LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Nov 29, 2011 11:59:05 GMT -5
Christopher Anthony met up with us to explore the famous Last Chance Canyon area in the El Paso Mountains, between the city of Mojave and Inyokern, CA off highway I-14. This area has been written about in all the gem books since the 50's. Problem was not only all the gem trail books didn't jive, but the BLM, state park & TOPO maps conflicted each other. So we figured the best way to find out if these areas were open was to go there and find out in person. We started out at area "G" which was on open BLM land between the Red Rock Canyon State Park and BLM wilderness. The books state "Jasper Hill" which was suppose to be a hill covered with colorful jasper and jasp agate. It wasn't actually a "hill." Ended up being a ridge line of hills 1 1/2 miles long! The material was great there and we only walked a tiny fraction of the area. The material looked different from what we're use to, like Lavic, Desert Oasis, Hector, Field and other sites. This material was more solid, less cracks and pits. But it was covered in volcanic ash, which this area is known for. It recently rained out there and I guess when the rain drops hit the ground, it puffs up the ash and makes all the rocks look light gray. Sometimes we had to kick the rock over to see what it actually looked like. We picked up some great samples to slab/cab and looks like it will be fun to work with. This area is easily accessible using 2 wheel drive. Starting out at Area "G"   Common opal with crystals    Area "F"   View from Old Dutch Cleanser Mine towards north east. This is where they mined the abrasive minerals for this popular cleanser.  View from Area "F" cleanser mine south towards Cudahy Mine Camp in the Last Chance Canyon, which the southern entrance is a extremely hard 4x4 road.  Pic taken from the "View Point," Area "H" looking east down Last Chance Canyon. While Christopher and I were off into the hills, Diane was approached by a state park ranger. He thanked her for us parking our vehicles off the road and not driving through the gate/fence, which I guess they have problems with people doing that.  Roaring Ridge off in the distance, "Hidden Forest Area J," "Dry Falls Area D" which was a hot spot for collecting but is now inside the Red Rock Canyon State Park, no driving or collecting allowed.  Here's our bucket sample. Lots of solid rock to work with. Looking forward to slicing it up.  We not only found lots of colorful jasper, jasp agate and agate but lots of wood and opalized palm. We were so lucky to have Christopher with us. We benefited from his experience in identifying all the different rocks. We swapped many crazy desert exploring stories. We will go back! LarryS |
|
mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 358
|
Post by mjflinty on Nov 29, 2011 13:09:20 GMT -5
Looks like a great trip! Wish I knew there were good rock hunting area near El Paso when I was living in Alamogordo! The most interesting rocks I found out there were rhyolites!
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Nov 29, 2011 13:22:50 GMT -5
cool report , thanks! what constitutes a difficult 4x4 road ? will this qualify-- to my old claim on Mt Antero at 11500 ft , notice drop off to the left and the width is ? for a full size off road vehicle and is a 6% INCLINE.  |
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on Nov 29, 2011 15:20:17 GMT -5
Hahaha... I've been out with Christopher before, he needs a GPS collar on those kinds of outings. Jo
|
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Nov 29, 2011 16:07:19 GMT -5
We went there when the Red Rock park expanded. We were really careful to stay on public land but the ranger came and kicked us out. Said he had no idea where the boundary was for sure but he was the ranger and we were all leaving. That's a nice area for sure. Whoever mentioned Alamagordo, it is the El Paso Mountains in CA not El Paso TX.
|
|
LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Nov 29, 2011 17:29:05 GMT -5
Yes Jo, Christopher is half mountain goat! That guy can climb those hills and he's much younger than us. Area was very rough and we're feeling it today. Even Goober has been sleeping more than usual. No pain, no gain? We gained and have nice rocks to prove it.
