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2000 Field Trips
Index:
Where: (see the club's field trip booklet or May newsletter)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Copper-bearing minerals such as Malachite, Azurite; Calcite
Leader: Tim Hillsten
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Steep cliffs; sunburn
Terrain: low mountains; scrub; pinon pines
Difficulty: Extreme hike
Elevation: ~6000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, crack hammer, shovel and collecting bags.
Camping: close to collecting site on BLM land
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: probably Grand Junction, although Gateway and Whitewater might have a small store.
Nearest Motel is in: Grand Junction, CO
Additional Comments: Grand Junction Rock Show is during the same weekend. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. Hike to the dump is strenuous. Approximately a 1000 ft elevation gain on an un-maintained dirt road. Hike to the main adit is an extreme hike. Only 100 to 200 ft, but is very difficult to navigate. Additional details will be available soon.
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Where: (see the club's field trip booklet or May newsletter)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Fluorite, Galena, Barite, Quartz, Linarite, Brochantite, etc.
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Fee or Donation: $7.50 per person per day
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; scorpions; rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Steep, rocky mountains; desert.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: low desert
Vehicle Suggested: Any; High Clearance suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: (to be announced)
Water: Not Available. Bring plenty of water.
Nearest Town for Supplies: 30 miles in San Antonio, NM; Socorro has more selection and is 40 miles away.
Nearest Motel is in: Socorro, 40 miles away.
Additional Comments: Minimal supplies in San Antonio, NM. The digging area is southeast of Bingham on a dirt road that goes through several dry washes. Terrain is very barren and dry. It could be very hot or cold; desert climate is very unpredictable. Bring plenty of water (1 gallon per person per day). Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the club's field trip booklet or June newsletter)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Smoky Quartz, Amazonite and Topaz
Leader: Jim & Rose Reynolds
Fee or Donation: Optional Forest Service donation
Health Hazards: Ticks and sunburn
Terrain: Rocky mountains and hills; pine and aspen trees.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: 8500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, crack hammer, chisels, screen, small prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: 0 to 2 miles from collecting site
Water: Available at Devil's Head Campground
Nearest Town for Supplies: 21 miles away
Nearest Motel is in: 21 miles away
Additional Comments: Dry camp. Last few miles on bladed forest road. 0-2 mile hike on moderate to steep terrain. Mid-afternoon storms. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or June newsletter)
Land owner: Public property
To Collect: Blue Forest Wood, Eden Valley Wood, Agate and Fossil Fish
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn if sunny; mosquitos and ticks.
Terrain: High desert
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~7200 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, chisels, long thin pole for probing in the ground, and collecting bags.
Camping: near collecting sites
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Farson, WY
Nearest Motel is in: Farson, WY
Additional Comments: Toilets available at camp site. Probably won't have a rock swap this year. One motel in Farson; more in Rock Springs which is 35 miles to the south. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or July newsletter)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Topaz and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: $7.00 per night if camping
Health Hazards: Mosquitos!!!!
Terrain: Rocky mountains and hills; pine and aspen trees.
Difficulty: Moderate to Extreme
Elevation: ~8700 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, hammer, prybar, screen and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: at the Spruce Grove Campground; 1 1/4 miles from collecting site.
Water: Available at campground
Nearest Town for Supplies: Lake George, CO (15 miles away)
Nearest Motel is in: Lake George, CO (15 miles away)
Additional Comments: Paved road to campground. May have potholes. 1 1/4 mile hike over moderate to difficult terrain to collecting site; one or two steep hills. Toilets available. Bring lots of mosquito repellant!!! Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's August newsletter)
Land owner: Private property; permission REQUIRED (club members have permission)
To Collect: Blue Barite
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Can be hot, cold (snow) and/or windy; Sunburn (no shade); possible rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Grassy plains and barren cliffs.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~4500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, crack hammer, chisels, prybar, pick, wedges and something to hold your specimens (such as egg cartons and tissues).
Camping: Not applicable
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Nearest Motel is in: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Additional Comments: Digging is in rock-hard clay. No open fires. Fill in holes. If wet or muddy, do not drive on access road; park on main road and hike in. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or August/September newsletters)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Aquamarine, Fluorite, Phenakite and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Andy Taylor
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Extremely high altitude; cold; windy; rain, snow, hail; lightning in afternoon; sunburn if sunny; rockslides (loose rocks).
Terrain: Steep, bare, rocky mountains; above the tree-line.
Difficulty: Extreme
Elevation: 12,000 - 14,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: 4WD REQUIRED!!!
