Cross Tech and Trek

05/12/2024

A couple photos from recent explorations in the Sierra Nevada gold country....

01/12/2024

Something new to check for at these sites:

The remarkable rock art sites—dated to between 5000 B.C. and 1500 B.C.—consist of vertical cliffs rising directly from lakes.

27/11/2024

Dangers of Rock Hounding
The next time you sign a waiver of liability prior to participating in a field trip, take a moment to read the warnings and consider the dangers they’re pointing out. This isn’t just legalese.

The weather probably kills more rockhounds than any of the other listed dangers. Dress for conditions, but be flexible. Weather can fluctuate wildly in the mountains, so on every trip you should have appropriate clothing for both hot AND cold, wet weather. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear. Bring extra gloves and hats for your friends, too.

Lightning is another real danger that is far more likely to kill rockhounds than to kill people who stay home. Bare summits such as Crystal Peak are dangerous year-round, even on days with few clouds, as “bolts out of the blue” do happen. Watch the weather, keep an eye on surrounding peaks for lightning, and immediately descend if you see (or hear) any. If you can’t descend immediately and you notice more immediate signs (hair standing on end, a humming in the air), crouch on the balls of your feet, away from any lone tree. Do not seek shelter under an overhanging rock, as the electricity can arc from the top of the cave to the bottom, using your body as a conduit.

Altitude isn’t such a problem in this area, as our summits top out around 9,000 feet. But do know the signs and keep an eye on your friends. Stay hydrated and drive as high as you can before walking, and otherwise conserve your energy when you’re up there.

While weather can kill you, it is far more likely that at some point in your rockhound career you will injure your foot or ankle. This is called an “accident,” as there’s really not much you can do to prevent such injury. We slip, we roll our ankles, we fall down; it’s what humans do sometimes. When you walk in the mountains, you assume liability for same.

• Wear good footwear (not Crocs) when out in the field.
• Consider wearing light-weight tennis shoes instead of heavier boots.
• Walking sticks can provide stability, but they are no substitute for strong ankles.
• Keep an ace bandage and splint in your first aid kit, and know how to use them.
• Treat injuries immediately to reduce the swelling; submerge your injured foot in an ice chest if you have one handy. Pop some ibuprofen as well. Continue rockhounding from a sitting position. True friends will bring you rocks to crack apart.
• Know your limits! Do not climb that steep, loose slope if you are worried about it. Your field trip leader will thank you.

Falling rocks are another common hazard which can be mitigated by NOT rolling rocks down the hill when people are below you. Yell, “rock!” if you do dislodge a boulder. Warn people ahead of time what it means when you yell, “rock!” Also refrain from digging too deeply into a hillside, such that it might collapse and bury you or others. Stay the hell out of adits in loose material; club policy actually forbids members entering any mine adit.

Rivers are mostly only a danger to children, so keep a close eye on them when at such a location. Be aware, though, that some rivers in this area do rise suddenly, as dams upstream release water, so just like the ocean, never turn your back on the water! Also beware of water babies, capricious water spirits of Washoe and Maidu lore; if you see one, pack up your gear and go home immediately.

Rattlesnakes are a real danger locally, favoring the same places as rockhounds, but they are an over-hyped danger, rarely seen. Leave them alone and they will do the same. True fact: many rattlesnake bites involve a drunk victim.

I’ve never been bitten by a snake, but I have been attacked by ground wasps on many occasions. Be aware of your surroundings, watch where you walk and dig. And don’t be in such a hurry running from the little stingers that you injure yourself in the process. Scorpions are also found sometimes, but stings can be prevented by not sticking your hands under logs and rocks without looking first. Keep Benadryl in your first aid kit to reduce swelling from any stings.

Poison Oak is another hazard that is best prevented by being aware of your surroundings. If you see any where you’re digging, be warned that its roots can also get you, and they are not so easily identified as the foliage. You can also get the oils on your shoes and clothes, and bring it home to infect the rest of your family. Treat exposure immediately by washing off your skin with a large amount of cold water, the idea being to remove the poison oak oil. Hot water will open your pores and increase the toxic effects. Products like Tecnu can also help, so keep this in your first aid kit as well.

And finally, when digging, consider wearing a mask. Yes, masks actually do work to reduce the amount of airborne toxins, despite recent malarkey published elsewhere. They are not fool-proof, but they help. The Valley, in particular, has some very toxic little beasties in the soil, things that have been weaponized by our military, even, such is their strength. Valley Fever has killed rockhounds, but we are also threatened by Tuleremia and even Anthrax. So reduce the amount of dust you produce when digging, and wear a mask.

It’s ok, you can still breathe, and you are still free! 🤣

22/11/2024

You can find interesting things alongside the railroad. Not just trash, but also good cardiac hills, history, and even art?

I think rainy days are my favorite days.

21/11/2024

Burnt Flat did burn over a few years back, but it got its name because nothing grows there. Too much serpentine in the soil.

20/11/2024

RIP, north Lake Tahoe. Because another 3,000 cars a day WILL be bad.

This proposal was shot down in court several times, but the developer kept trying, because that's what Corporate America does, and finally won their case:

A long-debated expansion of the ski village at Palisades Tahoe in North Lake Tahoe will bring 850 new condos and 1,500 more hotel rooms to Olympic Valley.

14/11/2024

A little exploring near the Owens Valley Radio Observatory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URUUO5i58j0

You never know what you'll find out in the desert. (Owens Valley Radio Observatory)

15/10/2024

The next time you have a puppy, instead of using a ball to train it, use an antler!

Explore this post and more from the shedhunting community

06/10/2024

The Dutch Fire putting out some smoke. Evacuations of Lowell Hill to Mule Springs.

29/09/2024

Looks like I80 east of Kingvale?

Explore this post and more from the motorcycles community

29/09/2024

Fall colors are popping right now! We haven't had any storms to knock the leaves off.

28/09/2024

Warm Springs near Bishop.

I love the Sierra Nevada, but I think I belong in the desert.

15/09/2024

Charlie's Butte was named after a cowboy who was killed there by Paiute warriors. It is covered with their house rings and petroglyphs. Near Big Pine, CA.

23/08/2024

Feral horses really are a blight upon the environment, they do not belong here.

A herd of free-roaming horses, while lauded by some, is trampling the revegetation work being done to restore the Klamath River as four dams come down.

16/08/2024

It's on, again!!! Look up late Saturday night. Someone got pics from Tahoe last week, too.

Auroras may once again be visible in northern parts of the U.S. this weekend as Earth braces for impact from a powerful coronal mass ejection.

16/08/2024

Whoops. No more Full Sends in your subi! https://jalopnik.com/national-park-service-will-cite-drivers-of-awd-cars-for-1851617315?fbclid=IwY2xjawEreqNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSP0oB-OMyERQ3jqZmq4v7BaC3xLnYKM1Izo81jFepvzVpsK1epHaqOEmg_aem_ePQQ-ltVML3QFIuWeMgndQ

A Reddit user shared the citation they received for driving a Subaru Crosstrek on a 4WD-only road

11/08/2024

Finally! Nestle has been stealing water for decades! But with this source being closed, I suspect they'll increase the amount of water they're stealing from Baxter and Big Bend. Watch for the water trucks coming down I80. There are more than you're probably aware.