| In the movies, the old Gold Rush prospector was | | | | you think the days of prospectors are long gone, |
| a colorful character, who lived alone out in the hills | | | | you are in for a surprise. Even today, you and |
| (with maybe a single mule for company) in his | | | | your family can experience the thrills and |
| Quixote-like search for riches. Unfortunately, he | | | | excitement of finding gold in the very places |
| usually got shot just as soon as he finally struck | | | | where claim jumpers, back shooters, Indians and |
| gold.History has always fascinated me and the | | | | assorted villains made life tough for the old |
| sagas of the various gold rushes that spurred | | | | prospector (and his mule).In North America, you |
| Westward expansion in the United States is more | | | | can pan for gold in California, Alaska, the Yukon |
| than mere footnotes in the history books. | | | | Territory and even Vermont, and relive the actual |
| California and Alaska both became magnets for | | | | experiences of the old prospectors (minus, I hope, |
| settlers as a result of the discovery of gold.But if | | | | the claim jumpers, back shooters and Indians). |