The Searchers Past Trip Plans & Trip Reports
Location: Top Notch
Leader: Rick Webber
Join us on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17, 2023 as we explore the Top Notch area.
The 2023 December 16-17 Searchers Field Trip will be to the Top Notch area south of Afton Canyon. It is in the Mojave Trails National Monument, with dispersed camping at the North Cady Campground. Doug Flaugh has generously shared his detailed Google Drive Top Notch Map with the Searchers. Materials to be found: fluorite, jasper and geodes. Rich Webber is the trip leader: richwebb3245@att.com.
Location: Castle Butte
Leader: Bill Hogarth
Join us on Saturday, October 21, 2023 as we explore the Castle Butte area.
This is a short alternate for those folks who are not doing the 5-Day, 5-Mine Trip in Nevada. We will be
exploring the Castle Butte area with petrified palm, agate, jasper and perhaps some bloodstone. The Sierra Palona Travertine mine is NOT on the itinerary this time. While any vehicle can reach the camping
area, the rockhounding will require high clearance vehicles, 4x4 recommended. For any who don’t camp,
this is a great day trip or lodging is available in Boron or Barstow.
Saturday and Sunday, meet at 8:30 a.m. on Clay Mine Road, where the road makes a 90 degree turn
(https://maps.app.goo.gl/EhNBCuYthhLzvc7d6). Our campsite is marked with a star on the map, just before Aerial Acres. All vehicles can reach our meeting spot. This is a dry camping site without any amenities. Please bring all food and water that you may need and dress in layers appropriate for the weather.
On Sunday, meet at 8:30 a.m. at our campsite on Clay Mine Road. We will be exploring nearby jasperagate sites.
Recommended equipment: Rock pick, gloves and spray bottle.
Directions: Proceed to the 15 freeway north. Pass the Cajon pass. Take exit 141 to Highway 395 north.
Proceed to Kramer Junction. Take Highway 58 west towards Mojave. Take exit 188, Clay Mine Road, turn
right. Proceed about 5 miles and look for the Searchers signs. We will be camping off of Clay Mine Road,
before Aerial Acres, where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Our campsite is marked with a star on the
map. Allow 2-1/2 hours from Anaheim; it is about 130 miles.
If you plan to attend, please contact: Bill Hogarth,whogarth@gmail.com, 909-264-1122. Text or call
There will be a potluck on Saturday night, campfire will be allowed if the winds are low.
Nevada Book and Mineral Store Parking Lot Sale, Orange CA Sept. 24, 2023
​
YVGMS Field Trip to Tonopah Nevada
Wednesday October 18th – Monday October 23rd, 2023
Wednesday October 18th - Broken Arrow Variscite Mine, Big Nugget Turquoise Mine, and Tree Frog Variscite Mine
Thursday October 19th – Black Jack Mine
Friday, October 20th – Easter Blue Mine
Saturday October 21st – Royston Mine
Sunday October 22nd – Little Crow Springs Mine
5. Going to Gemfield
Monday October 23rd – Gemfield
The Otteson Mines
1. Wednesday October 18th Broken Arrow Variscite Mine, Big Nugget Turquoise Mine, and Tree Frog Variscite Mine – Emerald Green Variscite, Blue Big Nugget Turquoise, all in the same mine. Lots of areas of tailings to look through, along with some pit areas to dig in. Our club went to Broken Arrow last year, and it may be different as the Otteson family have been working at this mine. The Tree Frog Variscite Mine is nearby and we may also be able to visit this, time permitting
2. Thursday October 19th – Black Jack Mine – Polychrome turquoise in a black matrix. There are large boulders that can be chipped out with a chipper, and a hill with lots of nuggets.
There is a second Black Jack Mine around behind this hill that has a pit with large veins and nuggets. These sites are very accessible, with lots of ground picking.
3. Friday, October 20th –Easter Blue Mine – To the Right side is Aqua Blue Ribbon, nuggets, Wall Mining, Pit mining along with plenty of surface picking This is at the top of a hill accessed by a very narrow and steep road, with room for only 1-2 vehicles at the top. Members will not be driving their vehicles, but will be transported by the Otteson Brothers. Members should pack to have themselves, their buckets, tools, food and water transported to the site. This site features a mine cart tunnel from 1906 that members can traverse from the entrance to the end of the tunnel where the turquoise was dropped down the chute from the mountain above. This mine is not being commercially mined and is a much sought after stone.
Easter Blue to the left – This spot is a different part of the same vein located about 300 feet or so past a switchback in the road. This turquoise is blue with black spots and darker matrix.
4. Saturday October 21st – Royston Mine – Probably one of the most well known of the Otteson mines, this mine has some of the highest-grade blue to green and two-toned blue-green turquoise with dark brown to gold colored matrix. Our club visited this mine two years ago.
5. Sunday October 22nd – Little Crow Springs Mine. Turquoise with blue-green veins and ribbons, Red Buffalo with white veins in a reddish matrix
Monday October 23rd – Gemfield - This is one of the BEST Chalcedony claims in the World, according to their website!
Searchers Long Range Trip 2023
We are continuing to plan a long range trip. The current plan looks like it starts in mid-August. Below are a list of potential collecting sites and camping locations (when known). All of this is subject to change at this point, a firm plan and schedule will be available by the August Slab. The whole trip looks like it will be between 2 and 3 weeks long, keep in mind that you do not need to do the whole trip, you can join when you want and split off when you want. I have a small group of Searchers who have expressed an interest, if you are interested and haven’t told me yet drop me an email at mrsteveduncan2@gmail.com
Biggs Oregon August 15th(?)
China Hollow Mine (pay site)
Beers Mountain Mine (pay site)
Stay at local campground (?)
Prineville Oregon
Polka Dot Agate Mine (pay site)
Lucky strike Mine (pay site)
Richardson’s rock ranch (rock shop)
Glass Buttes Oregon
Glass Buttes obsidian
Hampton Buttes petrified wood
Congleton Hollow colored limbcasts
Dry camp at Glass Buttes
Near Burns Oregon
Stinking Water plume agate
Dry camp near Stinking Water
Near Homedale Idaho
Graveyard Point Plume
Succor Creek (Wild Horse Mine)
Owyee picture jasper
Camp at nice RV park in Homedale
Delta area Utah
Dugway Geodes
Agate and Picasso Marble near Joy
Camp at RV park in Delta
Hanksville area Utah
Shootering agate and Coprolite
Camp at BLM Star Springs Ranchcampground
Home
February, 2023 Field Trip—Green Ash Hills and Mule Canyon Field Trip
Saturday, February 25, 2023 and Sunday February 26, 2023
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am
Leader: Rick Webber / Jimmy Peterson
Cell# 714.585.5606 or 714.904.8573
Email: richwebb3245@att.net
After having two tentative sites fall through because of changes brought on by last year's storms we are going to revisit a site that's easy to get to and will afford plenty of nice colored jasper and agate float and larger if you wish to dig it out. We'll also have opportunities for petrified palm, and petrified wood, colorful chalcedony, bog agate and palm, and maybe even some of Doug's fabled Black Agate. We will be camping, but this is also doable as a day-trip or by using some nearby hotel/motels.
Most locations are near the camp (<2 miles). Although the Early Man Site has been closed for some time, we will be collecting near there and also at the Green Ash Hills area nearby. After that we take Mule Canyon Road a ways to the Bog and Black agate and traverse to surface collection at Tin Can Alley. High clearance vehicles required, and four wheel drive is HIGHLY recommended due to some long stretches of deep sand.
This trip will involve off road driving.
The meeting point and camp location is just off of the 15 freeway at the Minneola Rd exit just east of Yermo. After exiting the freeway, go north toward the Shell station and loop around it travel east parallel to the 15 Fwy. About a quarter mile past the Shell, look for the Searcher Sign and take the dirt road on the left barely
100 yards to the camp site. This is a dry camp, so bring plenty of water and fire wood. For those not camping, there are hotels and RV parks 5 miles away in Yermo as well as 15 miles away in Barstow. Gas is a half mile from camp at the Shell station, which also has a convenience store, and Eddie World is 5 miles away boasting the largest gas station in California as well as numerous restaurants and convenience stores.
We will have a typical Searcher Potluck on Saturday evening.
We’ll meet at 8:30am and leave at 9:00. I hope you all can join!
