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2005 Field Trips
Index:
Where: (see club's April newsletter)
Time: sometime Sunday morning
Land owner: private property dig site
To Collect: Quartz crystals
Leader: Roger Pittman (Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society)
Approximately: 900 miles from Colorado Springs
Fee or Donation: Digging fee (amount unknown at this time)
Health Hazards: (contact the leader)
Terrain: (contact the leader)
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: (contact the leader)
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: (contact the leader)
Camping: (contact the leader)
Water: (contact the leader)
Nearest Town for Supplies: (contact the leader)
Nearest Motel is in: (contact the leader)
Additional Comments: Joint trip with the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society. A couple digging locations are planned, including Coleman's at 5837 North Hwy 7, Jessieville, AR. When heading for home, will stop at the Jet, Oklahoma selenite digging area.
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Where: (contact the trip leader)
Time: 9am
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Fluorite, Galena, Barite, Quartz, Linarite, Brochantite (Bingham mines); Wulfenite, Fluorite (Lemitar area); various fossils.
Leader: Dr. Jerry Simmons
Fee or Donation: $10 per person for the fluorite mine
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; scorpions; rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Steep, rocky mountains; desert.
Difficulty: Easy to Extreme
Elevation: low desert (~3000 ft)
Vehicle Suggested: Any; High Clearance suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: near Socorro
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 club's May newsletter)
Time: 10am
Land owner: BLM
To Collect: Barite and Calcite
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Approximately: 4 hours from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Heat; wind; snakes; scorpions; sunburn (no shade).
Terrain: Low barren hills.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~4,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, chisels, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens. Barite crystals should be kept cool and wet so they don't fracture. Then let them gradually dry at home.
Camping: Near the site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Grand Junction (20 miles away)
Nearest Motel is in: Grand Junction (20 miles away)
Additional Comments: Dirt roads may be slippery when wet; may have deep ruts and wash-outs. The Grand Junction Show is the same weekend. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the May newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Topaz and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Approximately: 2 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: $10.00 per night if camping (subject to change without notice)
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! A short class about pegmatites will be taught just before the hike up to the digging area on Saturday morning. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the June newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Smoky Quartz, Fluorite and Topaz
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Approximately: 1.5 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: none (optional Forest Service donation)
Health Hazards: Ticks and sunburn; afternoon lightning storms; rain
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, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: 0 to 3 miles from collecting site
Water: Available at Devil's Head Campground, but best to bring your own.
Nearest Town for Supplies: Sedalia
Nearest Motel is in: Sedalia (?) or Lake George (to the south)
Additional Comments: Dry camp. Last 11.5 miles on bladed dirt forest road (Rampart Range Rd). The road may be "washboardy", so take it easy. 0 to 2 mile hike on moderate to steep terrain. Mid-afternoon storms. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the June newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: Private mineral claim
To Collect: Amazonite, Smoky Quartz, Topaz
Leader: Keith (Littleton Club member)
Approximately: 45 minutes from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn; cold; insects.
Terrain: Mountains and pine trees.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~9,500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: High clearance or 4WD required in certain spots.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, chisels, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: Not applicable
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Harris Park has limited supplies; Bailey has more.
Nearest Motel is in: Not applicable
Additional Comments: We will be digging with the Littleton club on their claim. Toilets not available. Bring insect repellent and plenty of water. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the June newsletter)
Time: 7:30am SHARP!
Land owner: Public property
To Collect: Blue Forest Wood, Eden Valley Wood, Agate and maybe Fossil Fish
Leader: Martin Peters (RAMS club)
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Heat; sunburn; mosquitos and ticks; can be extremely windy.
Terrain: High desert
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~7200 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any, although a few areas will require a 4WD vehicle.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, 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. One motel in Farson; more in Rock Springs which is 35 miles to the south. Can be very windy! Joint trip with the RAMS club. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the July newsletter)
Time: TBA
Land owner: BLM (private mineral claim)
To Collect: Quartz, Pyrite, Barite, and ore minerals.
Leader: Bruce Geller from the CMS club
Approximately: 2 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; insects; elevation; mine dump.
Terrain: Mountains and pine trees.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: ~9500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any to Montezuma; 4WD to the mine site.
Equipment Suggested: Rock pick, chisels and a collecting bag.
Camping: Not available near the mine site.
