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Post by realrockhound on May 21, 2022 19:36:33 GMT -5
So, since i'm back in town until tomorrow, my dad and I decided it would be a smart idea to go explore all of the rimrock where the Bat Cave jasper was found. We were hoping to find some new deposits or unfound material, but unfortunately fell short. Making the long steep hike to the base, here is the beginning of the rimrock looking north to where the bat cave was found. On the way in, about 25 feet up in the rimrocks you can spot a massive vein of yellow jasper. Looking south, you can see the Ochoco reservoir. Just over that ridge line is where the ochoco dendritic agate was mined. Made it to the bat caves. There is really only one cave, the big one is more of an overhang. There really never was much material mined out of them. The main cave maybe goes back in like 8 feet. As some of you know, I was fortunate to end up with most of it. Dug around in the tailings pile below. Most everything you will find now is of this quality. After digging through tailings, we headed further down the rimrock, where I spotted a rockquatch in the clearing. Can you spot him? about 2 miles back in past the caves. More rimrock to explore. turkey vultures came out of the woodworks. Just waiting for an accident so they could eat us. Making the steep ascent into the cliffs and I spot a rocksquatch keeping a close eye on me. Looking to the east, you can spot the ranch of my grandpas old friend. Thats where the sage green dendrite moss that I posted a cab of comes from. After all of my hard work, this is all I was able to come back with. These are all workable pieces. Thinking I might donate it for a future contest with some added material. What do you all think? However... for a trip out here to hound I recommend 1/10. Its steep and dangerous, with very little reward. Complimentary Randy. He was glad I made it back in one piece.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 21, 2022 19:50:28 GMT -5
Those pictures of that landscape are gorgeous!! It definitely stings to only come back with that amount. I'm glad "Rockquatch" was there to keep you company.
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AzRockGeek
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2016
Posts: 634
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Post by AzRockGeek on May 21, 2022 20:01:17 GMT -5
Awesome trip report! Thank you for taking us along.
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Post by MsAli on May 21, 2022 20:33:57 GMT -5
What a beautiful area. I heard it was difficult to get up there. The rockquatch is freaky in sort of a cool way
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Post by realrockhound on May 21, 2022 20:46:33 GMT -5
What a beautiful area. I heard it was difficult to get up there. The rockquatch is freaky in sort of a cool way It is a pain to get up there. Steep and slick due to loose footing. Lots of scrambles over some rocky areas. Going down further where my dad and I did gets straight up dangerous. There are essentially two cliff faces. One slip and you go off a 50 foot + drop in some areas. Also lots of loose rock above. I’ve been to the batcave area before, knew there wasn’t much left to find. So wanted to explore the rest of the cliffs for new material. 1 out of 10 do not recommend going up there for what you’ll bring back.
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Post by MsAli on May 21, 2022 20:53:38 GMT -5
Glad you made it up and down safely. Would be a cool area to put a game camera and see what critters are out and about
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Post by realrockhound on May 21, 2022 21:03:56 GMT -5
Glad you made it up and down safely. Would be a cool area to put a game camera and see what critters are out and about Thank you. I agree on the game cam. Lots of signs of owls up there. Coyote, deer, and really good possibility of cougars.
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Post by oregon on May 21, 2022 23:21:40 GMT -5
So, since i'm back in town until tomorrow, my dad and I decided it would be a smart idea to go explore all of the rimrock where the Bat Cave jasper was found. We were hoping to find some new deposits or unfound material, but unfortunately fell short. Making the long steep hike to the base, here is the beginning of the rimrock looking north to where the bat cave was found. No more gate across the road? That seems like an ongoing battle at that site...
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Post by realrockhound on May 21, 2022 23:27:56 GMT -5
So, since i'm back in town until tomorrow, my dad and I decided it would be a smart idea to go explore all of the rimrock where the Bat Cave jasper was found. We were hoping to find some new deposits or unfound material, but unfortunately fell short. Making the long steep hike to the base, here is the beginning of the rimrock looking north to where the bat cave was found. No more gate across the road? That seems like an ongoing battle at that site... BLM tore it down. I didn’t want to deal with that guy, so I walked further down the road and across. My friend goes up in there and collects stuff. He’s been yelled at by the guy with the gate.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 21, 2022 23:29:20 GMT -5
Very cool. I really like playing with the rim jasper, even found a little of the stuff that also has the colorful jasper in it, if I ever find where I put it. We will be camping at the Ochoco Lake campground for the Prineville show, no luck getting in as a vendor unless we get a last minute call. Hope to meet up with you while we're there.
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Post by realrockhound on May 21, 2022 23:47:42 GMT -5
Very cool. I really like playing with the rim jasper, even found a little of the stuff that also has the colorful jasper in it, if I ever find where I put it. We will be camping at the Ochoco Lake campground for the Prineville show, no luck getting in as a vendor unless we get a last minute call. Hope to meet up with you while we're there. Send me a pm when you’re in town. Notify me in advance, as I’ll be moving back home from Corvallis.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 22, 2022 7:47:48 GMT -5
Great - and harrowing- trip report! It really makes you appreciate the effort people go through to find the rocks we love. I appreciate the education and the work you do. The scenic pictures are nice, too.
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Post by liveoak on May 22, 2022 10:17:19 GMT -5
I see him, but I didn't know rocksquatch's wore that kind of hat .
Patty
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 22, 2022 10:20:47 GMT -5
Excellent trip report and really scary terrain to get up there! Holy smokes, I'd probably have a heart attack! Thanks for all the great pictures and explanation of the area. It's much appreciated.
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Post by realrockhound on May 22, 2022 10:43:06 GMT -5
I’ll officially be moved home to central Oregon by the end of next month. I’m hoping to do more of these in the near future. Even if deposits are all mined out, I know myself personally, I enjoy seeing where some of my favorite material came/comes from. So I’ll be sure to document some old spots as well as spots I’ll be digging this summer.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,487
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Post by rockbrain on May 27, 2022 14:57:15 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing. It's beautiful country, but looks really difficult to get around. I hadn't realized why it was called batcave jasper.
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Post by oregon on Oct 2, 2023 17:21:30 GMT -5
Haven't stopped by here for a decade, had a spare afternoon in the area so wandered around the hill. It does always look like the guano on the coastal rocks, I can see where someone came up with the Bat cave name. Alas it is pretty slim pickings there, you're looking at >90% host rock, the transition jasper from dark to light is rare to find much thicker than 1/4" these days. With a name like Batcave, folks seem to like it a lot, so fun to have a few small pcs to work with. I wouldn't make a special trip there for it though.
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Post by realrockhound on Oct 2, 2023 18:38:11 GMT -5
Haven't stopped by here for a decade, had a spare afternoon in the area so wandered around the hill. It does always look like the guano on the coastal rocks, I can see where someone came up with the Bat cave name. Alas it is pretty slim pickings there, you're looking at >90% host rock, the transition jasper from dark to light is rare to find much thicker than 1/4" these days. With a name like Batcave, folks seem to like it a lot, so fun to have a few small pcs to work with. I wouldn't make a special trip there for it though.
Looks like you could get a couple cabs from what I can see it the pic. But yeah. Most anything I find nowadays is a thin 1/6 inch layer over host.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,577
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Post by dillonf on Oct 2, 2023 19:14:24 GMT -5
Looks like a great adventure! Even if the haul was less than desired.
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