It’s Almost Time for Fall Rockhunts to Begin!
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Tag Archives: pompom agate
Fall 2020 Rockhunt Schedule
I’ve finally got a rockhunt schedule for Fall 2020. Right now, with COVID and the resulting changes in how things are done, we are fortunate to still have three great ranches available for rockhunting: The Ritchie Ranch, the South Larremore Ranch, and East Needle Peak.
I’ll be leading my field trips, cycling between all three ranches, each Thursday and Friday in October and November. Aaron will be leading trips on most Saturdays, October through December. This will give y’all three days in a row for rockhunting on your trip out to the Big Bend, and you can pick and choose which days you’d like to hunt. I’ll also be leading additional trips now and then, so if you have a special request, let me know. You can sign up for Aaron’s field trips the same way you sign up for mine: send me an email with the days you wish to attend, and make sure to include the phone number for a cell phone you’ll have with you. Both Aaron and I will be leading trips to the South Larremore Ranch. Aaron’s field trips will be limited to 25 people, and there’s still no limit to the number than can attend my field trips.
If you haven’t hunted with Aaron, his fieldtrips are different than mine. He keeps the group together and hunts with you. He’ll even carry your rocks back to the car. On my hunts, I give you instructions, make sure everyone knows what they can find, and then you hunt by yourselves until it’s time to get together at the end of the day. I try to meet with everyone once they’re out hunting, to make sure they’re having fun and finding good stuff.
All field trips will begin at Tri-la-Bite, which is the food truck run by Aaron and his wife Katrina. It’s at the corner of Holland Avenue and Garnett Street in Alpine. It’s on the left side of the street, across from the Sonic Drive-In.
There will be some protocols in place for extra safety during the COVID pandemic. I’m asking everybody to wear a mask whenever we’re grouped together, and have your group stand 6 feet away from other groups and me. Once we’re rockhunting, however, you and your group can remove the masks.
Rollin’ Rock Club membership is still required for my field trips. Cost is $10 single and $16 for a dual membership. Membership will run through the year 2021.
Aaron and Katrina have also opened up a rock shop in Alpine, called the Circle T Rock Shop in honor of Aaron’s family’s ranch. It’s located on the east side of 5th street in Alpine, just north of Holland Avenue. They’re usually open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also have a Facebook buy and sell group called Circle T Rock shop, https://www.facebook.com/groups/2555173857901636/, where you can buy agate from local ranches by the pound. And there are lots of other goodies available in their shop.
As for me, I’m still selling agate by the bucket, as listed on my website, www.terismithrockhunts.com. I’ll get back to Texas at the beginning of October and hunt through lots of buckets to re-sort the material into more single-ranch buckets, especially Walker Ranch buckets. I’ll be also offering special deals, and going through my studio to see what else I have to offer. If you aren’t coming out here for field trips, I can mail a bucket of rocks to you for $50. Last Spring, I mailed more than 150 boxes of rocks via USPS, and every one of them got there in good shape with all of the rocks protected! A couple of them did take scenic trips around the United States, however, before getting to their new homes.
So here’s the schedule. Be sure to look at the start time for your field trip because the Ritchie Ranch hunts begin at 9, not 8. That’s because the drive to the Ritchie Ranch only takes about 8 minutes, so we can still get out hunting by 9:30 or so.
Regards,
Teri and Aaron
| Date | Location | Leader | Cost | Start Time | Requirements |
| Sat. 10/3 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Tues. 10/6 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Wed. 10/7 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thu 10/8 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 10/9 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 10/10 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Thur. 10/15 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 10/16 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 10/17 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Thur. 10/22 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 10/23 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 10/24 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Thur. 10/29 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 10/30 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 10/31 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Thur. 11/5 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 11/6 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thur. 11/12 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 11/13 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 11/14 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Thur. 11/19 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 11/20 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 11/21 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Wed. 11/25 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thur. 11/26 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 11/27 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 11/28 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Sat. 12/5 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Sat. 12/12 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Sat. 12/19 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
| Sat. 12/26 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 25 people Cash or Check |
Revised Spring 2020 Rockhunt Schedule
There have been a couple of changes to the schedule for rockhunts this winter and spring. First, the Stieg Ranch will not be hosting rockhunts this spring, due to damage to the roads that can’t be repaired quickly. So the weekend hunts to the Stieg Ranch will be changed to the Woodward’s Needle Peak site or the South Larremore Ranch.
