WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Jan 31, 2011 20:33:53 GMT -5
Looks like we won't be going either. It's a 10 hour drive each way for us. Last year we had the worst weather yet and every year I find less quality rock. This year we would be bringing 5 dogs. That alone is a deterrent. I would put up with all of it to see Gil, Dan, Don and Dorothy, Robert and Ed again...and meet new rockhounds I love Trey. I love the Ranch. The extra $10 a night it would cost us to stay there is not an issue. I do feel like campers are treated more as an inconvenience. FYI - tent camping at Stillwell Ranch was $10 a night last time I checked and it's only about an hour from Woodward. Don't know what the RV sites are like but there are rocks at Stillwell, too. Just a thought.  |
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Post by rockmanken on Jan 31, 2011 21:01:56 GMT -5
Susan, where is this Stillwell Ranch? Mapquest can't find it.
I require a hot shower and electric. I can carry water. (Although I do have a shower tent)
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Jan 31, 2011 21:26:43 GMT -5
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Jan 31, 2011 21:38:32 GMT -5
Looks like we won't be going either. It's a 10 hour drive each way for us. Last year we had the worst weather yet and every year I find less and less quality rock. This year we would be bringing 5 dogs. That alone is a deterrent. I would put up with all of it to see Gil, Dan, Don and Dorothy, Robert and Ed again. I love Trey. I love the Ranch. The extra $10 a night it would cost us to stay there is not an issue. What annoys me is the way Jan treats us. To be BLUNT she acts like we are a bunch of thieves, like she doesn't trust us. FYI - tent camping at Stillwell Ranch was $10 a night last time I checked and it's only about an hour from Woodward. Don't know what the RV sites are like but there are rocks at Stillwell, too. Just a thought. I geuss you aren't the only one to notice that !!!!! Maybe not so much as trust , but not appreciative of paying customers. |
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Jan 31, 2011 21:58:12 GMT -5
I'm going for the people, where ever they end up so will I. Lots of places to hunt I just don''t know them but think Gil does.
To be honest I can't imagine wwr without a fire, there would be no place to talk to Ed at until 3am.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,503
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 31, 2011 22:10:31 GMT -5
Wow You know, Woodward has never been a bountiful hunting area and it's been hard work coming up with much good stuff all three times I've been there, and we used to be allowed to dig too. Also, it seems the ranch is being run in a pretty Draconian manner these days with fairly high camping fees and lots of rules. But, it's this lack of trust I'm really not liking. When I go on rockabout, I hunt all over and usually have pails and sacks of rock from all the spots I've hit along the way. When Frank ran the ranch, heck I just threw my Woodward finds in a bucket at my tent camp and hauled them all over for weigh in before I left. Sounds like these new folks might not trust the other stuff I might be carrying didn't come from Woodward and that to me would be a real problem. Shoot, I can go over to the barn to hunt over by Bandera or to my favorite rockyard and get prime cutting stuff for $1 per pound one place and free the other. When I figure in the cost of gas, food, and camping or motels, Woodward does not sound like a very good deal anymore.....Mel
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Post by roswelljero on Jan 31, 2011 22:41:54 GMT -5
I'm suggesting, and it's just a suggestion, that we consider other places to stay in the area and day-trip to WWR or other places. The planned dates are 6 weeks away... There's really no rush to decide immediately where to stay... Will some of you that are familiar with the area let us know of other places to hunt within a reasonable distance? Marfa perhaps? Are there other ranches that allow hunting? Has anyone stayed at other places in the area? We need sites for RVs and tents. (There doesn't seem to be much info on the internet.) It really doesn't matter to me where I stay, as long as it's with you 'guys'.  Later, jeri |
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 1, 2011 7:28:19 GMT -5
Well, Stillwell has an RV park and has great reviews by folks like us. Tent camping is allowed and it has showers. Campers talk about a homey feeling there and music provided on Saturday nights. Tent sites are $5/ nite (edit: per person) and full hook-ups are under $20 with a "stay 6 nights get the 7th free" deal. There's also a store right there and WIFI.
That's the one I had picked as my alternate since it's just 30 mins (edit: an hour) to the ranch and we could also see Big Bend too.
I'll be watching what you guys decide. Jo
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 1, 2011 10:34:40 GMT -5
Stillwell it is for us. Drive 26 hours, what is another 30 minutes? AND SHOWERS. That would be $5 a day per person to rock hunt and $5 to camp = $15 per day plus a little gas. If I figured right, that is less than $30 per day and sub-par facilities.
A no brainer.
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 1, 2011 10:48:09 GMT -5
And Spike, we can have a fire......AND SHOWERS. And it's about 45 miles south of Marathon. And they say they have rocks.