Quartzite Pow-Wow Field Trip, January 18-22, 2023 Field Trip Flier
This is a Reminder/Update for the Searcher's Field Trip to the Quartzsite Pow-Wow this January. This is not a typical Searcher's Field Trip in that there are no scheduled rockhounding visits planned by the Searchers, but there are others planned by the Show and Quartzite clubs. This is a chance to join other Searcher friends attending the Quartzsite Pow-Wow between 1/18 thru 1/22. The PowWow is billed as "the oldest gem and mineral show in Arizona, featuring over 520 booth spaces. Vendors bring gems and mineral specimens from all over the world, which, in many cases, they have personally collected. Many of the vendors have attended for over forty consecutive years." You can use the links at the end to see more info. Margaret and I are planning to be on site at the Q-View RV Park (https://goo.gl/maps/ Px91pUT4tA4tygZf9) just north of the 10 Freeway (if we can still get a space) starting Wednesday Night, 1/18 and coming home Saturday 1/21. The owners say they are filling fast. The show continues after that if you wish to stay longer. If you have the grit, you can even make this a one-day trip! Use this email to contact me or text/call me at 909-264-1122 if you're planning to go and I'll let you know the latest. Our friend Russ usually camps in Scadden Wash, far away from the rock shows. It's nice and quiet and more spread out. There's even trees for privacy. The coordinates are 33.657210°, -114.150510°. It's about 6 miles from the campsite to the Pow Wow. There are many other fee-based RV parks in Quartzsite and many, MANY more free DRY camping sites on BLM land to the North, South and South East of the town. If you need help just enter "Camping" in Google Maps. There are literally thousands of RV's perched all over the desert in the area! As for hotel/motels, your best bet for those IMHO, is 25 miles west in Blythe, and there are several to choose from.
There are a few shows going on there in January. For a calendar, see:
https://quartzsitetourism.com/events/
An overview of each show can be found here:
https://rvingwithrex.com/2022/12/17/quartzsite-heres-the-2023-qz-showschedule/
DESERT GARDENS, 1/1/2023 thru 2/28/2023, is primarily raw rock specimens and where you will see pallets and shipping cubes of beautiful stone from around the world. It is open to everyone, but many wholesalers will purchase large amounts of material for resale. Several of our keenest rockhounds have plans to be there on the first weekend! It may have the best selection of large specimens for carving, spheres and display yard stones.
TYSON WELLS ROCK AND GEM SHOW, 1/6/2023 thru 1/16/2023, is a typical Rock show with raw, cabbed, and finished material. There will even be a section with used equipment and rock-related items. POW WOW GEM AND MINERAL SHOW, 1/18 thru 1/22, is the oldest show in Quartzsite and, while the others are big, this one is the largest. There will be rocks of all kinds and finishes, less of a wholesale feel than Desert Gardens, but still plenty and usually good prices. FIELD TRIPS are a big part of the Quartzsite experience, and while the Searchers will not be sponsoring any, there's a list of the scheduled ones at: http://www.qiaarizona.org/PowwowField-Trip.html If you want to go, don't dawdle! Make plans now and let me know so we can get a meet-up or two during the trip. Bill Hogarth
Directions to the Scadden Campsite:
To get to a free camping spot in Scadden, get off the freeway at the Riggles exit and go south for .3 mile. Turn left at the T intersection i.e., Dome Rock Rd and drive for 3.8 miles until the road ends at Mitchell Mine Rd. Go south on MM Road for 1.4 miles, turning right at unmarked dirt road as shown on the map. Follow dirt road for .3 miles to campsite. 33.65763033257018, -114.15116796996682 See instructions on map so you don't get lost. The road is flat and ok for most RVs.
Searchers December, 2022 Field Trip
East Ord Mountain Orbicular Rhyolite
December 10 & 11, 2022
Leaders: Jimmy Peterson (714 904-8573) and
Steve Duncan (714 724-7102)
The December field trip will be to the Ord Mountain area for orbicular rhyolite on Saturday, and some prospecting in old mine tailings on Sunday.
Directions to the camp:
Take Interstate 15 north towards Barstow, take the Bear Valley Rd Exit (147) and go east on Bear Valley Rd towards Lucerne Valley. When Bear Valley Rd ends at the Hwy 18 junction turn right and continue east on Hwy 18 towards Lucerne Valley. When you reach Lucerne Valley do not turn right towards Big Bear on Hwy 18, instead continue straight onto Old Woman Springs Road (Hwy 247). Follow Hwy 247 east for ~5.25 miles, and turn left (north) onto Camp Rock Road. At ~ 3.9 miles on Camp Rock Rd there will be a sanitary fill sign, you want to bear right here and continue on Camp Rock Rd. Approximately 2.3 miles further on Camp Rock Road the pavement ends. Continue on the Camp Rock dirt road for 4.7 miles, and then turn right around a small hill that has some gray and black boulders on it to get to camp. There will be a Searchers sign to identify the turn off to camp. Someone should be at camp by Friday afternoon. This is a dry camp, bring everything you need.
The orbicular rhyolite can be found in float, or there are some decaying seams you can break pieces out of. For material in float standard rock tools of a rock pick and spray bottle should suffice. If you plan to attack the seams you will want to bring some hard rock mining tools (small sledge, gads, Geopick etc.) The seams are not terribly hard to work.
Access to the collecting sites requires a high clearance vehicle, as usual 4x4 is preferred, but I have been there in a 2 wheel drive pickup. Cars will be able to make it to camp, we can carpool folks into high clearance vehicles for the collecting.
We will leave camp at 0830 both mornings for the collecting. You will want to pack a lunch on the collecting days as we will not return to camp for lunch. Sat night we will have our traditional potluck and campfire, so bring some goodies to share and some firewood is always nice.
If you have any questions about this trip, or field trips in general, email me at mrstevedun-can2@gmail.com. Also if you plan to attend the trip let me know please so we have a feel for the number of participants.
Searchers Field Trip
November 12-13, 2022
Location: Afton Canyon and surrounding area
Leader: John OConnor
jwoc1269@gmail.com
714-924-2226
The Searchers are having a field trip to the Afton Canyon area. We will be staying at the Afton Canyon Campground which costs $6.00 a night. Field trips will leave at 09:00 Saturday and Sunday from the kiosk in front of the campground entrance.
Saturday morning, we will start collecting at Pyramid Canyon, for a variety of material found in float. We cannot drive into the canyon, so be prepared for some walking. Saturday afternoon we will visit some sites on the other side of the 15 Fwy. Most of this material is also in float, but we have done a little hard rock mining here in the past. So, if you like that
kind of thing, be sure to bring some heavier equipment. Carefully driven passenger cars should be OK for the Saturday trip.
Sunday we can do either the Alvord Mine or Baxter Wash areas. High clearance vehicle are recommended for both trips, the final stretch to the Alvord mine is a 4x4 road, but the tough part is short and can be walked. Baxter Wash requires 2 water crossings in Afton Canyon that can be quite high so we will see.
Recommended equipment: gloves, glasses, shovel, rock hammer, rock bag, and spray bottle. For the harder working people, you may want to add a Geo Pick, small sledge, gad etc.
Don’t forget sunscreen, and lots of water.
Directions to the campground: Proceed to the 15 freeway north. Pass Barstow – Yermo (last place to get gas).
Exit at Afton Road, turn right and follow the main road to the campground.
DIRECTIONS TAKEN FROM BLM WEBSITE
LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: 35.06837, -116.40963
DIRECTIONS:
From Barstow, take Interstate 15 east for 35 miles. Take the Afton exit south. Drive
south three miles on graded dirt road to parking area for the fully-developed Afton
Campground. Pit Toilet and some water is available.
Looks like we will be able to have a campfires in campground provided
grates, but you will need to get a (free) permit. This permit is available
at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/
We will be having our standard Saturday night potluck, for those that
would like to attend.
