The carving is from a red schiller sunstone that I dug at the Dust Devil Mine (yes it's on the DVD!) by David Gray
The carving is from a red schiller sunstone that I dug at the Dust Devil Mine (yes it's on the DVD!) by David Gray
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VERSION 5.0 is OUT!!! 709 (54 new since V 4.2) detailed 1:24,000 scale collecting area maps! 2,453 waypoints (334 new)! 36 site writeups (1 new; many expanded)! It also has 230 1:100,000 scale Land Ownership maps for each collecting area (14 new)! All detailed maps now have mileposts on all major highways. Many new locations including all locations in the new books Gem Trails of Washington and Gem Trails of Oregon by Portland rockhound Garret Romaine, and many other new locaions in WA, OR, and ID! Even a Google Earth file so you can view satellite photos of each dig site or fly from dig to dig in 3D until you are dizzy (LOL!)If you would like a discounted Version 4.2 DVD, go to the order form at the bottom of this page). I only have 5 copies as of 11/27/2008! |
Order DVD Version 5.0 |
Order DVD Version 4.2 |
Order the CD |
Example Dig Locations |
List of topo maps |
Tips on Using the CD/DVD |
Because of the significant expense of buying digital topo maps and software and the tremendous amount of time I have invested to exactly locate hundreds of sites with my GPS, I have decided to start charging for access to the information. For those of you who have visited the site before, the information is greatly expanded, especially the maps. See the examples for the new stuff. There are two ways to access the dig locations: purchase a CD or data DVD.
Please note: My email address is at the bottom of this page for a good reason, that reason being, if you read the entire contents of this page, and then email me asking a question that is already answered on this page, be prepared for the wrath of the thunderegg gods to come down and cast a blight upon your entire household! In other words, I probably won't reply!
Also: If you have a question about "where to go rockhounding" or "where is the best place for (fill in the blank)" (I get these at least once a week), I definitely won't reply! That's what the DVD is for! There are hundreds of online sources for the Pacific Northwest if all you want is a place to try out rockhounding or fossil collecting so I suggest you Google them...
The DVD contains all the rock digs I have visited, plus many more, complete with topo maps, directions, and example photos of the rocks, minerals, or fossils available at each site with a write-up. It also contains files for viewing each waypoint in Google Earth and a waypoint list for downloading to just about any GPS unit (you provide the software and cable for your GPS unit). I may provide updates of the waypoint file if you have supplied me with a valid email address. It contains full descriptions of 29 productive rockhounding areas in Oregon and 7 areas in Washington on the DVD (some Idaho sites are included in the Oregon area write-ups).
The DVD Version 5.0 contains 2,453 waypoints for your GPS (334 new since V4.2!), 709 1:24,000 scale USGS topo maps of collecting sites (54 new since V4.2!), and 230 USGS 1:100,000 scale maps (13 new since V4.2!) showing an overview of each collecting area and land ownership for each waypoint. Many of the maps in version 5.0 have new collecting sites and/or updated information. In addition, there is a page of tips and tricks for fossil preparation and a few other "extras". I make no warranties about the accuracy of the landowner information! Contacting landowners and finding out what the various state & federal rules for rock digging are is your responsibility!
Click the pic to check out the book on Amazon.com :)
(The cover photo is a favorite NARG fossil crab spot on the Grays River in southwest WA)
Why is this so great? It's simple: buy the books, they are easily the most comprehensive rockhounding site guides ever written for any state in the USA (yes I am biased LOL)! Tnen decide which of Garret's sites you want to check out (there are 100 sites in the Oregon book and 80 in Washington!) Garret provides waypoint(s) for each site and a map of the general area. Then use the DVD V 5.0 to find the site topo maps (it's easy since all the sites in the books are cross-referenced in tables on the DVD). I don't offer any additional explanation of the sites that are in the books but not in my detailed write-ups (besides noting what can be found at each of Garretr's waypoints), so I strongly encourage you to have the book in hand when you are planning your excursions. The DVD is not a substitute for either of these books, but a valuable supplement to the information that Garret presents in each.
I have added the waypoints for 96 of the 100 sites in Gem Trails of Oregon to 98 of my Oregon maps and 73 of the 80 sites in Gem Trails of Washington to 74 of my WA maps.. I didn't map the sites that dealt with purely gold panning or mining relics (sorry buddy that ain't my bag LOL) or points of geological interest (although I have been to many of these sites myself). Many of the new maps in WA and OR on Version 5.0 are maps of Garret's sites that I had not previously covered.