Dicky, the southern entrance of Last Chance Canyon is a popular 4x4 trail for Jeep clubs. Just Google "Last Chance Canyon" and you'll see all the websites. I'd do it but not alone, plus Christopher had a 2 wheel Silverado. The canyon and area is within the expanded park boundary so rock collecting is not allowed. Boo hoo! The canyon road is still open but you can only look.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dicky the Rockhunter on Nov 29, 2011 21:45:50 GMT -5
 hI yi yippi oh that road through the canyon look fun!!!!And the specimens are worth the trip WOW! WHAT A SHAME SOME OF THE ROADS - AREAS ARE CLOSED REAL BUMMER. FHE CANYON LOOKS Similar to some around here but your really rough spots are short. The road up Mt Antero is 6.5 miles and is like the bad spots the entire way while climbing over 7000 ft and going above treeline most of the way with lot of severe cliffs to fall off. Back in the early 60s a bulldozier trying to improve the road lost it and rode down a mtside 3000 ft at a 38degree incline . needless to say the dozier was a complete loss. We find that a 5mph speed constant makes driving it easier as the bounces will keep you on top of the rocks and not climbing them. Hold on tight and dont let the wheels turn direction , really fun. the crosscuts there on Mt White are a good place to find beryl at 13500 ft and the road is the cuts, the black dot is a wrangler parked there.  the post in the center of the trees is the center post for my claim and the trail is typical of geting into it  typical creek crossing  I still would love to go with ya sometime FUN. Dicky
|
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 29, 2011 21:56:50 GMT -5
|
|
LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Nov 29, 2011 23:04:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the pics Christopher. Think I need to buy Diane a coat for Xmas so Goober can have his blanket back. Your close up pics are great. I left my hoe pic at home and only picked up the exposed rock. I'm sure there are tons of hidden gems there. You were so fast climbing around those hills, you were out of sight whenever I turned around. In minutes you were a couple hills over. Couldn't see you but I heard you swinging that pic! Goober did too and his ears would perk up, wondering what that sound was. A real big jack rabbit?!?!
The area is so vast, I don't think it will ever be picked clean, like so many other sites. I found bowling ball size pieces of jasper but they were too heavy to haul back.
I have a weird theory. Most of the exposed jasper/agate is weathered and cracked. Water expands 11% when frozen into ice. The deserts have such violent extremes in weather. It's common for a 50 degree F change in temperature each day. If it rains, the cracks or pits fill up with water. Then before it can evaporate, it freezes, causing the cracks to enlarge. I know that happens to the huge granite formations in the Sierras, etc. Why not our tiny gems? Maybe these rocks are solid because of the protective ash covering? Just a thought.
LarryS
|
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Nov 30, 2011 1:17:54 GMT -5
Wow! Christopher and Larry, what an awesome trip. Sounds like you all had a great time. Thanks for the road-tips regarding 2WD vehicles as well. Will have to schedule a visit up there although I doubt I'll be getting Andrew and Nathaniel up at 2 a.m. Whew, that's early!
Are the "heavy" tools required or is there enough in float to make it worthwhile?
Paul
|
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 30, 2011 1:22:02 GMT -5
They say the good opal is down about 200" close to that area.........
|
|
LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Nov 30, 2011 11:50:38 GMT -5
Oh, forgot to mention. The "yellow" jasper is actually yellow. At Lavic and most of the other sites, the so called yellow jasper is actually light brown, the color of peanut butter. Most of the red is dark and close to maroon. You don't see good material in a bright medium red color. Going to this Last Chance Canyon area has opened up a whole new experience for us. Not only the colors pop out at you, it's high quality material. Think it spoiled us! After thinking about it, there is no reason to visit all the other sites we've been to, looking for that "special" rock that everyone missed.
Paul, there's tons of float. You start out on a well traveled BLM dirt road that has road number signs at each intersection. It's smooth dirt and every so often there will be a rock in the road where you have to drive around. But if you're like me, I don't look forward and watch where I'm going. I'm too busy looking out the side windows and Diane looks forward for me, yelling.....LOOK OUT!!!!! Drives her nuts! There's a few pot holes in the dirt where you drive around. No big deal. No soft sand. Everything was compacted and firm. Only 3 miles off pavement. You park and start walking up a gentle sloping hillside that is about 1 1/2 miles wide. Lots of little washes coming down the hillside you can check out. Ash & lava outcroppings all over the place with material embedded into it. You just trip all over the float.
Some areas are better than others. You may walk 25 yards of nothing and then hit a jackpot 50 yards in diameter. Your biggest problem is how you'll convince your wife in letting you purchase a mule to haul all the material out! Hay is cheap! Don't think this place will ever get picked clean like the other gem trail sites. Plenty to go around and it's the best material I've seen so far. We've been to probably over a dozen gem trail sites, most over 6 times each along with the out lying areas not in the book. We do a through search to make sure we're not missing something from what the book said.
Since area "G" and a few others are still on standard BLM land, I have a hunch they will be closing off this area soon. The state park keeps expanding and the wilderness boundary is not far from it. Right off the pavement is huge dirt camping areas where all the toy hauling RV'ers, weekend warriors camp and drive their quads all over the place. Some are going where you're not suppose to go. All it takes is a few idiots to ruin it for everyone. SoCal has lots of idiots, 25 million of them!!!!
