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Cross Tech and Trek Cross Tech & Trek provides guided tours to unique,
hidden places of northern California & Nevada. Contact us today, get out and explore!
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Sign up for a trip with Cross Tech and Trek, and we will customize a trip for you, to a variety of unique places, via your chosen mode of transportation. Come discover:
+ Native American village sites and ancient petroglyphs
+ Emigrant Trail and associated historical sites
+ Mining ghost towns, hard rock mines, hydraulic diggings, and cliff-hanging flumes
+ Railroad sites, including abandoned tunn

els and tracklines, such as the "NoGo"
+ Quartz crystals, fossils, and other rocks and minerals
+ Perfect swimming holes, waterfalls, and lakes, large and small
+ Viewpoints and lookout towers
+ Black Oak forests favored by the big bucks!
+ Hidden cliff faces and pillars, perhaps without first ascents on record! Our guides have been obsessively exploring this area for decades, and possess knowledge that you just won't find in a book or on the internet. Each trip also includes lunch and a DVD packed full of information about the area, including maps, photos, and notes from your trip.

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

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.

LOL'ing, because I just found myself on Google Maps:
09/08/2024

LOL'ing, because I just found myself on Google Maps:

Someone wrote a short story on Monitor Pass. All I can read is, "I am in. I am out. (something something something) Th...
29/07/2024

Someone wrote a short story on Monitor Pass. All I can read is, "I am in. I am out. (something something something) The End."

Whoa!
29/07/2024

Whoa!

One step closer to Iron Man.

Because its flows are so tightly controlled by the power companies, the Bear River is sometimes called a canal. It's li...
22/07/2024

Because its flows are so tightly controlled by the power companies, the Bear River is sometimes called a canal. It's like the ocean: never turn your back on it, because it can rise suddenly, without warning, as big surges of water are released downstream to generate power.

This pretty much destroys the local riverside ecosystem, which depends on some consistency. But does make for some nice swimming holes.

You know it's fire season when you accidentally start a fire while target shooting, and then on the drive home you pass ...
19/07/2024

You know it's fire season when you accidentally start a fire while target shooting, and then on the drive home you pass another fire:

I live in fear of this coming here. Much of the nation is now charging for access to the national forests. Certain roa...
19/07/2024

I live in fear of this coming here. Much of the nation is now charging for access to the national forests. Certain roads are only open on even-numbered days. Permits are required ahead of time, you can't even buy them at the trailhead.

That is wrong. Parks should be free, the last refuge of us poor folk:

A popular ski resort is now managing parking and fees in the northeastern corner of Angeles National Forest.

Sometimes I find amazing testaments to historical events. This aspen grove has carvings from over 100 years ago. I don'...
16/07/2024

Sometimes I find amazing testaments to historical events. This aspen grove has carvings from over 100 years ago. I don't know the significance of "89" and the ampersand, but considering Antifa fought the Nazi's during the Spanish civil war, in Basque territory, I'm pretty sure this does say, "Antifa."

Very cool video, let's you envision climbing Everest. And I've got to say, no thanks!
11/07/2024

Very cool video, let's you envision climbing Everest. And I've got to say, no thanks!

Explore this post and more from the BeAmazed community

NF American River canyon is burning near Palisades Creek. Wabena Point petroglyphs are in bottom, right, of this photo;...
08/07/2024

NF American River canyon is burning near Palisades Creek. Wabena Point petroglyphs are in bottom, right, of this photo; you can see the access trail. Reportedly from an abandoned campfire.

This is some of the last unburned terrain in this area, with old growth cedars the size of sequoias. This one needs to be put out, now.

Peeps online (the same people who get banned from Nextdoor) are already mindlessly blaming PCT thru-hikers, because the trail runs through there. But time after time, abandoned fires are usually from the OHV crowd, sorry, not sorry. Look it up, true facts. Hikers have time and are paying more attention. A lot of OHV'ers are just out for the evening, partying....

06/07/2024

If you're into trains, the world's largest steam locomotive is passing through our area next Sunday, July 14th. It'll be in Colfax from 11:15 to 11:30. I might run further up the hill to get some pics of it in the mountains... All are invited.

