More Walker Ranch rockhunt information

For our April, 2014, rockhunts, it looks like it will be a wonderful-and tiring
– couple of weeks.   HOWEVER, THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
THE WALKER RANCH HUNT, and we need 20 to make the hunt go.  SO, please let me
know if you are coming so that we can meet our quota!  Some of those who have
signed up still need to send in their deposit.  Make a check for half the fee
out to Bryan Crumpton, and send it to Teri Smith, 509 N. 8th Street, Alpine, TX
79830.  OR, if you wish to hunt on Monday, April 21, for free, send the whole
amount for your fee to me by March 20.  In my next email,  I’ll include the list
of signups.

I’ve put up the schedule on my website, but just to make it
easy, here it is:

Thursday, April 10, through
Sunday, April 13
Singleton Ranch Cost $50 per person for entrance fee and 1- 5 gallon bucket full
of agate.  Additional buckets of agate are $40 each.  Agate types include
bouquet, which is plume in pastel colors; black plume; fortification; moss; and
waterline banded.  Specimens of agate, quartz crystals, calcite, and other
minerals can also be found.
Monday, April 14 To Be Determined There may be
a neat field trip happening this day.  Will let you know ASAP.
Tuesday, April
15 East Needle Peak Cost $40 per person for entrance fee and the rocks you pick
up.  Agate and jasper types include lots of moss agates, pompom, fortification,
banded and plume. You can also find agatized wood, quartz crystals, calcite,
aragonite, selenite, and many types of fossils, including shark’s teeth and
ammonites.
Wednesday, April 16, through  Monday April 21 Walker Ranch Cost
is $75 per person per day during the first three days of your hunt, with the
third day free.  Since this is a 6-day hunt, days 4 -6 are $35 each, unless you
pay the full fee before March 20, 2014, in which case Monday 4/21 will be FREE.
On the first day of your hunt, meet me at the Antelope Lodge lobby at 8:00
a.m.
Tuesday, April 22 Teri’s Day Off!! There are several local rockshops to
visit, or you can rockhunt go to the Stillwell Ranch.  If you’re really bored,
you can help me with my chores!
Wednesday, April 23 East Needle Peak Cost $40
per person for entrance fee and the rocks you pick up.  Agate and jasper types
include lots of moss agates, pompom, fortification, banded and plume. You can
also find agatized wood, quartz crystals, calcite, aragonite, selenite, and many
types of fossils, including shark’s teeth and ammonites.
Thursday, April
24, through Monday, April 27 Singleton Ranch Cost $50 per person for entrance
fee and 1- 5 gallon bucket full of agate.  Additional buckets of agate are $40
each.  Agate types include bouquet, which is plume in pastel colors; black
plume; fortification; moss; and waterline banded.  Specimens of agate, quartz
crystals, calcite, and other minerals can also be found.

Remember that
membership in the Rolllin’ Rock Club is required for all my field trips.  The
cost is $10 for a single membership, and $16 for a dual membership for the year
2014.

In other news, the west side of the Woodward Ranch has been sold.
The east side of the ranch is still for sale, as is the Needle Peak location
belonging to the Woodward family.

But the other great ranch that’s been
open to individuals for rockhunting for many years is still open:  the Stillwell
Ranch.    It’s located south of Marathon.  Take Highway 385 south from Marathon
and turn left at Ranch Road 2627.  The Stillwell RV park and store will be on
the right a few miles down.  They do not charge an “admission fee”, and the rock
is 50 cents per pound.  The problem is that there’s no guide, and no one to help
you highgrade the rocks you find.  If you know what agate looks like here in the
Big Bend, you can do very well there.   If you don’t know what the local agate
looks like, please check out my museum of rocks & gems of the Big Bend. It’s
located in the lobby of the Antelope Lodge at 2310 W. Highway 90, Alpine.  It’s
open whenever the Lodge office is open. — usually 9  a.m. to 9
p.m.

Regards,
Teri

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