March 24th, 2024 Swift Creek / Baker Lake Field Trip Report

Field trip reports

Field Trip Report for March 24th at Swift Creek / Baker Lake – This trip got moved from Sat. the 23rd to Sunday the 24th due to heavy rain predicted in the Mt. Baker area for that Sat.. On Sunday the skies cleared and we had a beautiful day for hunting agates and jaspers at Swift Creek. The river channels were too deep and the current too strong to get down to the Baker Lake gravel beds, but we had a nice huge sandbar for a collecting area downstream from the bridge. The stream where we crossed was about 18″ deep.

10 members/guests joined me for this trip – Jeanie L. and friend Olivia, Heather M., James R., and friend Marquis, Michele M., Marion R., Josh D. and sons Eli and Levi. These pictures are from what I collected, but there were some nicer agates and rocks with crystal inclusions collected among the group. There is also some small pyrite crystallizations to be found here. Baker Blue Agates don’t come easy and when you find one it’s a great feeling. The extra red and green colors attached give them a unique look.
After we were done at Swift Creek, Michelle and I went over to Marblemount and found some Listwanite at a site along the Cascade River. Some of these rocks with a rusty-orange skin yield beautiful green patterns on the inside. It helps to break off an end to check the inside color.

Next outing is Sat. April 20th for Biggs Jasper/Agate in Oregon and then Sun. April 21st at Saddle Mtn for petrified wood. Another Saddle Mtn trip is scheduled for Sunday April 28th to be led by Loren Merriman. Details for all 3 trips will be sent out via e-mail.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: March 26, 2024 — 7:36 am

Presidents Message

  • From the Top of the Rock Pile Our annual club picnic went off great. The grass and Arboretum area was not wet or muddy, plus it didn’t rain while we were there. We had the usual club members attend, plus a few new faces. I forgot to count how many people attended, but I estimate around 40. Thank you, Angie and Brian, for shopping for the food and setting everything up. Thumbler’s Tumblers donated a tumbler for our picnic auction and another one for our holiday auction in December. The new double-barreled 15# tumbler sold for $120, approximately one-third the …

Meeting Announcements

  • We are going to show a video of the most unusual and amazing things found in Amber. It isn’t just insects. We are also going to have a recap of how our Gem Show did last month. Show ‘n Tell: An item that has something trapped inside or a picture rock, thunder egg, or geode that looks like it has an insect, animal, or face inside.

  • This meeting will cover the “Geologic History of Washington State.” The meeting will be an interactive program designed to tell the story of the complex geologic history of our state. It works for kids as well as adults, with families working together to assemble the state.   Show ‘n Tell: Favorite rock or mineral from Washington.

  • Glen Ripper is a leading authority on Obsidian. He is a walking encyclopedia which should make this an interesting and educational meeting. Show ‘n Tell: Obsidian – let’s see your colors.

  •   We start the day off with a potluck holiday meal. The club provides roasted turkey and ham. Members fill in with their favorite holiday potluck dish. We follow our meal with the election of officers for the coming year. Our final activity is our club auction. It is a great time to pick up great bargains on rough rocks, polished rocks, slabs, fossils, opal, etc. Our Young Tumblers can use their Rock Bucks to purchase auction items. 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.

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