Sept 11th, 2021 Red Top Mtn Field Trip Report

Field trip reports

It was a very beautiful day up in the mountains for this trip. The smoky air was scrubbed out thanks to the previous day’s rain and the mountain range was clear and gorgeous. Mt. Rainier could be clearly seen from the Red Top Meadow. We had 22 people in 12 vehicles and ended up in 3 groups. One group of 9 started at the lower dig site up the steep hill from the road. One group of 7 took the 1/2 mile hike up to the meadow and dug up there for about 2 1/2 hours before returning to the lower dig site. And one group of 6 went to the main parking area and worked around the main dig sites near the top, eventually working their way down to the Meadow where I was digging. The clay soil was pretty hard and dusty. But there were some nice payoffs. Tim and Kelly scored some nice sized geodes. I found a few nice agate nodules in the Meadow dig and some very nice agate and jasper in the lower dig site.
Our next field trip is scheduled for Oct. 16.  My plan is to go to Red Top again, but that could change if I get some feedback from field trippers that want to go to a different spot.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: September 19, 2021 — 7:29 pm

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

  • We are going to show a video of the most unusual and amazing things found in Amber. It isn’t just insects. We are also going to have a recap of how our Gem Show did last month. Show ‘n Tell: An item that has something trapped inside or a picture rock, thunder egg, or geode that looks like it has an insect, animal, or face inside.

  • Maureen will speak on the geology and the movement of the Washington coastline over millions of years. Show ‘n Tell: Favorite rock or mineral from Washington

  • Glen Ripper is a leading authority on Obsidian. He is a walking encyclopedia which should make this an interesting and educational meeting. Show ‘n Tell: Obsidian – let’s see your colors.

  •   We start the day off with a potluck holiday meal. The club provides roasted turkey and ham. Members fill in with their favorite holiday potluck dish. We follow our meal with the election of officers for the coming year. Our final activity is our club auction. It is a great time to pick up great bargains on rough rocks, polished rocks, slabs, fossils, opal, etc. Our Young Tumblers can use their Rock Bucks to purchase auction items. This meeting is also our semi-annual food drive for the Kent Food Bank. Please remember to bring something. The Food Bank has informed us that they need feminine hygiene products and grape or strawberry jelly. People donate loads of peanut butter but never jelly. They also receive very few donations of feminine hygiene products.

Current News