Secondly, Aaron and his family have determined that he needs to receive something for his time spent on the rockhunts so that he can keep leading trips every weekend. We’ve decided to add a $15 charge for his services as a guide added to each of his field trips, starting this Saturday, February 15th. That means that his hunts to the Woodward’s Needle Peak and the South Larremore Ranch will cost $65 per person. That will enable him to keep the hunts small and focus on sharing his knowledge of the geography and mineralogy with y’all so you can find better rocks!
There are no changes to my fieldtrips for this spring. I look forward to seeing y’all out here on Spring Break and throughout April!
Regards,
Teri & Aaron
P.S. I now have my whole rock collection inventoried and available for purchase. Right now the listing is on my website, at http://terismithrockhunts.com/rocks-for-sale/. However, I intend to publish it as an email in the next few days. It’s first come, first served, so take a look and let me know what you want!
| Date | Location | Leader | Cost | Start Time | Requirements |
| Sat. 2/15 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 2/16 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Sat. 2/21 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 2/22 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 2/29 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 3/1 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Sat. 3/7 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 3/8 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 3/14 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun.3/15 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Mon. 3/16 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Tue. 3/17 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Wed 3/18 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thu 3/19 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 3/20 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 3/21 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 3/22 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Mon. 3/23 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Tue. 3/24 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Wed 3/25 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thu 3/26 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 3/27 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 3/28 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people. Cash only |
| Sun. 3/29 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/2 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/3 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/4 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 4/5 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Mon 4/6 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/9 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/10 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/11 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 4/12 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Mon 4/13 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/16 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/17 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/18 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Sun. 4/19 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Mon 4/20 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/21 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/24 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/25 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $65 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 4/26 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $65 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people C Cash or check |
| Mon 4/27 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
Winter/Spring 2020 Rockhunt Schedule
Aaron Thomas and I are happy to present the Big Bend rockhunt schedule for Winter and Spring, 2020.
Aaron has added a new ranch: The Stieg Ranch, near Balmorhea. The Stieg Ranch is an alluvial fan, which is relatively flat terrain, with a creek bed running through it. Both the alluvial fan and the creek bed have every type of agate that eroded out of the surrounding hills. You can find the Balmorhea Blue agate, banded agate, jasper, petrified wood, chert and artifacts. The fee will be $50 per person, and that will entitle you to a 5-gallon bucket full of collectible rocks.
Aaron will be leading field trips every weekend from January 4th through the end of April. I will be gone for January, February, and the beginning of March, and will begin my weekday hunts on Monday, March 16. I’ll have hunts every weekday during the two weeks that constitute spring break for most Texas schools, so there will be hunts each day from Saturday, March 14 through Sunday, March 29. Then there will be rockhunts Thursdays through Mondays for the next several weeks until Monday, April 27. This will give y’all the longest possible time for rockhunting on your trip out to the Big Bend, and you can pick and choose which days you’d like to hunt. You can sign up for Aaron’s field trips the same way you sign up for mine: send me an email with the days you wish to attend, and make sure to include the phone number for a cell phone you’ll have with you. Both Aaron and I will be leading trips to the South Larremore Ranch. All of Aaron’s field trips will be limited to 12 people, and there’s still no limit to the number than can attend my field trips.
All field trips this year will begin at Tri-la-Bite, which is at the corner of Holland Avenue and Garnett Street in Alpine. It’s on the left side of the street, across from the Sonic Drive-In.