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, crack hammer, chisels, garden scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: 2 miles from digging site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: 20 miles away in Buena Vista (takes several hours due to bad road)
Nearest Motel is in: 20 miles away in Buena Vista (takes several hours due to bad road)
Additional Comments: Afternoon storms are common. Elevation at camp is almost 12,000 ft. All collecting areas are above 12,500 ft. Buena Vista is a couple hours away due to extremely rough dirt and rock roads that can have potholes more than a foot deep. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or August/September newsletters)
Land owner: (to be announced)
To Collect: Turitella Agate, Turitella shells, zebrastone, cutting material
Leader: Wes Auld
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: None
Terrain: some steep hills
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~5000 - 6000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: (to be announced)
Camping: near the digging area; fee camping in Maybell
Water: None
Nearest Town for Supplies: Craig, CO
Nearest Motel is in: Craig, CO
Additional Comments: Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. Approximately 5 hours from Denver. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or October newsletter)
Land owner: Bureau of Land Management
To Collect: Topaz, Bixbyite, Pseudobrookite, Garnets and Red Beryl
Leader: Eldon Hunewell
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Desert conditions (can be hot, cold and/or windy); may snow; possible scorpions, rattlesnakes and bugs; sunburn.
Terrain: Barren desert mountains; rocky.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: ~5300 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any (some rough roads)
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, rock hammer, chisels, crack hammer, 1/8" steel rod (curled), screen, screwdriver and egg cartons or flats to hold your specimens.
Camping: within sight of digging area
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Delta, UT (50 miles to the southwest)
Nearest Motel is in: Delta, UT (50 miles to the southwest)
Additional Comments: No facilities. Bring plenty of water. The Dugway Geode Beds location is just north of Topaz Mt. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. BACK TO TOP
| May 13 - 14 | Copper Rivet Mine, CO Trip | |
| May 27 - 29 | Bingham, NM Trip | |
| June 10 - 11 | Devil's Head (Sedalia, CO) | |
| July 1 - 4 | Big Sandy Resevoir (Farson, Wyoming) | |
| August 22 - 23 | Spruce Grove/Tarryall Mtns. (Tarryall, CO) | |
| August 26 | Stoneham, CO | |
| September 2 - 4 | Mt. Antero (Nathrop, CO) | |
| September 2 - 4 | Maybell, CO | |
| October 7 - 9 | Topaz Mtn., Thomas Range, Utah Trip |
Copper Rivet Mine, CO Trip
May 13-14
Pictures and Trip Report!
Where: (see the club's field trip booklet or May newsletter)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Copper-bearing minerals such as Malachite, Azurite; Calcite
Leader: Tim Hillsten
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Steep cliffs; sunburn
Terrain: low mountains; scrub; pinon pines
Difficulty: Extreme hike
Elevation: ~6000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, crack hammer, shovel and collecting bags.
Camping: close to collecting site on BLM land
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: probably Grand Junction, although Gateway and Whitewater might have a small store.
Nearest Motel is in: Grand Junction, CO
Additional Comments: Grand Junction Rock Show is during the same weekend. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. Hike to the dump is strenuous. Approximately a 1000 ft elevation gain on an un-maintained dirt road. Hike to the main adit is an extreme hike. Only 100 to 200 ft, but is very difficult to navigate. Additional details will be available soon.
BACK TO TOP
Bingham, New Mexico Trip
May 27-29
Pictures!
Where: (see the club's field trip booklet or May newsletter)
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Fluorite, Galena, Barite, Quartz, Linarite, Brochantite, etc.
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Fee or Donation: $7.50 per person per day
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; scorpions; rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Steep, rocky mountains; desert.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: low desert
Vehicle Suggested: Any; High Clearance suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: (to be announced)
Water: Not Available. Bring plenty of water.
Nearest Town for Supplies: 30 miles in San Antonio, NM; Socorro has more selection and is 40 miles away.
Nearest Motel is in: Socorro, 40 miles away.
Additional Comments: Minimal supplies in San Antonio, NM. The digging area is southeast of Bingham on a dirt road that goes through several dry washes. Terrain is very barren and dry. It could be very hot or cold; desert climate is very unpredictable. Bring plenty of water (1 gallon per person per day). Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs.
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Devil's Head, CO Trip
June 10-11
Pictures!
Where: (see the club's field trip booklet or June newsletter)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Smoky Quartz, Amazonite and Topaz
Leader: Jim & Rose Reynolds
Fee or Donation: Optional Forest Service donation
Health Hazards: Ticks and sunburn
Terrain: Rocky mountains and hills; pine and aspen trees.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: 8500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, crack hammer, chisels, screen, small prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: 0 to 2 miles from collecting site
Water: Available at Devil's Head Campground
Nearest Town for Supplies: 21 miles away
Nearest Motel is in: 21 miles away
Additional Comments: Dry camp. Last few miles on bladed forest road. 0-2 mile hike on moderate to steep terrain. Mid-afternoon storms. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs.
