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

  • Many of our members may recognize Tom as a vendor from our gem show and many other shows. His booth is “A Point in Time.” His presentation will focus on regional archaeology and how it relates to geology, paleontology, astronomy, and more. He promises to be a “traveling museum of prehistoric artifacts,” many of which can be passed around! He is always so interesting to stand at his show booth and listen to him talk. This meeting will be fascinating and hands-on. Show and Tell: A fossil of any type.

  • Our wagonmaster, Roger, will go over the field trips he has planned for this year, including samples of what you can find at each location.   Show and Tell: Your Best Rock Find Of Last Year.

  • We’re still developing the 2026 calendar of events, but we know one thing for sure – our March general meeting will happen on the 12th at 7pm. We hope to see you there! Show and Tell: also coming soon!

  • Come one, come all and play ROCK BINGO! With schools out for many local school districts, we invite members, guests, and especially families and kids to come and enjoy one of our most fun nights of the year. Everyone is guaranteed to win at this FREE event! All you have to do is bring three wrapped presents – presents can be rocks, gems, minerals, crystals, fossils, cabochons, slabs, jewelry, tumbled stones – anything you think might be a nice gift for a rock enthusiast. 

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