t’s certainly not too late to decide to come to Alpine for the wonderful rockhunts scheduled during April.  The schedule is available on my website, www.terismithrockhunts.com, or I can send it to you by email if you request it.  Then just email me at agatehunter@sbcglobal.net to tell me you want to come.

Here is the list I currently have of rockhounds attending the 6-day Walker Ranch rockhunt:

Blansett, Mike:  1 person, 2 days, not paid.

Cantou, Pierre:  1 person, 3 days, paid in full.

David, Ken:  1 person, 1 day, not paid.

Foegelle, Thomas & Bobbie:  2 people, 3 days, not paid.

French, Johnny:  1 person, 6 days, paid in full.

Harmsen, Danny:  1 person, 3 days, paid in full.

Huizinga, Brad: 2 people for 2 days, not paid.

Lepine, Geof:  3 people, 4 days, not paid.

Molina, Gilbert:  1 person, 3 days, $75 deposit paid.

Rivet, Ken & Sandy:  2 people, 2 days, not paid.

Roberts, Terry:  1 person, ? days, not paid.

Rupp, Ted:  2 people, 3 days, paid in full.

Smith, Troy & Lenora:  2 people, 3 days, paid in full.

Tindell, Ed:  1 person, 6 days, paid in full.

Tirey-Butler, Lisa:  1 person, 4 days, paid in full.

Waugh, Steve:  1 person, 3 days, paid in full.

Welch, Bob:  1 person, 3 days, not paid.

Wilkerson, Kenneth:  1 person, 6 days, not paid.

For those who have not sent in their deposit, remember that if you send the whole amount, rather than just the half required for a deposit, by next Thursday, March 20, you will get to hunt on Monday, April 21 for free!!

Send the deposit/whole amount in a check made out to Bryan Crumpton, to Teri Smith at 509 N. 8^th Street, Alpine, TX  79830.

And for those coming to town early, the rockhunt for Monday, April 14 has been set:  Johnny French will take a bunch of us to hunt for Balmorhea Blue agate on the edges of the county roads near Toyah in Reeves County.  As we will be hunting on the roads, the hunt is free.  We’ll meet at the Antelope Lodge in Alpine at 8 a.m.

I look forward to seeing y’all here for a great set of rockhunts!

Regards,

Teri

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

Announcing a series of Winter and Spring 2014 field trips to the SINGLETON RANCH in Presidio County.  This is the “ranch south of Marfa” that I have been leading field trips on occasionally during the past few years.  Now, for the first time, I’m able to use the name of the ranch, and to schedule field trips for the entire spring season.

 The field trips will be four-day weekends on the second and fourth weekend of each month from now through May, with the exception of this month, when the field trips will be on the 3^rd and 4^th weekends.   The last field trip in May will be over Memorial Day weekend, and will be 5 days rather than 4.

Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, January 16, through Sunday, January 19

Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26

Thursday, February 6 through Sunday, February 9

Thursday, February 20 through Sunday, February 23

Thursday, March 6 through Sunday, March 9

Thursday, March 20 through Sunday, March 23

Thursday, April 10 through Sunday, April 13

Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, April 27

Thursday, May 8 through Sunday, May 11

Thursday, May 22 through Monday, May 26

The cost will be $50 per person per day.  That covers the first 5-gallon bucket of material.  Each additional bucket of agate is $40.  Payment must be in CASH ONLY. If you haven’t been out there before, I’ll show you what to look for at the beginning of the day, and if you’re not sure what you should keep at the end of the day, I’ll help you sort out your finds as much as time allows.  Unlike the Walker Ranch, there’s no minimum number of people required for these trips to occur, and I don’t need a deposit in advance.

Rollin’ Rock Club membership is required for these trips!  For those of you who are already members, you can renew your membership for 2014 at the field trip.  If you haven’t joined yet, you can join the RRC at the start of the field trip. The cost is $10 per year for a single membership, and $16 per year for a dual membership.

 The Singleton Ranch is located south of Marfa on Highway 169.  A high-clearance vehicle and confidence in your driving skills are absolutely necessary to get to the collecting sites, and a 4wd vehicle will make your trip much easier.  If you don’t have that type of vehicle, there are places where you can park just off of the main ranch road, and we’ll find someone you can carpool in with.  I can usually fit 1 or 2 people in with me, if I know in advance that I need to get my jeep cleaned up so you’ll have a place to sit. 

