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Post by Woodyrock on May 6, 2008 1:39:30 GMT -5
My wife, and I just spent five days on Saddle Mountain digging some really awesome pet wood. We were joined for two of these days by Chasfire, and two of our other digging buddies. This is truely one of those digging sites that is a must do if you are looking for a nice variety of agatized, opalized, or both petrified wood in a wide range of colours. The digging can be a wee bit tough bit the rewards are great! Tough means a lot of the material is in an ash layer between two layers of basalt. If you do not want to dig, a good wander about will fill a bag in short order with fist sized, and down pieces. So far, I have not cut into any dentritic material, but I have cut some very colourful stuff nearly as coulourful as Arizona pet wood. There is hope yet for dentritic material since we brought back well over a hundred pounds. Pictures will be posted in Slabs and Saws.
There is no shade, or water, so bring your own.
Woody
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49er
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 753
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Post by 49er on Jun 28, 2008 20:55:40 GMT -5
woodyrock, have you posted any pixs of the pet wood here? when are you planning another trip to saddle mountain? would be interested in joining you if you make another trip. if not do you have gps coordinates of the pet wood location or a link for more info.?
thanks
49er
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Post by Woodyrock on Jun 29, 2008 0:52:24 GMT -5
49er:
I have posted photographs of some slabs of the Saddle Mountain material. I will not go back over until it cools down, I just do not desert heat very well since I have NW webbed feet. How to get there is quite easy. I 90 to Vantage, cross the bridge, go south to Mattawa (about 14 miles) , go 2 miles east through town (if you like Mexican food, stop here), turn north on R road. When the road splits (they parallel) go on left side. Watch for BLM sign, stop and read the info there. This is BLM land, but there are some sections that are private. there was some dispute about mineral rights, read the currant info on sign. You will go about six miles on dirt road, which may or may not be rough. This is an off road area, and some of the toy haulers washboad the road pretty bad sometimes. Digging is best spring, and fall..to hot in summer (and rattlers) can be bitter cold in winter. You can find really good maps on BLM's web site. Dig anywhere you find diggings, or if you want tumbling material just wander about, and pick it up by the bucket full. When you dig, look for the white ash coloured layer. that is where the material is. The Gem Trails book for WA says the micro wave tower area may be pick clean..but that is because he did not do any digging. Just dig between holes. There is a good wind protected place to camp close to the towers, but road is sand , and you might need 4wd to get back on the main road (R road). there is good digging right around the camping area.
Woody
Woody
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Dec 1, 2008 12:16:32 GMT -5
^^^ Watch out for the spam posts...don't click any of the links!
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grant
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since March 2007
Posts: 85
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Post by grant on Jul 2, 2009 22:40:33 GMT -5
Woody I took my wife and son up there in early June. Your directions were spot on. I got to the gate and there was a guy in an explorer parked and digging just to the right of it. In talking to him I found out he just didn't want to go thru the gate without knowing if it was ok. I went thru and he followed me and we both parked just past the hump in the road where it looks like the road dissappears into thin air. Gets pretty steep there and I didn't want to take a chance at not getting back up the hill.  We found a bunch of just beautiful wood, all sorts of it just lying on top of the ground, then we dug a bit in one of the spots someone else had been and I found one big piece with about a six inch limb sticking out of it. Actually my rock dog found it. Here he comes with a big piece he can't hardly lift with his neck muscles. He carries a boat anchor around the yard if I leave it down Craziest thing he does , if I am in my shop working and I don't watch him he carries off my rough. Then I find it all over the yard next time I mow the grass Hot, wow.. I have never done anything that was as hot as that place. The breeze that would come up now and again was nice.. We only spent about an hour there and took home two 5 gallon buckets full of great stuff. Soon as I get my combo unit fixed I will make some cabs and post em.. Some of that wood is HARD!..  |
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