Oct 18th 2025 Swift Creek / Baker Lake Field Trip Report

Field trip reports

On Sat October 18th we went to Swift Creek / Baker Lake.

Due to early season snowfall in the mountains I had to make some decisions regarding our last scheduled field trips. We ended up going to Swift Creek on the east side of Mt. Baker for our Oct. 18th trip and cancelled the trips to Crystal Mtn. and First Creek. Other things that factored into the decisions were the Labor Mtn fire closure taking away our Red Top site and the efforts to finish the shop and get the equipment moved from Diana’s.

Despite forecasted rain we had 7 of us on this trip for Baker Blue Agates, jaspers, and gneiss. The reservoir was low and the gravel beds were accessible. Beautiful fall colors and Sockeye Salmon were running up the creek apparently assisted by transport around the dam into Baker Lake. It was fun to see them swimming up the low stream levels. The weather stayed nice until after we left around 3:00 at which time the rain moved in.

Joining me on this trip were Noelle B., Scott & Lauri M with sister Dani, Chris V. and new member Venessa L.
These pictures are from what I collected, but there were some nice agates and rocks collected among the group. There is also some small pyrite inclusions 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.

Submitted by Roger Danneman CMS Field Trip Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: November 9, 2025 — 7:00 pm

Presidents Message

  • Digging It!  Thanks to everyone who joined us in March for Maureen Carlisle’s fascinating look at the world of professional paleontology digs. Our next meeting on April 9 is a great club tradition: Rock Bingo! Whether you’ve been a member for decades or you just joined last month, Bingo is the ultimate fun night for everyone kids included. All you have to do is bring three rock-related gifts (rocks themselves are just fine!), wrapped so that they are hidden, and then show up at 7pm on the 9th. Everyone is a winner – win a new treasure for your shelf and …

Meeting Announcements

  • 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. 

  • Our own Mike Blanton will bring his expertise to this club meeting program – he will share the tools, tips and tricks he has developed to drill holes in stones and minerals so you can do more with the rocks you find. Show and Tell: bring a rock you’d like to make into something else.

  • Club Wagonmaster and rock shop creator Roger Danneman will present an overview of the new club shop – including equipment, scheduling, stewards, and what you can expect from this exciting new resource.  Show and Tell: bring a rock you want to polish or make into a cabochon (or something you’ve already polished or made)

Current News