Horseshoe Bend Field Trip (Current Members Only)

HORSESHOE BEND – RED RIVER FIELD TRIP

(Current Members Only)

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Some of Texas’ largest ammonites come from the Duck Creek Formation of the lower Cretaceous. We have had several field trips recently where we have found the wonderful genera of Eopachydiscus and Mortoniceras that are commonly referred to as ‘hernia ammonites’ due to their large size. These 100+myo treasures. We also find the attendant Holaster simplex echinoids as well as the other Duck Creek fauna and, yes, a few shark teeth have even been found.

I have been watching the NOAA and USGS gauging stations near Gainesville at I-35 on the Red River - https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=oun&gage=gsvt2 . We have found that when the river level is at or below 8’, we can access the seam of these large ammonites that occur near the water level.

So, we’re tentatively scheduling this field trip and we’ll go IF AND ONLY IF the water level is below 8’. So, monitor this website to see if we’ll be going. If there is any question about the trip, you can monitor our HotLine 817-355-4693 and we will Eblast the membership.

We’ll meet at the Oklahoma Welcome Center on I-35 just north of the WinStar World Casino at 8:45AM and proceed 15 minutes to very private land. Gates will have to be unlocked and relocked so if you’re late, you don’t get in. We’ll park on the top of a bluff hundreds of feet above the river and take a steep dirt/rocky trail a quarter mile (at least) down to the collecting area. THIS IS A STRENUOUS TRIP. Going down is fairly easy. Getting a 40+ pound ammonite back up the hill can be a huge challenge. Backpacks work if you’re sturdy or balloon-tired anything can also help. An ATV can make it up and down the trail and landowner approves.

Because this is a fairly popular trip, let’s make it for 40 DPS members only as the collecting area is somewhat limited. Registration and a Hold Harmless Agreement are required. So, please go to the website: www.dallaspaleo.org and signup. Download the HH Agreement below, complete it, print it off and bring it with you on the trip. If you do register and discover you cannot make the trip, PLEASE RETURN TO THE WEBSITE AND UN-SIGNUP so others can go. Registration will be opened for Current Members ONLY at noon on Sunday, November 19.

Lunch is scheduled at McGehee's Catfish Restaurant on the Red River.

Any questions, contact Roger Farish rffarish@verizon.net or 972-898-2700 on trip day.

HoldHarmless Horseshoe Bend.doc