The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 11, 2012 22:50:01 GMT -5
Has this forum ever tried to plan a get together of the majority of the members to go rockhounding anywhere??
Just curious, as I know there are a lot of places where you can go for rocks and that will cater to large groups, both commercial and private claims.
Is there any interest in something like that??
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Post by deb193redux on Nov 11, 2012 22:56:48 GMT -5
there have been a number of meetups. the biggest in Az and Tx. Burro creek a few years back was good fun. There have been multiple trips to Woodard Ranch. But less than 20 people. Hard to get anything much larger. Travel is expensive and schedules seldom line up.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 11, 2012 23:04:53 GMT -5
there have been a number of meetups. the biggest in Az and Tx. Burro creek a few years back was good fun. There have been multiple trips to Woodard Ranch. But less than 20 people. Hard to get anything much larger. Travel is expensive and schedules seldom line up. I hear you there, but if it is planned far enough ahead, barring unforeseen events.... it could work on a larger scale too... but even 20 people from RTH in one place!! Woo-Hoo!! I would have loved to be there for that!! We need to do it again... something centralized so as not to be too far for anyone!!
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Nov 11, 2012 23:13:21 GMT -5
Get-togethers are great. something this summer would be great for me.
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Post by deb193redux on Nov 11, 2012 23:16:25 GMT -5
A good number meet up at quartzsite each Jan. Mostly for buy/sell. Maybe someone could organize a field trip.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 11, 2012 23:18:21 GMT -5
Anytime would be great for me with enough notice.. although now I try to follow the school calendar so I can bring my daughter along too!!
quartzite in Jan, is not so easy for me as I am usually recouping from Christmas spending and it's harder to travel at that time... but I can always see what the boss has planned ... <she's standing over my shoulder as I type this.. hehe>
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Post by Rockhobbit on Nov 11, 2012 23:25:24 GMT -5
The first Woodward Ranch was the beginning of get-togethers. The Burro Creek right after that was the second biggest. I will plan one again if I get enough interest. Arizona is the best area, tons of rock hunting, great weather and close for a lot of members. Problem with Texas is the cost of rock. All the land is privatly owned. Arizona has mostly BLM land and the availability to collect for free. I am not sure of the other states. I am open for ideas! Sheri
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Post by catmandewe on Nov 12, 2012 0:02:53 GMT -5
The first Burro Creek trip was 29 members, it was my first group rock hunting trip and it got me hooked big time!
We usually do a field trip or two in Quartzsite each year, just depends on when we have enough members who want to go. I may be stuck at the booth this year though, so I am not yet sure if I can go or not.
Tony
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Post by catmandewe on Nov 12, 2012 0:06:47 GMT -5
Hey that got me thinking. A couple years ago we were trying to put together a Bruneau mine field trip but had to cancel it because of problems with the mine owner we were working with.
Well Bruneau is not under claim anymore so we don't need permission, anyone interested in a club trip down there this coming spring? I could put one together if there is any interest.
Tony
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 12, 2012 0:11:12 GMT -5
The first Woodward Ranch was the beginning of get-togethers. The Burro Creek right after that was the second biggest. I will plan one again if I get enough interest. Arizona is the best area, tons of rock hunting, great weather and close for a lot of members. Problem with Texas is the cost of rock. All the land is privatly owned. Arizona has mostly BLM land and the availability to collect for free. I am not sure of the other states. I am open for ideas! Sheri Savannah is open along the roadsides for collecting agates from ouncers to boulders in the 10 - 40 pound range, Georgia has Quartz in huge pieces, Amethyst & Rubies, N.C. has a little of almost everything it seems, Ark. has Diamonds, Quartz, Wavellite, Pink dolomite and 10 new species of mineral unique to Ark. I've looked into some of the Eastern U.S. States. Anyone else wanna chime in... feel free!! Where is Bruneau?
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Post by parfive on Nov 12, 2012 0:35:10 GMT -5
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Post by catmandewe on Nov 12, 2012 2:05:26 GMT -5
Mario, it is in Idaho out in the middle of no where.
Rich, you could camp down along the river and hike up to the mines and surface collect. It is a rough road but if it is going to be done we better get it done before it gets completely shut down. The mines are in wilderness area but that is still open to surface collecting.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Nov 12, 2012 9:32:13 GMT -5
This is doable. As an example, I live in central Texas but drove to Burns, OR to meet several members of another forum (including Tony) for a weekend in the Stinking Waters Mountain range. We had a great time, made long lasting friends (none of us had ever met before), had good luck hounding and ate great BBQ. Other than me and my wife, everyone else was from OR, ID, and CA.
