Post by LarryS on Sept 16, 2012 10:54:05 GMT -5
Since I've been caring for my 86 year old parents over the past 4 months, I haven't had much time to do any hounding or lapidary work. I was at wits end and had to get out. Contacted Bluesky Susan and Christopher and we all met up off the freeway at 7:00am near Last Chance Canyon. Susan heard so much about Goober, she brought him a big surprise. A new squeak toy! Now they're friends for life!
We all drove about 4 miles in and parked at the base of the hills in what as known in the books as "site G." We originally had a game plan of me driving Christopher & Susan to the top in my Jeep, go back to pick up Diane & Goober and then we park half way up the mountain and we work the mid location. All of us went in different directions exploring for new jasp-ag seams. This area is known for 3-4 different color varieties all in one rock and each location you come to is different from the others.
We drove completely behind the hills into a remote valley where a steep 45% Jeep trail leads up to a saddle in the range.
Dropped Christopher & Susan off at the saddle and headed back down and around to pick up Diane & Goober.
Christopher's & Susan's vehicles were left way down the hill.
After picking up Diane & Goober, we drove up a very steep Jeep trail that leads to the tallest peak in the range. Had no idea if it was a Jeep or ATV trail and once on it, you're committed and no way turning back or backing down, which you don't do in a 4x4! Goober freaked out because the Jeep was bouncing so violently and hearing Diane cussing me out! 30 pound Goober jumped over the console and into Diane's lap. While doing so, Goober stepped on Diane's seat belt release button and her seat belt came loose and wrapped around her arm. I couldn't do anything except keep driving forward on the loose rock road and go for it. I finally found a safe place to stop and asked both for forgiveness.
We explored the area and didn't find anything worth keeping. So me & Goober headed further south and went way down hill to my known favorite site. Filled up my day pack & bag and headed back uphill to the Jeep & Diane. Would have been easier starting from the base of the hill. Then I heard yelling way off in the distance and it was Christopher & Susan yelling at us to head up on the road to the highest peak, road looked good from their view.
What a view! That is Last Chance Canyon in the distance which is actually in Red Rock Canyon State Park and no rock collecting is allowed. Originally this canyon was the hot spot for rock collecting for decades. All the Gem Trail books mentions this area as Last Chance or El Paso collecting sites but it's all history now. Only site that is left for collecting is "Site G."We were on BLM land just near the border where we can collect.
When we got on top, I yelled down all the slopes looking for Christopher & Susan. They were no where to be found! Was it ghosts of old miners yelling at us from the top? I did find their buckets and packs but they were no where in sight.
Then about 1/2 hour later, we saw 2 moving specks off in the distance. Goober was so happy we found them!
Then Susan had to head way down hill to gather up her back pack & saddle bags full of rocks and haul them all back up hill. Slender Susan is an amazing woman and has more stamina than most guys I know!
Susan won Goober's heart offering him a new squeak toy!
Everyone but Christopher climbed into the Jeep and headed way back to the vehicles. We beat Christopher back but he was zig zagging all the way down looking for rocks. It was close to 100 degrees out there and the heat took a toll on everyone, especially Goober. Went back to base camp and had lunch.
We kept Goober well hydrated and Susan spoiled him my rubbing him down with cool water. Told Susan he knows the word "kiss" and soon both of them spent time swapping spit together!
Diane & I were ready to call it a day. Christopher & Susan asked me if I could 4 wheel them back to the peak and drop them off. They found a really nice red plume jasp-ag seam that they wanted to work more before calling it quits. I dropped them off on top and hiked into another area. Went down the hill, picked up Diane & Goober and headed for home. Along the freeway you can see the range of hills we were in. Dropped Christopher & Susan on top of the highest peak and they walked down the back side. Haven't heard from them since!
Here's some of the jasp-ag I collected.
Even though is was hot, we had a fantastic time and can't wait for cooler weather. This was Susan's second trip out to LCC, Christopher's 4th and our 8th in just 9 months! And it's not the last! As with most SoCal Gem Sites, they are only one or two colors. This has 3 or 4! It's not only jasp-ag, lots of different common opal in all color varieties and combinations. Won't even mention the mountains of ugly common brown/gray agate that others get all excited about at the other locations. We're spoiled.
