Mara_Masina Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Hey all, This weekend I was going to go on a trip with folks from my fossil club, but they cancelled last minute and I've already paid for a hotel room in the area. Therefore, weather be darned, I'm going fossil hunting anyway. Is anyone else going out on Saturday that might want company? I'm a pretty relaxed human who typically matches the energy in the room, as I like to be inoffensive and approachable. I just figured that it would be awesome to hunt with another forum member or two instead of going it alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 It may help if you say where the trip was to be. 1 Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Just now, sixgill pete said: It may help if you say where the trip was to be. Whoops, I see it in your tags. 1 Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara_Masina Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 1 hour ago, sixgill pete said: Whoops, I see it in your tags. No worries! Here, let me be more specific. I intend to hit the Calvert fm via Matoaka or possibly the MD side of the Potomac for some choice Aquia pickings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 I've hunted those areas in similar winter temperatures. Wear layers, so you can remove them if you get warm as the temperature rises during the day. You need waders. You can't afford to get wet feet at those temperatures. You need footwear that can work on solid ice, as the beach could be an ice skating rink. You need a pick to be able to pick fossils from the ice. The beach could be so badly iced up that you can't walk on it easily or can't see any fossils. I hope you have a good experience. Edit: You might consider wearing light rubber/neoprene gloves under your winter gloves and/or bringing extra gloves in case your gloves get wet picking up fossils. Marco Sr. 2 1 "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Better warm cloth gloves under big rubber gloves. + a vacuum flask with hot drinks. Additional t-shirts, spare gloves and scarfs. Also wear lots of socks 1 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bthemoose Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 (edited) Also if you do have waders, you should still be careful with the ice. I ended up tearing mine on some jagged ice along the Bay last year--luckily only on the gaiter part of my waders that overhangs my boots, so no water got inside (and I was later able to repair them). Waders can always tear of course, but with the current temps, this could be dangerous and not just inconvenient. (Same thing with losing your balance and falling in.) Edited January 21, 2022 by bthemoose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megalodoodle Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Oooh I have a suggestion if you want to go hunt for aquia formation fossils. Here’s the exact link on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4328608,-77.252675,17.91z?authuser=1. The entrance is next to/behind an open gate. Its public and perfectly legal to collect there. I’d suggest timing your trip so you can collect at low tide. If you can’t, get a pair of waders (like the kind fly-fishermen wear). In my experience surface collecting is best at low tide. At high tide you can get your waders on and sift through the sand. Just don’t dig in the cliffs and try not to get wet. There’s a TON of pollution in the water (mercury, etc) so I highly suggest you to avoid getting wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcher78 Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 I was considering doing Matoaka Saturday. I haven’t been in awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara_Masina Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 16 hours ago, MarcoSr said: I've hunted those areas in similar winter temperatures. Wear layers, so you can remove them if you get warm as the temperature rises during the day. You need waders. You can't afford to get wet feet at those temperatures. You need footwear that can work on solid ice, as the beach could be an ice skating rink. You need a pick to be able to pick fossils from the ice. The beach could be so badly iced up that you can't walk on it easily or can't see any fossils. I hope you have a good experience. Edit: You might consider wearing light rubber/neoprene gloves under your winter gloves and/or bringing extra gloves in case your gloves get wet picking up fossils. Marco Sr. You've got it man! I already have chest waders, 5mm neoprene gloves, shoulder length waterproof gloves, and rubber boots for my stockingfoots. Thanks!- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara_Masina Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 13 hours ago, RuMert said: Better warm cloth gloves under big rubber gloves. + a vacuum flask with hot drinks. Additional t-shirts, spare gloves and scarfs. Also wear lots of socks Bought a vacuum flask. I'll see if the hotel can fill it up for me! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara_Masina Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 10 hours ago, Megalodoodle said: Oooh I have a suggestion if you want to go hunt for aquia formation fossils. Here’s the exact link on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4328608,-77.252675,17.91z?authuser=1. The entrance is next to/behind an open gate. Its public and perfectly legal to collect there. I’d suggest timing your trip so you can collect at low tide. If you can’t, get a pair of waders (like the kind fly-fishermen wear). In my experience surface collecting is best at low tide. At high tide you can get your waders on and sift through the sand. Just don’t dig in the cliffs and try not to get wet. There’s a TON of pollution in the water (mercury, etc) so I highly suggest you to avoid getting wet. Ooh, thank you! I'm having trouble deciding on Aquia or Calvert first but I'm going to do both eventually! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara_Masina Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 9 hours ago, Searcher78 said: I was considering doing Matoaka Saturday. I haven’t been in awhile. Well, let me know if you do! I'm in the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 8 hours ago, Mara_Masina said: You've got it man! I already have chest waders, 5mm neoprene gloves, shoulder length waterproof gloves, and rubber boots for my stockingfoots. Thanks!- I hope you have a successful trip. Please post a trip report. I know it is late, but you might also need a face mask. I always have one in my backpack in the winter. It was 14F when I walked my dog this morning, and my face got really cold in my walk. Marco Sr. 1 "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcher78 Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 22 hours ago, Mara_Masina said: Well, let me know if you do! I'm in the area. Sorry I decided not to go. I couldn’t find my face mask I use in the winter. Most my hunting stuff is packed away until spring. Hope you had luck in hunting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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