Baculite Mesa, Pierre Shale, WIPS Field Trip: PEOPLE & GEOLOGY, 5/17/2003

Baculite Mesa, Pierre Shale, WIPS Field Trip: PEOPLE & GEOLOGY, 5/17/2003
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South end of Baculite Mesa.

A "warning" to unauthorized visitors (trespassers)? There are yardage markers extending past 1000 yards from the owners home on the mesa.

West side of south end of mesa.

Malcolm Bedell provides an overview, instructions and breakfast muffins before we head out to dig.

Malcolm Bedell provides an overview, instructions and breakfast muffins before we head out to dig.

Malcolm Bedell provides an overview, instructions and breakfast muffins before we head out to dig.

WIPS member not taking any chances with electric fence!

The cattle at the mesa are not shy. Sometimes they let you know who is boss, by blocking the dirt road!

Caravan heading out to Tom's Hollow at Baculite Mesa.

Caravan heading out to Tom's Hollow at Baculite Mesa.

View of northern canyon wall at Tom's Hollow, Baculite Mesa.

In most years, Baculite Mesa is a complete desert. The high precipitation of early 2003 changed the landscape entirely as shown by this cactus bloom. We initially thought this would help the fossil hunting by exposing more specimens. However, the previous 2 inch rain actually made the Pierre Shale swell and "float" in cracked patterns, hiding many potential finds.

WIPS member, Roger Palmer, examines one of the finds. Note large concretion with partially exposed ammonite in lower left.

Layer of coarse gravel mixed in darker Pierre Shale approximately 1000 yards east of Tom's Hollow parking area (elev. approx. 4980 ft).
$A look at the terrain up one of the many side canyons. Not the expanded, fractured and "floating" which resulted from the previous 2 inch rain.$

A look at the terrain up one of the many side canyons. Not the expanded, fractured and "floating" which resulted from the previous 2 inch rain.

Great caution must be exercised at Baculite Mesa. Many canyon walls in the loose Pierre Shale are ready to release thousands of pounds of debris on unsuspecting visitors!

A sign left by another WIPS member at the mouth of a side canyon indicating where ammonites may be found! (with black added to enhance the marks in the dirt)
$Mouth of productive side canyon, \nwest of parking area at Tom's Hollow, \nBaculite Mesa, GPS: BMOUTH.$

Mouth of productive side canyon,
west of parking area at Tom's Hollow,
Baculite Mesa, GPS: BMOUTH.

South end of Baculite Mesa.	A "warning" to unauthorized visitors (trespassers)? There are yardage markers extending past 1000 yards from the owners home on the mesa.	West side of south end of mesa.	Malcolm Bedell provides an overview, instructions and breakfast muffins before we head out to dig.
Malcolm Bedell provides an overview, instructions and breakfast muffins before we head out to dig.	Malcolm Bedell provides an overview, instructions and breakfast muffins before we head out to dig.	WIPS member not taking any chances with electric fence!	The cattle at the mesa are not shy. Sometimes they let you know who is boss, by blocking the dirt road!
Caravan heading out to Tom's Hollow at Baculite Mesa.	Caravan heading out to Tom's Hollow at Baculite Mesa.	View of northern canyon wall at Tom's Hollow, Baculite Mesa.	In most years, Baculite Mesa is a complete desert. The high precipitation of early 2003 changed the landscape entirely as shown by this cactus bloom. We initially thought this would help the fossil hunting by exposing more specimens. However, the previous 2 inch rain actually made the Pierre Shale swell and "float" in cracked patterns, hiding many potential finds.
WIPS member, Roger Palmer, examines one of the finds. Note large concretion with partially exposed ammonite in lower left.	Layer of coarse gravel mixed in darker Pierre Shale approximately 1000 yards east of Tom's Hollow parking area (elev. approx. 4980 ft).	$A look at the terrain up one of the many side canyons. Not the expanded, fractured and "floating" which resulted from the previous 2 inch rain.$ A look at the terrain up one of the many side canyons. Not the expanded, fractured and "floating" which resulted from the previous 2 inch rain.	Great caution must be exercised at Baculite Mesa. Many canyon walls in the loose Pierre Shale are ready to release thousands of pounds of debris on unsuspecting visitors!
A sign left by another WIPS member at the mouth of a side canyon indicating where ammonites may be found! (with black added to enhance the marks in the dirt)	$Mouth of productive side canyon, \nwest of parking area at Tom's Hollow, \nBaculite Mesa, GPS: BMOUTH.$ Mouth of productive side canyon, west of parking area at Tom's Hollow, Baculite Mesa, GPS: BMOUTH.