`: Fossil Beach

I've been away from school for almost a year now, and I definitely miss the opportunities associated with it. Sometimes, though, you don't need a school to go on a field trip... you just have to have a little self motivation and to know where you're going. The first is easy, but the second is what can get tricky, especially when you're new to the area. Luckily, I've met some people that grew up around PA who know the recreational and, yes, even the educational spots to go.

One such spot is Fossil Beach. Head west out of town for about 30 miles, park along a pull out, scamper down some bluffs, tip toe through some private property, weave your way through some fallen trees, and find yourself along a little known stretch of coast rife with relics of the past.

A couple buddies, their dog, and I took a trip out there a few weekends back, and we all came away with some really cool stuff.

Meet Avery, a super friendly boxer who can chase a stick and bring it back... and can chase a stick and bring it back... and can chase a stick and bring it back...

So what about the fossils, you ask? Here they are. A little history might be in order, though. If you'll recall from my explanation of how the Olympic mountains formed, most of what's on the surface of the peninsula used to be on the sea floor. During that time (the Oligocene period, 34-23 million years ago) lots of things died. So it goes. (K.V. anyone?)

Over the years these shells and creatures (<-- that's the same beach) fossilized and are waiting to be found. So, I guess all you really need to know is that these fossils that we found are something like 25 million years old. Awesome, right?

Definitely the find of the day... not sure exactly what this is, maybe some sort of cephalopod?

Clams... maybe mussels.

OK this was awesome too... the pictures below are of a vertebrae. Look how big it is! You can see it compared to a quarter three pictures down. You can tell its a bone because of the texture... kind of striped, you see? Maybe this will help... look at the "filled canals" example... see the similarity? And its easily the shape of a vertebrae... extremely cool. 25 million years old!!