📝 GUESTBOOK 📝

Signing up for the May 9 Spring Thaw Dig! My partner and I hiked through Jenny Jump last October on a fall-foliage trip and spotted some of your trail markers for the Thaw Cut — had no idea there was an active club collecting up there. Found you all through a link on the Warren County Historical Society site. First-timers, bringing loupes and lots of enthusiasm.

— Erin H., Bethlehem PA · posted 4/8/2026

Quick logistics question — is the $5 state-forest parking fee per car or per person? Driving up from Trenton with three of us and want to pool cash at the iron ranger. Thanks!

— Mark S., Trenton NJ · posted 4/3/2026
REPLY from Amy V.: Per car, Mark. Just fold a fiver into the envelope at the kiosk when you pull in. See you Saturday! — Amy

Joined the club in spring 1998, when I was 11 years old — my dad saw a piece in the Star-Ledger about Ed and brought me out to the June dig that year. I still have my first garnet cluster on the mantel. Moved to California in 2008 for work, moved back to NJ in 2023, and came out to the March dig last weekend after almost twenty years away. It was like nothing had changed, which I mean in the best possible way. Ed is still Ed. Marge still brings the thermos coffee. Thank you for still being here.

— Tommy P., Phillipsburg NJ · posted 3/23/2026

Incredible Fall Leaf-Change Dig last Saturday. 17 of us out, perfect weather, and my daughter (age 9, first dig) found what Hank confirmed is a well-formed almandine garnet in schist — she has not stopped talking about it. It is going on the shelf in her bedroom next to her softball trophies. Thank you WCRA for running these outings and for being so welcoming to kids.

— Priya M., Morristown NJ · posted 10/19/2025

Annual picnic was a blast again this year. Ed gave his usual "how I got into rocks" speech (I think I've heard it a dozen times and it gets better every year), Hank brought his homemade elderberry wine, and Marge's dog Pepper broke into the sandwich cooler again. Same as every year. Looking forward to the 40th anniversary in 2027!

— Jim D., Phillipsburg NJ · posted 8/24/2025

Brought my Cub Scout den (8 boys, ages 7-9) to the June dig. Best day they have had all year. Ed's patience with the kids is something to see — he spent twenty minutes teaching one of my scouts how to use the streak plate and had a line of boys waiting their turn by the end of it. We will be back every year as long as you will have us.

— Dan C., Den Leader, Pack 412 Blairstown · posted 6/16/2025

The May 2025 Spring Thaw Dig did not disappoint — went home with three decent smoky quartz points and a handful of garnet-bearing schist. The walk up to the Thaw Cut is steeper than I remembered from 2018, but the crew took it slow and nobody got left behind. Big thanks to Amy for taking over so much of the logistics these days; Ed picked a good successor.

— Walter B., Belvidere NJ · posted 5/11/2025

My dad Daniel O'Donnell (WCRA member 1989-2018, still holds the club garnet record set at Jenny Jump in 1994) passed away in November 2023, and I finally got around to bringing his old rock hammer back to the club this fall. Ed cried. Marge cried. I cried. The hammer is now hanging above the mantel at the Grange meeting hall, with a little plaque. Thank you for being such a good home for him for so many years.

— Michael O'Donnell, Scranton PA · posted 11/30/2024

Hi from a non-member! I teach 7th grade earth science in Hunterdon County and I have been using your Minerals page as a reading assignment every fall since 2019. The kids love it (especially the fluorescent willemite part). Would you ever be open to a class field trip? We have about 30 students. Totally understand if it's too many for one outing, but I thought I'd ask.

— Ms. Harrow, Hunterdon Central Regional · posted 2/9/2025
REPLY from Amy V.: Absolutely — we do school groups a couple of times a year. We'd need to split 30 into two visits given our site cap, but that's very doable. Email me directly and we'll set something up for spring. — Amy

Long-time lurker, first-time poster. My wife and I have been on three WCRA digs now and each one has been better than the last. The October 2024 dig at the Old Harmony Quarry was magical — got a great calcite cleavage fragment and met a guy who has been coming out since 1991. The older members have so many stories. If any of you are reading this: thank you for keeping this alive.

— Raj & Sarah N., Flemington NJ · posted 11/5/2024

Did my first dig with this group on Oct 17 last year and had such a great time, I made my husband sign up too. Ed is a riot and Marge's thermos coffee is worth the trip by itself. I went home with a bucket of calcite and a smaller bucket of "maybes" that turned out to include a very small but real willemite. Under UV it is AMAZING. Thank you thank you thank you.

— Linda T., Hackettstown NJ · posted 2/14/1998

Hi all, I have a question about preserving garnet specimens — the ones I collected last fall seem to be shedding little schist flakes and I am worried they are falling apart. Any advice on stabilizing them without ruining their natural look? I saw something in Rock & Gem about dilute PVA glue but wanted the locals' opinion first.

— Bart F., Washington NJ · posted 2/27/1998
REPLY from Hank P.: Bart, dilute PVA (Elmer's Glue-All thinned about 4:1 with water) brushed onto the matrix works great for stabilizing schist without changing the appearance once dry. Wet the specimen with plain water first so the PVA penetrates evenly. You can also try Paraloid B-72 if you want archival-grade, but it is overkill for most amateur collections. — Hank

Hello from Germany! My family is visiting relatives in Newton, NJ, this summer and we would very much like to attend a mineral dig. Is it possible for non-members to attend? My two children are very interested in geology. Thank you for any information.

— Klaus & Annika R., Frankfurt Germany · posted 2/10/1998
REPLY from Ed V.: Klaus, absolutely — please come! Email me directly with your dates and we will find an outing that works. — Ed