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Montezuma or Dillon
Nearest Motel is in: Silverthorne/Dillon
Additional Comments: No toilets. Joint trip with the CMS club. BACK TO TOP
Where: (contact the trip leader)
Time: 9:30am
Land owner: Claim on private property, permission REQUIRED (club members have permission)
To Collect: Blue Barite and Calcite
Leader: April and Robert Robinson
Approximately: xxx hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Can be hot, cold 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 delicate specimens (such as egg cartons and tissues).
Camping: No camping is permitted at the digging site.
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south) or Sterling, CO (to the east).
Nearest Motel is in: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south) or Sterling, CO (to the east).
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. Frank Bendrick, the claim owner, will let us in and out of the gate. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's July newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: n/a
To Collect: Epidote, Magnetite, Quartz, Uralite and Pyrite (Calument Mine); Peridot (Turret area)
Leader: Kevin and K.C. Larsen
Approximately: 3.5 hours to the meeting location
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Small cactus; sun; heat; sunburn; insects.
Terrain: Steep mountains (Calumet Mine); Mountains and pine trees (peridot location).
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: ~9400 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any, although there could be washouts caused by rain.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, 1/8th inch mesh screen, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: near the peridot location
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Salida (10 miles away on dirt road)
Nearest Motel is in: Salida (10 miles away on dirt road)
Additional Comments: Toilets not available. Bring insect repellent. Bring plenty of water. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the August newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Topaz and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Tom Miller
Approximately: 2 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: $10.00 per night if camping (subject to change without notice)
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! BACK TO TOP
Where: (see the August newsletter)
Time: 9am on Saturday
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Aquamarine, Fluorite, Phenakite and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Don and Bill Beamer
Approximately: 3 hours from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Extremely high altitude; cold; very windy; rain, snow, hail; lightning in afternoon; sunburn; rockslides (loose rocks).
Terrain: Steep, bare, rocky mountains; above the tree-line.
Difficulty: Extreme
Elevation: 11,500 - 13,500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Hi-Clearance, 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 a couple hours due to bad road)
Nearest Motel is in: 20 miles away in Buena Vista (takes a couple hours due to bad road)
Additional Comments: Afternoon storms are common. Elevation at camp is 11,500 ft. All collecting areas are above 12,500 ft. Buena Vista is a couple hours away due to extremely rough dirt and rocky roads that can have potholes more than a foot deep. BACK TO TOP
Where: (see club's September newsletter)
Time: 10am
Land owner: BLM
To Collect: Barite and Calcite
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Approximately: 4 hours from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Heat; wind; snakes; scorpions; sunburn (no shade).
Terrain: Low barren hills.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~4,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, rock pick, rock hammer, prybar, chisels, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens. Barite crystals are very heat-sensitive, so they should be kept cool and moist so they don't fracture. Then let them gradually dry at home. You might want to bring a small cooler to put the barite crystals in to keep them from rapid temperature changes.
Camping: Near the site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Grand Junction (15 miles away)
Nearest Motel is in: Grand Junction (15 miles away)
Additional Comments: A 2-wheel drive vehicle is sufficient for the road to the digging area as long as the road is dry. If it should rain and the roads become wet, the clay roads will become very slippery and impassable even for a 4-wheel drive vehicle. BACK TO TOP
| April 30 - May 6 | Mt. Ida, Arkansas | |
| May 6 - 8 | Socorro and Bingham, NM | |
| May 7 - 8 | Book Cliffs (Grand Junction, CO) #1 | |
| May 28 - 30 | Spruce Grove/Tarryall Mtns. (Tarryall, CO) | |
| June 11 - 12 | Devil's Head (Sedalia, CO) | |
| June 25 | Harris Park, CO | |
| July 2 - 4 | Big Sandy Reservoir (Farson, Wyoming) | |
| July 16 | Montezuma, CO | |
| July 23 | Stoneham, CO | |
| August 6 - 7 | Calumet Mine and Turret area (Salida, CO) | |
| August 20 - 21 | Spruce Grove/Tarryall Mtns. (Tarryall, CO) #2 | |
| September 3 - 5 | Mt. Antero (Nathrop, CO) | |
| October 8 - 10 | Book Cliffs (Grand Junction, CO) #2 |
Mt. Ida, Arkansas Trip
April 30 - May 6
Where: (see club's April newsletter)
Time: sometime Sunday morning
Land owner: private property dig site
To Collect: Quartz crystals
Leader: Roger Pittman (Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society)
Approximately: 900 miles from Colorado Springs
Fee or Donation: Digging fee (amount unknown at this time)
Health Hazards: (contact the leader)
Terrain: (contact the leader)
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: (contact the leader)
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: (contact the leader)
Camping: (contact the leader)
Water: (contact the leader)
Nearest Town for Supplies: (contact the leader)
Nearest Motel is in: (contact the leader)
Additional Comments: Joint trip with the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society. A couple digging locations are planned, including Coleman's at 5837 North Hwy 7, Jessieville, AR. When heading for home, will stop at the Jet, Oklahoma selenite digging area.
