Modern Day Gold Prospectors

The Mayor of the Mountain
Bernie McGrath has been working the East Fork since around 1988. A veteran of Korea and Vietnam, he holds a bronze star and 7 purple hearts. His experience and wisdom have led the others to regard him as the informal leader of the community. More successful than most prospectors, he says that he is drawn to mining for more than just the money. "All my life I've searched for serenity and peace of mind. Tried everything for that," he says. "When I found this, gee, here I am alone, not a soul around me...I thought it was as close to Heaven as I'd ever get."

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• Sarina Finkelstein's Website