So here’s the schedule. Be sure to look at the start time for your field trip because they vary depending upon the ranch. I love y’all, but I’m tired of getting emails and calls for questions that are answered in this email, and available on my website.
Regards,
Teri and Aaron
| Date | Location | Leader | Cost | Start Time | Requirements |
| Sat. 12/28 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sun. 12/29 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 1/4 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 1/5 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sat. 1/11 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 1/12 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 1/18 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 1/19 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sat. 1/25 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 1/26 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 2/1 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 2/2 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sat. 2/8 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 2/9 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 2/15 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 2/16 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sat. 2/21 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 2/22 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 2/29 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 3/1 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sat. 3/7 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 3/8 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sat. 3/14 | South Larremore Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun.3/15 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Mon. 3/16 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Tue. 3/17 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Wed 3/18 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thu 3/19 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 3/20 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 3/21 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 3/22 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Mon. 3/23 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Tue. 3/24 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Wed 3/25 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thu 3/26 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 3/27 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 3/28 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people. Cash only |
| Sun. 3/29 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/2 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/3 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/4 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 4/5 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Mon 4/6 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/9 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/10 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/11 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 4/12 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Mon 4/13 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/16 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/17 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/18 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sun. 4/19 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Mon 4/20 | Ritchie | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Thurs 4/21 | South Larremore Ranch | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri 4/24 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 4/25 | Stieg Ranch | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 4/26 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Mon 4/27 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
Rockhunts for November and December 2019
I’ve finally got a rockhunt schedule for the rest of November and December, and there are some very exciting developments for y’all!
I’m now working with Aaron Thomas, who is a degreed mineralogist and geologist, and a full time Alpine resident. He and his wife Katrina run a food truck business in Alpine called Tri-la-Bite, so he’s only free to lead field trips on Saturdays and Sundays. He has been rockhunting in the Big Bend for most of his life, and has several ranches available for field trips on an occasional basis and a couple he can go to all the time. Aaron’s very enthusiastic as well as knowledgeable, has more stamina than all of us put together, and is lots of fun to be around.
Because of Aaron’s schedule, I’ll be moving my field trips to the weekdays before and after the weekends when Aaron can lead trips. This will give y’all the longest possible time for rockhunting on your trip out to the Big Bend, and you can pick and choose which days you’d like to hunt. You can sign up for Aaron’s field trips the same way you sign up for mine: send me an email with the days you wish to attend, and make sure to include the phone number for a cell phone you’ll have with you. Both Aaron and I will be leading trips to the South Larremore Ranch. All of Aaron’s field trips will be limited to 12 people, and there’s still no limit to the number than can attend my field trips.
For this set of rockhunts, the new ranch Aaron has available each weekend is the Needle Peak property owned by Jan Woodward. This is the traditional Needle Peak site which has produced great pompom and moss agates and for the past 60 or so years. It’s west of the East Needle Peak property we’ve been hunting on for years, and if you wish to climb up to where the agate is coming out of the mountain, it’s rather steep. But there is plenty of agate to be found on the flat area below the mountains and above the creekbed. I was there last weekend and there are spectacular things to be found! And Jan Woodward is donating all proceeds from the hunts to the local animal shelter in the name of her late husband Trey Woodward.
All field trips this year will begin at Tri-la-Bite, which is at the corner of Holland Avenue and Garnett Street in Alpine. It’s on the left side of the street, across from the Sonic Drive-In.
