day :3: My own rock collection: A walk through time

 Today was very busy: had to fill all my water bottles: and pack my stuff for the day

We left and drove bout a half hour out from our campsite. There was access from a "private ranch" to enter. This, I have in the hyphens, because during the times of the wild wild western expansion, thanks, to that era of Presidents, the areas that are now state parks or private areas orignially, belonged to native tribes and were vanquished, stolen, during the treaty of 1855. Its still the same timing, my tribe, the Yakama, had signed as well. The exact area, is about midway of the narrows and meyers canyon. The narrows, is exactly the name, the geological area is slanted up, from lava, that was around 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Its truly a beautiful area once you learn the history of it. 

Since we arrived for just  a few days, Brennan Van Alder Werlt, was our guide for the day, and the other few days as well. His name is Dutch, and he graduated from the University of California and recieved his Doctorette in Physics. With an area not known for a great Job hiring, he worked at the Department of Ecology & water, and then was interested in how water affects Geology, and then, that was that. He then attended the University of Iowa, in Geology. If i remeber correctly, he graduated, fell in love with it, and is now doing what he does now. 

I have learned on this journey that many have found thier passion: Thats the goal, find your passion, and there is no job. You'll never have another job again after you find your passion. That is what this class is and Im happy to report, I am in my field for a reason, History. 

While going out to the site, we dropped off two of the students at thier survey area for mapping. As Geologist students, they have been there for three and a half weeks, working on thier Capstones for thier major. This is also thier class as well. The students vary, from mostly neighboring states along oregon. The assignment is to map and survey thier quadrant, about a mile or more in size, and know their coordinates in that area to find and activley make a map, which, they will make one full map, of the geological area, which ranges , i think, it is ten miles total combined for 26 students and staff. Its a beautiful area, so much history, and I understand thats why they do thier major, but as a history major, not for me. 

When we arrived at our area, we recieved a fingerscope, a mini microscope necklace, to inspect stones and rocks, its basic, but nessessary. (I wish we had the more advanced ones, but those had to do. ) We also used coordinate hand held things, (i forgot the name...sorry/again, not my field), and hydrophloric acid, to check if stones were ither a rock, or a real crystal. If it bubbles, its a real gem.That made me so excited to learn, because i could actually MINE real stones. I make jewelry in my free time, so i was super excited at this point! 

Some other things that Brennan informed us was the importance of oral history of tribes. Apparently, the origniation of Crater lake, when it happened, was an oral hisory that the Klammath witnessed and informed the invaders/scientists/colonizers that it "blew up straight into the clouds, then, suctioned into itself and fell into itself as the smoke blew only in that area". Of course, the "scientistis" were in disbelief, and called the stories a lie, until, 85 years later, a scientist proved the Tribes story to be 100% TRUE! It was also called, historically,  Mount Matzama, which, THE ASH IS ONLY 7,500 YEARS OLD!!! Thats the NEWEST VOLCANO IN OUR AREA AND WE WERE ABLE TO TOUCH THE ASH, WHICH, ITS DATED IN THE SOIL!!!!!! I MEAN, pure chills!!! How many times does anyone get to feel direct ash from a volcano that a tribe witnessed in oral history!!!??! It was SUPERB!! I felt validation in that moment, that I know my stories passed down from my elders, are not "just stories" that "scientistists" push aside as a lie. Its real history. That was a WIN. How exciting! I'd love to read the oral history from the Klamath tribe about crater lake, and Mount Matzama. As a history major, it was exciting to go through time. I was able to see the physical remnants and areas of the cretacious period and post-cretacious, which, there is 50 million years in-between that still remains a mystery.

 Could you imagine 50 million years in-between what was there? It COULD have been lizard people for all we know? Monkey? Planet of the Apes? Biological ozze people? No ONE KNOWS!!!

All of this area are within a five mile area. The meyers canyon area, I had some running luck as a beginner. I found lots of cetrine stones littered along the area i walked. It was like a pathway. I went along hte side of the road, an area our group was  geopicking the area. I got down, then went around to the top of the little hill. Jackpot!! As I walked, there was cetrine stones everywhere, i coudlnt help but pick them up. Absolutly gorgeous, made from lava in the cretacious period. So, these stones were here during the age of dinosaurs. Talk about a historical high. I was excited. Next, we were going to, was a red rock lava embankment, about 1/10 of a mile down i think. 

the next area stop, i found a large quartz stone I had  and I also found a large opal stone that was not found there before. I brought a box of stones back, i will upload later on the pictures i was told i can keep. Rare stones I can keep if i find it? Don't have to tell me twice! I got a whole box for myself. Im in no way a geology major nor will i change when i am almost done but i have a beginners luck streak going on right now.

After leaving the vlocanic areas, we went to the park nearby. It was really pretty, Next to the main information center , they had Salmon berries! Me and Monette started picking! Its ithe indigenous urge NOT TO harvest. Haha. Natives, we can't really go anywhere unless its for a reason, and we agthered a little. Hahaha. It was a good cool off time after being in the sun all morning. Next,w e visited the Painted Hills. It is a formation, fromerly a full area where it was a wetlands area that had been run over with volcano lava, creating the colors in the land. It vries, from red, to roange, to pink, to purple, violet, maroon. It looks painted. higly reccomend to visit. The most wondeful intresting aprt is that it will ALWAYS LOOK DIFFERENT when you visit because of rain, clouds, it changes the scenery every time you go. Its gorgeous! 

Im enjoying the fact that i found such large pieces. I greatly enjoyed the stay here but will hopefully keep a good spirit becasue the next leg of this trip is COMPLETLY OFF GRID. We have a solar battery that we can use to plug in.   I actually brough my own from home. Who has that? me. I craft and set up at fairs sometimes, so when there is no electricity allowed, I use that. I knew we'd be off grid for a time, so I brought it. It was worth it!, Until we get back on the grid. It will be typing. then saving to paste into my blog. im not nesssesarily lookinf FORWARD to be ing off grid, but laso being unplugged, essentially, from the internet. I hope i still get cell service somewhere.