If you have any questions, please contact: John OConnor,
jwoc1269@gmail.com, 714-924-2226
October 15 & 16, 2022Sperry Wash is washed out. Instead, we will collect just east of Yermo.Leader Virgil TalbotThe Searchers Oct 14-15 2022 trip to Sperry Wash has changed, because of the monsoon storms washing the road out. In its place we will run a trip to a collecting site east of Yermo, CA. To get there from the greater Los Angles basin go out north bound I-15 to Yermo. Continue east to Minneola Rd exit here and turn left,crossing over the Fwy and follow the road which curves 90 degrees heading easterly, paralleling the Fwy. Go past the gas stations to the first road on the left, and turn left. There will be a Searchers sign here, and you are in sight of the camp. I plan on being out there mid-afternoon Friday, in a white Casita trailer. THIS IS A DRY CAMP!, there are no facilities, there are motels in Barstow. On Saturday, we will meet at 8:30 a.m., and will leave at 9:00. Bringlunch, water, etc. HIGH CLEARANCE vehicles only, four wheel drive preferred. You can usually get a ride with someone. We will be surface collecting agate, jasper, and petrified wood. On Saturday night there will be a potluck and campfire. On Sunday we will meet at 8:30 a.m. and leave at 9:00; we will be going to a different site. Bring protective clothing, sunscreen, water, lunch, collecting bucket/bag, spray bottle, personal radio (set to channel 7), etc. If you plan on attending, please let me know. My e-mail is virgil_talbott@roadrunner.com, cell phone is 714-606-8501 (on trip only) and my home is 714-871-7900.
Clear Creek Management Area Field Trip Clear Creek Field Trip Flyer
September 10-11, 2022
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am
Leader: Margaret Hogarth and Jimmie Peterson
Cell# 909-815-3045
Email: hogarth.m@gmail.com
Hobby gem and mineral collectors are drawn to the Clear Creek areas by the presence of over 150 semi-precious mineral and gemstones. This is one of the most highly mineralized areas in California. The serpentine mass contains two superfund sites, Atlas Mine and Johns-Mansville. Both were associated with the mining and processing of chrysotile asbestos. Other minerals mined from the serpentine mass included cinnabar, chromite, magnesite, and jadeite. The Gem mine (private) located within the serpentine mass is the only source of gem-grade benitoite in the world. They have a fee dig in the tailings if you are interested, but we will not be going on that trip. The rare minerals neptunite
and joaquinite have also been found there. Other cool things to hound are jaspers, uvarovite, and plasma agate. We’ll do a combination of digging for plasma agate and scouring the stream beds for interesting finds. You can’t be disappointed in such a geologically diverse place! Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
Permits Needed
Get your permits ahead of time by visiting the follow site, each car needs a general access permit to CCMA and a special permit for the Serpentine Area (ACEC). https://www.recreation.gov/vehiclepermits/250848
Clear Creek Vehicle Permit: $5 per week*
Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Permit: Free, limited to 5 entries per calendar year, per person*
*Each permit requires a $6 reservation fee.
We will also need a gate code; Margaret will send that information out before the trip.
Directions:
I recommend using the “download offline maps” feature for Google Maps or your own selection of GPS App which allows off grid maps. There isn’t much for cell service in the area.
Coming North on I-5:
Take exit 325 for Jayne Ave (Rt 33) and go west toward Coalinga. Jayne Ave turns into Polk St thru the town of Coalinga and then turns back into Jayne Ave Continue on Jayne Ave and it make a big right sweeping turn and turns into S.
Derrick Ave and you are in the middle of the Chevron Oil Field, go ~4miles. Turn left onto Lost Gatos Creek Rd. Follow for 21.5mi, turns into Coalinga Rd at the Condon Peak Recreation Area.
Continue another 8.6mi and turn right onto Clear Creek Rd (LOOK FOR SEARCHERS SIGN) Pass over the ford in the San Benito River. Travel about 2.3 miles, the left just before the locked gate to head up to Jade Mill Campground
(36.368356 N, -120.754140 W), SEARCHERS signs will be posted.
Lavic Siding and Cady Mountains
May trip is tentatively planned for May 14 and 15, 2022, at Lavic Siding Saturday and the Cady Mountains Sunday. The Saturday portion at Lavic is specifically aimed at new or non-members that we recruit at the show. We will need some experienced rockhounds to join us, and we will try to pair up newbies with experienced rockhounds for educational purposes. Sunday we can choose some Cady sites. I will lead this trip, maybe I will wrangle a co-leader for the Cady's part. More details to come.
Siam Siding and Trilobites
The April Field Trip is planned for April 9 and 10. 2022. Saturday will be digging for Chapenite at Siam Siding, and Sunday will be a half-day collecting trilobites near camp. The camp location is off of Cadiz Rd, near Chamblis, CA. To get to the campsite you will take I40 East to the Ludlow exit, go right at the end of the exit, and take the first left onto Nat'l Trails Hwy (old route 66). Continue east on Nat'l Trails Hwy, past Amboy to Chambliss, then turn right onto Cadiz Rd. Cadiz Rd swings in a wide left turn, followed by a right turn over the train tracks. The (left) turn to the campsite is BEFORE the turn towards the tracks. There will be a Searchers sign marking this turn-off onto a dirt road. If you cross the tracks you have gone too far. The campsite is only a short distance off of the paved road. We will have a fire on Sat night and a potluck for those who wish to participate. The camp is a dry camp, with no facilities of any kind. Bring everything you need, don't forget lots of water, sunscreen, hats, and rock tools, and gloves. A passenger car can make it to camp if driven carefully, for the collecting sites high clearance vehicles are preferred, and 4x4 is the cat's meow. We have found in the past that the Siam Siding collecting works best if we form small digging teams that then share their findings, as you need to dig large holes. You will need shovels, and maybe a bucket to move sand away so it doesn't slip back in your hole. For trilobite collecting there are several locations near each other, some easy to get to, some involving some scrambling on loose shale. The collecting sites are only a short distance from camp, without 4x4 you will stop earlier and walk a little further, aggressive 4x4 drivers can get very near to the sites. A small shovel comes in handy here also, as we will be looking for fossils in shale, and will need to clear out the non-fossil bearing material to allow us to keep working the hole. Here also small digging teams are the way to go. Both of these sites can get very hot in April, some sort of shade generator is a good idea, large umbrellas work great, small pop-up canopies also work well, but are a bit more awkward to move around. The Sat trip will leave from camp at 0830. We will not be returning to camp for lunch, so you will want to bring your lunch. Sunday's trip leaves at 0800.One note about getting to the campsite, the last time I was there, Nat'l Trails Hwy was closed just past Chambliss, and in fact, the road was blocked to through traffic before Chambliss and required you to drive past the barricade to get to Cadiz Rd. Just an FYI. I (Steve Duncan) will lead this trip, if you have any questions about it please contact me. 714 724 7102 mrsteveduncan2@gmail.com
March 12, and 13, 2022 Chuckwalla Field Trip between Desert Center and Blythe.
There will be a field trip on March 12, 13 to Chuckwalla Springs (between Desert Center/Blythe). The trip will be led by Searcher Robert Burson. We will be collecting agates (plume, moss, fortification, and banded), and Jaspers of many colors. Sagenite is found here too. There are also agate filled geodes and amygdules.
This is a particularly beautiful spot. The spot itself is a reward. BE AWARE: 4 WHEEL DRIVE and high clearance is what should be driven here. This is a challenging route with some tricky rocky parts. The Searchers are not responsible for damages to your vehicle, as usual we will sign waivers of liability. For people who come to camp without the right kind of vehicle there is always the possibility of carpooling with someone who does, as well as the possibility of a separate trip to a less challenging location. If you plan on coming on the trip and do not have the right vehicle let us know in advance and we can try to plan ahead.
The camp will be accessible by RVs and cars, although the last stretch of the road may need to be driven carefully. This will be a dry camp, bring everything you need. Don’t forget sunscreen and hats, lots of water. It could be hot during the day and cold at night. Gas and simple supplies are available at Chiriaco Summit and Blythe has anything you could need, including motels. We will be having our traditional potluck on Saturday night, so bring something good to share. Telling tall tales around the campfire is also on the agenda, so bringing a little firewood is a good idea. We will leave the camp every day at 0830am. We will carpool as required. You will want to take lunch. Standard rock tools should suffice, rock pick, gloves, and a spray bottle. You may want a small sledge and gad, or a Geo Pick.
