Feldman brothers embrace adventure

The Feldman brothers are on a hunt for more than treasure. In their new Travel Channel series, “Lost Gold,” Josh, 39, and Jesse, 44, seek to find forgotten gold mines and other pieces of history throughout America. The Arizona natives say that getting to see the world is a big perk of their job. “From my travels, I have learned to appreciate different cultures and to be open to new experiences,” says Josh. “I believe where we are from influences who we are. I think this is a beautiful thing and it should be celebrated.”

An edited version of our conversation follows.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

Jesse: Iceland. It’s alive with volcanic activity. You can visit Iceland and see how mountains are formed. It’s the very beginning geologic stages of how gold later becomes deposited in rock. Most of Iceland is untouched by man and the people who live there have a great story of downright perseverance.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

Jesse: When I think about untapped destinations, I think of the public lands right here in the western United States. Land in the West is hardly populated. The bubble of a city makes you think that it is the sum total of your environment. That simply is not true and if you spend part of your lifetime in the wilderness exploring, it will give you an education Brothers Jesse, left, and Josh Feldman are on the hunt for abandoned gold mines in “Lost Gold.”

beyond anything you can learn in a classroom.

Josh: Greenland is one of the most uniquely beautiful places I have ever visited. It’s not super easy to get there, but it is well worth the effort. Once there, you will have opportunities to see nature at its finest. The Arctic is a mysterious place, full of secrets that can only be discovered and understood by living it yourself. It is not a vacation to Greenland. It is a journey of a lifetime.

Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?

Josh: The first big trip I remember was to Japan. I was about 12 years old and was more excited about flying on a plane than actually going to Japan. It’s weird to think about nowadays, but back then people were allowed to smoke on airplanes for international flights, so the plane ride went from exciting to miserable very quickly. However, once I arrived in Japan, the trip became an eye-opening experience. It was the first time I was able to visit another culture and to understand that the world was much bigger than I could have

imagined. I will never forget the graciousness of the Japanese people and their time-honored traditions. Not only was it one of the best trips of my life, but it was also a milestone in my life.

Jesse: The first trip I remember well was to Downieville, California. My dad dredged the Yuba River for gold and I learned for the first time what I would be doing the rest of my life — looking for gold. I caught on to the adventure of it all very quickly.

Q: What would be your dream trip?

Josh: Start off in Australia where I would scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef. I would then do a pack trip into the Outback on horseback for a few days. The trip would continue on to New Zealand, where I would hike across the wilderness exploring the wilds. From there, I would go to Antarctica on a ship. Just getting the chance to step foot in Antarctica would be a privilege in itself.

For more from the reporter, visit www.jaehakim.com.

TRAVEL CHANNEL