They say a picture is worth a thousand
words.
Located between French Glen and Plush
in the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge in south western Oregon the Hart
Mountain
Hot
Spring is an oasis in the middle of nowhere, and a welcome refuge
in the wilderness to wash off some of that desert dust. We spent a
few days at the base of the Steens Mountains fairly close to
Frenchglen, and were making the 80 mile trek across the desert to
Plush, a so-called town that has a
Store/Gas
Station/Bar combo.
But Plush is no ordinary place, it's
the last place for gas and supplies before embarking on the
washboarded
road to the sunstone mines. Sunstones can also be collected for
free on Federally owned land managed by the BLM. Here is a
treasure
map so you can find your very own trinkets. We camped out in the
desert and picked up stones for an entire day.
 |
| On the Steens Mountain road |
 |
| On the Steens Mountain road |
 |
| A dry lake bed |
 |
| Hart Mountain Hot Spring pool |
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| Hart Mountain Hot Spring |
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| Hart Mountain Hot Spring pool |
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| The desert can be beautiful |
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| Entering the Refuge |
 |
| An Antelope |
 |
| The road down to Plush |
 |
| The road down to Plush |
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| A flat just as we hit pavement |
 |
| Finally at the sunstones |
 |
| The ground is full of them |
 |
| My treasure |
Great piece, Dan. Never been to Oregon but this makes me want to put it on the wish-list.
ReplyDeleteHey Katy, most people don't realize that half of Oregon is a high desert. This place is one of the most remote places in the lower 48 states and the furthest place from any interstate highway.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It makes me want to pack the car up and drive all around Oregon :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen! I love treasure hunting in the desert, even in an old minivan. I love that part of the state and I'm looking forward to doing it again sometime in the future.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like such a beautiful state, Dan. Honestly, I never knew there were deserts there!
ReplyDeleteHey Cher, on the eastern half of the state it's Diamondback rattlesnakes,scorpions,and don't forget the tumbleweeds! Treasure hunts are one of our favorite things to do.
ReplyDeleteI wanna visit Oregon!! It's looking so cool. Okay, I need to make my way to the States in general hehe. Loved the pictures! What will you do with your treasure?
ReplyDeleteThanks TJ!
ReplyDeleteAh! what to do with the treasure. I think I may put them in a rock tumbler and polish them up.
The United States is a very big place, and there are so many places to see. SW Oregon is one of my favorite places on earth; I enjoy being so far from everything.
Yes, but if we visit you, do we get to meet Daryl? :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Cher, he's always outside doing something. The better question would be how do you NOT visit Daryl?
ReplyDeleteI love your treasure!! hope I can go to the sunstone mining!
ReplyDelete