Directions:
Take 91 freeway East to the 60 South. In Indio take 10 East travel to first exit past Desert Center. Take Corn Springs exit , which is 9.3 miles east of Desert Center. Take the old highway east 13.2 miles to Graham Pass Road. Turn right and go south for 5.9 miles to the Chuckwalla Springs Rd, there should be a sign here. We will put out some Searchers signs to help you find your way. Without traffic it is about 3 hours and 20 minutes from Anaheim to the freeway turn off. If you have any questions about the trip feel free to contact Robert at 562 706 4892 or Steve Duncan at 714 724 7102. For people that like to motel it, rooms in Blythe are usually reasonable if you shop around ahead of time.
HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT. Robert
January Burro Creek and Quartzsite
We will make up for the short trip in December with a 4-10 day trip to Arizona in January . The first part of the trip Jan 15-18 will be collecting at Burro Creek. We will be staying at the Burro Creek Campground near Wikieup and field trips will leave at 8AM daily. The campground is a nice one with flush toilets, drinking water, and dump stations. There is a (funky) motel in Wikieup for non-campers. I expect fires will be permitted in camp, so bring some wood. We will have a potluck for those that wish on Sunday night. There was a barbeque joint in Wikieup we could visit for dinner one evening if people wish.
Burro Creek is a large (beautiful) area to explore with good materials. There is lots of Pastelite (a fine grained porcelain jasper with pastel colors) as well as other agates and jaspers, including the famous (but elusive) Burro Creek purple agate. Access to Burro Creek is sometimes possible along an easy graded road, but there is a stream crossing at the bottom, and if the water is high this can become impassable. If the stream is up we will be forced to enter Burro Creek using the 4x4 trail (aptly called suicide) we pick up at Nothing Az. Needless to say this route requires a high clearance vehicle, preferably 4x4. I will lead the Burro Creek part of the trip (Steve Duncan, mrsteveduncan2@gmail.com, 7147247102), though I am always open to the idea of anyone showing us new locations (and am happy to have jeeps lead down suicide).
From this point the trip becomes self led. The 19th is a travel day to Quartzsite, where the Desert Gardens show is in full swing. This is my favorite show for rough. I may very well be going home at this point because of some other commitments. But folk who stay can find lots of dispersed camping on BLM land (near all the snowbirds) or folks have been known to stay in local campgrounds with showers etc. I expect the group will firm up Quartzsite plans while we are in Burro Creek. The reason to be in Quartzite at this time is the PowWow, and its daily Field trips Jan 20-24. The field trip link has a lot of info about these trips, they are good trips, and cost $2/person/trip. And the PowWow itself is a very good show.
Jimmy Peterson is a knowledgeable leader to the chipboard location. One of the PowWow field trips goes to this location, but the Searchers could possibly go on a different day with Jimmy leading. So the hypermotivated can go on 9 days of field trips and visit 2 rock shows in 10 days. These plans are firm. Contact me if you have any questions.
February
The February field trip will be led by Doug Flaugh to Hector Hills and Hector Flats Feb 12&13, 2022. The trip will be to North Hector for banded jasper and Hector Hills for various chalcedony. Additional sites may include
Hector Flats for tumbling material and a side trip to explore the lava tubes and caves of Pisgah Crater. Four wheel drive is recommended due to some long stretches of deep sand, however most high clearance vehicles will be
able to make it if driven purposefully. The camping site is at Lavic Siding. Directions from Barstow, CA : exit at Hector Rd and turn right at the end of the off ramp, then turn left onto old Rt 66. Follow Rt 66 for 9.4 miles to where the road makes a sharp left turn to cross Hwy 40. Do not cross the freeway, instead turn right off the pavement onto Lavic Rd. Bear left onto the unmarked road and follow for 0.6 miles to the fork and turn left down the hill to the camp site. There should be Searchers signs marking the way. This is a dry camp, bring everything you need. Don't forget water, sunscreen, hats and rock tools. Minimum rock tools is probably a rock hammer and a spray bottle, the more serious may wish to bring geo picks, shovels, small sledge hammers, gads etc. We are again allowed to have fires so bring some wood for a Sat night fire, and we will also have a potluck Sat night for those who wish to partake. Saturday and Sunday morning we will meet up at the junction of Lavic Rd and old Rt66, and the trips will leave from there. Rally time is 8:30 am. As usual people who don't have the right type of vehicle will try to arrange to ride with someone who does. These plans are firm, contact Doug at dwflaugh@aol.com or 310 946 2487 for more details.
December
December is a busy month for everyone, so we traditionally do a short one day trip. On Sat December 4th we will
have a freeform field trip to Barstow "led" by me (Steve Duncan, mrsteveduncan2@gmail.com, 7147247102).
Diamond Pacific, a major lapidary equipment manufacturer, is opening their yard on the 4th from 9 AM to 3 PM to allow the public to pick through their rock piles. Material can be purchased for $3/lb. They have some very nice material that they have collected over the years, a lot of it from "can't collect there anymore" locations. Their shop is at
2620 Main St
Barstow CA
That same day is the opening of the Mojave Desert Gem and Mineral Society show, which is also a good thing to visit. Their show is at the
Cora Harper Community Center
841 S Barstow Rd
Barstow CA
So it should be a fun day of rock stuff, wear your club T-shirt so we can make our presence known (and recognize each other). I hope to see you there. Get in touch with me if you have any questions.
These plans are firm.
January
We will make up for the short trip in December with a 4-10 day trip to Arizona in January . The first part of the trip Jan 15-18 will be collecting at Burro Creek. We will be staying at the Burro Creek Campground near Wikieup and
field trips will leave at 8AM daily. The campground is a nice one with flush toilets, drinking water, and dump stations. There is a (funky) motel in Wikieup for non-campers. I expect fires will be permitted in camp, so bring some
wood. We will have a potluck for those that wish on Sunday night. There was a barbeque joint in Wikieup we could visit for dinner one evening if people wish.
Burro Creek is a large (beautiful) area to explore with good materials. There is lots of Pastelite (a fine grained porcelain jasper with pastel colors) as well as other agates and jaspers, including the famous (but elusive) Burro Creek purple agate. Access to Burro Creek is sometimes possible along an easy graded road, but there is a stream crossing at the bottom, and if the water is high this can become impassable. If the stream is up we will be forced to enter Burro
Creek using the 4x4 trail (aptly called suicide) we pick up at Nothing Az. Needless to say this route requires a high clearance vehicle, preferably 4x4. I will lead the Burro Creek part of the trip (Steve Duncan, mrsteveduncan2@gmail.com, 7147247102), though I am always open to the idea of anyone showing us new locations (and am happy to have jeeps lead down suicide).
From this point the trip becomes self led. The 19th is a travel day to Quartzsite, where the Desert Gardens show is in full swing. This is my favorite show for rough. I may very well be going home at this point because of some other commitments. But folk who stay can find lots of dispersed camping on BLM land (near all the snowbirds) or folks have been known to stay in local campgrounds with showers etc. I expect the group will firm up Quartzsite plans while we
are in Burro Creek. The reason to be in Quartzite at this time is the PowWow, and its daily Field trips Jan 20-24. The field trip link has a lot of info about these trips, they are good trips, and cost $2/person/trip. And the PowWow itself is a very good show.
Searchers November 13 and 14, 2021
Afton Canyon
On Saturday, meet in the Afton Canyon campground by the river at the sign at 8:30 a.m. We will explore Afton Canyon on foot. On Sunday we will explore a gold mine nearby. Meet at 8:30 a.m. Take the 15 north past Barstow for 35 miles. Take Afton Canyon Road exit and turn right. Go for 3 miles. Look for the Searchers signs. Some folks will be camping. John O'Connor is leading, 714-924-2226, jwoc1269@gmail.com. For more information about Afton Canyon, please see https://www.blm.gov/visit/afton-canyon .