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Post by roswelljero on Feb 1, 2011 11:44:43 GMT -5
Ken, I think it's $5 per person to camp. So that would be $20. Still sounds better than $30! AND I doubt we'd go to WWR every day. The site for Stillwell says it's 75 miles to Alpine... Sounds like a little more than an hour to me. So 150 miles round trip... Gas is currently between $3.10 (Alpine) and $3.50 (Big Bend) in the area... For me, gas would add $20 to $30. I have no problem with that. As far as I can tell there isn't electric at the tent sites... Wonder if they'll let me pitch my tent on an RV site? I'd happily pay the RV rate to have electric! I did some searching last night and there are lots of places to hunt rocks between Alpine and Stillwell. Most are on private land, but I saw mention of a guide that can get access to them. No idea of what that would cost though. Later, jeri |
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 1, 2011 12:38:30 GMT -5
Jeri, maybe we could all pitch in for a group rate guide.
I would also like electric for the coffee pot and electric skillet. But it is not a definate requirement. Of course, we also have gas stove and pots and pans.
I also will pay the RV rate to get electric.
Ken
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Silver Lass
spending too much on rocks
diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
Member since March 2007
Posts: 395
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Post by Silver Lass on Feb 1, 2011 13:35:03 GMT -5
Ken, Tenting for two is $10.00 a night. Rv is $117.00 for 6 nights and seventh night free.
We would have electic and also a coofee pot. I don't think there would be a problem with tenters coming over and having coffee with us. We did this at the ranch and we all got fed and coffeed out. We all share.
Hope we can get this together. Stillwell gets busy on spring break.
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 1, 2011 15:26:55 GMT -5
Electric & water RV sites are $17/day. If they'd let you use an RV site, that would be good. But, we'd share our electric also and will run our coffee pot too.
Thanks for double-checking the distance and tent site rates Jeri. Jo
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Post by roswelljero on Feb 1, 2011 18:43:04 GMT -5
"maybe we could all pitch in for a group rate guide" Ken, I was thinking the same thing... I don't want to bother her unless more peeps are interested. How many would be interested in a guided trip to some of the private ranches?Dorothy... I'll bring my own coffee cup this time. Unless you've acquired some more? Jo... No problem, I like to be informed. Drove Dorothy crazy before the trip last year. ... It sounds like the primitive camping is in a separate area from the RVs... Last night I emailed Stillwell... Me: "Do you have tent camping with electricity?" Nan: "yes, we do...but, it will be here close to the store...not in the primitive area..." I just now replied... "Great! How many tent sites with electric do you have? What are the daily and weekly rates for them? Do you take reservations for those?" Since it's Spring Break, I figure we should make reservations... Will let you know what she says. BTW... If I'm not around it's because we lost power in the storm... Going out now to see if I can get some of the ice off of the porches and walkways... Later, jeri |
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 1, 2011 19:11:33 GMT -5
Jeri, it's going to be bad if you get what we got. And, it's not over yet.
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 1, 2011 19:15:33 GMT -5
I definately want electric and will pay the RV fee. According to Dorothy it is 19.50 night with 7th night free. Paid more than $20 night for a tent in Ga. State Parks and in SC and in NC and ARk.
Definately will chip in for a guide.
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Post by rockmanken on Feb 1, 2011 19:34:56 GMT -5
Susan, bring the dogs and come on. You would get to meet ME. And maybe we can talk Dan, Dorothy and Don into coming. You would get to meet Donna, too. And don't forget Spike and Mel.
Don't you wanna....just a little bit...? Aw...come on.
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 1, 2011 19:58:56 GMT -5
ROTFL! Come on Guys! Let's do it and have a blast!
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Digforcrystals
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 351
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Post by Digforcrystals on Feb 1, 2011 20:21:08 GMT -5
Teri Smith guides you in spots in alpine for free, aside from the minimal entry fee. At ritchie ranch it is $5 per person and $0.75 per pound. Nice plentifull stuff , and agate bigger than you can break with a sledge hammer. She also takes you to other places as well. I went with her to here spot opposite trey woodwards needle peak. i didnt really care for this spot , but that is just me and I only spent a couple of hours there before leaving. You can find teri's contact info by googling he antelope lodge in alpine, tex. She is also taking people into the walker ranch. This is only certain times and in groups. It is super expensive at $150 per person. Teri makes no money off of this ,as it all goes to the walker family. They need $20,000.00 or so to refence the property so they are getting the rockhounds to pay thru the nose. A buddy of mine went last week and says they are getting a couple hundred pounds of material per person in a day since they ranch hasnt been hunted in 4 years. I do know that I personally offered the walkers ( by going thru Teri ) $500 for me and 2 buddies to hunt their ranch for one day. They said..................no. So , givien the greedy ways of some of the people in alpine, i am spending my money elsewhere this week. Freezing my butt off in Tilden, texas right now. See www.twitter.com/sio2ga for pix |
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