June 7th, 2025 Little Naches Field Trip Report

Field trip reports

On Sat. June 7th we went to Little Naches for Thunder Eggs, Lily Pad Jasper, and Leaf Fossils. Temperatures were in the low 80’s with beautiful blue skies and a nice breeze up on the ridge. Gorgeous scenery going over Chinook Pass. We had 26 people and 16 vehicles on this trip. Very pleasant conditions for digging. We spent 2 1/2 hours at the Thunder Egg site. Blue chalcedony in various forms, but of course we’re mostly looking for full or broken-half thundereggs. After hiking back to the cars we drove on to the Lily Pad site. Easy pickings there. After that we stopped at the mud stone formation for leaf fossils. WA State geology maps peg this as a 35 million year old mudstone. So the carbon imprints and leaf outlines we find embedded in that stone, are that old. A few nice specimens were found. Certainly a fun day.

List of attendees: Jason S. with his son and 2 friends, Jeff C. & partner, Julie & Gina M. & Erik, Kerri-Lynn D. & John, Jarrod D., Scott H., Colin O. and girlfriend, Chris V., Josh D. & Eli, Andrea M., Kelly G., Justin K. & Matthew, John N., Breanna P. & Julie, and of course me.

For July I have 2 outings scheduled – July 12th to Greenwater for the black agate and common opal, and July 19th to Crystal Mtn north of Ellensburg for agate, jasper, and geodes.  No trips scheduled for August, but we have our club picnic on August 16th at Lake Wilderness.

Submitted by Roger Danneman CMS Field Trip Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: June 18, 2025 — 4:40 pm

Presidents Message

  • From the Top of the Rock Pile From the Top of the Rock Pile Our Gem Show is sold out. Everything is moving along with the show. We will be asking for volunteers at the June meeting plus via email. Please plan on helping out at our show. It takes around 50 people to cover all 3 days. I have not been out to see how the building of our indoor shop is coming along at Roger’s home, but I hear from members that it is really coming along. With some good weather, progress should really move along fast. If …

Meeting Announcements

  • We will form teams to identify a tray of 8 rocks. Bring your hardness kit, rock ID books, cell phones, or anything else to help your team identify the stones. Last call for volunteers to help with our Gem Show. Show ‘n Tell: Bring an item from the collection you want to be identified.   This meeting is also our semi-annual food drive for the Kent Food Bank. Please remember to bring something. The Food Bank has informed us that they need feminine hygiene products and grape or strawberry jelly. People donate loads of peanut butter but never jelly. They also receive very few donations of feminine hygiene products.

  •   The meeting this month is canceled as they are remodeling the room.

  • Potluck on the Park. Bring your favorite potluck dish, rolls, drinks, dessert, etc. Enjoy a peaceful day in the park, visiting with friends and getting in some “rock talk.” Set up is at 11:30 am and lunch at noon.   Following our lunch, we will hold a club auction. It’s a great time to pick up some great bargains. Our Young Tumblers can also spend their “rock bucks” on something they want.    

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