lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
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Post by lookatthat on May 10, 2018 9:47:56 GMT -5
Hi folks, I am in the very preliminary stage of planning a possible trip to central/north Cal. up to the middle of Oregon for September (also a little jaunt over to Hawthorne Nevada area). I will be with my senior-citizen parents (who are reasonably healthy). I would love to collect some petrified wood, fossils, a few agates, geodes, what have you. Any suggestions? Also, are the lava beds worth visiting? Are there special caves you'd recommend?
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Post by amygdule on May 10, 2018 12:02:25 GMT -5
The Subway Cave near Lassen National Park is pretty cool. It's a lava tube that's 1/3 mile long and open on each end that you can walk through.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2018 13:01:16 GMT -5
I'm not sure which route you plan to take, but I think coming into Oregon via US 395 makes one of the more interesting drives through south/central Oregon. Varied forest and desert landscapes with interesting rock formations, salt and alkali lakes, wildlife and about as remote as things get in the lower 48. I don't know whether you'll be camping, but if you stay in the Lakeview area (where you'll also want to gas-up if just passing through), a side-trip over to the Oregon Sunstone area is rewarding - awesome desert scenery in the vast Warner Valley and gem rocks for the taking (both lying on the ground at the free public dig area and from fee dig areas where they do the deeper digging for you). There are some hot springs in that area ( Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge) if you want to soak and camp (primitive campgrounds w/ no facilities, but free). Bring extra water (and perhaps some extra gas if you will be wandering too far). The "towns" on the maps often are 2 or 3 houses (sometimes none actually inhabited) with no shops or stations. Across the Nevada border from Lakeview via Hwy 140, you might want to visit the Virgin Valley opal digs. A long side-trip, but certainly interesting if you are willing to go that far. There are only fee digs in Virgin Valley (very expensive per-person or per-bucketload fees - check before you decide to go - but the possibility of finding a precious black opal - it's Nevada so "you puts down your money and you takes your chances"). Though you may not find much precious opal, you should at least come away with some petrified wood limbs. There is also a public campground with a nice hot spring pool and showers there (no RV hookups, but free). I like to cut over from the Sunstone area via Hogback Rd. to Christmas Valley (some stores, gas and restaurants). North of Christmas Valley is Crack-in-the-Ground. The easy trail is about a mile long, and wonderfully cool walking down in the fissure itself on hot days. If you can bear to tear your eyes away from the scenery and focus on the ground, there are some rocks in this area, too (not in the crack, but up in the surrounding area away from the parking, should you want to wander around for a bit). From there, I wouldn't miss the hamlet of Fort Rock (back to Christmas Valley, then a short drive to the northwest). They have a nice Homestead Museum, (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) which they've assembled into a little village by hauling various buildings and furnishings from the ghost towns that once were all over this now sparsely populated area. Fort Rock itself (the awesome volcanic formation) is just a mile or two to the north, and a spectacular formation that gives you the opportunity to get out and do a self-guided interpretive walk among some very interesting rocks. From there, I usually go on up Hwy 31 to Bend (because it is nearer home, but a good hub from where you can stock up on supplies at reasonable prices and fan out to the jasper, petrified wood and agate areas east. There are many great locations you can collect free on public land in the triangle between Bend, Prineville and Glass Buttes. Just south of Bend is Newberry National Monument; an active volcanic area with a pair of crater lakes with excellent fishing, waterfalls and a nice 1-mile lava tube cave that is easily walkable (Lava River Cave: you'll need a light jacket even on a hot day; they rent lanterns on site, but I think good LED flashlights work better). There are good rockhounding guidebooks with directions to specific locations within Oregon, and I'd recommend getting one from your bookstore or online and taking it along. Finally, if you make it as far north as Bend or Prineville, I'd suggest also taking a half day to go down to Richardson's Rock Ranch. Highly recommended (it is a fee dig, but at reasonable $1.25 per-pound price on whatever you take home, plus a world-class rock shop).
