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The Hunt for Lost French Gold
The Hunt for Lost French Gold
This is the Comments area. Membership is not required. Comments & Replies are moderated. We only except comments pertaining to subject matter on this website.
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I did not realize that I have been spelling Yippee incorrectly! Was spelling it with “ie” at the end! OK I can get my $500 together! I am going to use your picture. We should scan in the book for forum members or have someone record it!
OK! If we all chip in $500 and get together at the Stunner campground September 1, we could have all the gold packed up and heading to Vegas by September 15! lol. How could we divide 3 1/2 tons of gold between – what, maybe 10 of us!??? I’m in!!!! By the way, I received another copy of My Fifty-Year French Treasure Hunt – Signed – Henry Gestefield – August 24, 1969 in Pagosa Springs! Of course it is 1st edition, with dust jacket including a clear mylar covering. I would not sell this one for less than $1,000! His books are getting very rare, extremely rare. How awesome is that!!! Was able to track his address to 3200 W. 14th Ave, #671, Denver, CO 80204. His phone number at the time was 303-623-4572! Lets get ROCKIN everyone! I’m going to post the image via my admin account.
Thanks, been anxious to go searching. Things have slowly began to normalize. My home therapy seems to have given me some more energy. Hoping can get everyone excited again. Between my medical issues and COVID, it has made for an interesting last year! Got some good stuff coming up and some help! Yippee!
Sure missing you guys. I hope things are getting better and look forward to your quest. Never stop believing in your dreams!
I came back to add something to this subject of “Curses”. I have lived in the Bible belt long enough to have experienced a wide range of of religious doctrines. This website is about “The Lost French Gold”. Normally, we try to keep religion —> but not faith <--- from overwhelming the site's purpose. We try to keep politics ---> but not affiliation <--- from interfering with the objective. That is one of the reasons for the site being moderated. That being said, you asked if I believe the gold is cursed. So your asking if I believe that curses exist. My answer is simply, yes. I believe curses exist. I also believe that there is a spirit domain outside our conventional thinking. So is the gold cursed? Possibly... Since I believe the legend could be true, then hundreds of people lost their lives and possibly many were not properly buried according their faith or wishes. In theory, you would be walking over the top of the locations where they died. If you research this legend, then you will come to understand that this is a gruesome story that still has has no ending. I am not trying to hype up this site. There have been to many strange things happen to me, and many others. Many of these experiences were dangerous and could have cost me or loved ones dearly. I can be very honest when I say this ---> in 15 years of searching for this gold, I can attribute and classify some of the life-threatening experiences to bad planning, en-experience, and stupidity. I make corrections, necessary adjustments, and learn. But too many of the experiences are simply unexplained and outside of my natural understanding. Not all experiences are classified threatening, but I would certainly recommend that you pray often while your searching. Also, I would recommend that you NEVER search without a gun (protection) or by yourself unless you have some very alert dogs. NO YOUR LIMITS. Give specific GPS data to someone who you really trust and can be counted on so that regular safety checks will happen. Gold does strange things to people, believe it! Who knows what their curse might be…
I will answer this question like this… It seems that certain things on this planet escape my conventional way of thinking. I believe in God, Christ at the cross, and the Holy Spirit. I am not Catholic but I believe that somewhere in the Vatican Library (origin of my faith) there are volumes and volumes of documents and books about evil spirits, curses, and un-natural earthly bonds. There are documented processes to rid evil spirits from individuals who are possessed. I have seen to many things in my personal life to discount certain subject matters as a hoaxes. However, I came into the research of this project with an open mind. In the beginning, I probably fell for the hype. The curse was originally trickled down to me implying the it would only effect someone with French, Spanish, or Ute Indian heritage. The authors Henry Gestefield and Maynard Adams kept looking. Thousands have kept looking for years! If the story is proven to be real, then you will validate the death of hundreds of French, Spanish, and Ute Indians who’s remains would be scattered all over the San Juan and Rio Grande forests. All of those deaths directly or in-directly caused by the existence of this gold. Most would have been in un-marked graves. This is the best answer I can give you. But I am relived to know that I am Italian! I am going to keep looking! It has been a tremendous blessing for me and I believe many others. I truly feel close to God when I am searching. Life is a risk. If someone says that there is a ghost town with gold bars buried somewhere by it, I’M GOING!
