blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Mar 1, 2012 17:43:42 GMT -5
Man... I am so envious of you guys. I couldn't go last year either. I hope y'all have a great time and find a ton of very cool rocks! Somebody give Jan a hug for me and tell her I will try to make it next year.
Dan
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darstcreek77
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2011
Posts: 673
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Post by darstcreek77 on Mar 3, 2012 16:15:45 GMT -5
Talk about luck i decided not to go because of work, last night at about 0400 i didnt feel to well by 0430 I was on the pot it was coming out both ends I had decided ( when I was going)to leave for ( still ranch)at 0230 to get a early start . man that would have been BAD really bad there was no stopping it till now 1500 , food poisoning sucks !
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 8, 2012 21:47:42 GMT -5
I'm in Carlsbad tonight after visiting the Caverns. Had a great trip. Found a lot of biscuits at Woodward (can't wait to cut them!), a lot of nice material at Stillwell (I need to learn to high grade---picked up 100 lbs; Mark found some beautiful agatized wood), but the best haul was a _lot_ of plume (and we hope bouquet) agate from a ranch south of Marfa. If you get the opportunity, check with Teri Smith at the Antelope Lodge to see if she is leading any more trips to that ranch. I have never seen so much agate. Fist sized pieces were littered all over the ground (10 ft or less apart). She advised us to high grade, but I don't have any experience with plume yet, so I'm sure I'm bringing home a lot of duds. Jeri and Mark picked up quite a bit there, too. It was $40 + $10 for the local rock club, but there was no weigh-out. Had a great time meeting Jeri and Mark. Thanks for the wonderful trades! You set the bar pretty high for camp food; I'll have to raise my game. Chuck
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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 Mar 11, 2012 2:07:48 GMT -5
It was a good trip, I enjoyed meeting Chuck and Emily. Not many pics yet, had to go to work before I could mess with anything. But a few Marfa related ones:: Cleaning rock, uh the pile to my left ended up over flowing. This was mid way trough them. Black, white and mixed plume: Gold plume, really hoping it goes all the way through like it looks like it does: Ended up wearing a Pistol the last day at WWR, Jayson (Jan) advised it after multiple helicopter passes that morning. But no one was seen. We did a little recon in a area I always wanted to hunt but never had the time, found flower garden agate and others but mostly scouted for a future trip, think this area is rich in agate I got the coordinates and looked it up in google earth, yeah lots of potential there. Lots of basalt out croppings (the right basalt) and a wash under them all. A area that would keep me busy for a couple of days. Btw Dan if you are reading this? I found your red fortification area , I figured since you hadn't been in a couple of years it was free game. But found only small stuff, least know where it is and might go back with a rake next time. Really glad C and E got some good biscuits. More when I can Spike
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Post by stoner on Mar 11, 2012 2:39:53 GMT -5
Looks like a nice haul Mark. Cut them suckers open and see what's inside.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 11, 2012 21:43:16 GMT -5
Stoner, you should see the pet wood Mark found, too. Absolutely beautiful.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 13, 2012 12:48:26 GMT -5
I keep thinking back on the trip and want to thank Jeri and Mark again for organizing it!
Chuck
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Post by roswelljero on Mar 13, 2012 13:58:37 GMT -5
Chuck, it was great meeting you and Emily! How's her foot? As for the food, grilling was Mark's idea (I added the vege), and eating out was my idea. Yeah, I think Stillwell is underrated as a good place to rockhound... Again this year, some nice colorful agate was found at the top of the hills. Mark found the killer pet wood near the bottom of one. You can now access the East Side of WWR without 4WD! (You'd still need it to cross the creek though.) The first part of the road has been graded, so no more huge dips and bumps and slants to get down the hill. The Marfa trip was awesome! Agate everywhere, almost overwhelming! ;D BTW, see that cooler next to Mark in the first pic? He filled it up with agate from Marfa! I'm thinking next year I'd like to camp somewhere in Alpine since it's kinda in the middle of everything. I went through almost a tank of gas per day with all the driving we did. Gas is cheaper there too. Don't know when I'll get my pics online, the few I took. Looking forward to seeing others though. Later, jeri
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Post by stoner on Mar 13, 2012 14:15:28 GMT -5
Glad you guys had a good trip. It seems there's something magical about getting together with fellow RTH'ers at WWR.
