You might be climbing steep slopes or walking leisurely on level trails, so you should always have your health in mind before you hit the steep slopes. It may also be best to stay on the well worn trails until you build up your stamina. Remember you may encounter slippery trails, rocks, and you may even walk across a ravine so make sure that you have the proper footwear. A good pair of slip resistant boots is a must.

The area and amount of time that you will be detecting on the mountain will aid in determining the amount of supplies you will need. For example, a short treasure hunting hike for two to four hours will require: adequate knowledge of the area you want to hunt in, your metal detector and metal detector accessories, adequate amount of water to keep yourself hydrated and some trail mix to keep yourself energized. On the other hand, a whole day on the mountain requires more planning. The danger of getting lost or being exposed to more unpredictable situations increases. You should bring along drink and food for the entire day. Don’t forget your Garrett metal detector, Garrett headphones and all your metal detector accessories, and batteries so that you won’t have to cut your trip short. Always plan for certain weather conditions and listen to the weather forecast on the radio to be informed and well prepared. A backpack also comes in handy so that you may carry more supplies. There is a wonderful product called The Travel Toilet that would be great to take along with you. For a multi-day camping and hiking trip it may require more preparation for an adequate amount of supplies.

Water, food, shelter, number of people going and getting information on weather conditions are very important details that will aid in making a list of supplies that you will need. Other items that you may find helpful are a flashlight, matches and don’t forget your map and compass. So, happy trekking and stay safe!

Metal detecting and mountain climbing, two great outdoor hobbies by themselves but together they are awesome! Mountains are nature’s treasure troves. Besides the obvious reasons why this is true, gold rush in California up in the mountains is a very tantalizing detail.

Where might we find mines? Well, mostly you will find them on the side of a mountain or hill. The problem with mines is that they are privately owned and not open to hobbyists like you and I. You may also run into some abandoned mines but they may be a little dangerous. There are reasons why they are abandoned and for your own safety sometimes it would be best to resist the temptation to go in because they may be unstable.

There are treasures up in the mountains such as ores of various metals(gold), gems, and minerals but mountains also serve as an ancient record of the human journey. Metal detectors, continue to recover interesting finds at the foot of mountains. Early Native Americans recognized what treasure the mountains were. Mountains provided shelter from the elements, food, water etc. Today it is not uncommon for a detectorist with gold metal detector, metal detector tools, metal detector accessories in hand to be looking for buried gold and finding arrow heads, pottery, jewelry, stones, tools and much, much more. If you take such a journey and hike up to the mountains remember these rules, take plenty of water, food, the proper clothing, batteries for your metal detectors, don’t forget your metal detector headphones, and tell friends and relatives where you plan to go, for how long, and never go alone. Nature is ours to explore and enjoy so do your part to keep it clean. Pick up and dispose of any trash you dig up and do not litter. In doing our part, we as detectorists will be able to keep exploring and discovering different and exciting finds.

There’s nothing worse than knowing something valuable (or something potentially valuable) is in your vicinity, and you just can’t get to it. That’s the situation, though, that some metal detector aficionados find themselves. Especially if the metal detector is alerting you that there’s something metal in shallow water, the mystery item can be very difficult to obtain. And even if they have a state-of-the-art Seahunter Mark II metal detector, one of the best tools for any scavenger is their eyes. After all, if they can’t spot the item, it is still lost to them.

Since water will certainly obscure the potential treasure, it’s beneficial to have a sand scoop. Coming in various sizes and shapes, these essentially work as a kind of sieve. This allows you to gather a large clump of sand or mud in the area where you detector is sounding, meaning you don’t have to scour and search on your hands and knees. Using one of these sand scoops is sure to cut down on the time it takes to find items. This means you can both throw away the junk and pocket the treasure quicker.

My uncle Harvey was a good man. He never had any children of his own, so he treated me like his own son. That meant weekends camping and trips to the river to fish for trout. We were so close. Sometimes I even felt closer to him than I did to my own parents. I think every kid feels that way sometimes.

Needless to say, when he died I was heartbroken. We had been like father and son and I didn’t know what I would do without him. On the night after his heart attack and resulting death, my aunt Josephine asked me to come over. She said she had something to give to me. It was my uncle’s treasured gold medallion that he had found using his Garrett SuperScanner metal detector in southern New Jersey. I was touched – and from that day on, I knew my uncle’s memory would live forever in my heart.