Product Review

"The first gold nugget I ever found was in the belly of a trout."
And so begins the saga about a regular guy who did something highly irregular—he turned a two-week vacation into an eight-year adventure in the heart of Gold Rush country of Northern California. He made his own shelters, stayed in cabins, lived in caves, or slept under the stars as he prospected year-round in the High Sierras.

Rick had none of the modern amenities of the 1980s—high-tech camping gear, Gore-Tex®, or even a tent—he chose to live as a modern-day ’49er. Over the years he endured many of the same hardships as those early prospectors, but he survived by his wits, through the grace of others, as Rick himself said, “with more good luck than I will ever use.”

Now Rick has used his natural gift for storytelling, photographic memory for details, and a vivid way to express himself to bring his story of a twentieth century mountain man to life. Join Rick as he recounts his adventures, braving the elements, catching and cooking up a fresh trout “hotdog-style,” and yes, finding his first gold nugget—and what he did with it. Read about a century-old legend that led him to the discovery of a buried treasure; about how a pair of “aging Hippies” pointed him toward Nevada County, California, where most of his story takes place; and how a stranger at a campground, half survivalist, half yogi, taught him about karma—as well as a practical lesson in weaponry that would later save his life.

Anyone who has ever dreamed of leaving the modern world behind for even a short time—no mortgage, no bills, no telemarketers—will enjoy this rousing tale of one man’s journey as he retraces the path of part of America’s history. Self-effacing, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, and always compelling, Memoirs of a Modern Prospector will make you think seriously about loading up your backpack for an adventure of your own. For those of us who can’t take off and follow our dreams just yet, this may be the next best thing. His story is part how-to manual and part introspective, a tale that makes us envy his audacity and love of life.