Black Mountain Artisans

Dec. 12th - last pre-Christmas pick up.

 

Invitation from Parksville Club

 

From the Parksville and District Rock and Gem Club on beautiful Vancouver Island, to our Fellow Rock Hounds, BC wide…..HELLO!!

 

Hopefully this finds all rock hounds in good spirits, avoiding the CoVid bug and exploring and hounding, albeit in our safe modes!

Great and safer in the outdoors! We all miss our shows!  

 

As probably with your clubs, needed revenue for operations is not what it used to be. Everyone’s “pitching in” so we’ll stay safe and endure until a better normal arrives.

We here at the PDRGC, to assist our operations, have obtained a BC lottery/raffle gaming licence to conduct legal licenced gaming events.

 

So………….

We are inviting ALL fellow rock hounds from all clubs across BC to have a chance to get in on this event!!

We have worked out a low cost event, with prizes that should interest any

rock hound.

-The rose quartz rock is over 20lbs!.

-The tumbler is great idea for anyone!

-And the slabs alone are worth the effort to win!!

What great in time for Christmas gifts too!! 

 

And.....we’ve made is so easy!

Just go to our web page, at pdrockandgem.org and see Raffle for Rocks to click right to the event!

 

We’ll arrange delivery, shipping.

 

Please pass this along to your club membership, we appreciate the support and wish everyone good luck!!

 

Thank You and

Cheers to ALL!!

PDRGC

 

Field Trip Cancelled - weather forecast is worsening

It could have been fun, but overnight, the forecast has changed from 30% chance of showers, to steady rain for Sunday.

Weather Permitting - Exploratory Trip October 18th

 

Hi Rockhounders

 

We are planning an exploratory trip (weather permitting—NO SNOW, no hard rain, no low low temperatures)

On Sunday, Oct. 18^th  leaving Penticton from the Walmart parking lot, south area at 10 am.

If you are planning to join us, you need to contact Jerome Albo (arnoldalbo@gmail.com or 250 495 7359) or the club site before Saturday afternoon,.   We are heading towards the Clarke Lake area so we will be at some elevation.  You will need to dress warm, bring your own lunch and necessities.  If you are coming from the Keremeos side, you can take the cut off at Yellow Lake and meet you at the junction of Green Mountain road and the Apex turn off at 10 30.

 

 Social distancing is necessary but should not present a problem. 

Debbie and family - Thanksgiving on the Tulameen

 

Welcoming committee when I got home...........

 

Sunday - Goat Mountain

The talus is well picked over, but there was stuff to be found. My agate came from a different spot - I'll wash it and post it - didn't unload tonight because I came home to snow.

I needed Jerome's help to get this out - I'll be looking for a bigger chisel, and a bigger hammer.

We stopped at a landing on the way down the FSR, and found rock that was quite different from what we had seen at other areas. I like exploring - I'm happy with the agate, but brought home a lot more rock for tumbling and my garden.

What does a rock hound do when the axe gets stuck in the firewood?

 

Thanksgiving in Cherryville

I was about to put my trailer in storage, when I got an e-mail indicating space had opened up at the Gold Panner Campground. Jerome had inquired earlier, but they were fully booked - they had cancellations because of the forecast, but we had a good weekend - not too wet, a little cold at night, but we had full hook-up sites. 255kms each way, plus the field trip kms.

Saturday, we went to Edgewood, and explored Cedar Creek where it meets the Arrow Lake. 

There was no lingering at the tailgate to admire and photograph finds - it was - get back into the truck where it was warm.

A stop at the Inonoaklin River on the way back.

Tulameen

There is a shop in the Coalmont/Tulameen area that is well known for servicing and repairing atv's and sleds. While Duane and Katherine were waiting for their atv(snowplow) to be serviced, they explored the area.

Add caption

Led Light - Magnifier

 Led lamp/magnifier - available at Lee Valley for a limited time

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/office/magnifiers/110117-led-headband-magnifier?utm_source=200916-CA-EN&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200916-Imp-LED-Headband-Magnifier&item=99W9732

Finds

 We did lots of admiring each other's finds, but I didn't take many photos.