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Big Sandy Resevoir in Farson, WY
July 1-4
Trip Report!
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or June newsletter)
Land owner: Public property
To Collect: Blue Forest Wood, Eden Valley Wood, Agate and Fossil Fish
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn if sunny; mosquitos and ticks.
Terrain: High desert
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~7200 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, chisels, long thin pole for probing in the ground, and collecting bags.
Camping: near collecting sites
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Farson, WY
Nearest Motel is in: Farson, WY
Additional Comments: Toilets available at camp site. Probably won't have a rock swap this year. One motel in Farson; more in Rock Springs which is 35 miles to the south. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs.
BACK TO TOP
Spruce Grove/Taryall Mtns., CO Trip
July 22-23
Pictures and Trip Report!
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or July newsletter)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Topaz and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: $7.00 per night if camping
Health Hazards: Mosquitos!!!!
Terrain: Rocky mountains and hills; pine and aspen trees.
Difficulty: Moderate to Extreme
Elevation: ~8700 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, hammer, prybar, screen and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: at the Spruce Grove Campground; 1 1/4 miles from collecting site.
Water: Available at campground
Nearest Town for Supplies: Lake George, CO (15 miles away)
Nearest Motel is in: Lake George, CO (15 miles away)
Additional Comments: Paved road to campground. May have potholes. 1 1/4 mile hike over moderate to difficult terrain to collecting site; one or two steep hills. Toilets available. Bring lots of mosquito repellant!!! Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs.
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Stoneham, CO Trip
August 26
Pictures!
Where: (see club's August newsletter)
Land owner: Private property; permission REQUIRED (club members have permission)
To Collect: Blue Barite
Leader: Ron Knoshaug
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Can be hot, cold (snow) and/or windy; Sunburn (no shade); possible rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Grassy plains and barren cliffs.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~4500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, crack hammer, chisels, prybar, pick, wedges and something to hold your specimens (such as egg cartons and tissues).
Camping: Not applicable
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Nearest Motel is in: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south)
Additional Comments: Digging is in rock-hard clay. No open fires. Fill in holes. If wet or muddy, do not drive on access road; park on main road and hike in.
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Mt. Antero, CO Trip
September 2-4
Pictures!
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or August/September newsletters)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Aquamarine, Fluorite, Phenakite and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Andy Taylor
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Extremely high altitude; cold; windy; rain, snow, hail; lightning in afternoon; sunburn if sunny; rockslides (loose rocks).
Terrain: Steep, bare, rocky mountains; above the tree-line.
Difficulty: Extreme
Elevation: 12,000 - 14,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: 4WD REQUIRED!!!
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, crack hammer, chisels, garden scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: 2 miles from digging site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: 20 miles away in Buena Vista (takes several hours due to bad road)
Nearest Motel is in: 20 miles away in Buena Vista (takes several hours due to bad road)
Additional Comments: Afternoon storms are common. Elevation at camp is almost 12,000 ft. All collecting areas are above 12,500 ft. Buena Vista is a couple hours away due to extremely rough dirt and rock roads that can have potholes more than a foot deep. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs.
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Maybell, CO Trip
September 2-4
CANCELLED!!!
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or August/September newsletters)
Land owner: (to be announced)
To Collect: Turitella Agate, Turitella shells, zebrastone, cutting material
Leader: Wes Auld
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: None
Terrain: some steep hills
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~5000 - 6000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: (to be announced)
Camping: near the digging area; fee camping in Maybell
Water: None
Nearest Town for Supplies: Craig, CO
Nearest Motel is in: Craig, CO
Additional Comments: Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs. Approximately 5 hours from Denver.
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Topaz Mtn., Thomas Range, Utah Trip
October 7-9
Pictures!
Where: (see club's field trip booklet or October newsletter)
Land owner: Bureau of Land Management
To Collect: Topaz, Bixbyite, Pseudobrookite, Garnets and Red Beryl
Leader: Eldon Hunewell
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Desert conditions (can be hot, cold and/or windy); may snow; possible scorpions, rattlesnakes and bugs; sunburn.
Terrain: Barren desert mountains; rocky.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: ~5300 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any (some rough roads)
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, rock hammer, chisels, crack hammer, 1/8" steel rod (curled), screen, screwdriver and egg cartons or flats to hold your specimens.
Camping: within sight of digging area
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Delta, UT (50 miles to the southwest)
Nearest Motel is in: Delta, UT (50 miles to the southwest)
Additional Comments: No facilities. Bring plenty of water. The Dugway Geode Beds location is just north of Topaz Mt. Joint trip with the RAMS and Gates clubs.
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