FINALLY! Teri Smith’s Spring 2016 Rockhunting Schedule

Hi! Below is my spring 2016 rockhunt schedule. You’ll find that it looks quite different from last year’s spring schedule. This is because I’m trying to concentrate on the big events: there’s a special Walker Ranch hunt in February, Spring Break in March, and the Big Bend Agate Roundup in April.

But just because I don’t have something scheduled doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. I should still have some time available to schedule special rockhunts for your vacation dates, especially if you let me know early.

The special February Walker Ranch rockhunt is three days long, and I’ve surrounded it with hunts to the other ranches. In March, I’ve organized the two weeks that Texas kids have for spring break to alternate between half-day hunts meant for kids and new rockhounds, and full-day hunts at the Singleton, South Larremore, and East Needle Peak sites. And the Big Bend Agate Roundup in April is more than two weeks long, and organized so the Singleton Ranch hunts and the Walker Ranch hunts are right next to each other, as several people had requested.

The sooner you let me know of your intention to go on a hunt or hunts, the better. Even if your plans are tentative, I would like to know. There is no penalty on any of the ranches for having to change your plans, even on the day of the hunt. But if a hunt doesn’t have anyone signed up for it a week before it is to happen, I’ll cancel it, and probably make other plans for that day (I have several other projects going on this spring…)

Regards,

Teri

Tuesday, 2/16: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.
Wednesday 2/17: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Thursday, 2/18: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Friday 2/19: Ritchie Ranch. Start: 11 a.m. Cost: $5 entrance fee and $1 per lb.
Saturday 2/20: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Sunday 2/21: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Monday, 2/22: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Tuesday, 2/23: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Wednesday, 2/24: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.
Thursday, 2/25: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Friday 2/26: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Saturday, 2/27: East Needle Peak. Start: 7 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.

Sunday, 3/6: East Needle Peak. Start: 7 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.
Monday 3/7: Ritchie Ranch. Start: 11 a.m. Cost: $5 per person and $1 per lb.
Tuesday 3/8: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Wednesday, 3/9: Ritchie Ranch. Start: 11 a.m. Cost: $5 per person and $1 per lb.
Thursday, 3/10: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Friday 3/11: Ritchie Ranch. Start: 11 a.m. Cost: $5 per person and $1 per lb.
Saturday 3/12: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.
Sunday, 3/13: East Needle Peak. Start: 7 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.
Monday, 3/14: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Tuesday, 3/15: Ritchie Ranch. Start: 11 a.m. Cost: $5 per person and $1 per lb.
Wednesday, 3/16: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Thursday, 3/17: Ritchie Ranch. Start: 11 a.m. Cost: $5 per person and $1 per lb.
Friday, 3/18: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Saturday 3/19: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.

Saturday, 4/9: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.
Sunday 4/10: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Monday 4/11: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Tuesday 4/12: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Wednesday 4/13: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Thursday 4/14: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Friday, 4/15: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Saturday 4/16: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Sunday 4/17: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Monday, 4/18: Walker Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $75 per person, 3rd day free.
Tuesday, 4/19: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Wednesday, 4/20: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $50 per person, cash only.
Thursday, 4/21: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.
Friday 4/22: East Needle Peak. Start: 7 a.m. Cost: $40 per person.

West Texas Weather Predictions

One of the questions many rockhunters have is about the weather here in West Texas. For example, right now (Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015) there’s a forecast of snow and very cold temperatures for Sunday. Here’s my accumulated weather wisdom from living in Alpine for 20 years: Weather forecasts are of very little use in determining what the weather will be for a rockhunt.

First, most of ranches are out between the towns, so you need to get the forecast for two or three places and average them to find out what to expect on the ranches. For the Singleton Ranch, you would average the temperatures between Marfa and Presidio. For the South Larremore Ranch you would average the temperature between Alpine and Terlingua. For the Walker Ranch you would again be between Alpine and Terlingua, but the probable weather would be closer to Alpine’s than Terlingua’s. East Needle Peak is between Terlingua and Big Bend National Park, and the Ritchie Ranch is right in Alpine.

Often, when cold fronts are predicted, they may not reach as far south or north as predicted, so a ranch may have weather that’s 20 or more degrees warmer than predicted. Predicted rain does not happen about half the time (it’s a desert, and the moisture often makes the air humid, but It’s not enough to make it rain), and often when it does rain it’s just sprinkles. And very occasionally it rains when it is not predicted.

All of that means that I can’t count on the weather reports here anymore than you can wherever you live.

So here’s the way I handle the weather: If someone drives all the way to Alpine to go rockhunting, I’ll take them out unless it’s pouring rain, snowing, much colder than freezing, or icy. If there has been rain, the muddy roads can be a problem for access to the better hunting areas on a ranch. Bring all kinds of layers so that you can be comfortable from 20 degrees to 70 degrees, and we can probably make it happen. You may need to wash the mud off of your car and your clothes when you get back, in addition to washing it off the rocks, but you’ll have had a fun day nevertheless!

But if the morning weather looks too bad to go out in, the rockhunt participants can wait an hour or two and see if we can start late, or change ranches if possible to one that’s not affected by the rain/snow/ice/cold. I have had days that started out looking terrible end up just wonderful on the ranch, and vice versa.

So to answer the question: I have no idea what the weather will hold!

Last Minute Gifts: December Rockhunts

Hi! I’ve just set up some rockhunts for this next weekend, at the South Larremore Ranch (Saturday, 12/12, 8 a.m.) and East Needle Peak (Sunday, 12/13, 7 a.m.). Although it’s still mule deer hunting season, these ranches will not have hunters in the area on the days when we’ll be visiting. I know it’s short notice, but I want to offer as may opportunities as possible for rockhunting in 2015.
I also have rockhunts scheduled for the rest of the year:
Wed., 12/16: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost $40 per person per day.
Thurs., 12/17: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Fri., 12/18: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Sat., 12/19: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Sun., 12/20: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Mon., 12/21: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost $40 per person per day.
Tues., 12/22: Teri’s day off
Wed., 12/23: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost $40 per person per day.
Thurs., 12/24: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Fri., 12/25: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Sat., 12/26: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Sun., 12/27: Singleton Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost: $50 per person per day.
Mon., 12/28: South Larremore Ranch. Start: 8:00 a.m. Cost $40 per person per day.
Tues., 12/29: East Needle Peak. Start: 7:00 a.m. Cost $40 per person per day.

All rockhunts start at the Antelope Lodge 2310 W. Highway 90, Alpine. To reserve a spot, you can email me at agatehunter@sbcglobal.net, or call me at (432) 386-3431.

Please let me know as soon as you decide that you are coming on a particular rockhunt or set of rockhunts. Even if you are tentatively planning on coming, let me know. If I don’t have anyone signed up for a rockhunt a week before the hunt is to occur, I will cancel the hunt. I may then make other plans for that day and not be available if someone wants me to “un-cancel” the hunt at the last minute.

Also, remember that Rollin’ Rock Club membership is required for all of my rockhunts, and it costs $10 single/$16 dual. If you haven’t joined yet this year, your dues will pay for the rest of 2015 and for the 2016 calendar year.
Regards,

Teri