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September 5, 2012 By Jenn Jedidiah Free All Eyes Southward www.DesertMessenger.com ADVENTURES WITH ROCKS Greetings to all my loyal fans. Hope you all have had an amazing summer. I know we have. The summer has been full of traveling, playing, explor- ing, and, as always…rocks. But, alas, the sun is beginning to set earlier, the nights are beginning to get colder, and fall is in the air. Birds are pre- paring for their long journey south, and for many of us, our thoughts are beginning to turn that direction, too. So as you begin to think about all the wonderful things to do once you get back to Quartzsite, consider that the journey to get there is half the fun. One interesting route to take is Hwy 95 through Nevada. There is lots of rockhounding, gold prospecting, meteorite and fossil hunting along this route, as well as 4-wheeling, ghost towns, old mines, and fabulous museums. It is considered a scenic byway, as well as a historic route. It's well worth taking the time to ex- plore some of its sites along the way, and so, for the next several columns, I will be highlighting some of the really cool things to see and do on Hwy 95 as you head south to Quartzsite for the winter. One of the fi rst stops south of Reno will be Fallon, from there you will head to Tonopah and Goldfi eld, and then to Beatty. Once you get to Fallon, turn off 95 and head east on Hwy 50 just 12 miles out of town to the Grimes Point Archeological Area. It is worth it to plan on spending a couple of days here. There are petro- glyphs, really interesting caves and archeological sites, and one of the best rockhounding sites in Nevada all in the same location. Wayne‛s Pet Service Need someone to take care of your pet(s), in your home, while away? REASONABLE RATES! Call 928-927-4329 At Grimes Point, the fi rst parking area is at the site of the petroglyphs. There is a short loop trail that winds through a boulder fi eld. The petro- glyphs here are the Great Basin "Pit and Groove" style and about 7,000 years old, some of the oldest in the desert southwest. Great Basin Pecked petroglyphs are also found here, as well as some grinding holes. Take your time walking the trail and look carefully. There are hundreds of glyphs here, but many of them are faded and weathered, so they are dif- fi cult to see at fi rst glance. Further up the road are caves and rockshelters that were formed be- tween 75,000 and 10,000 years ago, and inhabited as early as 9,500 years ago. These caves were used for storage, living, and burial, and are important archeological sites. The main archeological site, Hidden Cave, can only be toured with a BLM guide on certain days, but the other caves at this location can be explored on your own. Call ahead to schedule a tour. In the 1940's, "Spirit Cave Man", the oldest mummy in North America was unearthed in one of the caves here at SEE ADVENTURES PAGE 13 928-927-6589 Mobile Service Only LOCK & KEY 37 YEARS EXPERIENCE C & B closed till mid Sept. We'll be Thanks for all your support Looking forward to seeing you all in the fall. Betty Crenshaw, Owner Page 11 Earthquake swarms rock the region Earthquakes rock Quartzsite Sunday Aug. 26, 2012 - Quartzsite residents felt a series of earthquakes, called an Earthquake swarm, which were centered near Brawley, California, close to the state's inland Salton Sea. Early in the day, Quartzsite residents reported feeling the largest of many throughout the day, which measured magnitudes 5.3 and 5.5. The Brawley City Council on Tuesday declared a local emergency, according to the Imperial Valley Press. Sunday, a number of families were displaced and hospital patients evacuated as a result of a swarm of hundreds of earthquakes earlier in the day. No deaths or critical injuries were reported as a result of the quakes. Some buildings were damaged by the earlier quakes, including 20 mobile homes that shifted from their founda- tions, according to the Imperial Coun- ty Offi ce of Emergency Services. The offi ce was working with the American Red Cross to set up a shelter for dis- placed families at the Imperial Valley College gymnasium. The Brawley quake cluster, which is caused by hot fl uid moving around in the Earth's crust, is different than a typical earthquake, in which two blocks of earth slip past each other along a tectonic fault line. More than 400 earthquakes greater than magnitude 1.0 have been record- ed in Imperial County since Saturday evening, said U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Elizabeth Cochran. The U.S.G.S reported a series of stronger temblors, with a 4.9 mag- nitude quake striking at 9:41 pm. followed by smaller ones registering at 3.4 and 3.7. There were no reports of damage in Quartzsite; just a few rattled nerves. VFW Post 769 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 120 S. Palo Verde Quartzsite, AZ 928-927-7697 UPCOMING ACTIVITIES Comrades Meeting 1st Saturday 9am VFW Riders meeting2ndSaturday of the month at 10am Mens Auxiliary Meeting: 1st Tuesday 6pm Ladies Auxiliary Meeting: 1st Tuesday 6:30pm, Senior Center House Committee meeting: CHECK CALENDAR This is a smoking establishment • Members & Guests Only for Alcohol Service