In the Footsteps of the Forty-Niners

By J. EMILIO FLORES

Some people come to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, about 80 miles from Los Angeles, to trade the snarl of the freeway for the sound of a running stream. Others get down to business — bringing shovels, buckets and pans to prospect for gold. Some of the searchers are from the Los Angeles area; others are tourists. “It’s all about chasing the gold,” says John Estrada, a frequent visitor who has a collection of small gold pebbles and flakes at home that he plans to give to his children. He is following a dream that has captivated people since the 19th century. And with gold around $1,700 an ounce, more people are catching the fever in the 21st.