Oct 6th, 2018 – Field Trip to Red Top West Side (N of Cle Elum)

Past Field Trips

I know this is late notice, but it looks like it will be a beautiful Fall day this Sat. and I want to get one more shot at the agate and jasper around Red Top before winter weather prevails there.  So I’m going up there digging and anyone that wants to join me is welcome.

There is no hike involved, but you do need to cross a rock slide which is fairly steep.  Dig site is just above the rock slide.  The agate is fairly plentiful just under the surface there, and is a light blueish grey color.  The jasper has nice creamy blue and brown tones, sometimes with blue veins or inclusions, occasional bright reds which are awesome.  Crystals can be found in the hard rock as well as in the rock slide and dig holes.   

Meet at 9:45 at the Mineral Springs Store (Mineral Springs Resort on Google Maps) 27510 US-97.  If you pass FR 9738 (Blue Creek Rd), you’ve gone too far, as this is the road that the group will take towards the dig site.  Mineral Springs is about a 2 hour drive from Renton/Kent, over Snoqualmie Pass.
Group leaves promptly at 10:00.  Dig and hard rock tools.

Roger Danneman cell # 425-757-3506.

Updated: October 9, 2018 — 7:39 pm

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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