Searchers October 23-24, 2021
Sierra Paloma Claim, Borax Visitor Center and Jasper-Agate Sites
Field Trip Handout
Leader-Margaret Hogarth
Join us on Saturday, October 23, 2021 as we explore the Sierra Paloma Claim for banded travertine onyx. This is an active claim of the Sierra Paloma Rock Club, where anyone may collect so long as they register and deposit info on what they've collected in a tin box to help the club maintain the claim. While you may find some nice pieces of travertine left on the surface from previous collectors, the best pieces require substantial labor. You'll need to dig deep with a shovel and use large gads, chisels, pry bars, and sledgehammers along with thick gloves and eye protection. During a reconnaissance visit on September 29th, we saw that pits had not been dug and worked for some time. Nearly all had significant amounts of earth slumped above the travertine layer. If you really want the good stuff, come prepared to dig deep, and bring rope to haul out any especially large pieces. The rewards are worth the effort. The travertine onyx is beautifully banded black, brown, white, red, yellow, and golden-brown, with some layers showing dendritic patterns. This soft material may be quickly and easily carved, crafted into spheres, and/or slabbed and cabbed to a fine polish. Have a rock hammer and water bottle to evaluate the pieces you find. Much of it has a drab tan crust, but knocking an edge off a corner can reveal colorful bands beneath.
After our lunch in the field, we will visit the Borax Visitor Center (masks are required). It is located at 14486 Borax Road, Boron, CA 93516. If we have time on Saturday afternoon, we will explore nearby jasper-agate sites.
For those who wish to, a group might go to a nearby restaurant in Boron for dinner Saturday night.
Saturday and Sunday, meet at 8:30 a.m. on Clay Mine Road, where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Our campsite is marked with a star on the map, just before Aerial Acres. All vehicles can reach our meeting spot. Most vehicles can make it to the claim site and to the Borax Visitor Center. This is a dry camping site without any amenities. Please bring all food and water that you may need and dress in layers appropriate for the weather.
On Sunday, meet at 8:30 a.m. at our campsite on Clay Mine Road. We will be exploring nearby jasper-agate sites. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Recommended equipment: Rock pick, gloves, shovel, large gads, chisels, pry bars, sledgehammers, rock bag, and spray bottle.
Directions: Proceed to the 15 freeway north. Pass the Cajon pass. Take exit 141 to Highway 395 north. Proceed to Kramer Junction. Take Highway 58 west towards Mojave. Take exit 188, Clay Mine Road, turn right. Proceed about 5 miles and look for the Searchers signs. We will be camping off of Clay Mine Road, before Aerial Acres, where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Our campsite is marked with a star on the map. Allow 2-1/2 hours from Anaheim; it is about 130 miles. For non-campers, there are hotels in California City, Boron, and Barstow.
If you plan to attend, please contact: Margaret Hogarth, hogarth.m@gmail.com, 909-815-3045.
There will not be a potluck on Saturday night, nor will a campfire be allowed.
Searchers October 23-24, 2021
Sierra Paloma Claim, Borax Visitor Center and Jasper-Agate Sites
Leader-Margaret Hogarth
Join us on Saturday, October 23, 2021 as we explore the Sierra Paloma Claim for banded travertine onyx. After our lunch in the field, we will visit the Borax Visitor Center (masks are required). If we have time on Saturday afternoon, we will explore nearby jasper-agate sites.
Meet at 8:30 a.m. on Clay Mine Road, just before Aerial Acres. All vehicles can reach our meeting spot.
On Sunday, meet at 8:30 a.m. at our campsite on Clay Mine Road. We will be exploring nearby jasper-agate sites.
Directions: Proceed to the 15 freeway north. Pass the Cajon pass. Take exit 141 to Highway 395 north. Proceed to Kramer Junction. Take Highway 58 west towards Mojave. Take exit 188, Clay Mine Road, turn right. Proceed about 5 miles and look for the Searchers signs. We will be camping off of Clay Mine Road, before Aerial Acres, where the road makes a 90 degree turn. Allow 2-1/2 hours from Anaheim; it is about 130 miles. For non-campers, there are two hotels in nearby California City.
If you plan to attend, please contact: Margaret Hogarth, hogarth.m@gmail.com, 909-815-3045.
There will not be a potluck on Saturday night, nor will a campfire be allowed.
Searchers September Field Trip 9 - 25th to 26th, 2021
South Cadys and Lavic Siding
Leader-Steve Duncan
The club will be having a field trip to the Cadys on September 25th and 26th. This area is famous for agates and jaspers. The campsite for this trip will be off of Lavic Siding Road, trips will leave from the campsite at 0830.
Saturday we will collect north of the freeway, possible starting in Sandy Wash if it is accessible. In addition to some other known spots ,we may also do some exploring looking for new spots, so come with an open mind. High clearance vehicles are required for this day's trip, 4x4 preferred.
As usual if you don't have the right type of vehicle we will find a way for you to carpool with someone who does. This trip could involve some digging or hard rock mining for those so inclined.
Sunday we will collect at Lavic Siding, this is for jaspers (and agates) which are normally found in float. A high clearance vehicle is suggested, although a passenger car can access this site if driven carefully. Normally this day ends early so folks can beat the traffic home.
The campsite is off of Lavic Siding Rd, if coming from Orange County go North on 15, then East on 40 towards Ludlow. Exit at Hector Rd, turn right at the end of the exit, and then left (East) onto National Trails Hwy (Old route 66). At about 10 miles the road makes a sharp left and crosses over 40. Do not make this left, instead turn right onto the dirt road, this is Lavic Siding Rd. Follow the
Searcher signs to camp. Someone should be at camp by Friday evening. This is a dry camp (meaning no facilities of any kind), bring everything you need, including:
Lots of water
Sunscreen
Hats, gloves and rockhound tools (rock pick, spray bottle etc.)
Don't forget something to carry your treasures back to the truck
Unfortunately, Covid is still with us, so social distancing will be the order of the day, and we will be unable to have a potluck. Also we will be unable to have a fire due to fire restrictions. We can still gather (at a distance) to tell tall rockhounding tales in the evening.
Questions? Email me at mrsteveduncan2@gmail.com or call me at 714 724 7102
May 8-9, 2021 Red Mountain and Ballarat
A few of us will be doing an informal exploratory trip up RT 395 to visit Red Mountain for some mineral collecting and continuing up to Ballarat in search of a beautiful colored marbled. This will be more heavy on driving and we will be prospecting for good collecting locations. Email Andrew for more information.
Clear Creek Management Area Field Trip
May 15-16, 2021
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am
Leader: Andrew Bloxom and Jimmie Peterson
Cell# (571)-217-9536 (***Please text message only during business hours)
Email: Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.com
Hobby gem and mineral collectors are drawn to the Clear Creek areas by the presence of over 150 semi-precious mineral and gemstones. One of the most highly mineralized areas in California. The serpentine mass contains two superfund sites, Atlas Mine and Johns-Mansville. Both were associated with the mining and processing of chrysotile asbestos. Other minerals mined from the serpentine mass included cinnabar, chromite, magnesite, and jadeite. The Gem mine (private) located within the serpentine mass is the only source of gem-grade benitoite in the world. They have a fee dig in the tailings if you are interested, but we will not be going on the trip. The rare minerals neptunite and joaquinite have also been found there. Other cool things to hound are jaspers, uvarovite, and plasma agate.
We’ll do a combination of digging for plasma agate and scouring the stream beds for interesting finds. You can’t be disappointed in such a geologically diverse place!
Directions
I recommend using the “download offline maps” feature for Google Maps or your own selection of GPS App which allows off grid maps. There isn’t much for cell service in the area.
Coming North on I-5:
Take exit 325 for Jayne Ave (Rt 33) and go west toward Coalinga. Jayne Ave turns into Polk St thru the town of Coa-linga and then turns back into Jayne Ave Continue on Jayne Ave and it make a big right sweeping turn and turns in S Derrick Ave and you are in the middle of the Chevron Oil Field, go ~4miles. Turn left onto Lost Gatos Creek Rd. Fol-low for 21.5mi, turns into Coalinga Rd at the Condon Peak Recreation Area.
Continue another 8.6mi and turn right onto Clear Creek Rd (LOOK FOR SEARCHERS SIGN) Pass over the Ford in the San Benito River. Travel about 2.3 miles, the left just before the locked gate to head up to Jade Mill Campground (36.368356 N, -120.754140 W), SEARCHERS signs will be posted.