Did you guys stop after dark and look at the Marfa Lights? It's kinda spooky, and cool at the same time.
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Post by Rockhobbit on Mar 13, 2012 14:33:38 GMT -5
I will be at WWR next year..............I am moving back to Texas in a few weeks!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 13, 2012 16:12:29 GMT -5
Wow, back to Texas?
Yes, Emily's foot is better - thanks for asking!
I think camping in Alpine makes a lot of sense. I've stayed at the Maverick Inn, which is nice, too. Yeah, I filled up every time we went through Alpine, too.
Chuck
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Mar 13, 2012 16:31:49 GMT -5
Good deal! Mark, glad you found the red fortification stuff...
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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 Mar 14, 2012 17:11:44 GMT -5
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Post by sheltie on Mar 14, 2012 18:55:41 GMT -5
I just spent two days at WR last weekend. I realize that most, if not all, of you on this forum are experienced rockhounds. I'm not, just beginning. Without a guide - Teri Smith of Alpine is supposed to be the best - I was just peeing in the wind. Found plenty of small agates but almost nothing of what I went there for - red plume. I was very disappointed although I enjoyed myself anyway as we had the entire ranch to ourselves. My understanding is that Walker ranch has not been picked over nearly to the extent of WR but it is only open periodically. We had reasonalbe success when we looked for rocks along a fence that joined the two ranches. I m n experienced RVer and for $35 I expect a lot more than unlevel sites and dirt, dirt, dirt. However, since we didn't have to fight with neighbors for space I overlooked that aspect.
Anyway, I envy those of you who know what you are doing and look forward to the day that I don't feel like a complete ass in this hobby.
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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 Mar 14, 2012 19:32:59 GMT -5
Sheltie, hate you weren't happy there, the time of the month might have been a diff. the last day there I experienced the worst wind and cold I had ever done at the ranch. To find the good stuff it takes some walking and climbing ( I found that the gully walk/climb took more out of me than years before) If you want to talk more or ask stuff feel free to pm me.
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Post by roswelljero on Mar 14, 2012 20:34:49 GMT -5
Sheltie join us for next year's trip. We'll make a pro out of you. I felt like an idiot my first couple of days at WWR (2010). Thanks to Blarneystone's patience, I was high-grading my finds by the end of the week. BTW, red plume is hard to find no matter how experienced you are. I think it's more luck than anything. The pet wood (from Stillwell) pics Spike posted really don't do it justice! When he started pulling such big chunks out of the ground, I got the truck and backed it up to him. I thought he was gonna dig up a whole tree! LOL Later, jeri
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Post by Condor on Mar 15, 2012 13:39:38 GMT -5
Looks like you all had a lot of fun. Couldn't make it this year, but I definately plan on making it next year even if I have to take a couple of days off from work. Heck, I can go for a day if I want. It's only a three hour drive for me. Anyways, count me in for next year's Blitz. Staying in Alpine sounds like a good idea. It's centralized to either Stillwell, WWR, or Marfa. What better than that sez I.
Condor
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Post by roswelljero on Mar 15, 2012 14:09:09 GMT -5
Gonna hold you to that Condor! See you next year!
Later, jeri
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 15, 2012 14:46:39 GMT -5
I agree with Jeri. The wood is much prettier than the pics show. Really intense reds and almost purple in places. I'm sure the tree will still be there next year, Mark. You marked the spot, right? It's between the sticker bush and the cactus. LOL
Sheltie: I know what you mean about WWR. If it hadn't been for Mark and Jeri, I never would have found the biscuits.
Chuck
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Post by roswelljero on Mar 15, 2012 21:14:45 GMT -5
Chuck, I wanna see pics when you cut the biscuits! Later, jeri
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