Oct 15th, 2022, Red Top Field Trip Report

Once again a great day for our field trip, this time to Red Top. Th=e late summer weather just keeps on giving. 17 vehicles, 34 people, and 2 dogs made up a pretty large group heading out of Cle Elum. Quite a few new members. Everybody made it up to our first site which is still a good productive site for nice colorful agate and jasper. We spent a couple of hours here digging and collecting, and then about 1/2 the group hiked up the Indian Creek Trail to the Red Top Meadow where we spent another 2 hours. I had read a post that the dig pits up at the meadow had been all closed up, but that was not the case. Still lots of holes up there so a person can continue someone else’s hard work. Very dry and dusty in the pits though. I didn’t do that well at the meadow, but I was out of energy and didn’t like the dust. Did well at the lower dig site though. The roads in the Red Top area have really been worked on. Graded, potholes filled, and the side trees clipped. It’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen it and far above the forest roads of our other sites.
Next trip is to First Creek on Nov. 12th which is our last scheduled trip of 2022.

Attendees: Erica D. and Chris, Ananda C., Joye E. and Nancy, Gina M., Julie M., guests Charlie and Christina, Ann S. and dog Tess (met us at the meadow), Loren M., Kamera M. and dog Gracie, Nik B., Chris W., and dog Cody, Jenn S., Melissa T. and John, Jenn R. Meghan and Ashley, Sara N. group of 7, John N. and Mason, Tanya K., Artem T. and son, and of course me.  Sorry if I forgot anyone.  It was a large group.  But lots of fun.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: October 21, 2022 — 9:36 am

Presidents Message

  • Digging It!  September is here, and it looks like a wonderful month so far for getting together and getting out in the field. First, thank you to everyone who helped make our August picnic and club auction such a success. The delicious food, generous donations, volunteer help and spirited bidding made it a great afternoon, and the auction raised $750 for the club. We return to our regular meeting schedule on Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Kent. Our program is all about YOU: Show, Tell & Transform, where you get to briefly present

Meeting Announcements

  • This program is all about YOU. Bring a rock, mineral, fossil, or other field find that you would like to turn into something. It might become a cabochon, carving, display specimen, jewelry piece, slab, polished piece, or something entirely different. Bring your item and share: Where and how you found or acquired it What interests you about the material What you’re considering making from it Any questions or challenges you would like help thinking through Then we’ll open the conversation to our knowledgeable and curious club members. Together, we can discuss the material, possible designs, cutting or finishing approaches, and other ideas that might help you take the piece from field find to finished project. You do not need to have a complete plan or any special expertise. That’s part of the fun. Bring the piece itself if possible, along with any sketches, inspiration photos, or examples that might help explain your idea.

  • 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!

  • December’s date and time is coming soon. We will update this page as soon as we know more.

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