Post by LarryS on Dec 11, 2011 23:32:22 GMT -5
Rain was in the forecast for our return trip to Last Chance Canyon so we decided to cancel and make a last minute trip to a location I always wanted to visit.
Working off Strong's Desert Gem Trail books, noticed a mysterious location called Alvord Hills. I studied TOPO & satellite maps to figure out where this location actually is. No mention of a freeway off ramp plus the mileage to the agricultural inspection station was off, which may have moved since the graphic was made in 1958. It's 8.8 miles instead of 15.7. The freeway off ramp is actually Harvard Road. No hills were in the area which the graphic states. Typical.
The gem area was suppose to be about 1/2 mile wide by 1 mile long. We extensively explored that area and only found sand & pea gravel. We did find a little material in the neighboring unnamed dry lake bed. Now we understand why this site wasn't listed in the newer books. But it was worth giving it a try.
The listed power lines are actually 5 runs of high voltage power lines plus a couple gas lines underground. We decided to take this maintained dirt road to the northern Field Siding Site B location, which is a range of hills about 2 miles long. The road is actually on top of this ridge going the whole length. We've been there 2 times before.
We stopped the Jeep about every 1/2 mile along the way and explored both sides of the power line road looking for material. There was spotty agate & few pieces of jasper. Found this one small green opaque rock where I might be able to get a few cabs out of.
Diane walking carefully not to scratch the rocks!
Your typical Field Siding agate. We didn't take any.
During our past 2 visits to Field Siding site B, we noticed a small power line road that cuts across the hills and I always wanted to drive it. We did this time and found the largest quantity of material in this remote location. The freeway is actually off in the distance in the haze. We ended up driving 20 miles off pavement total. We drove through the remote Manix Wash and found some nice pieces within the wash, already pre tumbled! When we arrived at the freeway, there was no on ramp, obviously and we had to drive a old dirt road next to the freeway for a few miles. While doing so, we came upon a small hill where the freeway cuts right through the middle of it. The dirt road went over the hill. We found red jasper with blue chalcedony stringers running through it and lots of agate.
Don't know if this was legal or not, we had to drive through this underpass of the freeway to get to the other side. Obviously tanks drive through here. Hey, I pay taxes so that gives me government privileges doesn't it?!?!
Even though we only collected about 5 pounds of small rocks, we still had a great time.
LarryS
Working off Strong's Desert Gem Trail books, noticed a mysterious location called Alvord Hills. I studied TOPO & satellite maps to figure out where this location actually is. No mention of a freeway off ramp plus the mileage to the agricultural inspection station was off, which may have moved since the graphic was made in 1958. It's 8.8 miles instead of 15.7. The freeway off ramp is actually Harvard Road. No hills were in the area which the graphic states. Typical.
The gem area was suppose to be about 1/2 mile wide by 1 mile long. We extensively explored that area and only found sand & pea gravel. We did find a little material in the neighboring unnamed dry lake bed. Now we understand why this site wasn't listed in the newer books. But it was worth giving it a try.
The listed power lines are actually 5 runs of high voltage power lines plus a couple gas lines underground. We decided to take this maintained dirt road to the northern Field Siding Site B location, which is a range of hills about 2 miles long. The road is actually on top of this ridge going the whole length. We've been there 2 times before.
We stopped the Jeep about every 1/2 mile along the way and explored both sides of the power line road looking for material. There was spotty agate & few pieces of jasper. Found this one small green opaque rock where I might be able to get a few cabs out of.
Diane walking carefully not to scratch the rocks!
Your typical Field Siding agate. We didn't take any.
During our past 2 visits to Field Siding site B, we noticed a small power line road that cuts across the hills and I always wanted to drive it. We did this time and found the largest quantity of material in this remote location. The freeway is actually off in the distance in the haze. We ended up driving 20 miles off pavement total. We drove through the remote Manix Wash and found some nice pieces within the wash, already pre tumbled! When we arrived at the freeway, there was no on ramp, obviously and we had to drive a old dirt road next to the freeway for a few miles. While doing so, we came upon a small hill where the freeway cuts right through the middle of it. The dirt road went over the hill. We found red jasper with blue chalcedony stringers running through it and lots of agate.
Don't know if this was legal or not, we had to drive through this underpass of the freeway to get to the other side. Obviously tanks drive through here. Hey, I pay taxes so that gives me government privileges doesn't it?!?!
Even though we only collected about 5 pounds of small rocks, we still had a great time.
LarryS