LarryS
|
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Nov 30, 2011 15:46:23 GMT -5
Larry - Thanks for the additional information! This is probably one trip that I'll plan with the family and wake them all up early for. I'm sure Barbara will appreciate it! If nothing else, I know Andrew will join me. Alternately, if you and Christopher make another trip, let me know. I'd love to meet you all in person. Paul |
|
LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Nov 30, 2011 20:33:30 GMT -5
For sure Paul. I'm ready to go now! My muscles don't hurt anymore but the blister on my foot sure does. I forgot to mention that the most important thing about the sites before we visit is they have to be Goober friendly. That means no cactus. No critters that he'll try to eat, walking or crawling. All Terriers are hard wired to kill. Size don't matter. President Teddy Roosevelt had Rat Terriers (whom he named) that were called American Feist, originally named just Feist in England. He'd hunt bear with them. I know Goober would! Goober would prefer Polar Bears because they're bigger! He named them Rat Terrier not only because they were the champions in killing rats but because they cleared all the rats & vermin in and around the White House. I'm afraid it needs to be done again today!!! They don't point or retrieve unless it's a tennis ball. It's funny to watch Goober pick up scents of critters. He'll smell a jack rabbit from a far distance. He'd stop, ears up, all alert, ready for the attack. Good thing I see the rabbit take off before he does because he's too short and can't see over the bushes. Otherwise he's off to the races! It would be a great place to take the boys. Lots of interesting nearby attractions, like Red Rock Canyon. Lots of movies & commercials filmed there. There's a visitor center there along with Jawbone Canyon just down the road. Just measured "G" location. Hills are 1.2 miles long by 1000' from road to top of ridge. Not talking about the other side of the hills or the other side of the road, which is all open for the pickins. There's 11 tiny gullies. I traveled 2 for very short distances. You can spend a month there and not see your old foot prints. Here's the deal. If you and the boys can keep up with Christopher, aka The Mountain Goat, I'll pay all your gas & expenses!
|
|
|
|
Post by jakesrocks on Nov 30, 2011 21:01:20 GMT -5
LOL. Larry, sounds like your Goober and my Jake would make a good pair. Jake doesn't like any critter except humans. He's chased down and killed field cats, and was ready to take on a wild mink the other day. Gotta love them Terriers.
|
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 30, 2011 21:10:00 GMT -5
I'm game for more!! Have to figure out some times. There are even a few members from the Taosgem forum that showed interest in visiting this area.
|
|
LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Nov 30, 2011 21:13:10 GMT -5
Yeah Don. Forgot to add spoiled rotten too. We're honored to be servants in his pack.
Oh, talked with my 85 year old dad today and said him and his rock hound buddy would hunt for geodes in Red Rock Canyon back in the early 50's, around when I was born. That's what's wrong with me. He must have dropped one of them on my head! He said the area was very popular way back then and almost picked clean. All he could remember is being on top of a long ridge line. Gee, that's all there is out there!!!!
Yeah Christopher, we're game for a gathering of rock hounds.
|
|
|
|
Post by jakesrocks on Nov 30, 2011 21:46:31 GMT -5
Yup. Jake rules the roost around here too. He thinks he's the alpha male in the house pack. Got his humans trained real good.
|
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Nov 30, 2011 23:05:00 GMT -5
I'm Definitely IN!!! I'll look through the calendar over the next couple of months and drop some dates out here on the forum. Maybe we can lock in a date and meet up out there. That would be awesome! I'm game for more!! Have to figure out some times. There are even a few members from the Taosgem forum that showed interest in visiting this area. |
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Nov 30, 2011 23:07:05 GMT -5
So, did you load up on the Advil after the trip ;D ? I know I did after the Yermo trip and that wasn't even hiking. Just hauling stuff back and forth to the truck LOL! For sure Paul. I'm ready to go now! My muscles don't hurt anymore but the blister on my foot sure does ... |
|
hI yi yippi oh that road through the canyon look fun!!!!And the specimens are worth the trip WOW! WHAT A SHAME SOME OF THE ROADS - AREAS ARE CLOSED REAL BUMMER. FHE CANYON LOOKS Similar to some around here but your really rough spots are short. The road up Mt Antero is 6.5 miles and is like the bad spots the entire way while climbing over 7000 ft and going above treeline most of the way with lot of severe cliffs to fall off. Back in the early 60s a bulldozier trying to improve the road lost it and rode down a mtside 3000 ft at a 38degree incline . needless to say the dozier was a complete loss. We find that a 5mph speed constant makes driving it easier as the bounces will keep you on top of the rocks and not climbing them. Hold on tight and dont let the wheels turn direction , really fun.
