June 2018 Government Meadows (upper Greenwater) Field Trip Report

Field trip reports

We had a group of 13 vehicles and about 30 people from CMS and the Puyallup Valley Club for this trip on June 9th. Weather was a mix of clouds, light rain and sunbreaks.  Nice temperatures for digging.

Stop 1 – ~11 miles from Hwy410 on FR70 – Just a quick stop to look for agate nodules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop 2 – Quick stop to show the earth tone jasper site.  These have been tumbled through the first stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop 3 – End of FR70 toward Government Meadows but road branches and we took lower road to dig sites.  There are holes/pits that people have previously dug with opal pieces laying all around them.  You can start in any hole or can find another suitable spot and just dig a new pit.  Lots of common opal here, some with nice color variations.  Petrified wood is present, but considerably more difficult to find.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop 4 – We drove back down the mountain (about 2/3 of the way back to Hwy410) and turned left onto FR72 which we then drove up about a mile to a large rock slide.  Here we looked for agate and crystal and jasper material.  After about 20 minutes here, the heavy rain started, about 3:15-3:30.  Some material found here that day, still in the rough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need to start getting in the habit of taking pictures during the trip of what others have found.  Probably cooler than my stuff.  Thanks to Merriann Fu for her FB posts and pictures.  Hers are beautifully staged on the green leaves.  Others are welcome to also post on the FB Group page what they’ve found.  That FB page is reserved for CMS members.

Submitted by Roger Danneman CMS Trip Leader

Updated: June 15, 2018 — 9:40 pm

Presidents Message

  • From the Top of the Rock Pile 2024 is in our rearview mirror. It was a very successful year for our club. We moved our Cascade Gem Show to June at Kent Commons. It has been an excellent decision for our club. We had the largest attendance since resuming our shows in 2018, with approximately 3,200 visitors! The proceeds from our two club auctions in 2024 brought in around $1,800. These funds help to cover our club’s largest expense, the liability insurance policy. I expect the premium for 2025 will be near $3,000. Our booth at the Puyallup Gem Faire …

Meeting Announcements

  • February 13th – Jim Cerenzie – Finding New (Old) Rockhounding Sites Our club member, Jim Cerenzie, is going to speak on how he finds long forgotten sites to hunt for rocks and crystals. He has a YouTube channel called the “Vug Meister” where he and his son go rockhounding to these places. If you watch YouTube please support him by subscribing to his channel. Show ‘n Tell: Your favorite rockhounding find. It can be a find from a field trip, your yard, the beach, or a riverbed.

  • March 13th – Field Trip Preview by Roger Danneman Where will we go this year? Join our wagonmaster Roger Danneman as he gives us a preview of all of the places the Club will explore this year on field trips – and what kinds of materials you might find there. Show ‘n Tell: Something you’ve found on a prior field trip (with a club or on your own!).

  • April 10th – Rock BINGO Kent schools on spring break. So all you members, junior members and their friends, your grandkids, guests it is time for our Rock Bingo night.  Everyone is guaranteed to be a winner. Rock Bingo is free tonight – bring 3 wrapped presents (see below). Maximum 3 game cards per player. Each player is to bring 3 wrapped presents. Rocks, minerals, fossils, cabachons, slabs, jewelry, or anything that you think would be a nice gift.  Guests do not need to bring any wrapped items.

  • May 8th – Glaciers by Paul Ahnberg What are the benefits of glaciers? Glaciers, slow-moving rivers of ice, have sculpted mountains and carved valleys throughout Earth’s history. They continue to flow and shape the landscape in many places today. But glaciers affect much more than the landscape. Show ‘n Tell: A white or clear mineral or crystal.

Current News