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Post by deb193redux on May 11, 2008 1:19:03 GMT -5
Ok, is that the campground on Walton Lake in Ochoco National Forest 37 miles from Prineville. Thirty sites for tents, trailers, or RVs up to 31 feet, with picnic tables, fire grills, piped water, and vault toilets. Boat launching nearby. Leashed pets permitted. No reservations. Open June to late Sept. Getting There:
Walton Lake (OR)
THOUSAND TRAILS MGMT SERVICES
Prineville OR 97754
Located east of Highway 26 on Forest Road 22. Go north from Prineville 16 miles to Jct of Highway 26 and Ochoco Ranger Station Road. Proceed nine miles north-northeast to FS road 22. FS road 42 also starts here; take the left turn up FS 22 some seven miles to lake. All paved road. View Regional Map
Phone Park for More Information:
Project Office: (541)447-1874 Walton Lake group sites are great for family outings, club or other group campouts. Ideal for 15 to 35 campers. Parking areas are meant for 4-6 vehicles. Potable water not piped into the site. Three tables and one fire ring at group sites. Three to four RVs can be accommodated; there are several tent pitching spots available. Closest store is 25-30 miles away. www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/recreation/campgrounds/waltonlake.shtmlwww.recreation.gov/camping/Walton_Lake_Or/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73824&topTabIndex=CampingSpotI read the group site is $50/night, $10/night for tent sites, $7/night for each additional vehicle. Folks staying elsewhere can come in for the day to visit or share a meal for $5/day It says weekends are usually full. I am not sure if tent sites can be reserved because it said "no reservations" above. The group sites must be reserved through recreation.gov, and if the online system is accurate, both group sites are reserved the 26-29th of June. So this means folks trying to get adjacent tent sites. Hard to know if the tent sites will be full because of the pow-wow. It says "potable water, tables, fire pits, vault toilets" - but not clear about a shower. It sounds like this is a nice place, although no closer to Prineville than Richardson's. It does not sound like any motel is close. I think I will be in a motel, so I can look for someplace between the campground and Prineville. WHen I have a reservation, I'll name the motel, and folks trying to hook up can leave messages for me. I heard cell phone coverage was a bit spotty. [glow=red,2,300]So who else would camp at Walton Lake or stay in a motel nearby or otherwise join this trip?[/glow] |
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Post by rhodescabbin on May 13, 2008 21:24:37 GMT -5
Dan brings up a good thing to remember----cell phone service is real spotty in the Ochocos. Actually just 4 miles from Prineville most cell phones lose service. The West slope of the Ochocos has some areas where one can get service if you hold your phone just right lol...Even the Summit most phones won't work.
If all else fails (Walton fills up) Theres still some good primitive sites with Spring water, creeks etc. I can bring some stuff from the house to make tables, I use my Quartzsite table legs and a ply board wala instant table.
We may want to stop by Quant Rock Shop as they always have killer deals and we can secure written permission to dig in the Quant Tube beds, not far from that deposit is the Ochoco Green Jasper aka Ochoco Jade, and many sporadic spots to prospect Moss Agates and Thundereggs....For sure bring a couple chisels as it seems like we always end up using one in either clay dirt or seam agate in rock ledges.
Also bring Winter clothes (Just in case) and summer clothing, also Bug repellent...It can go from one extreme to the other as far as weather so a rain parka is a good idea too...The Morel Mushrooms will still be in season and I know some good areas we can get those and get float rock at the same time.
Also some of you may want to visit The Lucky Strike Mine, Mercy, let me tell ya theres some areas up there that you can see hundreds of miles so a camera is a good idea.
Summit Prairie is another fantastic place to visit, only maybe a 20 minute drive from Walton lake. Lots of good rock and sites there too...
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Post by deb193redux on May 18, 2008 0:32:54 GMT -5
I looked at the RIchardson's area. There are only a few trees, lots of grass, and two very nice restrooms/showers. New fixtures, tiles, hot/cold. Nice.
Once again they confirmed that staying several days and digging only one or two is not a problem. They don't like when folks camping in the area come by for a few hours to use their bathrooms, but having a bunch of rockhounds, likely to return, and likely to buy formthe shop ... well they say that is not a problem - especially when there are pow-wow's.
SOmething to think about.
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on May 18, 2008 20:07:48 GMT -5
I'm really envious of you people out in the great West. I just punched the numbers for the trip and came up with a total of $3600 ($5000+ if I use the federal mileage deduction) if I dug up 3/4 ton of rock at Richardsons. I'd have to sell it at $2.50 ($3.40) a lb to break even. (my wife says my hobbies have to pay for themselves). whew.......
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Post by Woodyrock on May 21, 2008 2:33:29 GMT -5
We were at Richardson's a week ago. They have really done a great job on the roads this year.........we tried them all, and never used 4WD anywhere. Not that I am recommending a street car, but I would have no problem driving my wee Saturn on any of their roads.
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chadman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 106
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Post by chadman on May 28, 2008 23:50:21 GMT -5
I'm really envious of you people out in the great West. I just punched the numbers for the trip and came up with a total of $3600 ($5000+ if I use the federal mileage deduction) if I dug up 3/4 ton of rock at Richardsons. I'd have to sell it at $2.50 ($3.40) a lb to break even. (my wife says my hobbies have to pay for themselves). whew....... Fly out and join someone else. Just a thought. |
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Post by catmandewe on May 29, 2008 0:03:29 GMT -5
We will pick you up at the nearest airport, you will have to mail all your rocks home, though.
