 OREGON FIELD TRIP
HOSTED BY: TULIP CITY GEM & MINERAL CLUB
REVISED SCHEDULE
Anyone from a MWF club is welcome to join us. Those interested may contact me directly for further information and should let me know if they definitely plan to go, for part or all of it.
JUNE 9th – JUNE 27th 2013
After travelling through scenic Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon, we will share camaraderie with western rockhounds who gather in the high desert of central Oregon for the Prineville rock show. Bear in mind, the field collecting is largely hard rock, pick & shovel work for lapidary material listed below. The terrain to some collecting sites may require HCV or 4WD/AWD vehicles. * We will do joint collecting with Joe & Janice Van Cura and members of the Willamette Agate & Mineral Society before the shows. The trip is recommended for responsible ages 9 and older.
With HPS summer vacation beginning June 7, we will leave Michigan June 9, driving straight to Prineville, Oregon (4 days) following I-94, I-80, US-30, I-86, I-84, US-20 and OR-27. We will do additional collecting on the return East in Wyoming. If time is a consideration and you are unable to do the entire trip, you may meet the rest of us at a specified time and location to be noted on the sign-up sheet. Or you may wish to leave Oregon early. You should make motel reservations ASAP especially in Prineville, to ensure lodging during this busy travel time. Dealers and other collectors will book early prior to the Oregon show. Rates below are current for 2013 per phone calls to each. A sign-up sheet will be at the April 24 and May meetings. Inquire of other club members as to possible ride sharing.
JUNE 9th: Leave Michigan. 597 miles to Omaha, NE. Reservations: Countryside Suites, (402) 884-2644 (Mr. Patel), I-80, exit 440. 2Q. 2 people $66.30 tax included with AAA/AARP; pets $5. Cont. brkf, micro, fridge, hi speed internet. Mention Sherwood party for this rate. Azteca, an exc. Mexican restaurant, is next door.
10th: 497 miles to Laramie, WY. Reservations: Gas Light Inn, (800) 942-6610 (Maria), 960 N. 3rd St., I-80, exit 313, 1.6 mi. n. on US 287. 31 rooms, 2 levels, 1Q. 2 people, $61.05 tax included with AARP; pets $10. Cont. brkf., micro, fridge, high speed internet. Campground: Laramie KOA, (307) 742-6553, I-80, exit 310. Short stop possible enroute at Petrified Wood Gallery in Ogallala, NE, for a marvelous exhibit of Wood and Agate. www.petrifiedwoodgallery.com
11th: 524 miles to Jerome, ID. Reservations: Days Inn, (208) 324-6400 (Jesse) exit 173, just n. on US-93. 72 rooms, 3 levels. 1Q. 2 people, $68.69 tax included with AAA/AARP. 5+ rooms $$55.02. Pets $15. Cont. brkf., micro, fridge in first floor rooms, high speed. internet. Campgrounds: KOA, (208) 324-4169, 5431 US-93. Visit friends Gerald & Joy Scarrow who have the Bruneau Jasper claim and are the single source for Forest Green & Forest Fire agate.
12th: 450 miles to Prineville, OR. Collect Wood near Brothers; continue to Prineville enjoying scenic rim-rock along OR 27..
12th - 23rd: Prineville. Reservations: Executive Inn, (541) 447-4152 (John) 12 nights. 1050 NE 3rd St., Hwy. 26. 16 rooms. 2Q. $450 for 12 nights tax included (special multi-night rate); Pets $10 one time. Coffee pot, micro, frig, wireless internet; laundry on site. Campground: Crook County RV Park, (800) 609-2599, 1040 S. Main, adj. to Fairgrounds. Facebook recently chose Prineville as the location for its new data center, and, with concurrent Crooked River Roundup at the Fairgrounds, lodging will fill up —Make your motel or campground reservations now!
We are arriving well in advance of the Prineville Show to do our own area collecting. *We will meet & collect with the Willamette (OR) club the weekend of June 14, 15, 16. Joe is very knowledgeable about collecting sites. Following are some of the locations we may visit:
In the greater Prineville area: Thunderegg beds in the Ochoco Mountains (Killer Green, White Fir Spring, Whistler Spring, Fallen Tree, Star Boy, Lemon Creek, Valley View, Lucky Strike www.luckystrikemine.net, (the latter is fee per lb.); visit friends Steve Langer and Margret Ball’s home & their outstanding ‘Egg collection; Limbcasts, South Fork, Crooked River (be aware of rattlers); Petrified Wood, Bear Creek. Visit Quant Rock Shop; go to the strange town of Mitchell; the Painted Hills Formation nearby. Killer Green & Fallen Tree ‘egg sites under claim by Jason Hinkle, need permission (fee). The Bowman Museum has a display of Blue Mountain picture jasper, Thundereggs, and Fossils.
