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

  • Digging It!  I hope you’ve all had a chance to get out and look for rocks during the lovely weather we enjoyed in July – it’s been mostly perfect rockhounding weather. And for those of you who were able to come on the field trips led by our fearless wagon master Roger Danneman, I hope you found some good material. Big thanks to Roger for getting us all out there and helping us find beautiful rocks! August is a bit of a break from the usual club meeting cadence – instead of having our club meeting on the second Thursday …

Meeting Announcements

  • Our August meeting will not be happening at the American Legion – instead, this month’s meeting is our annual club potluck and picnic on Saturday, August 15. Join us from 12-4 at Gene Coulon Park, South Shelter 2 – setup begins at 10:30am. Bring something you want to share and/or donate to the club auction, also happening during the picnic. 

  • September’s program is coming soon. We will update this page as soon as we know more.

  • Noelle Barnes will present Using Gaia for Rockhounding, an overview of the features and tricks associated with the app Gaia and how you can use it for GPS, saving waypoints, navigation, photo tagging, trail recording and more. Show and Tell: Bring the rock(s) that have the best “story” – and tell everyone how you found them and where!

  • Club board member Paul Ahnberg will talk to us about the impact of wildfires on our lives – from protecting your home to staying safe while out rockhounding – and what we can do today to help mitigate our risk. Paul will combine his knowledge gained from learning at both the WSU Green School (Master Gardener) and WSU Climate Steward programs. Show and Tell: Bring something you found, from a place that you know has since been impacted by floods or wildfires – or was impacted shortly before you arrived. Tell your story!

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