Garret's book is the first guide to Washington in the Gem Trails series and in my humble (biased!) opinion is the best guide in the series that has ever been written. Many sites are for the casual or beginner rockhound, but the seasoned rock veteran will also find challenging sites to explore. This book is the best, up to date, and only guide to Washington
rockhounding that 95% of casual rockhounds will ever need. The book
presents, in exhaustive detail, more sites than one could visit in
several summers of nothing but rockhounding. Most sites that I am aware
of that contain good lapidary or gemstone material are in this book. Of
those that aren't, many are currently or have been under a mineral
claim, and some are just plain dangerous to collect or require a
strenuous hike or other dangers that the casual rockhound shouldn't be
attempting in the first place. In addition, there are dozens of sites
that haven't been described in any literature published to date (which,
by the way, is a very short list for WA, ALL of which are referenced in
the book). The information at the end of the book is extremely valuable as a
resource on its own, and includes the only complete list of WA state
rock shops, gem & mineral websites, clubs, and prospecting clubs that I have ever seen. The list of sources similarly gives the reader a huge number of resources to consult for further information.
Garret's version is the third edition of the guide to Oregon in the Gem Trails series and in my humble (biased!) opinion is the best guide to rockhounding in Oregon that has ever been written. It is a vast improvement over the previous versions since Garret started from scratch, checked out and revised ALL of the sites in the second edition, and discarded those sites (and there were many) which never contained worthwhile materials or have been are no longer accessible to the average Joe Rockhound. Then he personally visited and added a whole slew of new sites that offer opportunities for the rockhound to visit places that have generally not been "picked over". In fact, if you visit some of these sites soon after the book has been published, you will likely be one of the first rockhounds to have a crack at what can be found there (big hint)! Many sites are for the casual or beginner rockhound, but the seasoned rock veteran will also find challenging sites to explore. The information at the end of the book is extremely valuable as a resource on its own, and includes the only complete list of WA state rock shops, gem & mineral websites, clubs, and prospecting clubs that I have ever seen. The list of sources similarly gives the reader a huge number of resources to consult for further information.
The CD contains 293 detailed 1:24,000 scale collecting area maps, 780 waypoints, 31 site writeups, and 104 1:100,000 scale Land Ownership maps for each collecting area. New to version 3 are 104 1:100,000 scale BLM (or WA DNR) maps showing an overview of each collecting area and land ownership for each waypoint. Also new are 164 Oregon maps that are now twice the resolution that they were on the previous version (250 DPI like WA and ID arleady were).
The DVD contains all the rock digs I have visited, plus many more, complete with topo maps, directions, and examples of the material. It also contains files for viewing each waypoint in Google Earth and a waypoint list for downloading to just about any GPS unit (you provide the software and cable for your GPS unit). I may provide updates of the waypoint file if you have supplied me with a valid email address. At the current time there are full descriptions of 29 productive rockhounding areas in Oregon and 7 areas in Washington on the DVD (some southwest Idaho sites are included in the southeast Oregon area writeups).
New to version 4 are 1,338 new waypoints for your GPS, 345 new 1:24,000 scale topo maps of collecting sites, and 113 new 1:100,000 scale BLM (or WA DNR) maps showing an overview of each collecting area and land ownership for each waypoint. Many of the maps in version 3.0 have new collecting sites and/or updated information. There are also 5 new site writeups since Version 3.
IF YOU OWN ANY VERSION OF THE CD AND WOULD LIKE TO UPGRADE TO THE DVD FOR HALF PRICE: EMAIL ME AT THE ADDRESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE!
Why the old edition of Gem Trails of Oregon & GPS Guide to Western Gem Trails are of no use!Tips on using the CVD/DVD
(Please note: the above email address is encrypted to protect against SPAMBots. If you click on it, a blank email will appear in your default email program, which is addressed to me. DO NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT LINE OR THE EMAIL ADDRESS! If you do, I will never receive your email!)
(Please note: the above email address is encrypted to protect against SPAMBots. If you click on it, a blank email will appear in your default email program, which is addressed to me. DO NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT LINE OR THE EMAIL ADDRESS! If you do, I will never receive your email!)
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Tim Fisher
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