Pachydiscus kamishakensis Zone

[AK hiker]

I was able to get out for the first mountain hike this season recently after being held back due to storms. The weather had been too hot the last several weeks to get out in the mountains due to afternoon thunderstorms building up making it hazardous for hiking and to leave an aircraft exposed at 5,000’ elevation. Most of the large pictured ammonites are Pachydiscus sp. so here we go, a photo trip in the Matanuska Formation, Member 3.

 

Yes, it is as steep as it looks. Not for the faint of heart.

 

This particular ammonite has been exposed for three seasons now and too steep to get a closer view. One of my old friends:)


A new ammonite from the spring snow melt erosion. 

 

 

This concretion has 4 ammonites present in it. 

 

Another “Old Friend”, each season gets a little most erosion around it and subsequent exposures. The suture pattern and description matches Pachydiscus kamishakensis.

 

Where there is one often will be more in close proximity. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pelecypods are present in great abundance but most are fragmented.

 

One of the few pelecypods mostly intact. 

 

Another old friend, 26” peleycpod. I have posted pictures of the giant clam previously. I’m going clam digging tomorrow and one like this would do for a years worth of chowder.

I have been mainly focused on looking at ammonites and taking my time on this trip started noticing other fossils. This is a piece of a baculite imbedded in a concretion. Once I noticed this one I saw more similar smaller baculite fragments.

 

The backseat passenger looking at an area where belamites occur.

The alpine flowers were out in full bloom. 

 

 

 

Back to the Red and White magic carpet ride to fly home. 

 

 

 

 

[jpc]

Your trips are so cool

[JohnJ]

Wow....

[Euhoplites]

Did you take some ammonites back with you?  Or is there a law against it in Alaska? 

[AK hiker]

On 6/15/2022 at 8:32 PM, jpc said:

Your trips are so cool

Thanks, let me know if you are ever up here again during the summer. Just need good weather for a nice day hike. 

 

On 6/16/2022 at 6:04 AM, JohnJ said:

Wow....

Thanks, I got out again yesterday and the hike got cut short by a thunderstorm that built up over where I had tied the plane down. We got going just as raindrops were hitting the windshield and the wind was picking up.

 

 

On 6/17/2022 at 5:30 AM, Euhoplites said:

Did you take some ammonites back with you?  Or is there a law against it in Alaska? 

I only brought back pictures as nothing unusual was seen. Some jurisdictions allow limited collecting of invertebrate fossils or permission from private property owners. 

[jpc]

Thanks.  I don't see it happening too soon, but ya never know.