Howdy,
My Great, Great, Great Grandfather was Joseph Rutherford Walker... The greatest and most successful, longest trailblazer carreer, of all the Mountain men. NEVER lost a man and always came back with bever pelts. Here's why you never heard of him.
What Washington Irving wrote about Joseph Walker and the Bonnieville Expedition:


"As sub leaders or lieutenants in his expedition, Captain Bonneville had made choice of Mr. I. R. Walker and Mr. M. S. Cerre. The former was a native of Tennessee, about six feet high, strong built, dark complexioned, brave in spirit, though mild in manners. He had resided for many years in Missouri, on the frontier; had been among the earliest adventurers to Santa Fe, where he went to trap beaver, and was taken by the Spaniards. Being liberated, he engaged with the Spaniards and Sioux Indians in a war against the Pawnees; then returned to Missouri, and had acted by turns as sheriff, trader, trapper, until he was enlisted as a leader by Captain Bonneville."

In fact in 1832 Joseph Walker organized and led the entire brigade of 110 of the best equipped men to ever leave Missouri. Lavishly outfitted for the time, the 22 wagons and 110 men led by Joseph Walker was to become the first wagon train to cross South Pass.

Bonnieville had decided to stay in Wyoming on the Green river to "trap beaver" (turns out that he wasn't very successful as a trapper) and late in July of 1833 Joseph Walker led a brigade to California, battled with Piute Indians, dispelled the myth of the Buena Ventura River and in October of 1833 discovered the Yosemite Valley, the first to see the giant redwoods, negotiate with the Spanish Governor, and come back without the loss of a single man.

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Howdy fellow treasure huntin' buddies! These days ya gotta plan way ahead to take one of those "special" gem hunting field trips so that's exactly what we're up to.
Summer 2010 plan to come prospecting with us! We're in the process of putting together field trips to hunt for Gold, Diamonds, and Emeralds!
Our gold prospecting field trips usually include famous historic areas in Colorado's South Park and Wyoming's Centennial Ridge. BUT.... in addition to this, next summer we invite you all to come to British Columbia to work our two mine claims on the Fraser River between Lillooet and Layton. We'll stay at the Cayoosh Creek Campground and RV Park then take the jet boat down the river to the claim. Learn to pan and sluce, get to know the subtle art of extracting fine gold and flakes. Prolly more importantly you'll learn where to dig and why there. Gold is where you find it, we found some and you may too! There's lots of placer gold on our claims to shine in the bottom of your pan. Naturally you keep all the gold and gems you find... O did I mention that we've also found Jade, Serpintine, Agates and (man was I surprised) Sapphires!
For our next incredable rockhounding adventure we're adding a helicopter expedition to our Emerald Mine near Revelstoke... right now we're thinking floor tents and 3 days... anybody curious? Please help, we'd love to have your take on all this, comments?
Diamond Prospector Dan and I have considered trying to have a couple of field trips to the State Line district to hunt for Diamonds this next summer... millions of the little gems just laying in the creek bottoms out there! REALLY!! Anybody wanna help work out the details? Hey custom gem tour... on the cheap 2010
We're thinking camp out style for this next summer as the Guest Ranch and Hot Springs Resort accommodations kinda priced everyone out of the '09 tours. Wadda you guys think?

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