Nothing seems to motivate adventurous men like gold and silver! And 150 years ago, in a wild untamed country, it changed everything. Almost overnight towns sprang up wherever prospectors struck it rich. Eventually, the magic faded, but not completely, not everywhere. In places like Wallace and Atlanta, Challis, Sandpoint, and the Boise Basin, mining activity is increasing, as the price of metals reaches historic levels. What role should mining play in a society that now puts a premium on clean water and clean air? Outdoor Idaho goes prospecting for some answers.