After doing a little research, I read that this gold is cursed? I think many of the legends seem to have a curse? I was wondering what you or other members might believe about this?
I have heard versions of this story. Where are you going to find Oak trees like that near the West Peak? But there is a Spanish arrastra right outside BV going that direction. I know that you cannot ATV past the ending on the dirt road outside BV. Your going to have to hike or horseback. I think I would come in from the Trout Creek side. But what about the Oak? This definitely sounds more Spanish to me. It however is on the east side of the river. It would make a great hiding place. The French would have had detail files of this area. This needs posted to the forum.
Last night, I got to spend some time on the phone with J. Jimmerson talking about the lost gold. Jimmerson’s reputation in the area is stellar. He his old school and tells it like he sees it. Years back, he had a friend named Joe Cogan who owned a ranch at Nathrop. He was very familiar with the history and legends in the upper Arkansas River basin. Joe has since passed, but they were good buddies and worked Search and Rescue together for years. Joe was an ex-police officer from Chicago. While horseback riding near the Buffalo Peaks, Joe came upon a solid Oak door with massive hinges (he believed either were French or Spanish). He wanted attempt to break off the pad lock that secured the door. The door was at a angle into the base of the West Buffalo Peak somewhere into the two peaks. It had become exposed from a rock slide. If you look at the Lebreau Expedition map 1799-1804, look to the top where the Lost Gulch was located. If your from the area, then you know about the Buffalo Peaks. Could this be one of the locations of the stash? Jimmerson who knows the area better than anyone, also knows the legends. He always heard that the French occupied the East side of the river and the Spanish the West long before Colorado statehood.
Remember, Ward indicated in his articles that in retreat the remaining French came out in Buena Vista. Food for thought… Adams clearly believes that they moved back and forth up and down the river from Chalk Creek to the Lost Gulch. Is it to far to imagine that perhaps one of the 3 locations in somewhere between the Buffalo Peaks?
By the way, when I am searching for the lost gold legend, I only take pans, buckets, and a sluice. I use the Gold Machine to process fine gold and don’t like taking it all apart to go to Wolf Creek. I pan creeks to find evidence of placer deposits for research. The machine was built specifically to get fine gold out of the Arkansas and it’s tributaries. As for the metal detectors, great question. There are so many people giving advice, it’s mind boggling! You simply DO NOT need an expensive pulse induction Minelab metal detector for $3,000-$6,000 dollars! I think all the gold and treasure shows have made it very difficult for people to understand. Seriously, #1. It depends on your budget! #2. What ever unit you purchase, get a good set of ear phones. #3. Learn to ground balance what ever unit you buy. #4. Buy a couple $50 nuggets and practice. Practice with coins, nails, cans and old bullet casings. Bury them a varying depths and learn to discern the sound and read your instrument panel. — In Nathrop, I know a older gentleman – John Jimmerson. Back in the day, most would consider him to be a professional hunter. He was a White’s dealer for many years. This man knows metal detectors. But he would tell you the same thing. It’s about practice and understanding the equipment you have. A Bounty Hunter metal detector in the hands of someone who can ground balance it and has practiced with it can be extremely effective for a fraction of what a Minelab low end detector would cost. That’s a fact. In the desert of Arizona, yes pulse induction and a higher end Minelab might come in very hand. But even this scenario would require a great deal of practice. Start on the low end. 3 types of metal detectors youre going to be shopping are VLF (Very Low Frequency) , MF (Multi-Frequency), PI (Pulse Induction). I would buy a good used VLF or MF to start. In the high country of Colorado, the rocks are hot. Learn the terms. VLF at about $400 (used) comes in #1 to start. Easy to use, easy to understand, and you can ground balance correctly with little or no practice. Jump up to $600 for to MF. It will go a little deeper, and handle hot rocks a little better. But again, a Bounty Hunter (brand new) under $400. With some ear phones (good set $40) would blow you away! But to answer the question, I use a Tesoro Lobo SuperTRAQ. It is so easy to use, it’s ridiculous! I also use a Minelab X-TERRA with 3 different coils. At today’s prices, you could land both of these for under $1,500. Tesoro is out of business. But I met the owners some years back. Good people, great warranty, and they stood behind the product. I wouldn’t think twice about getting a used one as long as I get see it up and running before the purchase. These are great for looking for treasure. I find things in walls, rock structures, you name it. I’ve been looking for 3,516 oz ingots for years. If I were so rich that money didn’t matter, and buy expensive drones! Your going to beat your metal detectors up. I wouldn’t want to scratch a $6,000 Minelab and it wouldn’t do me any good where I hunt.