 If you haven’t hunted at the Singleton Ranch before, it’s an amazing experience.  There is so much agate out there that in some places you can’t walk without stepping on agate.  Not all of it is agate you’ll want to cut or collect for specimens, but there’s enough incredible bouquet, plume, water-level, moss, and fortification agate out there that you will no doubt find something spectacular.  The bouquet agate is a plume agate where the colors of the plume are pastels, including yellows, oranges, pinks, peaches, reds, and occasional lavenders.   What I’m calling plume is the same stuff, but in the more conventional plume colors of black, grey and white.   Both Matt Dillon and Steve Ivie have great photos of Singleton Ranch agate.  Matt’s is on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/97769244@N00/sets/72157594503307829/, and Steve’s is at http://www.rockhoundingusa.com/rough/marfa/index.html.  Of course the photos are of the best agates, and they’ve been cut and some have been polished before being photographed.  Still, they do represent what can be found with a little luck and determination.

Right now there are two major collecting areas, so at least two days of hunting will be required to collect the different types of agate available.  I’ll also be checking out other areas on the ranch for new hunting locations that I haven’t located yet.  The material out there is fantastic, but there may still be other things out there that haven’t been seen for years!

This ranch has been open for hunting on and off for the past several years.  It is my hope and belief that I will be able to continue leading field trips on this ranch every spring from now on.   However, if you haven’t been to this ranch, don’t wait for next year.  Take advantage of the opportunity this spring and see what you’ve been missing!

Also, for those of you planning to come out for the Walker field trip in April, the Singleton trips will be occurring on both the weekend before and the weekend after the Walker trip.  I’m sure I can do a few field trips in between, too, to East Needle Peak and the Ritchie Ranch, but I won’t be able to do those trips every day.  Now and then I’ll need a day off to catch up on my beauty sleep!

The field trips will begin at 8 a.m. each day in front of the office of the Antelope Lodge in Alpine.  Please email me at agatehunter@sabcglobal.net and let me know when you’d like to come.  For reservations at the Antelope Lodge, use our website at www.antelopelodge.com, or call 1 (800) 880-8106.

Looking forward to a great spring,

Teri

Trip Report, October 2013 field trips.

The October 2013 field trips were a great success, and I have now recovered enough that I can write a report about the fantastic trips we had.

First, we went to East Needle Peak for two days.  It was quite warm down there, but rains during the summer had unearthed some new material.    Besides agate, there were fossil shark teeth and bones, and selenite and calcite specimens found.  I found a cool piece of agate after aragonite, which looks like it has some barite on it, too.

The five days of the Walker Ranch hunt were fantastic!   The weather was just on the warm side of perfect.  Again, the summer rains had revealed some new material.  The road to the west of the camping area had been regarded, and the west side of the Bird Hills were much more accessible.  Lots of great agate, specimens, and labradorite were picked up.  On the busiest day, Saturday, there were more than 30 hunters on the ranch, but it wasn’t crowded.

As usual, we had our Sunday evening barbecue, thanks to Johnny French and the Antelope Lodge’s super chef, Brenda Condra.

On Monday, there was a small hunt at the Ritchie Ranch.  200 lbs of good agate were found by one person!  The Tuesday Ritchie Ranch hunt was cancelled due to rain, which has been forecast for the previous week, but waited until the last hunting day to wet everything down!

The next hunt is scheduled for the weekend of the 2014 Alpine Gem Show.  There dates will most likely be:

Monday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 15:  East Needle Peak

Wednesday, April 16 through Sunday, April 20:  Walker Ranch

Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22:  Ritchie Ranch

Sunday the 20^th is also Easter Sunday.

Of course all of this is still tentative.  We need 20 people for the Walker Ranch trip, as usual.  I’ll send out another email at the end of February to get sign-ups.   I’d love to hear from you sooner if you know you want to attend.

And remember that you can always schedule hunts with me for the Ritchie Ranch and East Needle Peak whenever you’d like them!

Regards,

Teri

We have a total of 34 people signed up for the Walker Ranch hunt. There are hunts both before and after the 5-day Walker Hunt, as shown below:

Monday, October 7: East Needle Peak. Meet at 6:30 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge. $40 per person.
Tuesday, October 8: East Needle Peak. Meet at 6:30 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge. $40 per person.
Wednesday, October 9: Walker Ranch. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge.
Thursday, October 10: Walker Ranch. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge if it’s your first day to hunt. Otherwise, go whenever you wish.
Friday, October 11: Walker Ranch. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge if it’s your first day to hunt. Otherwise, go whenever you wish.
Saturday, October 12: Walker Ranch. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge if it’s your first day to hunt. Otherwise, go whenever you wish.
Sunday, October 13: Walker Ranch. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge if it’s your first day to hunt. Otherwise, go whenever you wish.
Monday, October 14: Ritchie Ranch. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge. $5 entrance fee per person and $1 per lb. of agate.
Tuesday, October 15: Ritchie Ranch. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Antelope Lodge. $5 entrance fee per person and $1 per lb. of agate.

