In The Footsteps Of Sternberg

[PFOOLEY]

In 1921, Charles Hazelius Sternberg ventured into the badlands of New Mexico to collect Late Cretaceous vertebrate fossils...

 

...pictured here (circa 1923) with pentaceratops...

 

 

...and a shot of his Navajo assistants at "Sternberg's Hoodoo"...

 

 

...fast forward to present day, I find myself with an amazing opportunity to walk in his footsteps...

 

...

[Ramo]

Cool!

[PFOOLEY]

...I headed out to the badlands with friend and paleontologist Bob Sullivan. We set up camp...

...and then hit the outcrops. The first find of the day was this nice Hadrosaurid toe bone...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...followed by a "chunky" Basilemys turtle that had eroded out of a concretion...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...next, up the gully, I found this very large Hadrosaurid tibia...

...I did not have vinac with me at the time , but I will definitely be back...

[PFOOLEY]

...back around the bend, Bob and I found some nice treasures...

...here's Bob working on a very cool juvenile Hadrosaurid toe bone...

...while I was off finding this nice little theropod caudal vertebra...

...and a first for me, an elusive lizard vertebra...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...as late afternoon neared, we continued down the ridge of badlands. We entered a small canyon where I found another "first"...

...a partial dome of the pachycephalosaur, Stegoceras Novomexicanum...

...these are rare little creatures and this is the fifth specimen found...Woohoo! ...

...back to camp 'cause I will have a drink to that!...

Edited April 25, 2014 by PFOOLEY

[PFOOLEY]

...day two, I awake from my slumber...

...coffee, breakfast, and back to the hunt...

...looks like a good day...

[PFOOLEY]

...Bob and I headed out to a ridge of badlands that looked "tasty"... indeed they were. The first find was a small chunk of Hadrosaur jaw...

...along with an isolated rib bone...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...and then a nice association of Hadrosaurid Ceratopsid thoracic vertebra, ribs and tendons...

...

Edited April 30, 2014 by PFOOLEY

[PFOOLEY]

...

...

[PFOOLEY]

...what a great trip! I hope you all find yourselves on wonderful adventures.

Happy Hunting!

-P.

[Foshunter]

Awesome trip and amazing finds, know this was a trip to remember. Thanks for sharing your adventure----Tom

[Auspex]

Oh boy, would that I could! What a neat trip, and a great write-up; thank you

[squali]

Wow that is an adventure that would be tough to end once ya get out there.

Thanks for posting the beginning.

[Fossildude19]

Excellent Photo-essay!

Thanks for the excursion.

Regards,

[Xiphactinus]

Thanks for taking us with you. The Sternberg clan are some of my heroes!

[JohnJ]

Awesome! The best kind of camping, too. Looking forward to seeing the final prep on some of your finds.

[PRK]

MEEEE too!!!!

A must read--- if you hunt your own fossils

[fossilized6s]

Good stuff! Looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing!

[KansasFossilHunter]

Wonderful trip, thanks for sharing and for all those great pictures!

[Uncle Siphuncle]

my kind of trip! thanks for sharing

[JohnBrian]

Great trip & thanks for sharing it with us!

That would be a dream trip for me!

[vertman]

Outstanding report and great pictures. I appreciate getting to see them.

[PFOOLEY]

Cool!

Oh boy, would that I could! What a neat trip, and a great write-up; thank you

Excellent Photo-essay!

Thanks for the excursion.

Regards,

Good stuff! Looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for taking the time. Glad you could enjoy it.