Re: NNG: Gold prospecting in Durango, Silverton and Red Mtn. Pass?

Drive carefully and bring nasty weather gear, forecast for Ridgway/Ouray is 50% rain Saturday, 40% Sunday, probably snow in the high elevations. It was raining pretty good about an hour ago, has stopped temporarily here above Ridgway. Lots of recent rain and high elevation snow the last couple weeks, none of the jeep roads are open, so access to panning areas will be tough. I've panned out some flour gold near Gladstone, but I'm sure you can't get in there yet, and what you find is so fine that you can see it, but you can't recover it.

The San Juans are gorgeous right now, when you can see them during breaks in the clouds, mostly in the mornings the next couple days, according to NOAA.

Remember, the bike race is tomorrow (Saturday), so 550 between Durango and Silverton (at least the passes) will be closed until 1:30 pm. check cotrip.com for road conditions.