On the first day of your Walker Ranch hunt, we’ll meet at the Lodge, where I’ll collect funds and have you sign release forms. Then we’ll caravan out to the ranch and I’ll show you the combination and how to lock/unlock the gate (Doing this right is very important!). We’ll go the camping area, where I’ll hand out maps and explain to you what you can expect to find, and where you can expect to find it. After that, you’ll be free to come and go as you wish on the days you are hunting.

Remember that you need to join the Rollin Rock Club, or be a member of a club that has passed a resolution accepting my hunts as “official” club hunts, to go! Cost for RRC is $10/year single membership, $16/dual membership.

The Antelope Lodge is on the west side of Alpine on the main highway (joint 90 and 67) heading towards Marfa. We’re on the left just across from the Coca-Cola building. The number is 2310, and it’s a set of white stucco cottages with red tile roofs. We’ll meet either in front of the office or in the office. I drive a white Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I’m usually easy to find.

I led a field trip to East Needle Peak yesterday, and there has been significant rain since the last time we were there. The creek is dry, and easy to drive in most spots. There’s lots of agate on the surface, and pieces of bone and shark’s teeth. The weather was hot in the middle of the day, but it should be cooler next week, according to the meteorologists.

Please let me know which dates you will be on the Walker Ranch, and whether you are attending the other field trips. I know many of you have told me before, but I’d like a confirmation so I can have the appropriate maps and release forms printed.

Here is the latest update of attendees and fees paid:

Allen, Randy: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Allison, Linda: 1 person for 2 days. Deposit paid: 0
Ash, Bill: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Brownfield, Steve & Annabel: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Cantou, Pierre: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
deHoyos, Joe: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Dillon, Matt: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Ellis, Robert: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
French, Johnny: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Fritz, Glen & Patillo, Sue: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Green, Ralph: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Herman, Bryan & Kim and Moore, Chuck & Pam: 4 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: 300
Herrick, James: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Houston, David: 1 person for 1 day. Deposit paid: 75
Houston, Travis and Alfreda: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Kendall, Jim: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Maple, Julia: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Martin, Brice & Mary: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Polve, Kiney, Vicky & David: 3 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: 225
Roberts, Terry: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Tindell, Ed: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 150
Waugh, Steve: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75
Welch, Bob: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 0
Wilkerson, Kenny : 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 75

See you next week!
Teri

Third Update for Walker Ranch Rockhunt, October 9 – 13, 2013.

Hi!

I’m back from California and knee deep in email and deposit checks. We now have 30 people signed up so THE WALKER FIELD TRIP IS DEFINITELY ON!!

In fact, the Walker trip has been expanded from three days to five days: It will run from Wednesday, October 9, though Sunday, October 13. You can hunt one day or all five. Here’s how the fee structure works:

Hunt 1 day for $75
Hunt 2 days for $150
Hunt 3 days for $150 (free day)
Hunt 4 days for $185
Hunt 5 days for $220

If you pay for 3 days, you can hunt any 3 out of those 5. If you have already signed up for 3 days, you can email me that you want to hunt all 5, and pay the difference when you get here. I will be in the office of the Antelope Lodge at 8 a.m. each day of the hunt to check people in and collect the remainder of the fees due. Then I’ll take you out there, give you a map and the combination to the gate, and get you oriented to where the good agate is likely to be. After that, you can come and go as you please during your days of hunting. Please let me know which day will be the first day of your hunt. That way, if you’re late, I’ll know to wait for you.

I’ll also be leading other field trips before and after the Walker Ranch hunt. On Monday and Tuesday, October 7th and 8th, I will be leading trips down to East Needle Peak. The cost for those trips is $40 per person.

On Monday, October 14, and Tuesday, October 15, I’ll be leading trips to the Ritchie Ranch near Alpine. Cost for these trips is $5 admission fee and $1 per lb. for the rock you take.

Remember that you need to join the Rollin Rock Club, or be a member of a club that has passed a resolution accepting my hunts as “official” club hunts, to go! Cost for RRC is $10/year single membership.

Here is the list of people I have signed up and the amounts I have received in deposits:

Allen, Randy: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: $75
Allison, Linda: 1 person for 2 days. Deposit paid: 0
Ash, Bill: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
Brownfield, Steve & Annabel: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
Cantou, Pierre: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
deHoyos, Joe: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
Dillon, Matt: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 0
French, Johnny: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
Fritz, Glen & Patillo, Sue: 2 people for at least 1 day. Deposit paid: $150
Green, Ralph: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 0
Herman, Bryan & Kim and Moore, Chuck & Pam: 4 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: $300
Herrick, James: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: $5
Houston, David: 1 person for 1 day. Deposit paid: 0
Houston, Travis and Alfreda: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
Kendall, Jim: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
Maple, Julia: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 0
Martin, Brice & Mary: 2 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: $150
Polve, Kiney, Vicky & David: 3 people for 3 days. Deposit paid: $225
Tindell, Ed: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 0
Waugh, Steve: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: $75
Welch, Bob: 1 person for 3 days. Deposit paid: 0
Maybes:
Roberts, Terry: 1 person for 3 days.
Bell, Troy: 2 people for 3 days.

