Uncategorized – Mount Baker Rock & Gem Club

Swift Creek @ Baker Lake – Swift Creek Campground
Coming from Whatcom County: Meet at REI @ 9 am to carpool
Coming from the South: Meet at Cook Rd. Park & Ride, exit 232 @ 9:30 AM

Open to dues-paid members of the Mount Baker Rock & Gem Club only, a waiver must be signed to participate.

We will convoy east on State Rte 20E to Concrete, WA and venture up Baker Lake Road, then park in the gravel lot after the bridge just past the Swift Creek Campground.

For folks leaving from Bellingham, expect about 80 minutes of drive time to get to our destination. Those joining at Cook Rd. will drive ~ 60 minutes. Park restrooms will be closed for the season, so bring your own TP!

Terrain is a flat dirt road, with trail access through the campground, and then a small hill to get down to the creek. For those who don’t want to walk as far, there are agates to be found just under the bridge, but gators or waders are recommended for the best hunting! Expect to walk up to .5 miles to the search site.

Arrival ETA: 10:40 am
Departure: ~3 pm for about 3.5 hours of agate hunting

What to bring: Bucket or pail, snacks, water, waders, clothing layers – the water will be COLD!

This field trip will be happening rain or shine, so please plan accordingly.

Contact person: Trevor Duncan (check your email for contact info, and please do not share.)

September 11, 2025

Field Trip, Saturday, October 18th

Saturday, October 18th

ADVANCED HIKE – Dirt road has been filled to accommodate most vehicles, SUV recommended.

Swift Creek @ Swift Creek Trailhead #607

Coming from Whatcom County: Meet at REI @ 9 am to carpool
Coming from the South: Meet at Cook Rd. Park & Ride, exit 232
@ 9:30 AM.

Open to dues-paid members of the Mount Baker Rock & Gem Club
only. A waiver must be signed to participate.

We will convoy east on State Rte 20E to Concrete, WA and venture up Baker Lake Rd., then access NF-1130, and bear right onto NF-1144, parking at the Hot Springs/Swift Creek Trailhead.

For folks leaving from Bellingham, expect about 80 minutes of
drive time to get to our destination. Those joining at Cook Rd.
Will drive ~ 60 minutes. There are no toilets at this trail, so bring
your own TP.

Terrain is a steep downgrade, with an ~ 0.6 mile hike to get to the
creek from the parking lot. There may be logs, large rocks, pebbles, and sand to traverse. Expect mud puddles along the way.

The hike back will be a steep incline; be mindful you must carry
out what you carried in + any finds collected.

Arrival ETA: 10:40 am
Departure: ~ 3 pm for about 3.5 hours of agate hunting.

What to bring: Boots, bucket or pail, snacks, water, waders, walking stick, clothing layers – the water will be COLD!

This field trip will be happening rain or shine, so please plan accordingly

Host/contact: Trevor Duncan 360-920-2393

September 11, 2025

Field Trip, Saturday, October 4

Saturday, October 4th

BEGINNER FRIENDLY – all vehicle friendly

Swift Creek @ Baker Lake – Swift Creek Campground
Coming from Whatcom County: Meet at REI @ 9 am to carpool.
Coming from the South: Meet at Cook Rd. Park & Ride, exit
232 @ 9:30 AM.

Open to dues-paid members of the Mount Baker Rock &
Gem Club only. A waiver must be signed to participate.

We will convoy east on State Rte 20E to Concrete, WA and
venture up Baker Lake Rd., then park in the gravel lot after
the bridge just past the Swift Creek Campground.

For folks leaving from Bellingham, expect about 80 minutes of drive time to get to our destination.

Those joining at Cook Rd. Will drive ~ 60 minutes. Park restrooms will
be closed for the season, so bring your own TP.

Terrain is a flat dirt road, with trail access through the
campground, and then a small hill to get down to the
creek. For those who don’t want to walk as far, there are
agates to be found just under the bridge, but gators or
waders are recommended for the best hunting! Expect to
walk up to 0.5 miles to the search site.