Gotcha. That is precisely what I am looking for, advice that addresses all the concerns I have. I am looking but still can’t find the spiral unit at a competitive price. Perhaps the purchase of a new unit would be a good idea because the warranty would cover it while I’m practicing. Do you have any personal preference on metal detectors? The prices are all over the map!
We bought a Desert Fox for around $319 new – which I believe included shipping. It was an incredible deal at the time. They have went up a little bit, but I have seen used units for sale. Keep looking. $100 is to low. I don’t think anyone will part with one that cheap unless the wife/partner wants it gone and that persons prospecting days are over!!! The mini-dredge – I purchased at a prospecting show in Montana also in 2010. We have literally beat the crap out of it! It is very durable. We paid $199.00 on sale with pump. Again, the pump you can replace with one at Harbor Freight around $14. If you build it like our unit, you will already have spare pump that comes with Desert Fox. The DF and MD pumps are almost identical. Just remember the panty hose (Dollar Tree) over the bottom (suction side) to keep out debris. THAT WILL BURN OUT YOUR PUMP if you do not use a filter. Are original prototype (in previous picture) ** with all it’s pieces including the box we built with wheels ** was just shy $1,000. But you don’t have to spend that kind of money. Use your imagination. The point of the Gold Machine is to get the cons down enough to automate the process by getting the Magnetite (black sand) out. If you are new to prospecting, pan 1st!!! And do it a lot! You will begin to see why the black sand (clean up process) is the hard part. Then graduate to a non-motorized sluice. Then to dredge/sluice combo. This machine is for fine gold.
Also, the smaller the cons #20 screen or higher will make the spiral catch the fine gold much more effectively. This will keep your motor on the wheel from having to work harder. If you buy one of the wheels, learn how to use it 1st before building your machine. YOU NEED to focus the even streams of water coming from the jets and being able to tilt the wheel to the MOST EFFECTIVE angle (tilt) and MOST EFFECTIVE SPEED! You must have the unit a level as possible. The whole concept works on gravity and the weight of gold. You are going to have to practice to make this pay off. DON’T FORGET the Jet Dry. It does not take a lot. But it really works. If it bubbles to much in your reservoir, back off and add clean water. This machine WILL WORK if you take the time to study the concept, PRACTICE the concept, and run your buckets.
We bought a new unit in 2010. I have no idea the countless amount of hours that our unit has been used. We do use plain old sewing machine oil. I usually put in a drop on both side of the motor. I put in 1-2 drops in the gear housing. I have taken the unit apart several times for cleaning and simple maintenance. I have run continuously for for hours upon hours with no issues. If you buy a new unit, I doubt the 1st year that your going to have any issues. Just keep it clean and use a drop of oil every couple of uses. I buy the Black and Decker old drill motors at garage sales. They are easy to take apart and I now have some spare motors. You can buy another motor for less than $20.00. Your not making a piano, everything on our unit has been replaced with parts from Harbor Freight and garage sales!
I just commented on the Gold Machine. My fear is that if not purchased new, I would burn the motor out. Then the conversion to AC/DC concerns me. How long can you expect something like to to work? With the warranty, have you had to get new motors?
Interested in the Gold Machine. You stated that you could build it for approximately $500.00. I was pricing the spiral wheels. I cannot seem to find one that is inexpensive perhaps under $100.00. I did not realize that spiral units were over $250! I was wondering if you purchased your spiral new? Was the mini-sluice including hoses and pumps? Is the purpose of AC/DC just for portability?
Happy Easter! May God bless you and yours always! We will be running updates from 10:00am–11:00am (CT) and backups to platoro.net. It will take approximately 1 hour.