Best practices according to the pro's are to leave the lichen alone, let it destroy the rock art. I have mixed feelings...
06/07/2024

Best practices according to the pro's are to leave the lichen alone, let it destroy the rock art. I have mixed feelings about that.

The Negev desert of southern Israel is renowned for its unique rock art. Since at least the third millennium BCE, the hunters, shepherds, and merchants who roamed the Negev have left thousands of carvings (petroglyphs) on the rocks. These figures are mostly cut into desert varnish: a thin black coat...

The oldest rock art successfully dated in North America is just outside of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, about 12,000 years old....
03/07/2024

The oldest rock art successfully dated in North America is just outside of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, about 12,000 years old. Pretty cool that this find is so recent!

The scene shows a a pig and some people

I've been hunkering down lately, but here's a panorama from the summit of Old Man Mountain, 2006. Hint: right click and...
02/07/2024

I've been hunkering down lately, but here's a panorama from the summit of Old Man Mountain, 2006. Hint: right click and Open Image in New Tab, so that you can then click to zoom in more.

The snow is mostly melted, although there may be enough to still be blocking the Soda Springs - Foresthill Road route. ...
13/06/2024

The snow is mostly melted, although there may be enough to still be blocking the Soda Springs - Foresthill Road route. Just a quick scouting trip with a stop at a Martis occupation site, typical of such features on the ridge, at a spring on a flat section of ground.

Orcas ramming boats, that mountain lion attack near Georgetown, and now a black bear attack in Downieville. The animals...
01/06/2024

Orcas ramming boats, that mountain lion attack near Georgetown, and now a black bear attack in Downieville. The animals are fighting back! https://www.themountainmessenger.org/article/california-s-first-fatal-black-bear-attack-highlights-wildlife-management-problems?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3EamGsJ5L5ry1yi_YYXhqdaJVHHSXqGgwFW5XtixmOYwHbmPkDYK8JyCY_aem_AbgYHlzcP1J9CfzVSLum-MocrOCBuMBUndlI9XYsYHfjZgadto4MaEM0LekYpWtxNJ-jQxkPhBz1Rkz-L3ohxPff

Last November, Patrice Miller was found dead in her Downieville home, along with signs of a bear encounter.

Go check out our local superbloom, it's happening now! Best I've seen in years, probably thanks to the wildflower seeds...
24/05/2024

Go check out our local superbloom, it's happening now! Best I've seen in years, probably thanks to the wildflower seeds they drop along with the fire retardant. These photos do not capture the aroma of all those flowers!

22/05/2024

I'm sure there are good reasons for the law, but seems a bit over the top to go after someone taking paws from a bear that was killed in an accident, when so many other law breakers are being ignored. https://archive.ph/Hd9zp

Yes! Finally! 18 months closure, almost over!
20/05/2024

Yes! Finally! 18 months closure, almost over!

I'm ready for tomorrow's rock swap! Let's do some swapping! 😃
17/05/2024

I'm ready for tomorrow's rock swap! Let's do some swapping! 😃

Best chance in a while to see the northern lights is tonight! I'm headed to altitude, looking north over an area with n...
10/05/2024

Best chance in a while to see the northern lights is tonight! I'm headed to altitude, looking north over an area with no cities.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm headed toward Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications. The National…

07/05/2024

A glorious day at the hot spring!

Bunker Montage
18/04/2024

Bunker Montage

Visited a bunker at Spenceville Wildlife Area, and found someone looking back at me!
17/04/2024

Visited a bunker at Spenceville Wildlife Area, and found someone looking back at me!

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Videos

A glorious day at the hot spring! #crosstechtrek #hotspring #Glorious

Some of our finds. Thanks, Tom, for giving me the best specimen!

I'm still playing with my flourite. 😀 Here's what it looks like when hit with a UV light. First time I've ever gone rock hunting at night, just walking around with my UV flashlight. I was expecting to find a bunch of scorpions, but thankfully I didn't, so I guess I can still sleep on the ground!

A secret trail above the gorge. It used to be open to the public, but someone bought the land recently and posted "no trespassing" signs, bummer. #crosstechtrek #BlueTentDitch

Spawn or die! How do fish get from the NF American up to Robinson Flat? There are some big waterfalls; I don't get it.