The problem is always one of distance and convenience. I'm retired and have the time and means to travel when and where I want. It's not so easy for those who are still working or have family obligations.
For those in the western part of the US, AZ and OR seem to be great places for hounding. I particularly enjoy it in eastern UT and SW CO. Here in TX, down near the Big Bend and westward, as well as east Texas are pretty good.
I guess what I'm saying is that while we all may want to get together, it might be wiser to have various regional trips that would be more convenient to those who live within say 250 miles yet still invite those who might want to travel further. . In any event, each area needs someone like Tony who is willing and able to grab the reins and lead. I wonder if it would merit a look see to determine if maybe for purposes such as this, the forum could be divided in several regions throughout the country? For example, a region each in the NE, SE, South, SW, West, Mid West, NW etc. They could each have their own loosely led organization for such purposes as trips and get togethers, Just idle thoughts for a Monday morning.
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Tex
starting to shine!
Member since December 2011
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Post by Tex on Nov 12, 2012 12:00:09 GMT -5
I will keep up with this post as I am interested. I can get away most anytime. Regional trips might be a good idea that way some of us could meet more people from the forum by attending more than one meet and greet. If there is only one field trip planned that is OK also This a great idea no matter how it turns out. Like was posted earlier it comes down to someone who knows about the field trip area and is willing to do some foot work to plan it out. Great idea hope it works out
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Post by rockmanken on Nov 12, 2012 13:30:28 GMT -5
Except for the Savannah river agate (chert), everything east of the Mississippi is 'pay to dig'. Most of the mid-west is also 'pay to dig'. Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma. Donna and I go to NC the first week of Aug. to the roundup. Go to a different mine each day. We have been to WWR and to STILLWELL in Tx. Was not worth the expense to go. Also, pay to dig. Ken
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Post by drocknut on Nov 12, 2012 16:36:45 GMT -5
I went to the Burro Creek Bash and it was a blast even though it got a bit chilly and rained. That got me hooked too Tony. I'd say "heck yeah!!" to a Bruneau trip, if I can get the time off and such. We'll have to find someone to mind the shop for you in Quartzsite Tony we need you to spot the good rocks. I think it would be a great idea to get regional get togethers going. I'm not an "organizer" but would help out if I could.
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Nov 12, 2012 17:47:54 GMT -5
This sounds like a blast. We have a lot of new Pacific Northwest members joining RTH. New myself I'm hoping to plan an outing to Eastern Washington next spring/summer.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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Post by Rockhobbit on Nov 12, 2012 18:38:02 GMT -5
Tony plans a mean rock hunt! Good rocks, good company, good food and lots of laughs! I will plan a hunt anytime in Arizona around the Wickenburg area. We have several fantastic FREE hunting areas close by and all different kinds of agate, jasper and copper minerals! I will get with Jamie about maybe camping at her house. Sheri
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 12, 2012 19:15:43 GMT -5
Except for the Savannah river agate (chert), everything east of the Mississippi is 'pay to dig'. Most of the mid-west is also 'pay to dig'. Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma. Ken Pay to dig is not necessarily a bad thing... Half the reason to do this is the chance to meet members of the forum, some f you have done so already but as we are picking up new members, it would be great to get all us noobs out to meet you geriatric old hounds to swap stories and give advice, show off skills...blah, blah, blah. Besides, if the price is reasonable, groups rates are common as they guarantee more people on a given day and if the place gives us a decent rate why not go for it.. its the best way to keep the outings diverse as to what we can collect.. I know that if I find the right stone I would be willing to trade it to another member for something they go that they have surplus of already and I may have very little of or something that I really like to work with. And if we make a camp out of it, I can swing a mean spatula on the grill if needed!! Heck, gimme a rusty dull knife, an old shoelace and a stick and we'll have meat on the table every night....ROAR!!! <thumps chest...coughs>
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Nov 13, 2012 5:20:42 GMT -5
The Rock hound round-up in North Carolina is the one you need to hit though not an RTH event it has over 100 rock hounds and is a week long camp out( 10 or more were RTHers). Its a blast and anyone is welcome have a big rock show in grassy creek with at least 4 to 6 trips to area mines its a great week for a rock hound. Its held in Ashville at a boy scout camp right on the French Broad river. George
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