Please remember to lift up the families of those slain in Boulder yesterday in prayer. Pray for those families, friends and the community of Boulder. It is another unfortunate episode that continues to cripple our nation. All we can do is pray. May God bless you and yours and the victims of this senseless act of hatred and pain.
One idea that I had was a long gutter – perhaps 21′ to 24′ long, shaped in an “U” with right angles. It would be lined in black matting with larger riffles at the top and smaller at the bottom. The gutter would slope at about 3-5% for every 1 1/2′. Recirculate the water. Run a bucket of cons and once the bucket is out, let the water just keep running – trying to run off sand. After that runs for about 20 minutes, let it all dry out. Use magnets to get any additional remaining black sand out. You would probably need to get it down at least to a #20 screen. Seriously thinking of trying this out this year.
Bravo! Their hydro magnetic machine doesn’t collect the gold but allows it to fall through into the sand. Some type of system would still be required to get the gold. Gravity and shaker tables are still required? For fine gold, your combo contraption is practical. In the desert, the larger spiral wheels can process dry sand yet the small fine gold gets away. Possibly you could tinker your idea with small shaker table on the bottom and allow the cons to fall directly onto it. Somehow make the table narrow enough to move material gradually across the surface and maybe have series of magnets pulling any left over magnetite away? Could maybe go on the cheap with and old paint shaker motor? I love tinker tantrums, bravo, bravo!
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Seriously, that is very cool! Taking home your work! I knew some old timers that would spend a couple weeks a year, high-banking & dredging up by Twin Lakes off the Arkansas river. They worked hard. They filled around 50 buckets and would take them back to Nebraska or Kansas. They would spend the winter processing out the gold… Now I get it. That way, you all get a lot more gold and have something to do while your idle. Good stuff!
This is my version of a “Gold Machine” which I’ve built for the specific purpose of extracting fine gold. I think that good ideas are better when cascaded together. Bottom line – “Clean up” is the most time consuming part of prospecting. And when you or your buddies/mates are tired, how much gold do you leave in a stream or river by sloppy clean ups? Obviously gold is not magnetic and the finer gold always seems to allude even the most experienced prospector. But it’s really about the time. The system below allows you to take home your cons and process them while watching the Broncos or Buccaneers (whatever your flavor is) and get (almost all) the gold out including the finer pieces… I have enlarged the picture to visualize the process below:
1st – The top part is a “Gold Spiral Wheel” with a plastic (upper reservoir) container directly beneath it. You can buy these types of wheels (Example: Desert Fox) from Ebay or prospecting supply companies. As you can tell, the legs actually sit in the container. Most of the larger gold pieces come out in the center of the wheel into a small cup that hangs in the back of the unit. The water that splashes out or falls through, ends up directly below into the reservoir. There is a 1 1/4″ PVC pipe about 2″ long that is drilled into the very bottom right hand corner. This allows the excess water continually fall into the larger plastic (lower reservoir) to be re-circulated. Your concentrates need to be reduced at least to the mesh size of 1/4”. 1/8″ seems to work best. But if your into the numbers, just get a #10 & #20 classifier, run your buckets, you’ll be eventually be fine (pun intended).
2nd. The entire top portion sits on a wooden box that holds a used 450 Watt PC Power supply (can buy anywhere). For geeks, this is +/- 5/12 Volt DC output. This allows the unit to run AC/DC by simply switching the wires (if needed). Normally, this whole unit runs by plugging into a standard AC outlet.
3rd. The water in the front of the spiral comes from small jet holes down the wheel and fall into the white gutter that is directly below. It is approximately 2′ long and can be moved back and forth including sideways (adjusted) to catch the majority of water cascading down the front of the spiral. The white gutter is lined with a black ridged (cut to fit) “Welcome” mat you can purchase Home Depot or wherever.
4th. The water then travels into the adjustable mini-sluice (Ebay) that has 2 levels. Water comes into the top inlet via a piece of standard garden hose. There is a small adjustable flow level to control this water. It also is lined in black ridged matting but has less space between the ridges (riffles). It also was a old “Welcome” mat. This was also a goal, simple “clean ups” with NO MINER MOSS!