So here’s the schedule. Be sure to look at the start time for your field trip because they vary depending upon the ranch. I love y’all, but I’m tired of getting emails and calls for questions that are answered in this email, and available on my website.
| Date | Location | Leader | Cost | Start Time | Requirements |
| Thurs. 11/14 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 11/15 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 11/16 | South Larremore | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people. Cash or check |
| Sun. 11/17 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Mon. 11/18 | South Larremore | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Thurs. 11/28 | South Larremore | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Fri. 11/29 | Ritchie Ranch | Teri | $10 entrance + $1/lb | 9:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 11/30 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sun. 12/1 | South Larremore | Teri | $50 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Mon 12/2 | East Needle Peak | Teri | $40 | 8:00 | Cash or check |
| Sat. 12/7 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sun 12/8 | South Larremore | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Sat 12/14 | South Larremore | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
| Sun 12/15 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sat 12/21 | Needle Peak | Aaron | $50 | 6:30 | Limit of 12 people Cash only |
| Sun 12/22 | South Larremore | Aaron | $50 | 8:00 | Limit of 12 people Cash or check |
Rollin’ Rock Club membership is still required for my field trips. Cost is $10 single and $16 for a dual membership. Membership will run through the year 2020.
Regards,
Teri
2019 Spring Rockhunt Schedule
Below is the list of spring 2019 Rockhunts, including those in January which have already been published.
| Date | Time | Trip Location | Price |
| Thursday, 1/24/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Friday, 1/25/19 | 9:00 a.m. | Ritchie Ranch | $10 entrance fee plus $1/lb |
| Saturday, 1/26/19 | 8:00 a.m. | East Needle Peak | $40 per person |
| Sunday, 1/27/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Thursday, 2/7/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Friday, 2/8/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Saturday, 2/9/19 | 9:00 a.m. | Ritchie Ranch | $10 entrance fee plus $1/lb |
| Sunday, 2/10/19 | 8:00 a.m. | East Needle Peak | $40 per person |
| Monday, 2/11/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Thursday, 2/21/19 | 9:00 a.m. | Ritchie Ranch | $10 entrance fee plus $1/lb |
| Friday, 2/22/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Saturday, 2/23/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Sunday, 2/24/19 | 8:00 a.m. | East Needle Peak | $40 per person |
| Wednesday, 2/27/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Thursday, 2/28/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Saturday, 3/9/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Sunday, 3/10/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Thursday, 3/14/19 | 9:00 a.m. | Ritchie Ranch | $10 entrance fee plus $1/lb |
| Friday, 3/15/19 | 8:00 a.m. | East Needle Peak | $40 per person |
| Saturday, 3/16/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Sunday, 3/17/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Thursday, 3/21/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Friday, 3/22/19 | 9:00 a.m. | Ritchie Ranch | $10 entrance fee plus $1/lb |
| Saturday, 3/23/19 | 8:00 a.m. | East Needle Peak | $40 per person |
| Sunday, 3/24/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Thursday, 4/11/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Friday, 4/12/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Saturday, 4/13/19 | 9:00 a.m. | Ritchie Ranch | $10 entrance fee plus $1/lb |
| Sunday, 4/14/19 | 8:00 a.m. | East Needle Peak | $40 per person |
| Thursday, 4/18/19 | 8:00 a.m. | East Needle Peak | $40 per person |
| Friday, 4/19/19 | 9:00 a.m. | Ritchie Ranch | $10 entrance fee plus $1/lb |
| Saturday, 4/20/19 | 8:00 a.m. | South Larremore Ranch | $50 per person |
| Sunday, 4/21/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
| Monday, 4/22/19 | 8:00 a.m. | Stillwell Ranch | 50 cents per lb. of rock you take |
As usual, all trips start in front of the Antelope Lodge, 2310 W. Highway 90, Alpine. To reserve your place on a trip, email me at agatehunter@sbcglobal.net. Payment for the trip is not due until the morning of the trip. All the ranches accept cash or check, and the Stillwell also accepts credit cards. At least one person in your group needs to be a member of the Rollin’ Rock Club to go on the trips. Cost is $10 per year for a single membership and $16 for a dual membership, purchasable at the time of the trip.
I’ll be out of town until the 18th, so, while I’ll be accepting reservations via email immediately, I may not send you a detailed response until at least the 19th. Answers to most questions concerning rockhunts are available on my website (really, they are there!).