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Socorro and Bingham, New Mexico Trip
May 6 - 8
Where: (contact the trip leader)
Time: 9am
Land owner: Private property (club members have permission)
To Collect: Fluorite, Galena, Barite, Quartz, Linarite, Brochantite (Bingham mines); Wulfenite, Fluorite (Lemitar area); various fossils.
Leader: Dr. Jerry Simmons
Fee or Donation: $10 per person for the fluorite mine
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; scorpions; rattlesnakes.
Terrain: Steep, rocky mountains; desert.
Difficulty: Easy to Extreme
Elevation: low desert (~3000 ft)
Vehicle Suggested: Any; High Clearance suggested.
Equipment Suggested: Pick, rock hammer, chisels, prybar and collecting bags.
Camping: near Socorro
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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Book Cliffs (Grand Junction, CO) Trip #1
May 7 - 8
Where: (see club's May newsletter)
Time: 10am
Land owner: BLM
To Collect: Barite and Calcite
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Approximately: 4 hours from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Heat; wind; snakes; scorpions; sunburn (no shade).
Terrain: Low barren hills.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~4,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, chisels, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens. Barite crystals should be kept cool and wet so they don't fracture. Then let them gradually dry at home.
Camping: Near the site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Grand Junction (20 miles away)
Nearest Motel is in: Grand Junction (20 miles away)
Additional Comments: Dirt roads may be slippery when wet; may have deep ruts and wash-outs. The Grand Junction Show is the same weekend.
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Spruce Grove/Tarryall Mtns., CO Trip #1
May 28 - 30
Trip Report and Pictures
Where: (see the May newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Topaz and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Bob Loeffler
Approximately: 2 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: $10.00 per night if camping (subject to change without notice)
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! A short class about pegmatites will be taught just before the hike up to the digging area on Saturday morning.
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Devil's Head, CO Trip
June 11 - 12
Where: (see the June newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Smoky Quartz, Fluorite and Topaz
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Approximately: 1.5 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: none (optional Forest Service donation)
Health Hazards: Ticks and sunburn; afternoon lightning storms; rain
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, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: 0 to 3 miles from collecting site
Water: Available at Devil's Head Campground, but best to bring your own.
Nearest Town for Supplies: Sedalia
Nearest Motel is in: Sedalia (?) or Lake George (to the south)
Additional Comments: Dry camp. Last 11.5 miles on bladed dirt forest road (Rampart Range Rd). The road may be "washboardy", so take it easy. 0 to 2 mile hike on moderate to steep terrain. Mid-afternoon storms.
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Harris Park, CO Trip
June 25
Where: (see the June newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: Private mineral claim
To Collect: Amazonite, Smoky Quartz, Topaz
Leader: Keith (Littleton Club member)
Approximately: 45 minutes from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn; cold; insects.
Terrain: Mountains and pine trees.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~9,500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: High clearance or 4WD required in certain spots.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, rock hammer, prybar, chisels, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: Not applicable
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Harris Park has limited supplies; Bailey has more.
Nearest Motel is in: Not applicable
Additional Comments: We will be digging with the Littleton club on their claim. Toilets not available. Bring insect repellent and plenty of water.
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Big Sandy Reservoir in Farson, WY
July 2 - 4 (July 4th weekend)
Where: (see the June newsletter)
Time: 7:30am SHARP!
Land owner: Public property
To Collect: Blue Forest Wood, Eden Valley Wood, Agate and maybe Fossil Fish
Leader: Martin Peters (RAMS club)
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Heat; sunburn; mosquitos and ticks; can be extremely windy.
Terrain: High desert
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~7200 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any, although a few areas will require a 4WD vehicle.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, 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. One motel in Farson; more in Rock Springs which is 35 miles to the south. Can be very windy! Joint trip with the RAMS club.
