The road was blocked by a two foot deep snow bank, causing Jerry and I to turn around and head back the way we came. Fortunately this was after we had already spent the day at the Tahoma claim site.
Jerry and I started out at 6:00am and arrived at the parking spot at 8:00am. There was only a few spots of snow on the side of the logging road. The trail to the claim still had a couple of small patches though.
Not to much snow here!
I did some trail maintenance on the way in. The trail was in good shape so it didn’t take us long to reach the claim. Once again Mount Ranier was overlooking all we did.
This always adds to these the trips.
The first trip of the year is always exciting, and even though we didn’t see any wildlife we saw lots of wild flowers.
Indian Paintbrush.
Jerry kept asking me where he should dig. So I finally showed him a large burned tree stump with previous digging in evidence. He went to work and quickly was finding some nice 1/2″ thick seams of material.
Trying to uproot a large tree.
I had decided to explore and headed on around the hill. I was planning on hiking to the end of the claim and back, telling Jerry I would find him around 4:00pm if not before.
My plans were changed when I found a seam of nice material about 5 minutes after I left Jerry. It started out as a small seam and as I followed it up the hill it widened out to about 1″ thick.
This material always amazes me.
I pulled out a nice 9″ slab of material and then went back and dragged Jerry from his labors. We spent the rest of the day working on this seam, stopping at 1:30pm. This is some of the material I carried out.
Tahoma Agate.
This seam was mostly agate with some jasper, so I was pleased with what we found.
It took us about an hour to hike back to the truck, mostly because I stopped quite often to rest my arms. I had a full pack and was carrying about 25 pounds in a sack. That tends to strain the arm muscles unless I stop often.
Thanks for joining us.
chasfire
6 Comments
Nice to see that you got in to the claim this early. With the winter, and spring we have had this year I would have thought it would have been sometime in July this year.
Nice looking material in your new vein.
Woody
Woody: Thanks, what do morel mushrooms look like? We might have found a couple of dozen of them on the trail in.
chasfire
Morels look like wee trees that have odd shaped indentations to give texture……..they are brown, and hollow, can be as much as foot high, but more usual about six inches. They are the best of spring mushrooms. If I thought somebody would not have to carry me back out, I would on my way up to have a look. Walking with only one knee bend is the pits.
Kathy says, if you guys go up again soon, and stay over night, I go along and be the camp B…….as long as the camp is at the parking area. LOL
Woody
I know I am ignorant, but am curious….. just what is so special about this type of agate? if I may ask….
Gene
Gene: As with any agate, jasper or mineral, it’s desirability is entirely subjective.
The colors and patterns of Tahoma agate make it different from other types of agate/jaspers. It is not as common as some other material, and it’s location is not easy to get to.
I like Tahoma agate/jasper because it surprises me every time I make a cut. I have gotten scenic pictures, (as with picture jaspers) plumes, and beautiful colored agate all from the same piece of material.
People have different desires and what is special to one person may be just ho-hum to another.
Think of your favorite material, and ask yourself what is special about it.
chasfire
Ok, Thank you very much for the info sir, I am learning alot.