Post by beefjello on Apr 14, 2013 14:13:15 GMT -5
Wednesday morning was the planned guided trip to the east side of Needle Peak. Gil, Ed and Jamie had gotten in late Tuesday night and I guess they didn't get settled in and to sleep until after midnight. It was a very cold and windy night. 6:30 am came along mighty quick and not everyone was so bright eyed and bushy tailed lol. Well after some confusion on who was going where, Gil, Ed and Jamie headed out to Woodward to set up camp, Christa stayed behind to spend the day with Dan's dog Lucky, and the rest of us headed for Needle Peak. After the long drive we arrived, received maps and tips from the guide and started exploring.
Ocotillos in bloom
Deb and Jeri hounding down the hill from me
I hiked up quite a ways and saw Needle Peak in the distance
I followed a gully down the back side of that hill and found some pretty nice stuff. After making my way back to the starting point we went a bit further down the road
The guide showed back up and took us to another spot a bit further up the road. Again we went our separate ways and I was determined to get closer to the peak. There's areas of ancient clay similar to the Chinle formations here in AZ. I got into these hills and started finding lots of fossilized oysters and sandstone scallops
ran into septarian nodules as well
Looking back at a hill that reminded me of a baboon's profile
Ended up running into Dan as he was also heading for the peak. We got pretty much right up to the base
I went ahead a bit further and next thing I knew some big critter went scurrying up the hill in front of me. Didn't see what it was but it sure sent a lot of rocks sliding down. I turned back to where Dan was and we noticed fresh cougar tracks in the dirt. Started feeling a little uneasy back there!
We hiked back to the vehicles and it was time to leave. This was a very intensive hiking trip but I found some pretty neat stuff and I'm glad I went!
Here's my finds
Most of the green moss I picked up at the base of the peak
The nice big agate under the botryoidal piece I put in the slab saw yesterday evening. Note the pom pom under it.. the only for sure piece I found
Here's the end cut from it
Some interesting hematite and moss mix.. should make some cool slabs
pet wood
the only septarian I picked up
Picked up many fossil oysters
And the find of the trip for me, in the oyster beds I found bone
How cool is that!
Once again, thanks for coming along ;D
Ocotillos in bloom
Deb and Jeri hounding down the hill from me
I hiked up quite a ways and saw Needle Peak in the distance
I followed a gully down the back side of that hill and found some pretty nice stuff. After making my way back to the starting point we went a bit further down the road
The guide showed back up and took us to another spot a bit further up the road. Again we went our separate ways and I was determined to get closer to the peak. There's areas of ancient clay similar to the Chinle formations here in AZ. I got into these hills and started finding lots of fossilized oysters and sandstone scallops
ran into septarian nodules as well
Looking back at a hill that reminded me of a baboon's profile
Ended up running into Dan as he was also heading for the peak. We got pretty much right up to the base
I went ahead a bit further and next thing I knew some big critter went scurrying up the hill in front of me. Didn't see what it was but it sure sent a lot of rocks sliding down. I turned back to where Dan was and we noticed fresh cougar tracks in the dirt. Started feeling a little uneasy back there!
We hiked back to the vehicles and it was time to leave. This was a very intensive hiking trip but I found some pretty neat stuff and I'm glad I went!
Here's my finds
Most of the green moss I picked up at the base of the peak
The nice big agate under the botryoidal piece I put in the slab saw yesterday evening. Note the pom pom under it.. the only for sure piece I found
Here's the end cut from it
Some interesting hematite and moss mix.. should make some cool slabs
pet wood
the only septarian I picked up
Picked up many fossil oysters
And the find of the trip for me, in the oyster beds I found bone
How cool is that!
Once again, thanks for coming along ;D
