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The Fall camping trip to Malakoff Diggins is scheduled for next weekend, Sept 25 and 26. Most of you have the weekend off from soccer, so this is an ideal time to get away. There is no cost at all for the trip, but you'll need to supply your own dinner and breakfast. I'd suggest something simple like deli sandwiches for dinner and bagels, fruit, or donuts for breakfast.

Malakoff Diggins is the site of the largest hydraulic gold mine in California. We can visit the mine site where they mined gold by blasting away entire portions of the mountain with water cannons. There is also a ghost town called North Bloomfield that has been partially restored and contains museums that show how the hydraulics worked. We can try our hand at panning for gold. Apparently most visitors who try it out come home with a few gold flakes.

You can find more about Malakoff at the California State Parks Official site, Wildernet, Pioneer Mining Supply, and ReserveAmerica.