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
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Post by lookatthat on May 10, 2018 13:44:09 GMT -5
Oh, good stuff! I'll make notes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2018 17:11:12 GMT -5
I added some links to my post above. I also thought I'd mention that some sites have parking or entrance fees. Since your folks are seniors, it might make sense for one of them to get a Senior Interagency Pass so that there would be no need to pay the day-use fees on this trip ($10 for a lifetime is a great deal). Just hang it on your mirror and you can get into most National Forest, National Monument, BLM, National Park and some other facilities nationwide without the normal day use and parking fees. If they already have one, bring it along.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on May 10, 2018 18:56:08 GMT -5
They do have the Golden Age Passport. I think the Passport as such is no longer offered but I believe it is still honored. I'll have them look for it ahead of time so if they can't find it we can order another one. Thanks for the links!
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sactorick
having dreams about rocks
gemfield
Member since October 2017
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Post by sactorick on May 10, 2018 19:58:41 GMT -5
They do have the Golden Age Passport. I think the Passport as such is no longer offered but I believe it is still honored. I'll have them look for it ahead of time so if they can't find it we can order another one. Thanks for the links!The pass is still available but I've heard it now costs about $90. Still a b argain.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2018 14:22:53 GMT -5
The pass is still available but I've heard it now costs about $90. Still a bargain. That's disappointing, but I suppose not surprising. With the single day passes going for $5 and up, it still doesn't take many trips to pay for a lifetime pass.
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 11, 2018 14:48:05 GMT -5
The pass is still available but I've heard it now costs about $90. Still a bargain. That's disappointing, but I suppose not surprising. With the single day passes going for $5 and up, it still doesn't take many trips to pay for a lifetime pass.
As far as I know, it is $80. And one option to buy a life-time pass that can take some of the sting out of coughing up the dough -
"If you missed out on buying the $10 pass, and don’t want to pay the $80 upfront, there is another option. The NPS says you can buy an annual senior pass for $20 and then, after four consecutive years of purchasing passes, trade them in for a lifetime senior pass. To be eligible for the senior pass, you must be 62 or older and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident."
From AARP website.
The $20 annual pass is still better than paying an entry fee at each park.
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sactorick
having dreams about rocks
gemfield
Member since October 2017
Posts: 67
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Post by sactorick on May 12, 2018 7:10:43 GMT -5
We bought our pass on the Big Island when we went to Volcano National Park a few years ago. The entrance fee was $15 but the Senior Lifetime Pass was $10. It was a no-brainer.
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chassroc
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Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
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Post by chassroc on Jun 8, 2018 10:18:35 GMT -5
I dont think anyone mentioned richardsons ranch for thundereggs
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 9, 2018 8:41:59 GMT -5
Quote "Finally, if you make it as far north as Bend or Prineville, I'd suggest also taking a half day to go down to Richardson's Rock Ranch. Highly recommended (it is a fee dig, but at reasonable $1.25 per-pound price on whatever you take home, plus a world-class rock shop). " Quote....
Top notch Ranch and ask for Casey... Also Glass Buttes and Hampton Buttes over by Hanes and Burns,Oregon area...(Obsidian and green Petwood..)
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Post by arghvark on Jun 13, 2018 12:11:23 GMT -5
Richardson's: Was just there last Friday. A couple of comments: The Priday Moss bed (they'll give you a map) has a couple really spectacular exposed veins of moss agate that are hard to get into and very challenging to get anything out, but worth the effort. A lot of the eggs aren't wholly formed in this bed but the veins are pretty easy to find. I spent 4 hours at that bed and came out with 5-6 lbs, one chunk of which I'm really excited about. Did I mention it's tough digging in this bed? Pony Butte bed, on the other hand, is extremely easy digging with TONS of wholly formed eggs, as well as many clusters. Eggs from this bed can have lovely blue interiors as well as many with great moss formations. A word of caution: 'Tis definitely the season. Saw a medium sized rattler at the edge of one of the waste piles near the Priday Moss bed, so watch where you're putting your feet if you go anywhere outside the beds! They really want to avoid us, but stepping on or near one could be...bothersome to both parties! Another great stop is in the area of Mcdermitt. Petrified wood, agate, jasper, and some very small nodules of obsidian. I've spent most of my time up Disaster Peak Road - it's a very large, rich area with lots of float. It's also well known as its been in Gem Trails of Nevada for 20 years or more. There are a couple other pretty spectacular sites I am still trying to get more precise info on. Apparently there is some great 'hounding southeast of Mcdermitt, in the hills east of the reservation. I haven't explored there yet. PM me if you want more details.
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