Permits
Get your permits ahead of time by visiting the follow site, each car needs a general access permit to CCMA and a special permit for the Serpentine Area (ACEC). https://www.recreation.gov/vehiclepermits/250848
Sperry Wash, March 13-14, 2021; (Sperry Wash Flier)Sperry WashMarch 13-14, 2021Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00amLeader: Doug FlaughFor questions before the trip, contact Andrew BloxomCell# (571)-217-9536 (***Please text message only during business hours)Email: Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.comWhere: Sperry Wash 50 miles north of Baker, California.Meeting time: Meet at camp at 8:30am Saturday morning. Begin drive to Sperry Wash at 9am.Collecting:Sperry Wash is best known for “petrified bog” with palm (roots, bases & axis cuts), wood (birch & cottonwood), and grasses, from 1 or 2 million years ago. The material is solid in a variety of colors including red, pink, orange, yellow, gray, blue, white and brown. There are vast amounts of material to be found in float over a wide area including large boulders on the hill tops. There are also seams of material for those who enjoy hard rock mining.For Sunday, we will visit the War Eagle Mine, an iron ore mine with secondary gold, silver, and zinc lodes. We’ll be in search of interesting minerals and enjoying the visit to the mine.Road Conditions:High-clearance vehicles are required on the road into Sperry Wash. 4wd is recommended but not essential.All wheel drive vehicles with moderate clearance such as the typical Subaru will be OK if driven carefully. Bring the usual provisions, rock pick, spray bottle, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks and plenty of water.There will be a bonfire on Saturday night for those staying at or visiting the group camp. We will still maintain social distancing and no potluck. Please a weak mask when we are in a group setting.Donations of firewood are also appreciated.Directions to camp:From I-15 North, take the second Baker exit (CA-127).Head north on CA-127 for 48.2 miTurn right onto Old Spanish Trail Hwy and go 5.4 miTurn right onto Furnace Creek Rd and go 4.3 miTurn right onto dirt road and go 0.4 mi to camp.This road is passable to passenger cars with a few dips at small wash crossings.There is a 200 ft cliff at the end of the road beyond the utility poles; don’t “Thelma & Louise” it.In Google Maps:https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.2618756,-116.0717454/35.8133081,-116.1422393/@35.5667632,-116.4860886,94030m/am=t/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e0For those with high maintenance husbands who prefer hotels to camping:Delight's Hot Springs Resort, Tecopa has cabins for rent.Shoshone Inn, Shoshone is a motel 10 miles north of Tecopa.Advance reservations highly recommended.There are also numerous hotels in Pahrump Nevada 35 miles from Tecopa.There are RV Parks in Tecopa and Shoshone.There is one gas station in Shoshone and it is expensive, so best to fill up your tank in Baker.There may not be cell reception at the camp site or in Sperry Wash.On the weekend of the field trip, I may be reached via satellite by going to the following website andselecting the Message link on the left side of the page.https://share.garmin.com/DouglasFlaughNote: Please be prepared to wear a mask and social distance if/when near other members so that we can safely resume our club’s activities in the desert. Thank you!
Cargo Muchacho Mountains Field Trip (Cargo Muchacho flier)
December 5-6, 2020
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am
Leader: Margaret & Bill Hogarth, Jimmy Peterson
Contact Bill for logistical/information inquires
Cell# 909-264-1122 ; Email: whogarth@gmail.com
Masks are required for close contact. No potluck.
The Anaheim Searchers will be headed to the Cargo Muchacho Mountains in the southeast Colorado Desert in the Lower Colorado River Valley, in Imperial County, California. This will be an exploratory/prospecting style trip. We will arrive at the site on Friday, December 4. We will camp at an open area near the American Girl Mine (Google map link).
Get gas in El Centro or there is a gas station 4-5 miles past Ogilby Road at 611 Sidewinder Rd N, Winterhaven, CA 92283.
Directions:
From Highway 8, Exit Ogilby Road, cross the highway and go north. Go 4 miles, cross the railroad tracks, and shortly after that turn right on American Girl Mine road. In about 2 miles, just before the Y in the road, you'll see a large flat open area where we will be camping. GPS Coords: [32.832143, -114.814761]
Watch for the Searcher signs! There is off-road vehicle activity in the area so we might have neighbors in the campsite.
Saturday we'll meet at 8:30 a.m. in the campsite.
We'll explore Site B [1] and look for dumortierite, agate, jasper, petrified wood and/or petrified palm. We'll check out the Tumco Ruins and Gold Rock Trading Post. If we have time we might go to Winterhaven Geodes [1,3] and check for geodes, chalcedony, agate, and nodules. We might explore other sites as time allows.
Sunday:
On Sunday morning we'll look for kyanite by the American Girl Mine area [2], and then head home.
Since this is a new area for us, we recommend 4-wheel drive high-clearance vehicles. Camping is dry; bring all water and food as necessary. It might be cold at night.
1. James R. Mitchell’s Gem Trails of Southern California (2003), pages 26-27 for Winterhaven Geodes; pages 30-32 for Cargo Muchacho Mountains region
2. Mindat for American Girl Mine (Cargo Mine; Cargo Muchacho Mine) :
a. https://www.mindat.org/loc-76980.html
3. Mindat for Winterhaven
a. https://www.mindat.org/feature-5410123.html
South Cady Field Trip - Download trip information
October 31, 2020
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am
Leader: Andrew Bloxom (vehicle: Black 2002 Toyota Tacoma)
Cell# (571)-217-9536 (***Please text message only during business hours)
Email: Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.com
The Anaheim Searchers will be to the South Cady Mountains region of I-40 on Halloween for a day of collecting moss agate and jasp-agates in an array of spooky red hues that would make even Dracula’s eyes widen. We’ll collect at 2-3 different collecting locations. This area has been a popular rockhounding locale for decades but still produces some fine quality material. The trails here are rather rough, and 4x4 is recommended, but some 2wd high clearance vehicles could be acceptable. If you want to stick around for Sunday, I will be camping and would be interested to explore some new territory where 4x4 is required. This location is slightly remote (not sure what food Ludlow has open right now) so it makes sense to pack food for lunch and bring plenty of water.
This will be our first trip since COVID-19 began. The Searcher’s board feels that our hobby in particular is well suited to social distancing and nothing about being in the desert makes it difficult to follow the current guidelines and restrictions. With that said, we’ll forgo some of the typical field trip traditions like a group camp and potluck dinner around the bonfire. If you’d like to camp amongst yourselves, feel free to do so, we’re just going to keep the club out of that planning. Please bring a mask and wear it if/when we are in a close group talking. We should be fortunate to be able to resume our group activity in this way and make sure we do everything possible to make it successful and recurrent.
Directions from Barstow, CA (see attached image). We will meet at Lavic Rd., right at the sharp turn where Rt-66 turns left over I-40 toward Sleeping Beauty Mountain.
Opal Mountain, CA March 21-22, 2020
Leader: Jimmie Peterson Download Flier
Details: We’ll be heading next to Opal Mountain North of Hinkley, CA. This area is known for common opal in a variety of colors including orange, cherry, white, variegated, and rarely precious. There are also some interesting warty thundereggs with waterline agates in the centers and some other jaspers to find along the way. Archaeological buffs might be drawn to some petroglyphs in the canyons. Jimmie has a jar of precious to prove it, so make sure you ask to see it! We’ll camp on an abandoned ranch (GPS: 34.972556, -117.191479) and have a bonfire and potluck on Saturday night. We’ll meet at the camp at 8:30am and depart at 9am for collecting. Go North on Hinkley Rd from Rt58 for 3.9 miles. Just past the low hill on the left if the turn in. Look for Jimmie’s RV and Searcher’s signs just before the turn and at the camp. This is a dry camping scenario so bring all your own supplies. This is a 4wd trip due to soft sand and some rocky terrain
Afton Canyon, CA March 7-8, 2020
Leader: John O’Connor Download Flier
Details: Afton Canyon in the North Cady Mountains is a beautiful place to explore and scour the washes and upper ridges for a unique blend of jaspers in red/purple/orange/gold/mustard, agates with inclusions, jasp-agates, hematite, and some interesting onyx in float. This area provides an easy access dry BLM Campground with pit toilets next to the mouth of the Canyon, the Mojave River, and the train trestle. Across the River and under the trestle, opposite the campground is Pyramid Canyon. Exploring up this canyon and on the upper ridges is bound to produce some interesting specimens and cutting material. On Saturday, we’ll meet up at 8:30 and depart at 9am to explore the hikeable terrain from the campground and have a potluck dinner and bonfire in the evening. For those who stay on Sunday, we’ll take votes on driving around to enter the Canyon from Basin Rd, exploring some boggy deposits across I-15 to the North, or continuing exploration deeper up the Canyons. The BLM campground is accessible by 2wd vehicles, beyond the campground is 4wd only high clearance, and if we go around to Basin Rd, it’s 4wd, but Subaru type clearance can be appropriate. Bring a bucket, sunscreen, water, food and firewood and let’s have a good time! Contact Andrew Bloxom, the field trip chairperson for any questions.
