Davis Creek Obsidian Excursion: Field Trip Leader (Steven Scholom, 541-840-8828 -any questions text me, calling may not work well). Rainbow Obsidian (main focus, and 100% guaranteed), Pink Sheen Obsidian, Mahogany Obsidian, Obsidian Needles Thursday, August 15, afternoon, until Sunday, August 18th. Sunday collecting is optional, if you want to start your drive back.
Before you go, be aware: Stay in hotels (or rough it at the basic campsites, space not guaranteed), temperatures at dig sites 85-95 degrees, rocks are sharp (N.S.,S.), dusty conditions, mild hiking 0.3 miles over mildly rocky terrain, 4WD not necessary for everyone, but good if some of you have high clearance.
Drive split into 2 days, so Friday Arrival is during business hours.
Leave on Thursday afternoon, August 15th, and stay in Redding. Distance: 240 miles, approximately 4 hours drive, plus 20-40 minutes of delay from traffic.
Hotel Suggestions in Redding: Your own choice, but I have enjoyed American Modern Hotel, Holiday Inn Redding (not necessarily the Express and Suites, though it's nice too), and Best Western Twin View Inn and Suites. If you don't mind a longer morning drive to the meeting spot, I LOVE the Gaia Hotel and Spa, but it is 20 minutes south from our meeting spot in Redding the next morning.
Friday 16th head to Alturas from Redding. Distance: 145 Miles, 2 hours 45 Mins approx. Friday meet at 8:30am at: From the Hearth Kitchen and Pie Shop," 1292 College View Dr, Redding, CA 96002
Head to Modoc National Forest Service Supervisor's office, arrive at 11:45am on Friday, August 16th.
Forest Service: 225 West 8th Street Alturas, California 96101 Office Hours: M-F, 8 - 5:00 Phone: (530) 233-5811 Email: [email protected]
Have everyone obtain a free use permit, collection limits explained. Eat a quick Lunch in Alturas. Lunch options are up to you. I'll probably eat at One Thai Oshi.
Stop at Grocery outlet for water, possibly snacks if you need them. At 1:30 to 1:45 (till everyone is present), meet at Grocery Outlet, 603 W 12TH St. Alturas, head to the rainbow mine, called exactly:
"Davis Creek Obsidian Mine" on Google Maps Davis Creek Obsidian Mine GPS coordinates: 41*42'57"N, and 120*18'56"W for the parking area, then short walk uphill Northwest from there. Distance From Alturas Grocery Outlet to Obsidian Mine: 25 Miles, 35 minutes. Drive Slowly (65-70mph depending on limit) Obsidian rainbow mine from 2:30-6:00pm. Only enter and exit in groups of AT LEAST 3 cars for safety. GPS signals without offline maps or a proper GPS gadget are unreliable. Hiking from a flat tire to the nearest busy road with help is 4.9 miles. It can be done, but lets leave no people in the dust. After 6:00 Caravan back to main highway 395, 4.9 miles, and at this point people can go to their hotels, or go camping at Plum Valley Campground, Vault Toilettes ONLY, no other amenities. Set up dinner dates at your leisure. Have had many great meals at the American-style restaurants in Alturas.
Saturday, 17th people eat breakfast on your own, and are required to purchase or already have lunch packed. (Or beg for food from others after forgetting picnic). Meet at Davis Creek Mercantile 10am Saturday, August 17. This includes campers (campers do a tiny bit of back tracking, and be safer enroute as a group). Davis Creek Mercantile: 41942 US-395, Davis Creek, CA 96108. This store is 23 minutes from Alturas, and 15 minutes from Plum Valley Campground, so give yourself some time). Head back to rainbow mine, 5 miles from Davis Creek Mercantile. Hunt with better light, high grade finds, eat lunch there. Leave for Needles / Mahogany mine at 2pm, with appropriate vehicles and some carpooling. (Needles mine access is not always low clearance, depends on random road maintenance, so we won't risk anything). Distance: 10.2 Miles, driving time 35 minutes. Needles Mine GPS Coordinates: 41*44'57"N, and 120*18'13"W Google will NOT take you there. Caravan must stay together, high clearance only, bad area to get lost or stuck. (The trick is to follow Google to Needles Obsidian Mine, and where it incorrectly dumps you, drive another 0.3 miles further, turn right onto a rough road, and go another 0.2-0.3 miles, but don't attempt on your own unless you're good with maps. The mine is obvious off that road.) Stay at needles mine for the "rest of the day." The high quality nodules of mahogany with midnight rainbow at this location are cooler than the needles, and plentiful. Important that we all leave Needles Mine together at 5:45ish. Discuss making a dinner reservation in Alturas for those staying there: reception on 395 will allow me or someone to make a reservation. Sunday is free. Either go rock hunting on your own for petrified wood on Cedar Pass in the Warner Mountains in small groups, die-hards can go to the middle fork obsidian mine, which has no direct road access, and requires a keen sense of direction, and major digging, a high clearance vehicle, etc. Or just head back to the bay area. It is, after all, a 7-8 hr trek home.
Notes: 1. Surface mining and heavy chiseling, shoveling and digging will lead to similar results for most individuals. It can be fun to dig, but it is not necessary. Climbing to the upper parts of the mines can be tough. The main rainbow mine is well managed for safety and accessibility, but also gets shredded by visitors. 2. Obsidian is limited to 2 full 5 gallon buckets per person.
3. EQUIPMENT NEEDED Wrap-around safety goggles: CLEAR. You need to see the rainbows. Regular prescription glasses are not considered safe enough for flying glass shards. Thick leather gloves Tough pants (jeans or otherwise) Hammer Rock pick Dust mask (any type will do, but there is slight risk, as with any volcanic dust high in silica. It is Not asbestos; it is glass, and therefore considered less dangerous.) Small shovel -not required Two five-gallon buckets per person (or just 1) Rock collecting bags Water, sandwich condiments, snacks, ice chest if you want More water for washing rocks and safety back-up Clothing and sunscreen for hot sun (I do find short sleeves can leave forearms a bit cut up by flying glass, but not badly enough to cause concern) Bug Spray for mosquitos Closed shoes, no sandals Small first aid kit, especially with Band-Aids and topical antiseptic like Neosporin Optional: a large shade cover of some type, canopy, etc, with ground stakes.
4. If the smoke is thick, the trip is canceled 2 days in advance, so hotels must be cancelable. Smoke is no joke in that country.
5. The Forest Service office is CLOSED on Saturday and Sunday. Permits Must be received on Friday or earlier, in person only. They'll know we're coming.
6. The rocks collected are free and cannot be sold later. Don't ever discuss selling or trading the obsidian; it is for personal enjoyment only.
7. Camping people: Plum Valley Campground is good, but has no services. Lassen Creek Campground is good, but has no services. There is a creek with cow poop water. GOOGLE Plum Valley Campground Davis Creek, and the directions will be correct. Not correct on other websites like MapQuest or Waze.
8. It may be hot, 95 degrees or so. Canopy and lots of water.
9. Border crossings into and out of California may lead to confiscated fruits and vegetables, but simply say: "I bought all my food in Alturas, and spent some time in Davis Creek" and they'll let you keep everything.
10. Sunstones in Oregon is not that far for those who want to do another 2 days of traveling and collecting. If you leave for Sunstones free collection area at 9:30am on Sunday, you'll be there by 12:45 via Plush Oregon. Certainly recommend going over Plush, otherwise you risk getting wrong directions. 2 hrs 45 mins, 117 miles (approximately). Just ask me, I just went to the Spectrum mine; time-consuming and expensive, but very rewarding. 9 hr drive home is not that doable in 1 day though.