Gold panning and running chuck wagons are two skills that can still be learned today. Jim Wenzel is familiar with both and will host an interactive prospector’s camp and a chuck wagon display with his wife, Judy, at Pioneer Days this weekend.

Gold panning was at its height during the two gold rushes of the 1800s. In 1849, the California Gold Rush occurred. Individuals headed to California in hopes of finding a fortune.

“Gold panning is used in prospecting, or searching for gold, in easy-to-access rivers and creeks,” said Wenzel.

A pan is used to scoop up a sampling of river bottom, and the prospector will swirl the water to get the dirt and sand out.

“It’s a pie pan with basically high sides,” explained Wenzel. “It has a tapered rim. When shaken back and forth, the gold settles to the bottom.”

“Water and sunlight make gold reflect in the pan, like neon lights or diamonds,” added Wenzel.

Prospectors hope to see gold’s reflection.

“They either come out empty handed or find gold dust or a few gold nuggets,” said Wenzel. “During the gold rush, if you found a fist-size gold nugget, you could head back home. You had it made.”

In 1858 and 1859, another gold rush occurred and a steady stream of fortune seekers headed west to the Rocky Mountains to pan for gold.

“A group of farmers might get together and go prospecting together. They did it for protection,” said Wenzel. “However, some people ran out of supplies before they got there and had to turn around and go back home.”

Those who had been successful in the California Gold Rush found reason to head out to the Rockies.

“Some that found gold in the California Gold Rush lost their money when there was a run on the banks,” Wenzel stated. “The second gold rush came at a good time for them. They were experienced and knew what to do.”

Other methods for seeking gold include the sluice or pulling up grass.

“You might move from a pan to a sluice,” said Wenzel. “Pulled up grass by the roots is another good way to find gold, because the roots will hold gold nuggets.”

People still pan for gold today.

“It’s a hobby that can pay for itself,” noted Wenzel. “Because of the economy, some are probably doing that religiously right now.”

Wenzel struck “pay dirt” of his own when living in Colorado. He created a corral for horses and burros on a ranch in Golden, Colo., where the animals uncovered an old mining camp.

“The horses and burros found a nice sandy area along the creek that they like to roll in. They ate the grass down too,” said Wenzel. “It happened to be a place where miners used to have a camp. The whole site was a historic site.”

A display of artifacts found at a ranch near Golden, Colo., will be on display at Wenzel’s prospector camp this Friday and Saturday at Pioneer Days.

Cooking along the dusty trail

After the Civil War, Jim Wenzel explained that the states needed beef, which led to cattle drives.

“After the Civil War, Charlie Goodnight initiated cattle drives from Texas,” said Wenzel. “He had trouble keeping his men fed, so he bought some Army surplus wagons that were built more sturdy and wider than regular wagons.

“He built a kitchen pantry on the wagon and mounted a Dutch oven cargo box behind the rear wheels that swung behind,” added Wenzel.

The Dutch oven and frying pans were used to cook food from the pantry over open fires for the trail hands.

“Normally, at least two, if not four, would be responsible for the chuck wagon – a cook and his assistant and sometimes more,” said Wenzel.

The food depended on what was available.

“Anything from jack rabbit, deer and other wild game to the beef that they were transporting along the trail was served,” said Wenzel. “A lot of beans and a lot of hot Mexican dishes were cooked, if they were from Texas.

“Sour dough biscuits were a popular item because they would preserve,” said Wenzel.

Wenzel noted that the trail hands had to stay in the cook’s favor, if they wanted good food. Often, it meant being willing to do things like grinding coffee.

“When the cook asked who wanted sweets, these big, masculine trail hands would fight over who would grind the coffee,” mused Wenzel.

Depending on how the day was going, two to three meals might be served.

“They would have breakfast early before they headed out and dinner in the evening when they stopped,” said Wenzel. “Lunch might be drop-in.”

To learn more about running a chuck wagon, visit Jim Wenzel’s prospector camp Friday and Saturday during Pioneer Days, where his chuck wagon will be on display.