FrankTheTank Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 (edited) Hello, I am new to this forum and it’s great to see so much knowledge here. My kids and I are planning a visit to the Franconia Strewn Field at the end of the month. We are complete beginners with a Bounty Hunter detector and a couple magnets. We don’t have any expectations of finding anything, but would like the experience of exploring. I have a few questions if I may: How do we get there? Can you just pull over off of I40 and look around about a mile up the road from Franconia or are there dirt roads we need to take? We rented a car. Do we need a 4WD instead? I hear it may not be safe for kids, so if that is the case, we will make other plans of course. Help/Suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Frank le Tank Edited March 10, 2017 by FrankTheTank typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredmason Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Frank; how old are the kids? You have to cross the rr tracks but there is a crossing...others have used. I doubt a bounty hunter will work in the basalt rocks, maybe in the drainage areas. It can be snake country...do you and they understand the risks? Amagnet in the heavy basalt areas might be your best bet...the meteorites will look different...maybe. fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 Thanks, Fred. Ages 9 and 13. We have experience with snakes, as home base is Colorado foothills outside Denver. My son (9) is interested in the southern part of the field, but we can't go to deep into wilderness just yet obviously. Any recommended GPS Lat/Lon or general landmarks for suggested (beginner) areas appreciated (if exists) Thanks, Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredmason Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 (edited) Frank try searching this forum for Franconia Strewn Field comments...there should be plenty of info in the archives... Be sure to stay off private property on the south side... hopefully others will contribute to your cause....the boys are the perfect age for this adventure! I realized I forgot to answer one question...take the Franconia exit...go left to get near the tracks....follow the road right to get up the hill and down Indian???road...google earth will show you.... keep an eye out for gold/quartz rocks and other mineral specimens.... fred Edited March 10, 2017 by fredmason 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampstomper Al Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 I'd say Fred laid it out pretty good for y'all.. Back-scrolling this forum and using his search term both here and Google should get you to just about all the info re Franconia others have been willing to share.. Swamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 11, 2017 Author Share Posted March 11, 2017 Thanks Fred and Swamp. Will do. Appreciate the suggestions. Sounds like a lot of fun! Anything we find we are going to share with our friends at the Colorado School of Mines when we get back. I think they will be able to tell us if our finds are just hot rocks or something more interesting (as we don't have the knowledge yet). Will post our experience here soon. Thanks again, Frank 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredmason Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Frank do a google search, you will find several links and pictures of the field. When is your trip? fred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 11, 2017 Author Share Posted March 11, 2017 Thanks, will do. Looks like morning of the 25th may be our only shot out there. May swap 25th for 26th depending on weather if need be. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayray Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Here is a video I made several years ago that can help you out. I have others out there too. Good luck and be safe. Snakes are out crusing. Mojave greens are very camoflaged. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 Thanks, Jason. Great video and congrats on the great finds when you were out there. Very helpful content. I went to Mohave High School back in the 80's, so I have had some folks tell me about the famous Mojave greens. Do you guys ever wear any type of protection on your lower legs for snakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayray Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 Yes. Snake chaps have saved me a few times, but mainly from the yucca and catclaw. Once they start running I save my time for the winter. But that's just me. By the way, the south side is harder, IMO, than the north. And dont be afraid to move often. Its hit hard out there, and you need to cover some ground. A good vlf, Goldbug/II, MXT, or a PI works well out there. Lots of trash from WWII too. Good luck. J 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikestang Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 (edited) Be sure to bring more water than you think you will need, it's starting to warm up out there. Good luck! Here's an image of a Franconia area meteorite I found at the end of 2015, found it by eye since the batteries in my detector had died, so there are still some out there on the surface waiting for a lucky person to trip over them... Edited March 13, 2017 by Mikestang 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 13, 2017 Author Share Posted March 13, 2017 Nice Mike! That's encouraging. Thanks for the tips. Looking forward. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikestang Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 On 3/10/2017 at 6:49 AM, fredmason said: I realized I forgot to answer one question...take the Franconia exit...go left to get near the tracks....follow the road right to get up the hill and down Indian???road...google earth will show you.... One more part of your first post that I don't think was answered: you don't need 4WD unless you plan to drive in the wash, then you absolutely need it because it gets super soft in spots. Make sure if you park near the RR tracks that you are not between the fence line and the tracks. There are fences on each side of the RR and the area in between is BNSF right-of-way and you will get a MASSIVE fine if you park on their property. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredmason Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 Thanks Mike.... Frank, I have crossed the RR tracks on foot....if you and the boys do that be quick, very quick...it is a big fine for that too...if they catch you. There was a open drainage channel east to go under...or just use the crossing....Mitchel or others could shed light on that. fred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 13, 2017 Author Share Posted March 13, 2017 Thanks Fred and Mike for the heads up and suggestions. One more off the wall question: does anybody still use CB radios out that way. I know some old school truckers that might, but looking to break in a new handheld while I'm out there. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikestang Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 (edited) Here's an image to help a little bit more, remember to park south of the fence line, even if the fence is down/there is no fence! The north side of the tracks is wilderness area, no wheeled vehicles allowed. If you have an ATV there's a road that runs north-south along the west edge of the wilderness area and you can drive it under the drainage xing. Edited March 13, 2017 by Mikestang 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share Posted March 14, 2017 Thanks, Mike! That's very helpful. I'll check that area out. Looking forward! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikestang Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Oh, and you'll want to check out the strewn field map Jim Woodell compiled, it's very helpful also: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheTank Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 That's awesome Mike Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extractor Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 What is the dates, you are planning the trip for ? It's starting to get hot out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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