Trilobite Hunting!

5th grade bucket list dream happened today!

Kristin and I went digging for Trilobites in western Utah -- 

52 miles west of Delta, the last 20 on a dirt road, 

three and a half hours from Salt Lake, in the middle of nowhere now, 

but the edge of the Pangea 500 million years ago.

And the time flew by. Felt\ like only minutes since we had so much to talk about.

(And Kristin drove!)

Kristin became my willing participant because of her family connections in Delta, Utah and her love for that area. Thanks to her, she made "some day" happen by actually making plans for our adventure. With their imminent move back to Tempe, it would have been easy to say too bad we never got around to it.

BUT, no! Isn't she a wonderful sister-in-law?

I'd learned there was a U-Dig trilobite location near there and had always wanted to go trilobite hunting. Like since 5th grade when Mr. Fornelius rewarded us for good test scores with trilobites and other fossils or minerals. (It's because he made geology so much fun that I took it as an elective at BYU, and well, that's where I met Dan.)

I wasn't sure what to expect or if we'd actually find anything. 

But wow! Trilobites in every third rock you cracked open. 

Trilobites in rocks you just picked up off the ground. 

We spent two hours sitting on the ground, orange buckets by our sides, 

splitting shale with claw-side of our hammers.

It was super addicting and so satisfying, especially in late spring with cooler temps. 

I will totally go back any time anyone wants! It was super fun. And so rewarding.

Sorting through our haul, picking and choosing what to leave and what to take.