From the category archives:

California - Southern

Yermo (SoCal, Region 3, Site 47)

by pshiromaNovember 22, 2011 California - Southern

Directions: Mitchell’s map is fine.
Date: November, 2012
Site Notes: We skipped sites A and B and were going to head up to sites C and D. However, after making the left hand turn to the west of the dump, I began to notice a lot of large agates in the road bed and in the wash, [...]

Read the full article →

Hector Hills (S CA Region 2, Site 34)

by pshiromaJune 5, 2011 California - Southern
Thumbnail image for Hector Hills (S CA Region 2, Site 34)

Over the Memorial Day weekend we visited the Hector Hills location. Mitchell’s map is fine although the site is expansive and takes more time than we had available.
The road heading south from 66 that eventually connects to the Hector Mine is a well maintained county road fully passable by standard passenger cars. For those without [...]

Read the full article →

Lavic Jasper (S CA Region 2, Site 33 B)

by pshiromaJune 5, 2011 California - Southern
Thumbnail image for Lavic Jasper (S CA Region 2, Site 33 B)

We visited site B of the Lavic entry on Monday, May 30.
Mitchell’s map is fine although note that the rail road crossing no longer exists. The road is well maintained and passable by standard passenger vehicles.
Due to some mechanical issues with my car, we only went part of the way down Lavic road and stayed [...]

Read the full article →

Newberry Nodules and Agate (SoCal, R2, Site 36)

by pshiromaFebruary 21, 2011 California - Southern

Directions: The map will get you to the general location without issue. See notes section below.
Date: February 21, 2011
Notes: We were back in the Barstow area visiting another site and stopped at this location for about an hour. That’s simply not enough time to properly look through the area. Also, on further inspection, I realized [...]

Read the full article →

Field Road (SoCal, Site 50)

by pshiromaJanuary 30, 2011 California - Southern

Date of Visit: January 29, 2011
Directions: The location is easy to reach and the map is fine. We visited Site A.
Notes: As the book states, Site A is expansive. We parked at the end of the paved road and walked east towards the wash, going approximately 150 yards from where we parked. After all the [...]

Read the full article →

Jacumba Minerals (S CA Site 1)

by JerryJanuary 11, 2011 California - Southern

Directions: This site is easy to find. In-Ko-Pah is Exit 77 on I-8 at 3000 feet in the western Jacuma Mountains. From the end of the road you can drive another tenth of a mile before parking. There was a recent model trailer set up along side the road to Site B, but it appeared [...]

Read the full article →

Acton (SoCal R4, Site 66, Site C)

by pshiromaSeptember 6, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Map will get you there without issue.
Date: September 6, 2010
Notes: On Hubbard Road, approximately 3/4ths of a mile from Escondido Canyon Road there is a dirt road leading north from Hubbard road into the low hills. At least one rockhounding site I visited indicated that this dirt road is passable for standard passenger [...]

Read the full article →

San Gabriel Mountains Actinolite (SoCal R3, Site 39)

by pshiromaSeptember 4, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Map will get you to the location without issue. However, Mitchell is right about the difficulty in finding an appropriate turnout.
Date: September, 2010.
Notes: There is an additional collection area south of the Inspiration Point turn out. Take the Blue Ridge Truck Trail from the southern side of the  turnout approximately six miles to the [...]

Read the full article →

Bristol Mountain Onyx (S CA Site 31)

by JerryFebruary 26, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: Mitchell’s map and directions will get you there, but it gets a little confusing about midway along the powerline road with the gasline road sometimes separating and crossing each other. At one point the gasline road gets lost in a dune. 4WD is mandatory. The 2 mile hike into the quarry is quite moderate, [...]

Read the full article →

Broadwell Dry Lake (S CA Site 32)

by JerryFebruary 26, 2010 California - Southern

Directions: We only had an afternoon available, so decided to try Site A, but we’re not sure if we got there. We had problems with Mitchell’s map and directions after the turn west away from the dry lake. There was a fork at 2.5 miles not shown on the map. Bear right as the left [...]

Read the full article →