Red Jasper Round Cabochon — Yakima River Canyon — The Canyon Red

Before Yakima, we had been out on the road. We combed rivers and cliffs in Northeastern Washington. We were coming up empty. Janyce met a rockhound at O'Reilly Auto Parts. I talked to a guy from Cle Elum. They pointed us to the Yakima River Canyon. Everyone else wanted Ellensburg Blue. We wanted the jasper. We loaded the Tucson with a cooler and buckets. Janyce was pissed off about the late start. We burned west on I-90 from Spokane. Just before the canyon, we took a detour down Chert Road. We stopped for every piece of yellow on the shoulder. Most was crumbly. We walked the ditches for miles. We rescued heavy chunks of chert and flint. By noon, we jammed to the canyon. It was a drought year. The water was low. We waded in foot-deep water. This was my first "picky trap" experience. We stayed until sunset. We hauled 40 lbs of green jasper, ironwood, and mystery stones. Not one went into the front yard. They were too good.Janyce met a rockhound at an O'Reilly Auto Parts, and I talked to a guy from Cle Elum. They pointed us toward the ancient, 15-million-year-old Yakima River Canyon. Everyone else was hunting Ellensburg Blue agates, but we didn't want what everyone else had. We wanted the jasper. Chert Road Detour — Yakima River Jasper StoryWe burned west on I-90 from Spokane. Janyce was already pissed off — we got a late start. A rockhound at an O'Reilly Auto Parts and a guy from Cle Elum had pointed us toward the Yakima River Canyon. Everyone else was hunting Ellensburg Blue. We wanted the jasper. Yakima River Canyon — Yakima River Jasper Collection— Bob & Janyce, Rockhound Studio, Spokane Valley WA