Expedition Hampton Butte: Digging for Green Petrified Wood and Agate скачать в хорошем качестве

Expedition Hampton Butte: Digging for Green Petrified Wood and Agate

Hampton Butte is known for its green jasper replaced petrified wood. It is one of my favorite places to rockhound. The ancient junipers, the high desert, and a variety of cool rocks! The digging site is located on BLM land so is open to the public. There is primitive camping there but no restrooms. It is in desert so expect heat in the summer and dress accordingly. The site is family friendly and younger kids can find very nice rocks on the surface or can help to dig. The ground seems to get harder as the sun dries the dirt in the summer. Equipment: I use a short handle shovel, a rock pick and a spray bottle to verify what I find. My Technique: I'm not an expert but this seems to work for me. I walk around the area looking for where others have been digging. Check the tailings - if you find some onteresting rocks then check out the place. If you don't find anything after a few minutes, try another spot. I seem to find that the good rocks are mixed in with the not so good rocks. So as you are looking for a spot, if you notice that the people before you have a pile of rocks, that might be a good place to check out. I also have a lot of luck in the bigger dig sites. Directions: DO NOT GOOGLE "Hampton Butte" for directions! You will end up on Hampton Butte, not the dig site! (I know from experience!) From Bend take 20 east to mile marker 54. Look for VAN LAKE ROAD on the left. Follow this gravel road for about 10.5 miles to PRICE TWELVE ROAD. Take a right. A little over 2 miles you will go down a small grade and will be at the site. The main camping area is on the left. I find that the second entrance in is much smoother to enter. The first entrance is kind of rough. The roads to the site are gravel but rather smooth. Once in the site the roads are dirt and could get slick on rainy days so be careful.