5th. The water and any remaining material (black sand) then falls into a aluminum trap box that sits in the larger (lower reservoir) container. The side of the trap box that faces the unit has messing along the top-side that usually sits 2″ above the water line. This allows the water to all into the larger container. Almost all Magnetite is collected in this box. It will be eventually dried out on cookie sheets (of left to dry) and put into jars.
6th. The water in the lower container is then pumped backup up to the top jets via a sump pump that was purchased from Harbor Freight. I have only had to replace this pump 2 times. It also is connected directly to the PC power supply. The water flow is controlled by a used sprinkler system “T” with flow controls for the return of the water for both the garden house and the wheel itself. You can use standard panty hose to cover the bottom of the pump or you will burn it out. Dollar Tree panty hoses work just fine. REMEMBER: Be safe with ELECTRICITY AC or DC and WATER! Get it?
7th. The flood light is used to be able to see the gold on the black matting. Virtually all larger pieces are extracted by the wheel and the finer pieces are now in the white gutter and top level of the mini-sluice. What is left over is extracted with a small vacuum (modified shop vac) the uses fish tank hoses for input and standard coffee filters to catch gold and allow water to fall through into filter which sits in a can. Also, I use large tweezers and a very cool set of jewelry glasses that were also purchased from Harbor Freight.
8th. Everything sits on top of a rectangular wooden box with wheels so the unit can be moved or turned towards direct sunlight. One side of the box is exposed and I keep 5 gallon buckets, pans, screens, small scoops, and of course, Jet Dry. If you pan or sluice, you know why you need Jet Dry (but not much – you don’t want to many bubbles). I clean the entire unit with bleach and rubbing alcohol. I ALWAYS USE FRESH WATER after 10 hours of operation. You can get extremely sick if you don’t. The wheels also enable you to push the unit (slowly if water is in it) out of the way or store.
In theory, you can build something like this system (used) for about $500 including buckets, classifiers, (you get the picture). Of course, neither I or ANY members of this website are responsible for any damages, injury, or death that you or any member of your crew, group, or family may incur. If you decide to build this, it is an ongoing (experimental) project so THAT WAS THE WARNING!!! But if it gives you some cool on ideas, then great. These type of ideas are easy to tweak. It is not working by magnets, but this is my “Gold Machine”. I always use fresh water (YOU CAN GET VERY SICK IF YOU DON’T – Again not responsible for your actions, in any way, shape, or form). Also, that office has vinyl siding on and the floor is water proof. FYI: On occasion water splash and sprinkle out. Works great in a garage or outside on a driveway when it is not windy. It is important to keep your unit as level as possible so the water stream stays “Even” across the mating. Hope you have some fun and collect more gold.
The winter has slowed us down a bit. However, this is one of the topics in our forum. It’s very interesting…
Gold Machines: If you panned in Colorado, then you know that most gold is very small (flour) gold. I have panned enough streams from Wolf Creek to Twin Lakes to know that most of the small particles take a tremendous amount of time to “clean up” and extract the gold from the black sand. I’ve have spent years trying to derive the perfect system. I came across this picture of a machine several years ago that was from the 1900:
“This invention has been newly patented by Professor Elmer Gates, and its whole secret lies in removing from the gold bearing sand the magnetic iron (known as “magnetite”) which such stuff always contains, as a preliminary to separating the gold.”
“This Machine May Largely Increase World’s Gold Output.” New York Herald (Sunday, December 9, 1900, Fifth Section) p. 6. The PDF file is the link below.
Gold Machine 1900
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I would agree that finding a reason to pan around “The Window” seems to be pointless. Over the years, we have panned several areas that should have some color in every pan and – NO SOAP! In some cases, not so much as a flake. Even for the fun, have panned most of the creeks around Treasure Mountain. Again, no soap… But I am a strong believer in the idea – Where there is smoke, there must have been a fire. There are to many stories and >>up to date<< evidence that gold occurrences are all around the Summitville and Platoro areas. The upper Weminuche area is geologically harder to explain. But whether or not placer deposits are by the window isn't really the issue. It's the stories. I think a mine near La Ventana could have existed and possibly still does.