If no one is signed up for a trip 48 hours before it starts it will be cancelled. Once cancelled, it can’t be “un-cancelled”. So be sure to sign up!
Since the Antelope Lodge has changed ownership, the prices have gone up somewhat, and the amenities are different. But the reservation website name is the same, www.antelopelodge.com.
I hope to see y’all this spring!
Regards,
Teri
Rockhunt Added for 11/12/18 and other items
- I’ve scheduled on extra rockhunt for Monday November 12, at 8 a.m., to the South Larremore Ranch. Please let me know if you’d like to attend.
- The following rockhunts DO NOT have people signed up for them:
Thursday, 12/13: South Larremore Ranch 8:00 a.m.
Thursday, 12/20: East Needle Peak 8:00 a.m.
Friday, 12/21: South Larremore Ranch 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, 12/22: Stillwell Ranch 8:00 a.m.
Sunday, 12/23: Ritchie Ranch 9:00 a.m.
If no one has signed up for these rockhunts two days before they are to occur, they will be cancelled. Since at least one person has signed up for each of the other rockhunts on my list, they will happen.
- As many of you know, I don’t get paid in money to lead the field trips, but I get to pick up rocks. This has resulted in my having a collection of well over 1,000 5-gallon buckets full of agate, specimens, and other rocks. It’s time for me to downsize my collection to include only the things I’d most like to cut and/or display. I’d like your opinions and comments about how I can best facilitate the sale of most of my collection of 40,000 lbs of agate, specimens, and other rocks to rockhounds such as yourselves. The collection is 90% Big Bend material, with the other 10% consisting of saleable, cuttable rock (geodes, lace agate, chevron amethyst, etc.) from the US and Mexico. I am going through it right now to catalog it completely and decide what I want to keep.
There are five basic ways I can sell the collection: as a complete collection; by the category; by the bucket as they are; by the bucket after I’ve curated the contents; and by the pound. This list begins with the least expensive cost per pound and progresses to the most expensive one, because each succeeding option requires more of my time and effort than the previous one, thus adding to the cost.
The material includes just about everything that can be found at the ranches I’ve led rockhunts on, including the Walker and Singleton, which are now closed forever. There’s material from the Woodward Ranch, and from a couple of ranches that were never opened to the public. There’s old Mexican material from the estate of a man from Presidio who bought and sold agate by the ton or truckload, and from a couple of other estates of local rockhounds. There’s some unusual material from the Gila National Forest in New Mexico that I can’t legally sell but can give to those who buy other stuff. And there’s also over a ton of slag glass.
There are also several methods I can use to sell the rocks: my website, www.terismithrockhunts; another sales channel like eBay, or the Facebook rock pages; via emails to my email list; or at sales at my home here in Alpine.
I would appreciate you letting me know whether you’d have any interest in purchasing rocks from me, and what option and method would work best for you. I’ll take all that information into consideration as I decide what to do. Obviously, there’s no obligation on either side…
Regards,
Teri
2018 March and April Rockhunts
Hi y’all! It’s been one heck of a winter, and I’m only now crawling out from under the mound of paperwork (22 years’ worth) that had to be sorted and organized for our taxes this year.
Below is the schedule for the spring, starting with the Gem Show week of March 25 – April 1. I intend to have some rockhunts the first week in May, but that schedule will have to come later.
Also, the Stillwell Ranch is up for sale. As we know what may happen to rockhunting opportunities once a ranch sells, I would suggest visiting that wonderful spot this spring, in case it becomes unavailable in the future.
To sign up for the field trips, send me an email. HOWEVER, I will be involved in family business and out of email range and won’t be able to reply until about the 23rd of March. If I have access to email earlier than that I’ll certainly get back to you. But if the information isn’t in this email or on my website, you may have to wait until the 23rd to find out.
Remember that you need to be a member of the Rollin’ Rock Club to go on my trips. Memberships are $16 per year dual and $10 per year single, payable at the time of your first field trip.