Larry, Diane & Goober
We all drove about 4 miles in and parked at the base of the hills in what as known in the books as "site G." We originally had a game plan of me driving Christopher & Susan to the top in my Jeep, go back to pick up Diane & Goober and then we park half way up the mountain and we work the mid location. All of us went in different directions exploring for new jasp-ag seams. This area is known for 3-4 different color varieties all in one rock and each location you come to is different from the others.
We drove completely behind the hills into a remote valley where a steep 45% Jeep trail leads up to a saddle in the range.
Dropped Christopher & Susan off at the saddle and headed back down and around to pick up Diane & Goober.
Christopher's & Susan's vehicles were left way down the hill.
After picking up Diane & Goober, we drove up a very steep Jeep trail that leads to the tallest peak in the range. Had no idea if it was a Jeep or ATV trail and once on it, you're committed and no way turning back or backing down, which you don't do in a 4x4! Goober freaked out because the Jeep was bouncing so violently and hearing Diane cussing me out! 30 pound Goober jumped over the console and into Diane's lap. While doing so, Goober stepped on Diane's seat belt release button and her seat belt came loose and wrapped around her arm. I couldn't do anything except keep driving forward on the loose rock road and go for it. I finally found a safe place to stop and asked both for forgiveness.
We explored the area and didn't find anything worth keeping. So me & Goober headed further south and went way down hill to my known favorite site. Filled up my day pack & bag and headed back uphill to the Jeep & Diane. Would have been easier starting from the base of the hill. Then I heard yelling way off in the distance and it was Christopher & Susan yelling at us to head up on the road to the highest peak, road looked good from their view.
What a view! That is Last Chance Canyon in the distance which is actually in Red Rock Canyon State Park and no rock collecting is allowed. Originally this canyon was the hot spot for rock collecting for decades. All the Gem Trail books mentions this area as Last Chance or El Paso collecting sites but it's all history now. Only site that is left for collecting is "Site G."We were on BLM land just near the border where we can collect.
When we got on top, I yelled down all the slopes looking for Christopher & Susan. They were no where to be found! Was it ghosts of old miners yelling at us from the top? I did find their buckets and packs but they were no where in sight.
Then about 1/2 hour later, we saw 2 moving specks off in the distance. Goober was so happy we found them!
Then Susan had to head way down hill to gather up her back pack & saddle bags full of rocks and haul them all back up hill. Slender Susan is an amazing woman and has more stamina than most guys I know!
Susan won Goober's heart offering him a new squeak toy!
Everyone but Christopher climbed into the Jeep and headed way back to the vehicles. We beat Christopher back but he was zig zagging all the way down looking for rocks. It was close to 100 degrees out there and the heat took a toll on everyone, especially Goober. Went back to base camp and had lunch.
We kept Goober well hydrated and Susan spoiled him my rubbing him down with cool water. Told Susan he knows the word "kiss" and soon both of them spent time swapping spit together!
Diane & I were ready to call it a day. Christopher & Susan asked me if I could 4 wheel them back to the peak and drop them off. They found a really nice red plume jasp-ag seam that they wanted to work more before calling it quits. I dropped them off on top and hiked into another area. Went down the hill, picked up Diane & Goober and headed for home. Along the freeway you can see the range of hills we were in. Dropped Christopher & Susan on top of the highest peak and they walked down the back side. Haven't heard from them since!
Here's some of the jasp-ag I collected.
Even though is was hot, we had a fantastic time and can't wait for cooler weather. This was Susan's second trip out to LCC, Christopher's 4th and our 8th in just 9 months! And it's not the last! As with most SoCal Gem Sites, they are only one or two colors. This has 3 or 4! It's not only jasp-ag, lots of different common opal in all color varieties and combinations. Won't even mention the mountains of ugly common brown/gray agate that others get all excited about at the other locations. We're spoiled.
Larry, Diane & Goober