Pretty sure if you go to mindat.org that El Dorado is a copper, lead, zinc mine. Back over to the window, this is not really a placer area. There is evidence of old diggings but not an area known to produce vast amounts of gold. You would find more placers toward Ouray, Silverton. You might check with a local rock hounds in Pagosa or down towards Bayfield but believing a myth is just that. Wishful thinking makes empty diggings. Summitville is the best evidence of massive amounts of gold. The French did not bury this gold near Cimarrona peak. The Spanish did not have some mine near the window. Just wishful thinking. Go to mindat. Look at all the mines from up Elwood, Stunner, Platoro.
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Talking about La Ventana being close to the Spanish mine from the story. On page 64 of Gold Occurrences of of Colorado – Colorado Geological Survey 2011, the entire area is the San Juan Volcanic Field. Almost everyone of the Calderas listed on the page are ripe for placer deposits. It would make since that this mysterious mine that is so close to the divide and and virtually in a caldera field could have produced enormous quantities of silver & gold. Right on the San Juan and Hilsdale County line just northwest of La Ventana and on the divide is a series of mines. I know one was called the El Dorado mine. Trying to find out more about the area. Look now close that is to this area.
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Interesting… A Brinks truck??? I’m trying to figure out how many donkeys or horses that would be required to move this amount of gold. I was trying to estimate it on 3,516 bars. Or is it 3 1/2 tons? That’s a big difference?
OK – obviously the ingots/bars are not going to stack into perfect cubes. But 3.5 tons of gold breaks down to:
Amount: 3.5 long tons (long tn) of gold mass
Equals: 6.51 cubic feet (cu ft – ft3) in gold volume
A 26′ rental truck can carry 6500-8000 lbs of weight. There almost 1,600 cubic feet of space. This would be more than enough! But the space inside of a Wells Fargo is clearly much less. I’m sticking with my calculation of 4-5 trucks if it is in ingots/bars playing it safe.
I saw a Brinks truck last night at a ATM. They must be similar. I’m not sure, but it seems that there is not enough room in the back of one of those trucks to cover your calculations. I looked at Penske moving truck 10-13 foot long, and there was roughly 450 cubic feet. That’s open space. There is probably 1/5th the space in the back of a Brinks truck. I would say at least 10 Brinks/Wells Fargo truck.
Commenting on a how many Wells Fargo Trucks would be required to move this much gold: We were not able to determine (with any assistance from an expert) the exact answer, however, please read.
Using the amount (3,516 ingots of gold) x (20 oz each) = 70,320 ounces. (70,320) / (16 oz per 1 lb) = 4,395 pounds.
Read this article on normal trucks: Calculating Your Truck’s Maximum Payload and Towing Capacity
If we are reading this correctly and a Wells Fargo Truck was a Class 8, based on the estimated room inside, and the approximate square footage required to stack the ingots/bars, the density of the gold, we estimate it would take 5-6 trucks playing it safe.
However, if it is (3 1/2 tons of gold) is 7,000 lbs. 7,000 lbs is 102,083.30 Troy ounces or 112,000 ounces. This would require (our opinion) 8-9 trucks, playing it safe.
If someone else has an opinion or could help give us a better answer, please let us know.
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This website ROCKS. I like the BACK TO THE PAST theme. I didnt even know that a treasure this large existed in Colorado and I’m from here! How do I join? I can’t find the JOIN button.? PLLLLZZZZZZ help!
First – MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR! May God bless you and yours this holiday season! And as for the two stories seeming related, I think the Smiths believed it. There are several people that I know who are locked into this area. I remember the KAMR TV interview. I’ve looked or it but NO SOAP! It seemed that Granite Peak was the area but I thought it was more north at the Granite Peak Guard Station which is almost at the intersection of Trails 523 & 539 and by the Pinos River… Gestefield was in the same general area. And all of these areas are so close to the divide. I think Smith took portions of The Citadel, La Ventana, and My 50 Year French Treasure Hunt and found a clue of his own down in Durango. Looks like Poison Park (again) for me next year!
Not sure about the La Ventana story. It sounds like the Smiths were looking for the same gold as My 50 Year French Treasure Hunt. The Continetal Divide is directly north of both Hossick Creek and Granite Peak. I believe Granite Peak was the area the Smiths reportedly were near. Gestefield was searching very close to the same area. The Window is not that far from Granite Peak. The Rio Grande Pyramid (on the divide and next to La Ventana) was just southwest of Granite Peak. When it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, it might be a (well) duck. Just need a duck with good luck lol.