Please let me know if there are any errors or changes needed in the list. Thanks!

Teri

P.S. I don’t have email addresses for Pierre Cantou or Glen Fritz and Sue Patillo. Can someone make sure they get this email? THANKS!

As of now, we have 19 people signed up plus 7 maybes.  Here’s the list of people who have signed up.  If you’ve sent me an email and are not on the list, please email me again.

Allen, Randy:    1 person for 3 days

Allison, Linda   1 person for 2 days

Ash, Bill           2 people for 3 days

Brownfield, Steve & Annabel   2 people for 3 days

Dillon, Matt     1 person for 3 days

French, Johnny            1 person for 3 days

Green, Ralph    1 person for 3 days

Herrick, James            1 person for 3 days

Houston, Travis & Alfreda 2 people for 3 days

Kendall, Jim     1 person for 3 days

Maple, Julia     1 person for 3 days

Martin, Brice and Mary,          2 people for 3 days

Tindell, Ed        1 person for 3 days

Waugh, Steve  1 person for 3 days

Welch, Bob       1 person for 3 days

Maybes

Roberts, Terry 3 people for 3 days

B. & K. Herman 2 people for 3 days

C. & P. Moore  2 people for 3 days

As I haven’t heard from everyone I expect to hear from, I believe the trip will take place.  So send in your deposits!  If you decide to go between now and the 23^rd, send me the deposit and I’ll add you to the list when I get back.

I’ll be out of town from 6^th to 23^rd, so there will be no emails from me in that time.

If you are planning to attend the hunt, please send me your deposit of $75 per person.  Make the check out to Bryan Crumpton, and send it to me, Teri Smith, at 509 N. 8^th Street, Alpine, TX  79830.  If the field trip does not happen, I’ll either void checks and destroy them, or void them and mail them back to you (your choice).

For those who are interested, dry camping on ranch is okay, either with a tent or a small trailer or RV.  Large trailers and RVs may have difficulty with the road coming in.

I am working on other field trips around the same time.  There’s also a possibility that the Walker Ranch can be open during the week before the announced field trip for a couple of days, if you want to hunt longer than 3 days, or can’t make it on the weekend.  If you wish to hunt longer at the Walker, or at other places while you’re out here, please include that information with your deposit or send me an email.  I’ll try to make it all happen!

Hope to hear from a bunch of you soon.  We had a great time during the spring hunt, and lots of spectacular rocks were found.  It should be just as much fun this time!

Regards,

Teri

Email sent Tuesday, 9/3/13

As of now, we have 13 eople signed up plus 3 maybes.  Here’s the list of people who have signed up.  If you’ve sent me an email and are not on the list, please email me again.

Allen, Randy:    1 person for 3 days

Allison, Linda   1 person for 2 days

Ash, Bill           2 people for 3 days

Brownfield, Steve & Annabel   2 people for 3 days

Dillon, Matt     1 person for 3 days

French, Johnny            1 person for 3 days

Herrick, James            1 person for 3 days

Kendall, Jim     1 person for 3 days

Maple, Julia     1 person for 3 days

Tindell, Ed        1 person for 3 days

Waugh, Steve  1 person for 3 days

Maybes

Green, Ralph

Steele, TM

Welch, Bob

Roberts, Terry 3 people for 3 days

Although this is the start of a good turnout, it’s not enough for the trip to “make”.    We need 7 more signups at least for the trip to happen.  If possible, I would like to have them by this Thursday (yep, day after tomorrow) as I’m leaving on Friday for two weeks.

I’ll be out of town from 6^th to 23^rd, so there will be no emails from me in that time.  That’s why I want to know that the trip will happen, as the attendees need to make their plans.

If you are on the list of those who are coming, please send me your deposit of $75 per person.  Make the check out to Bryan Crumpton, and send it to me, Teri Smith, at 509 N. 8^th Street, Alpine, TX  79830.  If the field trip does not happen, I’ll either void checks and destroy them, or void them and mail them back to you (your choice).

For those who are interested, dry camping on ranch is okay, either with a tent or a small trailer or RV.  Large trailers and RVs may have difficulty with the road coming in.

I am working on other field trips around the same time.  There’s also a possibility that the Walker Ranch can be open during the week before the announced field trip for a couple of days, if you want to hunt longer than 3 days, or can’t make it on the weekend.

Hope to hear from a bunch of you soon.  We had a great time during the spring hunt, and lots of spectacular rocks were found.  It should be just as much fun this time!

Regards,

Teri