Arrival ETA: 10:40 am

Departure: ~ 3 pm for about 3.5 hours of agate hunting.

What to bring: Bucket or pail, snacks, water, waders,
clothing layers – the water will be COLD!

This field trip will be happening rain or shine, so please
plan accordingly.

Host/Contact: Trevor Duncan 360-920-2393

September 6, 2025

Newsletters Now Available

Club newsletters can be found by using the pull-down menu under the top-level menu item “About the Club”.

August 29, 2025

August 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

8/11/25 – MBRGC Board Meeting, 6 pm, Ferndale, WA

Prior to meeting start, a discussion occurred about payment collection procedures for the mall shop.

Meeting opened by President, Michael Langley

Secretary Report: nothing to report

Treasurer Report: 7 new memberships, healthy income, expenses: State Farm Insurance. 2026 Show is already pre-paid! As well as monthly meeting space.

Joan Hartman estate, inventory.

Federation: Mike M. will stay in Kennewick Saturday night to save the club $

September Meeting: Candi presenting about Gem identification

October Meeting: annual auction

November: Wes presents about thumbnail/ mini specimens

December: Holiday potluck & gift exchange

Old Business: First Aid & walkie talkies for field trips. Should we adjust our stipend for field trips to increase interest? Discussed tools of the trade.

Jonathan Syltie, a club member has volunteered to do our club newsletter. Look for the first edition in Fall. Thanks, Jonathan!

Mineral Council Fieldtrips: Scheduled Field Trips. Find out more HERE.

RRR has closed! We have 30 vendors filling 44 booths throughout the weekend of 9/27 & 9/28. $200 Facebook budget for advertising. Waitlist?

ATM – yes! BBQ truck Saturday, and Pizza truck Sunday.

Our next Board Meeting would occur on Labor Day, 9/1 – shall we reschedule for 9/8? Voted, and agreed to meet second week of September.

minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary

July 27, 2025

July General Meeting Minutes

MBRGC General Meeting, July 21, 2025

Meeting called to order by club president Michael Langley at 7 pm.

August Show ‘n’ tell: Quartz crystals

September: Gem ID presentation by Candi G.

Raffle: congrats to our guest, Greg. Members: Heather, Chris H., Sandee, Gordy, Marjorie D., Bruce W., John L., Tom C., Melody

Secretary Report: nothing to report

Treasurer Report: 10 New memberships, welcome Stephanie! June was a busy month. Thank you for everyone supporting the club by participating in silent auctions at the meetings. Expenses: books, saw repair, utilities, meals, rent, etc.

RRR: Sold out! A waiting list has been started.

Federation: Wala Wala, WA show in September. Mike will attend.

Lapidary: going well. Gordy and Candi on vacation soon.

2026 Show: Need help with tumbled stones, and prizes for kids. Free rock bags. Please bring donations to the mall, a meeting, or Candi and Gordy’s.

Mineral Council Field Trips:

8/16 – 8/17 Greenwater for agate, opal, jasper

9/06 – 9/07 Red Top for agate, jasper, geodes

9/20 Little Naches for thunder eggs

More info HERE

Newsletter – we las published a newsletter under Linda M. in 2018. Do we have a volunteer? It can be put out monthly, quarterly, etc. Let’s make this what you want to see.

Summer Picnic: Sunday, August 24th. 10 am set up and tail gaiting. The mall shop will be closed that day.

Location: 1371 Paradise Rd. Ferndale, WA 98248.

Potluck style picnic – the club supplies water, plates, cutlery, chicken.

Bring your own chair.

Food will be served in the afternoon, around 1-2pm.

intermission, followed by the second half of John L’s presentation about self-collected minerals from around the USA.

Our August meeting will still be held on Monday, August 18th at 7 pm. Show n tell is “Quartz.”

minutes submitted by Trevor Duncan, club secretary