It was KAMR AMARILLO TX that ran a story on him and his daughter. — Its a story ripped straight from the pages of a Hollywood script. But instead of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, a father-daughter duo from Amarillo are filling the lead role. Theyre looking for a two hundred year old lost treasure worth close to a billion dollars. “Its there and were going to find it,” says sixty-two year old Gary Smith. “Sometimes it feels like this is our destiny,” says Garys twenty-five year old daughter Emily. Its a relationship built on trust. For Gary, its a journey twenty-eight years in the making. “Well the French left it there on an expedition from 1799 to 1804 out of New Orleans,” says Gary. Ten years after his first trip to the mountains of Colorado, Garys 17 year old daughter joined him and the rest is history. “Well when my father first came to me about it I was kind of in a rough patch in my life and just the fantasy the neat treasure hunting, that kind of got me going. But at the same time I didnt believe a word he said. You know Im kind of like, ok dad youre crazy,” says Emily. According to Gary, this French Expedition found an old Spanish Mine. “A mine called, la mina perdida de la ventana,” says the weathered explorer. Roughly translated… the lost mine. “I think that its been there for two hundred and nine years. I think theres anywhere in the hundreds of millions in gold oar, if all the legends are true and so far theyre true,” says Gary. “Im probably more skeptical than anybody else in the nation, in the world,” says Emily. After eight years of trips together,
the Smiths believe their close using markers left behind by the French. “Its over forty markers now,” says Gary as he looks into the distance. “Some of them look like turtles, so we call them turtle rock,” says his trusty companion. In two thousand six, the Smiths say their search was legitimized even more, when the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the National Forest Service granted them a Treasure Trove Permit. “But one thing thats legitimized it for me every step of the way is our discoveries. You cant deny that marker there. Its man made, it was put there by somebody,” says a very excited Emily. “It is an Indiana Jones fairy tale type treasure. In a fairy tale place, and how could it not be rewarding,” says dad. “I felt lost, I felt like I didnt know who I was or where I was going in life and this gave me purpose,” says Emily. “Be patient, cuz its coming,” says a very confident Gary. Monday night on the KAMR NBC 4 News at Ten, well take a look at the markers and where theve led the Smiths… As they look for the lost mine. I cut n paste – here’s the credit : Copyright 2013 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.
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As the story goes, the Spanish found a rich gold mine in the mountains of Colorado only to leave it behind for some reason. According to Gary Smith the French were on an expedition from New Orleans that started in 1799 and they found the old Spanish mine. According to Mr. Smith the mine is supposedly called “ la mina perdida de la ventana”. – Gary and his daughter were from Amarillo TX.
This is one of my most favorite stories of the Rockies. It is so hard to believe that much gold is buried and still has not been found. For several years we would camp right off the FR725 as you start down the western side of Wolf Creek pass. We were told that the highway was an original route/trail that the Ute Indians used for hundreds of years. You trace the 160 all the way back to Winfield KS and then to the border. Even though are campsite was relatively close to the highway, it was peaceful and the sense of harmony was amazing! We have hiked in this area numerous times, it’s so beautiful! We came across a large circular dug out surrounded by large rocks. We could tell that is was very old. It would not surprise me if somewhere around that area is buried gold. We seen old markings in the trees and on rocks. Back in the 70s, the job corps had groups cutting down trees. They left large cables and other metallic items buried all over the place. It makes it difficult to use a metal detector. We drove over the pass this year. There is so much beetle kill in the trees, and you can see how bad the fires have been over the years. But I am still hoping to get back up there and strike it rich!
Just was wondering if anyone has heard of La Ventana written by Maynard Adams & published in 2004? The book covered the years 1684-1770. Is it possible that a portion of the treasure was in this area of La Ventana. Maybe these stories are intertwined? There was an older gentleman and his daughter that seemed to believe that lost French gold was northwest of Williams Creek Reservoir. They were on some news channel some years back looking in that area. According to Adams, the gold bullion and rich Sylvanite ore was said to be stored east of “The Window”. Well that possibly could be part of the same legend. East would be near Hossick Creek and the Weminuche Valley. That was where Henry Gestefield believed the gold was buried.