I can bring flat rate boxes.
Tony
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Post by deb193redux on May 29, 2008 1:36:54 GMT -5
I still have the motel room in Prineville, but my friends say they will camp at Richardson's Wed-Night thru Sun afternoon. If they still say they're going next week, I am going to get a tent and canopy and table and camp out there with them.
What's the best way we all can meet up? Maybe at the pow-wow fairgrounds?
I would like to go on the pow-wow's Hampton Butte fieldtrip. I don't care too much about White Fir or MacDonald's. I will try to find out which trip is on which day. Maybe we can do a trip with Dale on any day other than the Hampton Butte day?
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on May 29, 2008 8:15:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the offer. I got a knap-in booked for that weekend now. Maybe next year if it's a week earlier.
Lee
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Post by catmandewe on May 29, 2008 12:44:26 GMT -5
The airport offer is good for anyone here who wants to go.
I will be driving through Boise on Thursday morning on the way up there, so that would be an easy pickup.
Plan on coming back through Boise on Tuesday afternoon. Should make for some cheap airfare because of the weekday flights.
Daniel, PM me your phone number, and we can get this meet up thing figured out.
Tony
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Post by rhodescabbin on May 29, 2008 21:18:22 GMT -5
Well I just found out I got a wedding to be at on the 28th at 6:00pm...I can be available the 27th, the morning of the 28th and on...I would like to hit the Pow wow early on either Friday or Saturday I got some business to do and some rocks to buy so other than that my schedule is workable, just have to reserve Sat afternoon/evening for the wedding. I'm really sorry about that, I hope nothing was carved in stone on that day. Its one of my sons getting hitched. It was set for August but it got moved up.
It has been raining here every day for about a week now. The Ochocos are so green and muddy, the mountains needed a good bath, should make for some good float (surface.)rock picking too....
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Post by catmandewe on May 29, 2008 22:06:34 GMT -5
Congrats on the wedding! (I hope)
Whatever you want to do is fine with me, looks like Saturday would be a good day for the pow wow. I don't think anything is set in stone, just that its all about stone!
I just came back from the local hills here and the run off uncovered lots of new rocks in places I had previously hunted. Should be a good year for huntin.
Tony
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Post by deb193redux on May 29, 2008 22:52:08 GMT -5
I am still waiting to hear which day is Hampton Butte. But if we plan something for Thurs or Fri I will go no matter if it conflicts with Hampton Butte.
It might be better to plan on Friday. I kinda like the idea of stopping by the pow-wow on Thurs to see any good deals before someone else gets them.
I think we will set up our camp at Richardson's by noon on Wed. Hopefully we can get by the trees getting there that early in the week.
At least one day my friends plan to let their kids dig thundereggs at Richardson's. Anyone wanting to hook up with us for the dig should PM me.
-Daniel
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Post by deb193redux on May 30, 2008 14:11:56 GMT -5
OK, the Prineville pow-wow schedule is: Thanks for your inquiry. Friday will be to Hampton Butte, Saturday will be Joe McDonald's ranch for eggs and wood, Sunday will be to White Fir for eggs. I don't think there will be any problem driving to the trips, but if there is, some carpool.
Rebecca This is not the news I wanted. If we go with Dale on Friday, I miss the Hampton Butte. Anyway, can we go on Thurs or Fri? I can do Sunday, but I also have to drive home (4hours) Sunday night, so I prefer Thurs or Friday. |
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 5, 2008 15:16:51 GMT -5
Time is short.
Is anybody other than me and Tony planning on meeting up June 26-29'ish
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Post by catmandewe on Jun 6, 2008 22:17:57 GMT -5
Ozzy and his son Josh are carpooling with me, trying to get the cost of fuel down some.
Still room for one or two more. We can always pull the converted snowmobile/rock trailer if we need to.
Tony
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free2rockhound
starting to shine!
Member since December 2006
Posts: 45
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Post by free2rockhound on Jun 7, 2008 1:14:38 GMT -5
hello all
I will be at walton lake on the 25th staying until my truck is full of rocks
Scot
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 8, 2008 0:35:32 GMT -5
is anyone planning on one of the pow-wow field trips? I here it is best to line up jsut after 7am.
Is anyone planning to visit the Richardson's shop or dig t-eggs out at Richardson's
So, which day should we go out with Dale? I got so much Hampton Butte green wood lately, I don't mind if we go Friday.
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Post by catmandewe on Jun 8, 2008 12:49:08 GMT -5
Dale has a wedding on Saturday, so that may be a good day for Richardsons and pow wow shopping.
If Dale is willing, I am up for hunting rocks with him any day that he is free. I plan on hunting rocks friday through monday, then heading home monday night or early tuesday morning. If we get there early enough on Thursday, maybe even an evening hunt on Thursday. Pow wow field trips I am gonna play by ear, its a vacation, I dont really want a schedule.
Scot, what are you driving? Just so we can find you. You are getting there a day before us, so if you want to get a couple of spots next to each other, then we can all camp together. If it costs you more to get them together, go ahead and we will reimburse you when we get there.
I hear gas is going to be over 5 bucks a gallon by July.
Tony
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 14, 2008 22:49:56 GMT -5
Tony, I will be there Wed night. My friends had to cut back to only Friday & Sat nights, and will stay across from the pow-wow. I will stay in my motel room on Wed & Thurs and join them for camping Fri & Sat.
I will hit the pow-wow Thurs morning. I would love to meet up Thursday afternoon or evening. Lets see what we can set up.
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