An amateur gold panner’s dream of finding treasure during an expedition in California didn’t go as planned after he went missing for two days and was successfully rescued over the weekend.

The panner and his companion had started trailing through northern California’s Plumas national forest on Thursday to search for gold. The companion became tired, so the missing hiker went to get water. That was the last time the two saw each other that day, according to the Butte county sheriff’s office.

The companion waited all day Friday at the same spot, spending another night outside. On Saturday morning, the panner’s partner decided to hike back to their truck, hoping the missing hiker would be there. When he wasn’t, the companion called the police.

A helicopter search crew eventually spotted the missing hiker’s campfire on a steep cliff, about 1,000ft below Milsap Bar Road and above the Feather River, about a 105-mile drive north-east from Sacramento.

“Due to the steep terrain, a hoist operation was ruled out and a joint rescue team from Butte County Search and Rescue and Cal Fire was deployed,” the Facebook post from the sheriff’s office said.

A rescue team hiked through “VERY THICK vegetation” to reach him, and they found him in good health before helping him out of the canyon.

Butte county sheriff’s office highlighted the hikers’ readiness to go gold panning, posting several pictures of the hikers and saying that they “were prepared to spend the night in the elements”.

Describing the missing hiker’s emergency shelter, the sheriff’s office said: “He had tarps and the ability to make a fire. In the current conditions, dehydration and starvation will kill you within days, but Hypothermia can kill you within hours.”

This type of 1800s-style expedition isn’t rare. Plumas county is known for its rich gold deposits. Some popular spots for panning are located along the Feather River and the North Fork, according to the county’s website. Some locations, such as Rich Bar and Seneca, have historical ties to the gold rush.

“While many prospectors came to Plumas County with dreams of instant wealth, the reality of gold mining was often harsh and grueling,” reads the Plumas County website. “The work was physically demanding, and the chances of striking it rich were slim.”

Beginners can start with basic equipment such as pans and shovels, while experienced panners might use advanced tools such as sluice boxes. Success in gold panning requires knowledge of local spots, proper equipment use, and patience, according to the county.

In Plumas county, the 19th-century gold rush spurred local business growth and created employment. Now, recreationally, gold panning still attracts tourists, with the county celebrating this history with festivals and re-enactments.

“The influx of miners created a demand for goods and services, leading to establishing of businesses and the growth of local economies,” reads the website. “Merchants, blacksmiths, saloon owners, and other entrepreneurs thrived, catering to the needs of the gold-seeking population.”

Although most recreational gold panners nowadays don’t expect to get rich out of their hobby, and might spend more money on equipment than they make in profit, an ounce of the mineral can sell for more than $2,000.

Still, all that glitters is not gold. The Gold Rush in California led to violent conflicts against Indigenous people, resulting in tens of thousands of killings by settlers.

Chinese immigrants working in gold mines faced intense discrimination after an influx of thousands of young Chinese men to California. Some Americans, believing these immigrants were taking jobs and income from others, pushed for restrictions on Chinese immigration and imposed a tax on all foreign miners in California.

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — The California Highway Patrol says there is an increase in accidents this time of year because people get complacent after a summer without fog.

A wall of dust rolled over Madera County Monday leading to a massive pile-up on Highway 152.

“We slowed down to a stop, and then all the cars just kept coming and hit us,” said Delissa Fulce, an Oakhurst local.

“We got hit three times by the cars behind us, and I think they got hit behind us. So it was probably a 20-car pileup.”

“Our friend, which is now in the hospital, is like, we’re going to get hit again,” said Julia Parra Pintado, Crash victim. “Like, be prepared. And we get and we got hit up by the back.”

California Highway Patrol said the massive crash likely would’ve been hard to avoid with how quickly the dust moved in.

While we might not see dust storms daily, we have entered fog season and many drivers will face the Tule Fog as they head out most mornings.

Dust and fog can lead to similar conditions on the roadway and California Highway Patrol says you should take similar precautions if you run into either.

“Reduce your speed,” said Mike Salas, California Highway Patrol. “If you cannot see, don’t try and risk it. Pull over off where it’s safe, turn those emergency flashers on, remain in your car, seat belted, and hopefully you can wait until that issue subsides.”

CHP spokesman Mike Salas said you can even turn on your emergency flashers while you’re driving to make yourself more visible.

When it comes to your headlights choose the low beams over high beams.

“The high beams, all it does is it’s a mirror effect, so it kind of blinds the driver, especially in the evening hours,” said Salas.

If your car has automatic headlights Salas said don’t depend on the car to pick the right setting, especially during the day and know the forecast before you hit the road.

“Delay your trip at all possible, if not,” said Salas.

“If you’re stuck in a situation where you feel that it’s going to be a danger to you or someone else on the road, pull over off of the road well enough where you won’t become a hazard if someone comes up from behind you.”

For news updates, follow Kate Nemarich on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A Bay Area consumer-advocacy group claims California’s Department of Insurance is violating state public-records law by refusing to hand over important data on consumer complaints about life insurance.

The Pleasant Hill-based non-profit Life Insurance Consumer Advocacy Center called the department’s purported violation of the California Public Records Act “inexcusable.”

The department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Numbers and types of consumer complaints about life insurance and annuities, plus the reports and data the department used for the complaints section of its 2023 annual report, would help the non-profit promote the interests of life insurance customers, and provide key information to establish a baseline on consumer complaints.

“Why is (the department) trying to hide this information?” said the group’s executive director Brian Brosnahan.

Of particular interest to the group is assessing consumers’ responses after passage this year of California Senate Bill 263, which imposes requirements for agents selling life insurance, including that they not put their own interest ahead of a customer’s. The group alleges that the the bill, now law, lets agents “falsely tell” a consumer they do not have conflicts of interest with the consumer, even if they stand to make substantial commissions if the customer follows their guidance.

The Department of Insurance’s alleged stonewalling has gone on for months, the group said in a news release Tuesday. An initial request in August drew a response from the department that it did not have the information, according to the group, which responded by pointing out that the department’s annual report contained charts showing total complaints and the top 10 complaint topics. The department “obviously did possess the requested information,” the group claimed.

Another back-and-forth followed, with the department saying the requested data was “not maintained by the Department,” the group said.

“This statement is obviously false since (the department) necessarily maintains the underlying data and reports from which the charts in the Annual Report were generated,” the group claimed.

In October, the department “finally admitted that it possessed the requested data,” the group said, but now is refusing to provide it, saying it is confidential, the group said.

Originally Published: November 12, 2024 at 3:40 PM PST