Season 7 of Gold Rush doesn’t air until Friday, October 14th but talk about the latest mining sites is already at a fever pitch. The Hoffman crew is on the move again, this time to Oregon. Along with being close the home, the move may make for a more profitable season as the lower latitude may extend their mining season.
High Bar Mine (Hoffman Crew)
44°31’30.5″N 117°55’25.4″W
Not one to be held to any one location (remember the Q.O.D. mine in Guyana from Gold Rush Season 4?) the Hoffman crew is leaving the Yukon. This time, they are moving a little closer to home: Baker County, in eastern Oregon. Baker County has a long history of gold mining and the Hoffman crew is ready to make their own mark at the High Bar Mine.
Unlike past mining locations, the High Bar Mine is a claim on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The claim holder is High Bar Mining LLC, which holds most of the claims in the region. While High Bar Mining LLC is paying a $1240 annual maintenance fee for the 160 acres, we have no idea what kind of premium they are making off of the Hoffman crew. High Bar is a relatively recent acquisition. While the claim was originally located on April 13, 1917, records indicate that the claim was transferred to High Bar Mining LLC five years ago on September 16, 2011.
Interestingly, a quick search of google reveals that the High Bar Mine, or at least parts of it, are for sale. We are certainly curious to know the terms of the Hoffman’s use.
Learn more about the High Bar mining region:
- Bureau of Land Management record for High Bar
- Other claims held by High Bar Mining LLC
- USGS record for High Bar Placer
- Overview of mining activity in the Baker County, Oregon
Learn more about Gold Rush mining sites on our Gold Rush Locations Overview.