Did G. T. Lee find gold in a stream of such large amounts that were able to steadily work the gold-laden stream, simply by panning it.
The story goes that G.T. Lee in 1863 with twelve companions, after setting our from Missouri to travel to the Montana gold fields, stop for a short time in the Black Hills. In a stream of a deep ravine, well beyond the sight of the plains below, they found gold in such large amounts that they delayed their plans to go to the Montana Territory. Over the following months, they steadily worked the gold-laden stream, first by simply panning it. Then, as they found more gold, they built sluice boxes to speed the recovery.
The first winter snows forced the men to reluctantly abandon their claim, but they swore to return the following spring. Moving back down the plains, they pushed to Montana Territory, reaching Alder Gulch in December 1863. They soon forgot their vow to return to the Black Hills, for they found the Montana gold fields so rich that they worked them for several years.
In 1876, Lee move to Central City in the Black Hills. Rather than seek gold in the field he opened a small shop in town. In his spare time he traveled through the gold fields and was convinced that none of them resembled the deep ravine.
This is not the location of his find, but is as good a place as any to stop your ride to ponder the Lee’s gold treasurer.
DECIMAL DEGREES: 43.989533, -103.406886