Newbie in WA

Hi peeps, nice to be able to say Hi to some like minded people. I've had a few setbacks the last 12-18 months which have prevented me from going sooner but now I'm almost ready to get going.
I have a cheap-as detector given as a gift several yrs ago but if it works at all I'll update with what I find, ha.
My problem is roads. How or where can I find out if they're passable or drivable for my SUV towing a poptop? I don't have a problem driving dirt roads but if they turn out bad I doubt I could back the van up that far. lmao.
Hints ? Tips? Cheers

Hi SG and welcome to PA.

Sounds like you've got pretty lightweight equipment, so any unsealed WA road should be approached with great care. They're rarely smooth, very dusty and become pretty much impassible after rain. You can also expect them to be heavily corrrugated, which will break or shake apart lightly-built vehicles sooner or later.

Here's where you can see which outback roads are closed to all traffic after rain:
https://travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map

grubstake said:

Hi SG and welcome to PA.

Sounds like you've got pretty lightweight equipment, so any unsealed WA road should be approached with great care. They're rarely smooth, very dusty and become pretty much impassible after rain. You can also expect them to be heavily corrrugated, which will break or shake apart lightly-built vehicles sooner or later.

Here's where you can see which outback roads are closed to all traffic after rain:
https://travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map

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Thanks grubstake. I'll hang on to that site and check it often.
Yeah it's true I've only been in WA now about 18yrs and while I would flit all over the east with my 2 wee ones back then, I don't have the knowledge or experience or the heavy duty gear I should have for WA.
There's no going back for me tho I'm priced out of the rental market and the only way out is forward come what may.
I'm solared and watered and all my stuff works at this point, I'm not in a hurry, just a silly git roaming.
Cheers

I hope it's all going to work out for you, mate. Gold can be a tough mistress sometimes, but when she's in a good mood...

Stick around PA anyway - there's lots of answers here to lots of questions. You may even find a member going the same way at around the same time that you can meet up with. Seeing how it's done is the quickest way to learn basic prospecting skills.

You might like to make contact with @Rainbowgold who's coming across from the Eastern States next month, on a similar mission to yourself:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/threads/tagalong-wa.42225/#post-679163

grubstake said:

You might like to make contact with @Rainbowgold who's coming across from the Eastern States next month, on a similar mission to yourself:
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/threads/tagalong-wa.42225/#post-679163

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Thank you grubstake much appreciated.
I'm happy to team up with another novice, and we'll learn along the way, the last thing i want is to be a burden on anyone. In fact i would go alone but just a bit scared for the first time.

SillyGit said:

Hi peeps, nice to be able to say Hi to some like minded people. I've had a few setbacks the last 12-18 months which have prevented me from going sooner but now I'm almost ready to get going.
I have a cheap-as detector given as a gift several yrs ago but if it works at all I'll update with what I find, ha.
My problem is roads. How or where can I find out if they're passable or drivable for my SUV towing a poptop? I don't have a problem driving dirt roads but if they turn out bad I doubt I could back the van up that far. lmao.
Hints ? Tips? Cheers

Click to expand...

Check out my thread if your interested

shazza said:

Thank you grubstake much appreciated.
I'm happy to team up with another novice, and we'll learn along the way, the last thing i want is to be a burden on anyone. In fact i would go alone but just a bit scared for the first time.

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I think you're wise there. Personally, I wouldn't advise any novice, male or female, to prospect alone in WA - there's just too many ways that things can unexpectedly go wrong out there.

If you stay in a caravan park (Leonora for example), you may be able to meet up with other prospectors who are using the park as their base and going bush daily, who could perhaps take you along with them. There certainly won't be any shortage of prospectors, with the gold price as high as it is and the economy looking doubtful. You just need to pick your company carefully and avoid cowboys.

If you become a member of APLA they have some very well run prospecting trips. I stumbled across one of their camps last year, the first I've ever attended and stayed for a week. I had a quick trip to the dentist and being 115km away I threw the detector in and spotted the APLA sign along the way. I returned later that day after two extractions and asked to stay. They were a great group of people and we came away with a few grams of gold.

If you are serious about finding gold I suggest you buy a well proven model of gold detector. Used machines are usually a good buy if you can't afford new.

grubstake said:

I think you're wise there. Personally, I wouldn't advise any novice, male or female, to prospect alone in WA - there's just too many ways that things can unexpectedly go wrong out there.

If you stay in a caravan park (Leonora for example), you may be able to meet up with other prospectors who are using the park as their base and going bush daily, who could perhaps take you along with them. There certainly won't be any shortage of prospectors, with the gold price as high as it is and the economy looking doubtful. You just need to pick your company carefully and avoid cowboys.

Click to expand...

Or if like me can't afford caravan parks