Mar 19th, 2022, Swift Creek / Baker Lake Field Trip Report

Turned out to be a pretty nice outing at Swift Creek / Baker Lake on Sat. It rained on the drive there and rained slush on my drive out at 3:30, but the 4+ hours we were collecting only had a few sprinkles. The hills in the area were covered with new snow above about 1500 feet. The creek is at 800 foot elevation. We had 16 people in 9 vehicles on this trip. A pair of large down trees challenged our access to the downstream part of the river, but we all managed to either climb over them or go around them through the brush. There was a lot of storm and winter damage in the area judging by the trees and branches that were down. The stream has had some high flow turbulent activity that has stirred up the gravel this winter and quite a few nice large agates were found by the group from just surface collecting. I only have pictures of the material I collected, but it’s typical of what the group found. I had never heard the term Baker Blues before, but a couple of members asked if the agates were Baker Blues. If there is such a thing, then the found agates are them.

Our next trip is to Saddle Mtn on Sat April 23rd for petrified wood with a bonus trip the next day to an area by the Columbia River near Pasco for Carnelian agate. The Pasco site is surface collecting and not a dig. I’ve booked myself a hotel room at the Baymont in Kennewick, but I’m letting everyone that wants to make it an overnight trip take care of their own accommodations. I’ll set a time and rendezvous point near the site for us to meet.

Submitted by Roger Danneman Field Trip Guide (roger.danneman@gmail.com)
425-757-3506 cell and texts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: March 20, 2022 — 7:25 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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