This was a large, heavy boulder that Katherine found in the Similkameen.

Sunday Exploring the Back Roads

Found a party site.

Hauled away the equivalent of one large garbage can and a table frame - broken glass, melted cans, shells, plastic, pens...........

 

Tulameen

 

Campout and Field Trips

Five club members camped at Pickard Creek for 3 nights, and were joined by new member Debbie for two days of exploring and collecting.

Friday was hot, and a dip in the Similkameen river preceded dinner (with a few finds), Saturday we chose the Tulameen river, and Sunday we explored several sites.

Finds included travertine, agate, and one precious opal find. More photos to follow.

Debbie showed us spectacular photos of Crater Mountain and some great specimens - probably too challenging a hike for many of us - 71 water bars in the first 5kms, plus a long hike.

Field Trip Meeting Times

On Saturday, September 12th, we will meet at the campsite at 9:30am. Planned as Pickard Creek FS Site, 6 km west of Hedley. In the unlikely event that Pickard is full, we will be on the Old Hedley road. 

Look for Red Ford truck with Salem trailer, Black Toyota Tundra with Creekside Trailer, Blue Toyota Tacoma with Wolf Pup Trailer, Silver pick-up with camper. We will be camping Friday night.

On Sunday , September 13th, we will meet at A & W in Princeton at 9:00am.

Please bring a mask, in case you need to carpool to the sites.

All the usual stuff - water, sunscreen, hat, clothing layers, bag or bucket, packed lunch. We have prospective new members coming, so if you have an extra rock hammer or other tools, please bring them along.

Location of Saturday trip to be determined, once we know where the Princeton club is going on Sunday.

Field Trip

Club members are planning to camp at the Pickard Creek Forestry Campsite. In the unlikely event that Pickard is full, we will go to the Old Hedley road. Arriving Friday evening, September 11th.

http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/search/search-result.aspx?site=REC1635&districtCode=RDCS&type=Site

Meetings times for day trips will be posted soon.

Club Campout

Pandemic and the Club

The executive had an outdoor meeting September 2^nd.  The pandemic has had a huge impact on all of our lives, and it appears we will continue to be dealing with it for a long time to come. The current executive is willing to do the minimum to keep the club in good standing, however an infusion of new volunteers is required to generate more activity.

The current executive has served for a longer period of time than planned because of hosting Rendezvous, and the associated delays. We need new volunteers to step up and take on some of the responsibilities of running the club. We foresee a focus on field trips, and minimal administrative tasks for now.

We are planning a campout and field trip for the weekend of September 11-13^th. We will have details for you shortly, but we are looking at the Princeton area, and exploring the possibility of a joint field trip with the Princeton Club.  Please remember to bring a mask, in case you need to carpool to a site.

Whether you join us as a day trip, or come to camp, there will be opportunities to discuss further outings.

If you are prepared to let your name stand and take on some club responsibilities, please contact Katherine or Jerome, or e-mail the club. Voting by mail could be an option to elect a new slate.

Positions to be filled include: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, as well as wagon master, membership co-ordinator, and social co-ordinator.

Current members will have their membership in the club and the BCLS renewed for 2021 without a fee.

As our Provincial Health Officer has said – none of us signed up for a pandemic.

We welcome your input in these uncertain times.

We will post the field trip details on the website shortly.

BC Rockhounder Online

Greg Carson has produced two online issues of the Rockhounder - available for BC Lapidary Members to download. Unless you have an extremely fast internet service, I would suggest you download the regular version, not the high resolution.

Greg wants contributions for the upcoming issues.

https://www.bclapidary.com/rockhounder-magazine.php

BC Gem Show Cancelled

Hello clubs & delegates, 

This is to advise you that the BCLS Gem Show has been cancelled due to circumstances with the Coronavirus.  

If you were planning to set up showcases, you may hear from the individuals organizing those areas.

Thank you for your support at this difficult time, and take care.

Georgina Selinger, Executive Secretary, 

Rendezvous 2020

https://www.bclapidary.com/rock-hunting-rendezvous.php

Information and registration form now on BCLS site. Limited number of power sites, dry camping.