North Jeffco Gem & Mineral Club - Field Trips

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This is the list of field trips for 2012 so far. Times/dates/info are subject to change.

For old trips (1997 - present), please see our Field Trip Archives page.

Index:

	May 12 - 13	Book Cliffs, CO Trip #1
	June 23 - 24	Blue Forest (Farson, Wyoming) Trip
	July 7 - 8	Mt. Antero (Nathrop, CO) Trip #1
	August 18 - 19	Spruce Grove/Tarryall Mtns., CO Trip

Book Cliffs, CO Trip
May 12 - 13

Days: Saturday and Sunday
Where: (contact the trip leader)
Time: (contact the trip leader)
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 and sunburn (there is no shade). Bring adequate protection from the sun such as sunscreen. Some people bring a tarp to shade themselves; wind; snakes; scorpions (every trip Ron sees several); no water (bring plenty of water). Always a possibility of heavy rain.
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: Dry camping near the site; no shade
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 usually sufficient for the road to the digging area as long as the road is dry. If the roads become wet, the clay roads will become EXTREMELY slippery and impassable even for a 4-wheel drive vehicle; may have deep ruts and wash-outs after rain storms. Due to all the oil and gas exploration activity, the motels have been full recently. Joint trip with the RAMS club.

Blue Forest (Farson, WY) Trip
June 23 - 24

Days: Saturday and Sunday
Where: (contact the trip leader; see June newsletter)
Time: (contact the trip leader; see June newsletter)
Land owner: BLM land
To Collect: Blue Forest Wood
Leader: Don and Gail Beamer
Fee or Donation: None
Health Hazards: Heat; sunburn; mosquitos and ticks; can be extremely windy. Wyoming weather can be extreme in any direction � hot, cold, windy. Please prepare for almost anything. We have experienced sleet on July 4th. Another time someone�s tent nearly became a balloon.
Terrain: Remote grass lands
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation: ~7200 ft
Vehicle Suggested: Any vehicle except low-clearance vehicles (lowered cars, etc)
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, long thin pole for probing in the ground, and collecting bags.
Camping: Not sure � maybe at the Green River Campsite or at the Big Sandy Campsite
Water: Not available; bring PLENTY of water.
Nearest Town for Supplies: Farson, WY
Nearest Motel is in: RockSprings, WY
Additional Comments: Facilities at either campsite include outhouses. We may look for wood at Blue Forest, Big Sandy Reservoir, Wood Top, Territorial Site. Where we explore for wood depends somewhat on the weather. The roads can become very muddy if it rains much.

Mt. Antero, CO Trip #1
July 7 - 8

Days: Saturday and Sunday
Where: (see the July newsletter)
Time: (see the July newsletter)
Land owner: private claims on National Forest Service land
To Collect: Aquamarine, Fluorite, Phenakite and Smoky Quartz
Leader: Tim Hillsten
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 talus rocks).
Terrain: Steep, barren, rocky mountains; above the tree-line.
Difficulty: Extreme
Elevation: 11,500 - 13,500 ft
Vehicle Suggested: High 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 (almost a 30 minute bumpy drive)
Water: Not available (bring plenty of your own)
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 (lightning, rain, snow and hail) 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. Joint trip with other clubs.

Spruce Grove/Tarryall Mtns., CO Trip
August 18 - 19

Days: Saturday and Sunday
Where: (see the August newsletter)
Time: (see the August newsletter)
Land owner: National Forest Service
To Collect: Topaz, Smoky Quartz, Microcline Feldspar and Fluorite
Leader: Kevin and K.C. Larsen
Approximately: 2 hours from Denver
Fee or Donation: Was $11.00 per night if camping at the campground a couple years ago (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 to the campground; 4WD or High clearance to drive to the "shortcut" (to wade across the river)
Equipment Suggested: Shovel, pick, hammer, prybar, screen and something to hold your specimens.
Camping: at the Spruce Grove Campground; 1 1/4 miles from collecting site.
Water: Well 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; usually has potholes. We will wade across the river to cut the hiking time in half. Depends on how deep the river is. If it's too deep, we will hike 1 1/4 mile over moderate to difficult terrain to collecting site. One or two steep hills. Toilets available at the campground. Bring mosquito repellant! Digging will be on the "Lost Boot" mining claim.