Area 55 - Herkimer Diamond / Quartz Digging

Date: 5/4/2024 10:00 AM to 5/5/2024 6:00 PM

Type of trip:  Herkimer Diamond / quartz digging

Dates:  Sat May 4 and Sun May 5 (dig mid morning till dark, both days)

Times:  all day each day (exacts will be on Flyer)

Location:  Area 55 site property in Mohawk, NY (more details will be in Flyer)

Attendance:  60 people total MAX. (NoJMS and FM-NJ)

Ages allowed:  7 y.o. and up; kids 13 y.o. and under must ALWAYS be in close contact with and supervised by parents

FEES:  $100 p/p for Saturday  /  $150 p/p for Saturday + Sunday 

Kids under 13 yrs old get in for half price ($50 p/p on Saturday/$25 p/p on Sunday 

(75 $ p/p for both))

 

$50 extra to camp on site Sat to Sun / bring your own camping gear

$50 p/p extra to bring power tools.

*** CASH ONLY, PAY THE DAY OF ***

BRING YOUR OWN FOOD / DRINKS - NO FOOD PROVIDED (will be reminder in Flyer)

Fresh diggings will be made available via an excavator on site.

Ledge / tailings / easy digging all available.

Fee: FEES: $100 p/p for Saturday / $150 p/p for Saturday + Sunday Kids under 13 yrs old get in for half price ($50 p/p on Saturda

Post Event Write-Up:

Clubs in Attend: NoJMS, FM-NJ

Trip Leaders: Hayley "Shakespeare" Nalepa, Jim Nalepa, Groundhog Dave

GRACIOUS HOSTS:  Owners Dino Zampini and Donna Cauti, w/ assistance from Tommy Greene

ATTENDEES:  Hayley "Shakespeare" Nalepa, Jim Nalepa, Groundhog Dave, Tommy Greene, Tomer Shapira, Dave "Lermanator" Lerman, Dave "Dude" Miller and Ehmkay Delaleu, Julia Chien and Dave Roush, Ken and Ofelia Napolitano with kids, Mitch Seim with family, Suzanne, Jarrath and Nate Shaw; Stephanie "Carpet Squares" Apgar and Avery Federico, Giuseppe Liberti, Steve Woodruff

 

We had a great adventure up at Herkimer Mountain on this early May weekend.  We immediately became aware of the emergence of swarms of large biting gnats, which make their very brief emergence during this time period.  Despite the gnats' best efforts and continual onslaught on Saturday, they did not stifle our enjoyment of the collecting day.  Part - owner Donna provided mosquito nettings and various repellent implements for a nominal charge, and we took advantage of these tools to survive the gnats throughout the weekend.  

 

The weather was excellent on Saturday, never getting too hot throughout the morning and afternoon.  Sunday unfortunately saw a continual downpour early on, and the few folks who camped overnight had to make the best of it.  The campfire and S'mores and dinner on Sat night were a success, and the overhead tents served to thwart the gnats to a degree, as well as providing shelter if it started to rain.  

 

Club Member Notable Finds
Dave "Dude" Miller and Ehmkay Delaleu - MANY near fist - sized and smaller, Herks of varying shapes, in woods-adjacent area opposite the parking lot

Julia Chien - Terrific Golden healer Herk with Calcite and Iron inclusions and caramel - colored striations

Dave "Lermanator" Lerman - 2 very handsome Herkimer on matrix pieces from the ledge area

Suzanne and Nate Shaw - some very nice small nearly water-clear double terminated Herks

Jarrath Shaw - impressive Herk in matrix from ledge area - took substantial effort to retrieve!!

Hayley "Shakespeare" and dad Jim - several nearly fist sized Herks from near the excavator / dirt area

Ken Napolitano - several small nice single and double terminated herks from dirt mounds next to parking area

Tomer Shapira - nice medium sized Herkimer doublet, from ledge area

 

We definitely hope to have a return Fall trip well after the gnats have come and gone (LOL).  Overall, this was another great Herkimer collecting experience.