Direction and additional information:
Cadiz Trilobite Field Trip
February 22-23, 2020
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am; [download flier]
Leader: Jimmie Peterson (vehicle: White Jeep Wrangler), cell (714) 904-8573
For questions before the trip, contact Andrew Bloxom
Cell# (571)-217-9536 (***Please text message only during business hours)
Email: Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.com
The Anaheim Searchers will be making a trip for fossil collecting in a well known locale near Cadiz, CA . This location holds Cambrian trilobites in the Latham shale as well as some other fossils. More information can be found at this link:
https://www.blm.gov/visit/marble-mountain-rock-collecting-area
Nearby is the Siam Siding which is known for its Chapenite. If there are folks interested to go dig for some of this material that could be done. Also, on Sunday, a trip North to look for Garnets near Chambless will be made.
Camp will be set up Friday night, and all are welcome to a potluck dinner and bonfire on Saturday night.
This is a dry camping location so bring supplies and water.
Directions from Orange County to camp:
GPS: 34.525183, -115.491095
Take 15 North to Barstow, then 40 East to Ludlow. Exit Ludlow, right at the bottom of the exit, then left at the stop onto Nat’l Trails Hwy (old route 66). Go East on Nat’l Trails Hwy past Amboy (this is the last gas and supply stop) to Chambless, turn right on Cadiz Rd. Cadiz Rd goes straight southeast for ~3 miles, and then bends sharply to the left. It goes a little less than a mile, and then turns right and crosses the tracks. DO NOT cross the tracks. You will turn left off Cadiz Rd onto a dirt road about a hundred yards before the turn towards the tracks. Camp is ahead a ¼ mile, closer to the base of the hills. There should be Searcher signs at the turn off, and at camp. You should be able to see the vehicles at camp from the paved road.
Chuckawalla Springs Field Trip [download flier]
February 1-2, 2020
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am
Leader: Andrew Bloxom (vehicle: Silver Subaru Crosstrek)
Cell# (571)-217-9536 (***Please text message only during business hours)
Email: Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.com
The Anaheim Searchers will be heading into the Chuckawalla Mountains for what is sure to be good collecting and adventure. The road into this collecting area is fun but challenging, helping me to realize that sometimes the journey is half the excitement. 4x4 is highly recommended with high clearance, although drivers with Subaru type vehicles who have previous offroad driving experience may be able to reach the deeper regions up the canyons. We will encounter loose sand, steep rocky grades, and some small obstacles. This area is known for interesting agates, amygdules, and green moss and white plume agates. Other interesting specimens can also be found like sagenites and calcite rhombs.
We will be dry camping on Graham Pass Rd (GPS: 33.603560, -115.043118). Bring water, firewood, and food for the weekend as this location is fairly remote, but Blythe is 30-40 minutes’ drive to the East. Take I-10 East from Indio until you get to the Ford Dry Lake Rd exit. Take a right at the exit and head back West on Chuckawalla Valley Rd for about 3.2 miles. You will see a yellow sign and Searchers sign for the left turn onto Graham Pass Rd. We will be a few hundred yards on the right by the low trees and drainage berm. We will meet at 8:30am on Saturday morning and head out at 9am. Those who stick around will head back out on Sunday for a shorter day of collecting.
Quartzite Pow Wow, 2020
Our next field trip will be to the Quartzite Pow Wow which runs from January 15-19, 2020. A few Searchers have indicated they will be taking up residence for short times while gathering up all those show goodies and rough material. We will set up camp at the location below and meet up for dinner on Saturday night at the Yacht Club. Andrew won't be staying two days at the show. He would like to drive by the Wiley Well Road and do some de-stressing from Saturday's shopping, and maybe scout out some of the roads up into Chuckwalla Springs for the following field trip. Get in touch with Andrew if you plan to join and we can figure out a schedule.
B10 RV Park and Campground, 615 W. Main Street, Quartzite, AZ 85346, (928) 927-4393. Quartzite YachtClub Restaurant, Bar & Grill, 1090 W. Main Street, Quartzite AZ 85346.
Cheers, Andrew, andrewbloxom@gmail.com
Kramer Hills Field Trip
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Meet 8:30am, Depart: 9:00am (Download field trip flier.)
Leader: Andrew Bloxom (vehicle: Black Toyota Tacoma)
Cell# (571)-217-9536 (***Please text message only during business hours)
Email: Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.com
The Anaheim Searchers will be heading to Kramer Hills for a December day trip. This area is comprised of a variety of Tertiary geologic units containing agates, jaspers, and petrified palm. We’ll likely visit 2-3 of the collecting sites around the hills including sites with onyx, opal, and the best-known Kee Kay claim for some hard rocking mining of vibrant red jasper and green opalite. There will also be opportunities for plenty of float collecting of colorful chalcedony and unique agates. This trip will involve off road driving, but two wheel drive vehicles with good clearance can be fine in some cases. The meeting point is just off of 395 on Alcudia Road, approx. 25 miles north of Adelanto (the last town you’ll pass heading north on 395). We’ll meet at 8:30am and leave at 9:00. I hope you all can join!
November 10, 2019 Field Trip: Petrified wood, Holbrook, AZ. Email Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.com if you are interested.
November 16-17, 2019 Field Trip: Baxter Wash Prospecting: sagenite, jasp-agates, agate. Email Andrew.Bloxom@gmail.com if you are interested. Download flyer and map.
The Anaheim Searchers will be heading to the North Cady Mountains via the Basin Rd. entry to the Baxter Wash. This area is comprised of a variety of Tertiary volcanic geologic units containing many agates, jaspers, and minerals along with old mines, active claims, and commercial operations. Basin, CA is home to a railroad siding at the eastern entrance to Afton Canyon. We will camp overnight between the Interstate 15 and Basin, off of Basin Rd (see the map below). Saturday night we will return to camp before sundown and prepare a potluck dinner around a bonfire. Then venture back out on Sunday. The roads into Baxter Wash are rough and sandy and 4x4 is required for this trip. I’d like to do a mix of the usual spots mixed in with some prospecting around in quick stops to look for new finds. How about finding those elusive petrified stumps near the fluorite mine?! Prepare for collecting in float and also some hard rock mining for seam agates. We’ll meet at 7:30am and depart at 8am to take advantage of the sunlight. I hope you all can join! Email: Andrew.bloxom@gmail.com, Field Trip Chairperson
June Field Trip
Place: Himalayan Tourmaline mine. Photos.
Date: 6/23/19 (Final)
Details:
The Himalaya Mine is giving us a great deal. The regular admission fee is $75. If we have 20 attendees it is $60 and if we have 30 attendees it will only be $50.
Tools are provided.
Bring 5 gal buckets.
We can bring easy-up shade, but be prepared to share.
Under 12 years is free.
Bring your own lunch and plenty to drink.
Follow the instructions on the flyer below.
This is a pay site. We will, however, get a discount depending on the number of people who attend.
Leader: Lydia Pattison (714) 453-8186
October Field Trip: South Cady Mountains Day Trip
Saturday 10/26/19, 8 am (Download flyer and map)
The Anaheim Searchers would like to kick-off the 2019-2020 collecting season with a day trip to Sleeping Beauty Mountain in the South Cady’s. This area and the nearby canyons, washes, and hills are littered with some of the most beautiful specimens of jaspers, jasp-agates, amygdules, plumes, and stringers (Fig 1). Additionally, along the Power Line Rd. are numerous old diggings and spots to collect. We will meet at 8am at the Power Ln. location shown on map (Fig 3) with GPS coordinates and directions, leave at 8:30am and start around the slopes of Sleeping Beauty Mountain in the morning, then take an excursion down Power Line Rd, and explore for some seam agate near an old barite mine (Fig. 2). We will plan to wrap up around 5pm. Bring your camping gear if you want, but there will be no formal camp or potluck since this is a last-minute trip. 4x4 is recommended, but the spots are not too far from the main road, so we can carpool easily if needed. Bring water and sun protection.
