Susan from PA Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I'll start this trip report with a little back story. About 5 years ago, my daughter, who is 8 years old now, started watching the PBS show "Dinosaur Train". She became very interested in dinosaurs. We took a trip to the Smithsonian, and watching her look up at the dinosaur skeletons in awe was amazing. Later, my son who is 6 years old now, would follow in the love of dinosaurs as well. When I got home from Washington, I decided to see if it was possible to put together a little collection of dinosaur fossils together for her 4th birthday the following year. I looked at a a popular auction site, and saw that there were many for sale. I started with a Nanotyrannus tooth, and it slowly grew from there. I was always trying to win fossils from a seller in Powder River County, Montana. I didn't have much success, as I was always outbid at the last minute. One Saturday night when the auctions ended, I hit the jackpot! I won a Thescelosaurus metatarsal, and a beauty at that! The rancher's wife, who also does an outstanding job preparing the fossils, was very concerned, and sent me inquiring about where the fossil would land up. She said it was very rare, and that she didn't want it sold to someone who wouldn't appreciate it. I sent her an email, telling her that the fossil would be in good hands, along with photos of my kids at the Smithsonian, and we've become good friends over the years. She is like the sister that I never had. We write to each other every day, with most of our conversations not even involving fossils. Fossils brought us together as friends, but we have so much more in common. I would later learn that the reason she was so concerned about where the metatarsal was going, was because I outbid someone who was building a Thescelosaurus foot. I am happy to report that the metatarsal in question has made it to it's rightful owner 5 years later, and is now part of the foot that it was always meant to be a part of in the first place. In April, member Troodon convinced me to ask the ranchers if I would be able to come out for a dig in September. He's known them longer than I have, and has collected on their land many times. I was thrilled that the dates I had available fit into their schedule as well, and that they were happy to have me. . A few months later, Troodon decided to join in the dig as well! It would turn out to be the trip of a lifetime. Not only did I get to dig for dinosaur fossils in the Hell Creek Formation, which so few people get to do, but more importantly, I got to meet some great friends! I left from Lehigh Valley Airport in Pennsylvania on September 13. I had a 3 hour layover at O'Hare, and then continued my journey into Rapid City, South Dakota. From there, it was onto Hill City, South Dakota, where I would meet member Troodon the following morning. While in O'Hare airport, I was surprised to see a kiosk for the Field Museum, with a Brachiosaurus cast. Perhaps a sign of things to come, although not in Hell Creek I met Troodon the following morning, and we headed to Rapid City for provisions, and then started on hour 3.5 hour journey to the ranch in Powder River County, Montana. The last 45 minutes of the drive was all on dirt roads. If you ever get the opportunity to dig on private land on the Hell Creek Formation, I suggest you rent a 4x4 truck, not an all wheel drive SUV. For example, here is the road, and that dust bowl up ahead is Troodon. He had to pull over several times for me to catch up! Sorry Troodon! I might have been taking pictures with my phone. . As we got to the rancher's property, some locals came out to greet us. I arrived at the ranch about 2:00pm, finally met my friends for the first time, and headed out to the dig site. The site is a channel or microsite on the Lower Hell Creek Formation. The site had two sides, one with mostly sand matrix that is easy to dig through, and one that has a lot of sand, but heavy clay areas as well. The rancher had been finding quite a few T.rex teeth on the side with the sandy matrix, so that's where we started. Here, I was able to get my feet wet, and learn what to look and feel for while digging. If I had a dollar for every time I put glue on a concretion.....:). I learned how to start with a shelf, and dig straight down to the bottom of the fossil bed. I didn't find much the first day, just a couple of Gar scales, and bottom half of a Nanotyrannus tooth. Still had an awesome time! More to come! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exasperatus2002 Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Sounds like a good time. Good to see someone here thats local, Im from allentown 18103. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share Posted October 17, 2016 The next day, we all headed out early to the site. We were headed out to the other side this time, as larger bones were found on this side as well as some T.rex teeth. The sunrise is just beautiful! I admit, that need to be in better shape next time, as digging for fossils is not easy. I have great respect for those who collect on a regular basis. The rancher has a great eye for fossils and is an amazing digger, and having a dinosaur expert as well as an amazing digger like Troodon with me, was fantastic! The rancher is also great with a backhoe, which is a blessing when doing this type of work. Believe me, this dig was first class all the way! . I started red on a shelf about 2 feet deep by 3 feet wide. There were lots of layers of heavy clay to dig through, but the reward at the end was worth it! A vertebra that would turn out to be identified as an Edmontosaurus cervical vertebra. I was a nervous wreck getting it out of the matrix. Troodon suggested that I take all the matrix around the processes with the fossil and have it prepped out of the field, so that's what we did! . More to come! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerogrower Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Amazing pics...cant wait to see that vertebra free! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 You got to hunt with Troodon?!?! ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 With the vertebra safely out of the ground and wrapped very tightly in heavy duty aluminum foil, it was time to head back to the ranch for a much needed shower, and some chicken on the grill for dinner. When the rancher saw what we were grilling, he was teasing us for eating chicken on a beef cattle ranch. We explained that we had hamburgers the night before. We were up very early the next morning to head out to the site for our second full day of digging. My shoulder was sore from digging through layers of heavy clay the day before, but I didn't care. The excitement of what I might find with the next turn of my dig knife kept my going. . As I got toward the bottom of my shelf for the day, luck struck again! This time, a metatarsal that Troodon quickly ID'd as a Thescelosaurus metatarsal II. As I removed the matrix from the bone, it started to crack as soon as it was exposed to air. Some red labeled Paleobond was added to the cracks as they were exposed. I was a nervous wreck getting this little fossil out of the matrix as well, as the borders of the bone were covered in heavy clay. With most of the matrix removed, and a small pedestal underneath the metatarsal, it was time to wrap the exposed surface in heavy aluminum foil, and get it out of the ground in one piece. I was too nervous to try it, so Troodon came to the rescue! Another successful day for a novice like myself! I started