Until today, this forum and website were dedicated to “The Lost French Gold”. We have never allowed any comments or posts referencing political views or opinions. However, this opinion was allowed to post on our main page. This website has members with differing views. We have family members with different political affiliations. The conflict in this country could eventually paint websites like ours with a negative narrative. We must preserve some of the traditions and holidays that are exclusively American. They were earned at the expense of others who fought and died for them. Even the joy of past-times like researching lost treasure and legends are examples of the countless experiences we enjoy in a free society. This website is about our history. American Indian, American, French, Spanish, just to name a few – and I am trying to be politically correct. Some of the details encompass the very essence of the “Melting Pot” culture.
Restricting or banning holidays and religious gatherings will have little to no impact on the overall success of stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus. There are numerous politicians, corporate elites, and community leaders who consistently adopt or support federal and state mandates restricting these freedoms. They need to consider being more effective as role models and practice this mandates rather than telling us how to eat our meals and enjoy our lives. This, “Do as I say but not as I do” comes at a great price and at takes advantage of of good natured people who are to scared to stand up and say something. Regardless of all these debates, May God bless you and yours in the upcoming holidays. We should support and pray for whom ever God chooses to be the President of the United States regardless if it is President Trump or Biden. May God Bless America…
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To the last comment: I also believe Henry Gestefield was the most honest of all the authors. He seems to have no credibility issues at all. Believe it. We have invested much time into Henry. However, I cannot completely lock in my opinion about the location being north of Pagosa Springs. On the other hand, I am convinced that a portion is still somewhere between South Mountain and Jasper CO. Several of us have searched Williams Creek Reservoir area. No soap as Henry wrote. I have no idea how many locals have searched north of the Poison Park area. Mr. Gestefield had many friends and many people believed in his account of this story. Still no soap. I just have a different view from being on the ground. And by the way, I didn’t believe the Cat Creek area was remotely possible. I had searched for this treasure since 2004 and never even gave CC a thought. But after living in the SLV and searching with many others, and for several years, I believe there is something in this area. Friends I have met in the SLV never even have heard Gestefield’s name much less read his book. That’s the purpose of this forum. I lost an important friend and investor over this project. I do not give up. I don’t take things lightly when it comes to this subject. Hopefully, our group will be able to swing enough money in 2021 to keep going and try to cover a spot that we have researched in the upper Weminuche and also spend time below South Mountain. On very tight funds, I was able to make it to Treasure Mountain from the San Juan side this year. This year, yes, something most definitely occurred. I really needed to get back, but again, something always seems to happen. In this case, a medical issue. Got past that (at least at the moment) and just when things were coming together on all fronts, COVID-19. Go figure. It’s not investors that is always required. It is a solid group of people who won’t give up! If more money comes our way, great, but on limited funds, you have to pick your search areas and stick to the plan. In a two year period of living in the SLV, I was able to search 22 different times and still hold down a job. I estimated that each of the trips, even when there were not overnight – or several days – cost a minimum of $100 not to mention the time. I always was within 50 miles of the search areas or closer. One full year, I was within 25 miles. However, most of the trips averaged much higher – more like $150-$200. The only reason the trips were this cheap, is because we have the right type of metal detectors, equipment, and vehicles. I would consider living near Pagosa for a year to cut the costs down and be within 20 miles. I just can’t lock in to this area like some others. That is why would spent weeks on end camping near Wolf Creek pass. It’s in between. I am a little off track, but you get the picture.
I believe Henry Gestefield was the most honest of all the authors and historians that either wrote about or documented this legend. The location of part of the treasure could easily be north of Pagosa Springs and another somewhere above Stunner. His book was very specific including his maps. I’m surprised that more people don’t believe it is the San Juan’s above William’s Reservoir. It’s incredibly difficult for me to swallow it being near Cat Creek.
Many claim the gold is cursed. At least it has not hurt anyone I know but haven’t found the gold! I’ve spent much time looking in the Cat creek and NO SOAP, like Gestefield said! It’s somewhere in that area.
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