|
Post by puppie96 on Oct 7, 2007 2:21:10 GMT -5
At last night's rock club meeting we found out that the Chain of Rocks gravel bar is still underwater by quite a bit. Club leadership promised to let us know when the level comes down.
|
|
|
Post by puppie96 on Oct 15, 2007 0:56:56 GMT -5
As of today the gravel bar is accessible.
|
|
|
Post by puppie96 on Jan 9, 2008 0:46:32 GMT -5
The water level's as low as it goes. People mentioned it at Rock Club meeting on Friday and some people were going up there on Sunday. We did, but only saw a couple of folks. We picked up the usual assortment of wood, jasper, montana agate looking stuff, and this time, a piece that I am really wondering whether it is bone.
|
|
Brad
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2006
Posts: 161
|
Post by Brad on Jan 10, 2008 19:53:06 GMT -5
My wife and I went Sunday and took a friend's daughter. We saw about five others from our club there, but missed you, Deb (puppie96).
We also found the usual assortment and enjoyed the nice (for January) weather.
Did you find a bone bone or a petrified bone? Will we see it at our club meeting?
|
|
KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
|
Post by KG1960 on Jan 13, 2008 10:05:09 GMT -5
I am probably going to be in the St. Louis area (Collinsville, IL to be exact) for business next month or so. Where exactly is this place? If someone could give me detailed directions, I would be most appreciative. I know, of course, that access depends on river level. Thanks!!
|
|
Brad
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2006
Posts: 161
|
Post by Brad on Jan 16, 2008 11:56:28 GMT -5
KG 1960, From Collinsville, it is easy to get to the COR gravel bar by car. It should take about 30-35 minutes.
From Collinsville, get on northbound I-255. That will take you to I-270 (about six or seven miles, depending on where you get on I-255). Go east on I-270 about five miles to exit 3A, which will put you on Illinois Route 3. Go south on Illinois 3 a short distance to the first traffic light south of I-270 and turn right (west) onto West Chain of Rocks Road. Go west on W. COR Rd. over a bridge (over the barge channel) and onto Chouteau Island. Continue on W. COR Rd. a mile or two, past a landfill. Watch for an unnamed road going to the left. When you see one, look further ahead, down the road that you are on, and see if you can spot a ramp onto an old bridge. If you can see the old bridge, turn left onto that unnamed road. If not, keep going. Eventually, you will either turn onto that unnamed road or you will be stopped by signs telling you that you cannot drive over the old bridge. If you get to those signs, just turn around and go back a short distance to the unnamed road (now on your right). Follow the unnamed road to a parking lot. The gravel bar is south of the parking lot, so walk down there, go down the hill, and you'll be on the gravel bar! Most of the good stuff (larger pieces) is towards the north end of the gravel bar, but not necessarily in the first hundred yards.
Two tips: There is a Hardees restaurant at IL-3 & W. COR Rd. That is your last opportunity to use a public restroom. The bridge onto Chouteau Island carries one lane for cars and one for bicycles and pedestrians. Barriers prevent cars from using the other lane. A pair of traffic lights (one at each end of the bridge) controls which direction of cars traffic gets to use the bridge at any given time. As you approach the light, stay in your lane and stop (if the light is red) as close to the line as you can. If you stop in the wrong spot, the sensors will not detect your car and you could be in for a long wait. If you get impatient and go against the light, you might find another car coming at you over the crest of the bridge.
Have fun!
If you need to know a web site to find the current river level, let me know. Lower is better for rockhounding. If it is above about 9.5 feet at St. Louis, either the gravel bar will be flooded or access will be cut off by the river.
|
|
KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
|
Post by KG1960 on Jan 19, 2008 13:42:35 GMT -5
Thank you, Brad, I very much appreciate your directions. They look easy enough. I followed them in the enlarged view of the St. Louis area on the back of IL state highway map. They even have the Chain of Rocks Road labeled!
The business trip has now become quite iffy, oh well. However, since my wife also likes to hunt for rocks, this might be a good excuse for a weekend get-a-way, but not until the weather is warmer! We live near Peoria, IL, so not that far.
Thanks again, Wayne
|
|
Brad
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2006
Posts: 161
|
Post by Brad on Jan 19, 2008 17:02:05 GMT -5
You're welcome!
Timing for your visit could be tricky. If you wait too late, the gravel bar could be under spring floods for weeks at a time. By the time it is exposed, we might be into the heat of the summer. So, if you see a forecast for a warm, dry weekend, check the river level and your schedule. If everything looks good, I suggest you take the opportunity while you can.
(On the other hand, the river level might stay down and we might have lots of nice weekends. You live in Peoria; you know how variable the weather is in this area!)
|
|
|
Post by puppie96 on Jan 26, 2008 1:12:56 GMT -5
Yes, I am going to take the bone and some other cool looking fossil looking type things to the next club meeting.
|
|
|
Post by roswelljero on Mar 17, 2008 23:50:28 GMT -5
Wow! There's a gravel bar under the Chain of Rocks Bridge?!?!! I've lived in Caseyville, IL all my life and thought the only thing in the area to collect was limestone. Where are your club meetings held?
|
|
|
Post by puppie96 on Mar 30, 2008 4:37:08 GMT -5
Not exactly under the bridge, but right by it on the IL side. (See directions.) Club meetings are at 7:30 PM first Friday of the month in the Geology Bldg. at Wash U. Meaning this Friday coming up -- hope you see this in time.
|
|
|
Post by roswelljero on Mar 30, 2008 20:29:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the info.
|
|