Desert Messenger

February 1, 2017 www.DesertMessenger.com 13 Quartzsite, AZ - Playground for grownups ADVENTURES WITH ROCKS ™ By Jenn Jedidiah Free • www.RocksInMyHead.com If Louisiana is the "Sportsman's Para- dise", then Quartzsite has to be the "Outdoors Paradise". Our little town is surrounded on all sides by a vast desert full of amazing things to see and do. With abundant sunshine, mild winter temperatures, and a vibrant show season, much time can be spent playing outside. Here is a brief look at what Quartzsite has to offer to anyone who ventures outside of town. Rock Art Sites- Just a few miles from Quartzsite, petroglyphs can be found at Dripping Springs, Tyson Wash, and the Palo Verde Rock Art Site. The Ty- son Wash site also has grinding holes and a small cave. Intaglios- large rock drawings on the desert fl oor- are found at several locations around Quartzsite, Parker, and Blythe and the only ones known to exist in the entire desert southwest. Stone cabins and ghost towns- The remains of abandoned mining towns and cabins are abundant throughout the desert around Quartzsite. One of the largest and best preserved is Swansea, the site of a copper mine dating from the late 1800's. Old cab- ins, mines, and ghost towns offer much history as well as treasure hunt- ing and photo opportunities. Treasure hunting- If you are a rock- hound, gold prospector, or both, trea- sure hunting abounds in every direc- tion around Quartzsite. Quartzsite boasts numerous world-class rock- hounding sites from searching for crystals at Crystal Hill to mining world famous Fire Agate, gem grade Chrys- acolla, agates, fossils, and much more to satisfy the experienced and amateur alike. Explore on your own or join the Gem and Mineral Club to participate in a group excursion or class. For the gold prospector, opportuni- ties to fi nd that elusive yellow metal are plentiful. Both placer and lode deposits occur in abundance in the mountains and washes surrounding Quartzsite. While there are many ac- tive mines and private claims, vast amounts of public lands still exist ready to yield treasure to an eager prospector. You can go out on your own or join the metal detecting club to participate in their outings. The LDMA and GPAA also have claims in the Quartzsite area. Other things to do- For hiking, try a day trip to Palm Canyon or explore several arches in the Plomosa and Buckskin Mountains. For ATV's and 4-wheel drive vehicles there hundreds of miles of roads and trails to take you into every nook and cranny imagin- able. From slot canyons and blue- faced mountains to cool oases and tall peaks, there is something for everyone in our beautiful desert. So, welcome to our town. We're glad you're here. Stay awhile. Have fun. En- joy the RV, gem, and rock shows, and don't forget to go outside and play. For more information on these sites and more, visit RocksInMyHead at A37 in Rice Ranch, open 7 days a week from 10am – 5pm. We are also online at www.RocksInMyHead.com, and our phone # is 605-376-8754. We carry the Quartzsite Off –Road Atlas, as well as other resources for sites in the local Quartzsite area. Nature's Nuggets BUYS & SELLS GOLD Nuggets - Jewelry- Coins- Silver Call Richard & Richard 928-927-5479 • 435-730-3388 Quartzsite YEAR ROUND! GOLD SHOW Feb. 10, 11, 12 2017 WE'RE BACK!! TRANSPONDER AUTO KEYS (Electronic Chip Keys) Jeep, Chrysler, Ford Chevrolet, Toyota & many more! Betty Crenshaw, Owner C & B LOCK & KEY 41 YEARS EXPERIENCE 928-927-6589 Mobile Service Only "I refuse to allow any man-made differences to separate me from any other human beings." ~ Maya Angelou

• Cover