The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-05-12
OLD PROSPECTOR
 WILL EXPLORE MONTESTA PASS
Pioneer of '99 to Try Luck in Upper Copper River
 District This Season

District lhls Season
 It is ever the new trail that calls to the Old Timers, and so this veal w. Fielder is going to pack into Montesta Pass to spend his 33tf season prospecting.
 Fielder passed through Juneau or last weeks westbound steamer anc | stopped at the Department oi MiI.es long enough to study the geological reports on this remote region in the upper Copper River district. He had spent the winter Outside, thinking the change of eli mate might do his touch of rheu- mat.sm" some good,
 Fielder started mining in Alaska in 1899 and has kept at it since, liv- ing in most of the producing re- gions at some time or other. He says he has always made living at it and managed to keep little ahead For the most part he has worked on his own, though occa- sionally has taken a job to build up grubstake.
 Difficult of Access
 Difficulty of access has kept pros pectors out of the Montesta Pass region, though the Geological sur vey map shows favorable gravel formations. Fielder says he will pack in a limited amount of equipment and supplies, and arrange for an airplane to drop him additional sup plies after he reaches his objective. There are no convenient landing places so it will not be practical or him to fly in.
 The district is approximately 50 niles west and north of the Nebes- Ia Mine, and about half that far north of Athell Creek, where Laughing Ole" and Gus Johnson ook out twelve pounds of gold last saIl on the discovery claim they ,taked at the end of the previous season. The Athell Creek strike brought a few other miners to that region last year, but so far as Eel der is aware, no one has gone into Montesta Pass.
 The opening of the road from Gulkana, on the Richardson High way, to Nebesna, makes access to Athell Creek comparatively simple, and gives a starting point to the more remote districts further north ihough the dropping of supplies from airplanes is expected to con- tinue the only practical method or freighting into there for some time.
 Fielder says he has enjoyed the life, declaring that the old time prospectors can always make sea- sons stake in any of the recog- nized placer areas. He spent the winter before last in the Chisana country, and said there are about dozen miners living in that vicin- lUy dIlU pdililAil6 Out eiiSii JS"%
 ing each summer. In his opinion the decreasing number of men max ing a living this way is due to the passing of Alaskas prospectors and not to the depletion of her gold
 There seems to be only two kinds of men coming into the coun- try these days" he said. Most o1 them want jobs, and nothing but jobs. The others just want to be supported. The Alaskans that came in before will work when they can get work, but if there is nothing doing, they go out and dig out their own living"
 He added that this, of course, de- pended upon being in those regions where gold can be banned, and oi knowing how to do it.
 But even if I lived in Juneau he concluded, I'd figure the same way. could make wages banning on Gold Creek, and that would be the first place I'd tackle if royalty arrangements could be made to work it."