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Montezuma, CO Trip
July 16
Cancelled!
Where: (see the July newsletter)
Time: TBA
Land owner: BLM (private mineral claim)
To Collect: Quartz, Pyrite, Barite, and ore minerals.
Leader: Bruce Geller from the CMS club
Approximately: 2 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Sunburn; heat; insects; elevation; mine dump.
Terrain: Mountains and pine trees.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: ~9500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any to Montezuma; 4WD to the mine site.
Equipment Suggested: Rock pick, chisels and a collecting bag.
Camping: Not available near the mine site.
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Montezuma or Dillon
Nearest Motel is in: Silverthorne/Dillon
Additional Comments: No toilets. Joint trip with the CMS club.
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Stoneham, CO Trip
July 23
Where: (contact the trip leader)
Time: 9:30am
Land owner: Claim on private property, permission REQUIRED (club members have permission)
To Collect: Blue Barite and Calcite
Leader: April and Robert Robinson
Approximately: xxx hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Can be hot, cold 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 delicate specimens (such as egg cartons and tissues).
Camping: No camping is permitted at the digging site.
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south) or Sterling, CO (to the east).
Nearest Motel is in: Ft. Morgan, CO (36 miles to the south) or Sterling, CO (to the east).
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. Frank Bendrick, the claim owner, will let us in and out of the gate.
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Calumet Mine and Turret area, CO Trip
August 6 - 7
Trip Report and Pictures
Where: (see club's July newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: n/a
To Collect: Epidote, Magnetite, Quartz, Uralite and Pyrite (Calument Mine); Peridot (Turret area)
Leader: Kevin and K.C. Larsen
Approximately: 3.5 hours to the meeting location
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Small cactus; sun; heat; sunburn; insects.
Terrain: Steep mountains (Calumet Mine); Mountains and pine trees (peridot location).
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: ~9400 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any, although there could be washouts caused by rain.
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, 1/8th inch mesh screen, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens.
Camping: near the peridot location
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Salida (10 miles away on dirt road)
Nearest Motel is in: Salida (10 miles away on dirt road)
Additional Comments: Toilets not available. Bring insect repellent. Bring plenty of water.
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Spruce Grove/Tarryall Mtns., CO Trip #2
August 20 - 21
Pictures
Where: (see the August newsletter)
Time: 9am
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Topaz and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Tom Miller
Approximately: 2 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: $10.00 per night if camping (subject to change without notice)
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!
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Mt. Antero, CO Trip
September 3 - 5 (Labor Day weekend)
Where: (see the August newsletter)
Time: 9am on Saturday
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Aquamarine, Fluorite, Phenakite and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Don and Bill Beamer
Approximately: 3 hours from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Extremely high altitude; cold; very windy; rain, snow, hail; lightning in afternoon; sunburn; rockslides (loose rocks).
Terrain: Steep, bare, rocky mountains; above the tree-line.
Difficulty: Extreme
Elevation: 11,500 - 13,500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Hi-Clearance, 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 a couple hours due to bad road)
Nearest Motel is in: 20 miles away in Buena Vista (takes a couple hours due to bad road)
Additional Comments: Afternoon storms are common. Elevation at camp is 11,500 ft. All collecting areas are above 12,500 ft. Buena Vista is a couple hours away due to extremely rough dirt and rocky roads that can have potholes more than a foot deep.
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Book Cliffs (Grand Junction, CO) Trip #2
October 8 - 10
Trip Report
Where: (see club's September newsletter)
Time: 10am
Land owner: BLM
To Collect: Barite and Calcite
Leader: Ron and Judy Knoshaug
Approximately: 4 hours from Denver to the meeting place
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Heat; wind; snakes; scorpions; sunburn (no shade).
Terrain: Low barren hills.
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: ~4,000 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, rock pick, rock hammer, prybar, chisels, scratcher and something to hold your collected specimens. Barite crystals are very heat-sensitive, so they should be kept cool and moist so they don't fracture. Then let them gradually dry at home. You might want to bring a small cooler to put the barite crystals in to keep them from rapid temperature changes.
Camping: Near the site
Water: Not available
Nearest Town for Supplies: Grand Junction (15 miles away)
Nearest Motel is in: Grand Junction (15 miles away)
Additional Comments: A 2-wheel drive vehicle is sufficient for the road to the digging area as long as the road is dry. If it should rain and the roads become wet, the clay roads will become very slippery and impassable even for a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
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