another shelf, but didn't have any other finds for the day. However, my rancher friend found this perfect Anzu wyliei foot claw at the bottom of his shelf. If the Powerball ever gets to 500 million, I'm buying him a ticket! Troodon suggested that I purchase it for my collection, and so I did. . The second day came quickly to a close, and we headed back to the ranch for some steaks on the grill. There's something strange about grilling steaks while cows watch from across the road. More on on the way! I promise that this post will end soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 "I promise that this post will end soon!" I hope not. It is very interesting and allows for vicarious enjoyment of your adventure. Keep it coming. Informative Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 We headed out the next morning for our last day of digging. I decided to dig from the early morning hours until noon, as the rancher's wife and I were going to take a trip to the Carter County Museum in nearby Ekalaka, Montana. I wanted to spend some quality time with her, as this trip was as much about seeing her as it was about collecting fossils. I was hoping for one of us to find a nice T.rex tooth on the last day of our dig, but no such luck. All, it was truly the trip of a lifetime. I am so blessed to be able to dig in the Hell Creek Formation, as so few people get to do it. It is an unbelievable feeling when you find a fossil that has been buried in the ground for 66 million years, and you are the first human being to touch it. It's just surreal. I hope that my husband will agree to be a single parent again next September, so that I can go back again. Here are the fossils that I collected, as prepared by White River Preparium in Hill City, South Dakota. A very special thanks to member Troodon for all of his help and guidance during the trip, and for all that he does for this forum and all who love dinosaurs. A very special thanks to my friends from Powder River County, Montana who made my dreams a reality. THE END. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBOB Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Wow! Great trip! Congrats on the cool dino finds! I have a brother that lives in Bozeman and have started networking myself to find some private digging access out there. That's some beautiful country out there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Here is the awesome Anzu wyliei foot claw that the rancher found. I wish I could claim to have found it, but alas, I cannot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Excellent trip report, very well presented. For a first timer you did quite well and I'm sure learned alot. One trip behind you and hopefully many more to plan for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Thanks so much everyone for your kind words! Much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 11 minutes ago, Troodon said: Excellent trip report, very well presented. For a first timer you did quite well and I'm sure learned alot. One trip behind you and hopefully many more to plan for. Thanks so much! I sure learned a lot and had a great trip, even though there are 3 toed sloths out there who could move dirt faster than I could. As with everything else in life, you only get better with practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Great report, Susan. I'm sure it has further inspired your young ones with visions of a future trip out West. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharko69 Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Great report! Great finds! I am so jealous. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vieira Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 This trip it is a dream come true... Congratulations for your fantastic experience and fossils... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 Amazing story Susan. I'm happy you were able to unearth some terrific finds and meet up with Troodon. I've been trying to find a site to take my wife and surprise her, but the fee some of these ranchers ask for is just absurd. You could buy several specimens for the cost to dig for a day or two and still not pay as much. Wonderful report! Thanks for sharing it and allowing us to live vicariously through you. Best regards, Paul ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMUFossil Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 What an exciting story! Glad you were able to take such an amazing trip and thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 What a wonderful report! Thanks very much, Susan! I really felt like I was there with you and sharing your enthusiasm! Maybe you could take the whole family next time Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 That must have been a blast. I have always thought these were not my cup of tea but you may have changed my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan from PA Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Thanks so much everyone for your kind words! Some of you asked about my kids joining me if I have an opportunity to dig again. Although they were both very angry that I didn't take them along this time, they are very young, at ages 8 and 6. While this particular site is a very nice and safe place to dig, I'm going to wait until they are old enough to appreciate it and understand what a privilege it is to be able to dig in the Hell Creek Formation. My guess is that will be around the ages 14 and 12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyB Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Congratulations on a successful trip and thanks for sharing the great report out. This is the kind of report that makes me jones to get out to big sky country someday. Glad to see a local do well (I work in the Valley) For now I'll have to content myself with some semi-local collecting and a (fingers crossed) day trip to central Florida coming up towards the end of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 4 hours ago, Susan from PA said: Thanks so much everyone for your kind words! Some of you asked about my kids joining me if I have an opportunity to dig again. Although they were both very angry that I didn't take them along this time, they are very young, at ages 8 and 6. While this particular site is a very nice and safe place to dig, I'm going to wait until they are old enough to appreciate it and understand what a privilege it is to be able to dig in the Hell Creek Formation. My guess is that will be around the ages 14 and 12. Nice trip and report Susan. As for tasking kids out, I agree with Susan.... the late Cretaceous dinosaur beds out here are not particularly kid friendly. Kids think that if you go dinosaur hunting you will find a T rex tooth or a complete skeleton and be able to dig it up in an hour. I have found that it is very difficult (for me anyway) to instill a sense of awe at hard work and isolated often incomlete bones, in kids whose dino world includes complete skeletons and stunning fact books and high tech computer animation videos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCW3D Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Wow! What an incredible experience!!! This is a trip that you will remember forever! Thank you for sharing it with us! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smt126 Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Great report and glad you had lots of fun. I'm sure your kids eyes lit up when you brought home those specimens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.