North in the Madras-Ashwood area: Richardson’s Rock Ranch, 17,000 acres to dig ‘Eggs, Jasper. Agate; a huge rock yard & shop, a major producer of spheres www.richardsonrockranch.com John Marston Ranch (Penny) for colorful Jasp-Agate; Alex McDonald Ranch, Petrified Wood, Eggs (Cheryl); Polka-dot Agate beds (all fee per lb.); perhaps Gary & Beckie Buss will invite us to see his lapidary shop in Culver and his personal collection of Wood, Agate, ‘Eggs, and an array of material for sale.
June 20th – 23rd: Prineville Rockhound Pow Wow, Crook County Fairgrounds. Free admission. Over 50 dealers selling a wide range of rough rock, lapidary material, supplies, equipment, jewelry, gifts. Auction Saturday evening. Field trips daily, Fri., Sat., Sun. $10 membership good for entire family. Depart at 7:30 a.m. from Fairgrounds in front of Pow Wow trailer. Each usually lasts until about 2 – 2:30 p.m. Ranchers charge a per lb. fee.
CLUB FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE:
Friday: Richardson’s Ranch – Thundereggs
Saturday: Fallen Tree Thunderegg Bed; Ochoco Tube & Lace Agate (Your choice or dig at both same day)
Sunday: Alex McDonald’s Ranch – Wood; Thundereggs; Angelwing Agate
Check out show website for additional information: www.prinevillerockhoundpowwow.com
June 24th: Return East. 314 miles to Boise, ID. Reservations: Sleep Inn, (208) 336-7377 (McKenzie) Exit 53, 2799 Airport Way. 75 rooms, 2 levels. 2Q. $69.99 tax incl. with AAA/AARP; Pets $25. Cont. brkf, fridge, high speed internet. Campground: Mountain View RV Park, (208) 345-4141. I-84, exit 54, 0.6 mi. s. then w. follow signs. May stop enroute (120 miles) at Glass Butte for different varieties of Obsidian. Good tires are necessary to prevent shredding rubber!
June 25th: 406 miles to Kemmerer, WY. Reservations: Fossil Butte Motel, (307) 877-3996 (Jean orTammy) Stay 2 nights, 1424 Central Ave. 13 rooms, 1 level. 1Q., 2 people, $74.12 tax incl. with AARP; $70.85 if more than one room. Pets $5 per night per pet. Coffee pot, micro, frig, high speed internet, new patio & grill. Campgrounds: Foothills RV Park (307) 877-6634, 310 US-189, or Riverside RV & Mobilehome Park, (307) 877-3416.
June 26th: Dig for Blue Forest Wood, 10 miles out of Fontenelle Dam. Other options: Fossil Butte National Monument, Ulrich Fossil Gallery.
June 27th: 338 miles to Cheyenne, WY. At Wamsutter (153 miles from Kemmerer), drive 18 miles s.w. to Delaney Rim for Agatized Fossil Turritella Shell, allowing approx. 3+ hrs. to drive, collect, and return to I-80. Easy pickings! Julie and I will continue to Ft. Collins, so another overnight should take you back to Michigan.
Recommended Equipment: Rock pick, chisels, crack hammer, shovel, Estwing-type pick, pry bar, garden trowel, safety glasses, (hard hat not necessary)
Additional preparation: gloves, knee pads, safety glasses, egg containers, spray bottle, wrapping material, boxes/milk cartons; First Aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen; camera, binoculars; folding chairs, maps & field guides; adequate water & food for lunches in the field; toilet paper; Take swapping material. Service vehicle & check mechanical condition. Exchange cell phone numbers prior to leaving.
I will have state atlases, maps, rockhounding guides, field trip reference articles, AAA Tour Books.
Quick facts about Oregon:
· No sales tax
· You can’t pump your own gas
· Oregon is pronounced “Or-a-gun,” not OR-ee-gone” Don’t sound like an “easterner” who doesn’t know any better!)
Questions? Contact Bob Sherwood, Field Trip Coordinator, bobandjulia@accn.org (269) 637-7097
Revised 4/11/13
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