Leader: Andrew Bloxom (vehicle: Silver Subaru Crosstrek)
Cell# (571)-217-9536 (***Please text only during working hours)
email: Andrew.bloxom@gmail.com, Field Trip Chairperson
​
May Field Trip
Place: Clear Creek – Plasma Agate
Date: 5/18/19 & 5/19/19
Details: This area is in central California between Coalinga and Salinas. You will need 2 permits, vehicle entry for CCMA and serpentine area special permits. You can get these permits at www.recrreation.gov/vehiclepermits. Camping tentatively at Oak Flat just inside the entrance. More details and further directions to follow in the next slab.
Leader: Andrew Bloxom (571) 217-9536
March 16-17, 2019
Field Trip: Tentative – Afton Canyon
Date: March 16 and 17, 2019
Leader: John O’Connor (714)924-2226
Saturday: Afton Canyon; Jasper, Agate, Rocks
Sunday: TBD
Camp: Afton Canyon Campground (BLM) has Toilets and Water and some shade shealters. Camping fee $6.00 per night. Take 1-15 North, 30 miles north of Barstow get off at the Afton Road, go right (East), follow road 3.6 miles to Campground meet at entrance sign at 9:30. I will also be at the freeway exit I-15 & Afton Road until 9:00, if anyone wants to follow me in. Road should be passable for all type of vehicles.
Afton Canyon is noted as the “Little Grand Canyon” It was the bottom of a prehistoric Lake Manx that was uplifted and then eroded over time to form a canyon. This is also a wildlife viewing area (big horn sheep, frogs, birds, etc.)
February 16-17, 2019
Date: 2/16/19 and 2/17/19
Place: Ludlow area
Leader: Jimmy (714) 904-8573
Saturday: Copper minerals and Thulite
Sunday: TBD
Campsite: Hwy 40 off at Cruceo rd., go West toward Dairy Queen. Turn Left on Rt 66 for 1 mile (runs along the west traveling side of the Hwy). Camp site will be on the right.
Saturday meet at Dairy Queen at 9 am
January, 2019 Field Trip
Quartzite Shows and Events:
Desert Gardens - Gems & Minerals
January 1 - February 28, 2019
Prospectors Panorama
January 1 - February 27, 2019
QIA Pow Wow - Gems, minerals and jewelry
January 16 - January 20, 2019
Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
January 4 - January 23, 2019
November Field Trip: Ludlow area Nov. 17-18th, 2018
The material we will be looking for on Sat. will be copper/iron ores.
Sunday will be Thulite.
We will camping at the Ludlow gravel quarry. It is reached by going 3 miles west from the Dairy Queen in Ludlow on old Highway 66. Turn right on a dirt road for about 1/2 mile to the quarry. There will be
Searchers signs at the turn. The gravel quarry is a large flat are for camping further from the trains.
We will leave at 9 AM on Sat.morning from the Dairy Queen. On Sat. night we will have a potluck around
5:30.
Sunday morning we can go to the Thulite site which is about 11 miles East of Ludlow.
Questions, call Jim Peterson at 714 904 8573
75th ANNUAL GEM-O-RAMA
Sponsored by the Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society
October 8-9, 2016 Saturday 7:30AM to 5PM - Sunday 7:30AM to 4PM
SLG&MS Lapidary and Show Building - 13337 Main St. (corner of Main & Trona Rd.)
TRONA, CALIFORNIA
OUTSTANDING SHOW - FREE ADMISSION
***
FIELD TRIPS - you drive your own car
DEALER SPECIAL - PINK HALITE - (Friday 2 to 6:30PM) $150 car+driver, $50 each added person)
SEARLES DRY LAKE - (2 1/2 hour trips on Saturday, 4 1/2 hours on Sunday)
Registration: 7:30-9:00 am and 1:30-2:30 pm - you must register during these times to go on field trips
Mud Trip- Saturday Only - Departs ONLY at 9AM- Cluster & barrel hanksite, trona, borax - $15 per CAR
Blow Hole - Saturday Only - Departs ONLY at 2:30PM- Hanksite, halite, borax, sulfohalite - dry surface- $15 per CAR
Pink Halite - Sunday Only - Departs ONLY at 9AM- In brine, beneath hard salt - $20 per CAR
Pinnacles National Natural Landmark - Self guided, information at show - FREE
Searles Valley Minerals' Plants - Saturday only: 10:40,11:25, 12:10, 12:55 and 1:40 - in bus - FREE
***
SEARLES LAKE PINK HALITE
FROM THE SOURCE - WHOLESALE PRICES
All Pink Halite collected with permission of Searles Valley Minerals
***
OTHER SHOW ACTIVITIES & COMMUNITY EVENTS
20 Dealers - 50 exhibits - Geode cutting and sales - Demonstration - Free parking
Snacks & drinks - Grand Prize Drawing - Hourly door prizes
Good Food in Catered Cafeteria in Show Building
LUNCH: Sat. and Sun. - 10AM to 4PM DINNER: Fri. ($11.00) and Sat. ($11.00)- 5PM to 7PM
***
PANCAKE BREAKFAST- TRONA COMMUNITY CHURCH (2 blocks north of show)
Sat. 6 to 10AM, Sun. 6 to 9AM - Adults: $5.00, children under 7: $3.00
Large groups - make advanced reservations for prompt service - call Gini Schwartz (760)372-5720
FORMER TRONAN'S PICNIC - Sat. 10AM, Trona Elementary School (on Athol St.)
OLD GUEST HOUSE MUSEUM - Sat. 9AM to 4PM, Sun. 9AM to 2PM
TRONA'S HISTORY HOUSE - Sat. 10AM to 4PM, Sun. 10AM to 2PM
TRONA FIRE MUSEUM - Sat. 10AM to 3PM
***
ACCOMMODATIONS
VALLEY WELLS RECREATION AREA - 5.3 miles north of show, $8/vehicle (dry camp, no resv.)
Find LOCAL AREA MOTELS (Most are in Ridgecrest, 25 miles west)
***
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit our web page at www1.iwvisp.com/tronagemclub/ or call Jim or Bonnie Fairchild (760)372-5356
Trip Report
Opal Mountain March 2015
Jim Peterson secured a idea camp that had pretty much everything needed. Firewood, shade, close to a good road. Reasonable amount of Searchers attended the field trip. We traveled in grassy wildflower covered hills. Incredible rainstorms made this area blossom to erase the signs of the arid desert. The material collected was pretty good, but no precious opal was found. Great photos were obtained at Inscription canyon. The weather was close to prefect, potluck was superb. I wish to thank all who participated
February Field Trip Plan 2015
February 21 &22, 2015
Lake Havasu
Leaders Jack Horn and Curt Clark
Searchers February field trip will be the an area just outside of Lake Havasu City. Different types of agate and jasper are plentiful in the area. There is red jasper with white and blue striping. The agates come in many colors, mostly pastel colors. There is also a site with a nice purple agate. Pieces are all float, large and small. Buckets, ham-mers, a spray bottle and good walking shoes are all you need for some great rock gathering. The road in is not long, but it does have some deeper sandy areas and a couple of steep, short climbs. 4 wheel and high clearance is highly recommended. Temperatures should still be pleasant. Always bring things for all conditions.
There is a BLM dispersed campsite called Craggy Wash just down the road and mo-tels and food in Havasu.
Directions: Drive will take around 4 to 5 hours. Take 15 toward Barstow to the 40 to the Arizona border. At the 9 mile marker take highway 95 South toward Lake Ha-vasu. The BLM site is on the left side around 11 miles from the 95 turn off. It is down a dirt road a little ways into a wash. GPS: 34° 35.636'N 114° 21.616'W .
Field Trip will start 9 AM (California time) from the McDonalds in the Walmart shopping center on the east side of 95. Very close to the airport on the North side of town. 6501 Showplace Ave.
Staying in Havasu: There are lots of motels in Havasu, some in the $60 range. Lots of good places to eat too. We have set up a special deal at the Travelodge. Normally 120, you can stay for $79 if you mention Searchers or Jack Horn to JC at the registration desk. This is a very nice, clean motel with free break-fast. There are a lot of different activities going on in Ha-vasu, make any reservations early to make sure you have a place.
Any questions - Jack or Linda Horn 714 779-6664