Regards,
Teri
| Sunday 3/25: Ritchie Ranch, 9 a.m. $10 per person and $1 per lb. of agate |
| Monday, 3/26 Stillwell Ranch, 8 a.m. 50 cents per lb of rock you take. |
| Friday, 3/30 South Larremore Ranch, 8 a.m. $50 per person |
| Saturday, 3/31 Stillwell Ranch, 8 a.m. 50 cents per lb of rock you take. |
| Sunday, 4/1 East Needle Peak, 8 a.m. $40 per person |
| Thursday, 4/5 Ritchie Ranch, 9 a.m. $10 per person and $1 per lb. of agate |
| Friday, 4/6 East Needle Peak, 8 a.m. $40 per person |
| Saturday, 4/7 South Larremore Ranch, 8 a.m. $50 per person |
| Sunday, 4/9 Stillwell Ranch, 8 a.m. 50 cents per lb of rock you take. |
| Thursday, 4/19 Ritchie Ranch, 9 a.m. $10 per person and $1 per lb. of agate |
| Friday, 4/20 South Larremore Ranch, 8 a.m. $50 per person |
| Saturday, 4/21 East Needle Peak, 8 a.m. $40 per person |
| Sunday, 4/22 Stillwell Ranch, 8 a.m. 50 cents per lb of rock you take. |
| Friday, 4/27 South Larremore Ranch, 8 a.m. $50 per person |
| Saturday, 4/28, East Needle Peak, 8 a.m. $40 per person |
| Sunday, 4/29 Stillwell Ranch, 8 a.m. 50 cents per lb of rock you take. |
Lots of Agate Available for Fall Rockhunts
Jean Larremore will indeed lead trips to on her ranch on Tuesday, October 18 and Tuesday October 25.
This last week, I’ve been on the South Larremore Ranch, the Ritchie Ranch, and the Singleton Ranch. There’s lots of new agate visible on all three ranches. We’ve had lots of rain in the last few months, and that’s at least partly responsible for uncovering new pieces.
At the South Larremore Ranch, there were a few muddy spots in the creek bottom, but very few puddles (and all of them were small enough to really call puddles). The mud at the crossing was too deep and sloppy to attempt the crossing in a car, but we walked across it (after I slipped and fell on my butt, of course). By the time the day was over, Brian Larremore had used the tractor and made the crossing good enough that we would have been able to drive it. However, since then it has rained for two solid days here in Alpine, and I have no idea how much rain they got down there.
Regards,
Teri
Fall rockhunt information: Corrections and additions.
- The Singleton Ranch accepts only cash.
- On the big Fall hunts schedule, I got two of the starting times wrong. They are corrected below:
| November | |||
| Th | 17 | Stillwell Ranch | Start Time: 7 a.m. |
| December | |||
| S | 24 | Ritchie Ranch | Start Time: 9 a.m. |
Or, to put it another way, the starting times for all Fall field trips will be:
East Needle Peak and Stillwell Ranch: 7 a.m.
Singleton Ranch, and South Larremore Ranch: 8 a.m.
Ritchie Ranch: 9 a.m.
- The Larremore Ranch and the South Larremore Ranch mentioned in the field trip list are the same place. But the South Larremore Ranch is not the same as the old Larremore Ranch that we hunted back in about 2006. The South Larremore Ranch is very productive with lots of unusual agates in addition to those similar to the Alpine agates and the agates from the Needle Peak area. If this is confusing, just remember that all the Larremore ranch field trips on the Fall schedule are to the same wonderful ranch.
- I neglected to mention in the email that, if no one has signed up for a field trip a week before the date of the trip, the trip will be cancelled. I know this makes it difficult for people who make last-minute trips to the Big Bend, but in previous years I spent a lot of time preparing for field tips just in case someone wanted to attend who hadn’t signed up. My schedule this year is too tight to allow me to do that.
Thank you all for bearing with me. I’ve only been doing this for 15 years or so. I should know what to put in an email by now!
Regards,
Teri