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U-Dig Fossils Visitor Experiences at U-DIG Fossils |
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July 11, 2002 by Gary and Linda Swarz
Gary has been cleaning trilobites with his Dremel tool, waiting for his motor and stand to arrive to follow Gene's suggestion for cleaning! We have told many, many people about our visit and have them intrigued by showing them our "dig" result. So many questions, so little time! Really!! And we find that Gene's name pops into the conversation consistently - "Gene told us this" "Gene told us that" "Gene knew that....". We certainly are in the Gene fan club and hope when we return again in the future he is still available to help us at the dig. He is also very gentle with children and "teaches" them well. We noticed him with several families and he certainly makes the kids feel like a big part of the expedition! He has the right blend of helping and leaving you to your adventure. We are looking for more people to tell our stories too and I am sure they will get to know Gene well, also! He is "da best" as they vernacular is today!
We now have a stereo scope to look at all the fossils and rocks and minerals we found at the Bug House. Can you tell we are still on a natural high? Thanks for one of the, if not the, best vacations we have ever had. We already dream about a return trip!
July 18, 2002 by Vikki Jacklich
Went to Delta, UT between June 30 and July 3, 2002. While extremely hot in the field, we did find many outstanding 'biters (Elrathia in various conditions from truly excellent and about 1-1/2 inches long to parts of about 1/8") not only at U-Dig but also up near the Marjum Pass (found a few Agnostids) and also about 3-1/2 miles from the pond on the way out to Marjum Pass.
With big sunshade hat, long sleeve hiking shirt, jeans, boots, LOTS of water and my Blazer (4-wheel drive wasn't necessary on any of the roads and we did wander around quite a bit in the House Range, back through the pass and out by what appeared to be a quartz quarry), I was pretty comfortable and didn't sunburn.
Spent 2-1/2 days in the field and had a very pleasant stay in Delta at the Best Western (truly a comfortable place to go back to after a day of rock cracking). Breakfast at Top's City Cafe on the main street in Delta is a high point - outstanding value, great food! Visited all the rock shops in town and on the way out of town West to the world of trilobites.
Left Delta and drove up to Kemmerer, WY to dig fossil fish (roughly a 5 hour drive and well worth the trip.) and then on to Rock River, WY to dig dinosaur at Como Bluff with Bakker and crew. This was an outstanding two-week fossil finding adventure moving through time from 500 mya to 50 mya. Total fun, lots of driving, but you get to meet lots of great people along the way. A good stopping point between Kemmerer and Rock River is Saratoga, WY for the hot springs, art galleries, and dining - several good places to stay including the Far Out West Bed & Breakfast and the Saratoga Inn. I will do this trip again - Delta is a "must" stop.
July 11, 2002 by Frances Whitney
I just got back from visiting the trilobite quarry with two of my children (ages 20 and 24). We traveled to Delta by way of the Tintic Mining District, where my great grandfather got his start (and his finish) as a miner. We took pictures of some of the most admirable timbering I've ever seen, still sturdy and solid after over a century. There is plenty more to see in this area other than the trilobites -- lots of antique stores and rock shops, for a start.
In Delta, we checked into the Best Western and then went larking off down a nowhere road to try to find the trilobite fossils. It's funny that I've been driving around in a 4WD vehicle for two years now and this is the first chance I've had to use it. We wouldn't have needed it, really, but we drove a little easier knowing we had it.
It was darn hot. We got to the quarry and spent the afternoon breaking rocks with a hammer. It got hotter. We found many, many trilobites and this was extremely exciting, but boy was it hot. Eventually, we loaded up all the rocks we could carry and returned to Delta. Everyone got their fill of trilobites. Fortunately, we'd had the foresight to bring a package of ziploc bags, so we had somewhere to stash them all. We ate dinner at a place called The China Inn in Delta--to be highly recommended. Lots of really good Chinese food, for not a lot of money. (The buffet didn't look all that fresh, so we ordered off the menu.)
There is lots more to do in the area. When I was in college, I went on a trip to find topaz at Topaz Mountain. It would be fun to go stay a week or so in Delta and go on expeditions--to find geodes, topaz, obsidian, ammonites. You name it, this part of Utah has it.
Also in the area are Cove Fort (which has been restored and features a nice tour), the Territorial Statehouse in Fillmore, lots of scenery, the Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort (hiking and fishing) and many quaint little towns. A great part of the world to get away from it all.
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