Today was the third time I failed to find a certain group of rumored petroglyphs, but I'll accept the consolation prize I found later! #crosstechtrek #rockhounding #quartz #crystals #tahoenationalforest

The ridge above Emerald Pools is worth checking out sometime. There's some crazy geology up there, from the glaciers scraping over the shoulder before they dropped into the South Yuba River gorge. #crosstechtrek #yubariver #spauldingdam #tahoenationalforest

There really is a crazy amount of snow up there still. The back country is actually hazardous right now. I sank into holes over my head, and had to dig myself out, while in fear of sinking even deeper. Like crevasses on a glacier.... #crosstechtrek

Redneck car wash! #crosstechtrek #exploring #waterfall #waterfallwednesday

Lithophonic rocks are boulders which make different tones when you hit them. Different cultures around the world, including our local indigenous peoples, used them, whether as musical instruments or for ceremonial purposes, we don't know. Other lithophones can be found in the Lassen area, often on basalt boulders. I found this one because it has a bedrock mortar on it, and then I noticed the wear marks where people have been hitting it for hundreds (thousands?) of years. It is just above a year-round spring, and obsidian flakes litter the area. I wonder how long it's been since it was last played?

Playing with a bear in thick brush, lol. It's all good until you hear it coming closer! #crosstechtrek #tahoenationalforest #tnf #fauna #blackbear

North Fork American River watershed #Crosstechtrek #NorthForkAmericanRiver #timelapse

Please be extra careful this year. I know you hear "fire restrictions" every year, but this is setting up to be a really bad fire season. Take their stupid rules seriously. No more lawn mowing, don't smoke unless you're surrounded by bare dirt, leave the gas chainsaw at home. And definitely no campfires. Here's Emigrant Gap, yesterday:

The West Coast, with it's recent volcanism, doesn't have the amount of fossils found on the East Coast, land of ancient sediments. Our mountains are just too mixed up. But we do have some, such as this 150 million year old ammonite, found in the Sailor Canyon geological formation. Look for big chunks of grey slate, with shiny gold iridescence.

Chalcopyrite is a spectacular, iridescent copper mineral found in this area. It often coats fossils, so if you find a piece, take another look at the ground.

Harvesting Brodiaea Bulbs
Harvesting Brodiaea Bulbs

The flowers are blooming and now's the time to sample our local bulbs. Here's a video I put together last year on harvesting a local staple of the Native Americans, brodiaea. Most of the brodiaea family are edible, including golden brodiaea, elegant brodiaea, snake lily, and blue dicks (heh heh, that name, heh). You can find these plants even later in the year, after their flowers have gone, but then you run the risk of collecting Death Camas, which, when flowering, have distinctive white flowers. Not cool.

Treading Lightly at Our Local Quarry
Treading Lightly at Our Local Quarry

Good times at our local creek, scouting for a location to film a commercial.

Frozen Lake Laser Battle!
Frozen Lake Laser Battle!

Frozen lakes can make unusual noises under certain conditions, including no snow on top of the ice. Here's Fuller Lake. Fast-forward to 1:04 to hear the sounds.

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Exploring...

Sign up for a trip with Cross Tech and Trek, and we will customize a trip for you, to a variety of unique places, via your chosen mode of transportation. Come discover: + Native American village sites and ancient petroglyphs + Emigrant Trail and associated historical sites + Mining ghost towns, hard rock mines, hydraulic diggings, and cliff-hanging flumes + Railroad sites, including abandoned tunnels and tracklines, such as the "NoGo" + Quartz crystals, fossils, and other rocks and minerals + Perfect swimming holes, waterfalls, and lakes, large and small + Viewpoints and lookout towers + Black Oak forests favored by the big bucks! + Hidden cliff faces and pillars, perhaps without first ascents on record! Our guides have been obsessively exploring this area for decades, and possess knowledge that you just won't find in a book or on the Internet. Each trip also includes lunch and a DVD packed full of information about the area, including maps, photos, and notes from your trip. Contact us today, get out and explore!