On March 19th, 2022, we will be going to the Baker Lake area for agate, jasper, and jade. This area also has a lot of metamorphic rock that has interesting patterns and swirls which takes a nice polish.
Meet 9:45 AM at the Sedro Woolley Rite Aid Parking Lot.
Directions: From I-5, go past Mt. Vernon and take exit 232 Cook Rd to Sedro Woolley. Go through about 3 roundabouts. The Rite Aid is on the right side, opposite from the Forest Service Office and the Arco Station. The address is 851 Moore Street. Note that this is a new meeting spot, chosen because they have a public restroom and also when we leave, we don’t have to go across busy traffic.
The group will leave promptly at 10 am.
From Renton it is approximately a 1.5 hour drive (80 miles) to the meeting place. Then another 35 miles to the collection site..
Swift Creek flows into the Baker Lake reservoir and you will need waders (or hip boots) to cross the stream and get to the gravel beds. Usually in March there is still snow along the roadway and on the river bank. So access may require climbing over snow berm and walking through some deep snow and down snow covered embankment. Tools – shovel (optional), bucket, and garden pick. Collecting is in the stream bed as well as the gravel beds further downstream, so a pair of PVC gloves would be handy (the water can be pretty cold). The water is usually 1-2 feet deep (or more) in places, depending on snow melt runoff. Roads are good pavement, with some hard pack snow and ice in places this time of year.
Roger Danneman ( roger.danneman@gmail.com ; 425-228-8781 or 425-757-3506 cell).