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X-WR-CALNAME:Western Interior Paleontological Society
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Western Interior Paleontological Society
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250904
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250908
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20240308T142254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250802T225713Z
UID:4561-1756944000-1757289599@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:Como Bluff Three\, Nail Quarry 2025
DESCRIPTION:Home of the famous “Bone Wars” in the 1880s\, South-Central Wyoming’s Como Bluff has produced many well-preserved specimens from the Morrison Formation. Most of these were collected by men working for O.C. Marsh between 1877 and 1889 as well as the Hubbel brothers under E.D. Cope between 1879 and 1880. \nThe Nail Quarry is on private ranchland and Anita Colin along with J.P. Cavigelli are the quarry managers. Hundreds of bones have been excavated from this site; primarily remains of “classic” Jurassic dinosaurs such as Allosaurus\, Apatosaurus\, and Stegosaurus. All fossils are for scientific research and go to the Tate Museum in Casper\, Wyoming\, where they are prepped and studied by J.P. Cavigelli and his team. \nThis field opportunity is ideal for those with little or no experience working in a dinosaur quarry. Some tools are provided; however\, people are encouraged to bring their own tools. There are jobs for everyone from learning to identify and excavate fossils to hauling matrix out of the dig site. \nAbout 1/2 mile from the quarry is a marine exposure called the Sundance Formation where participants can collect and keep fossils such as belemnites\, ammonites and other invertebrates of the ancient seas. \nDirections will be provided\, and high-clearance vehicles are recommended\, for driving into the quarry. Folks who do not have a high-clearance vehicle can arrange to carpool with other participants or can park (and camp) at the top of the hill and walk the rest of the way into camp. People can camp at the quarry or stay in motels in Rock River or Medicine Bow for around $100 per night. \nWIPS registration is $10 per person\, and the additional cost of the trip is $50 per person\, per weekend. Checks need to be made out to the Tate Geological Museum for this additional cost.
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/como-bluff-three-nail-quarry-2024/
LOCATION:Nail Quarry\, WY\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Quarry-scaled-e1740613836665.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Steve Miller - Second Vice President":MAILTO:wips_trips@westernpaleo.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250927T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250927T130000
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20250713T161025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250802T225253Z
UID:14176-1758963600-1758978000@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:Indian Springs Trace Fossil NNL Site
DESCRIPTION:This 450 million-year-old National Natural Landmark changed paleontology history when it was discovered on a private working ranch by Bennie Thorson just east of Cañon City in the 1960s. Carly Thorson\, his daughter\, provides a guided tour and will decipher and explain the movement of the creatures whose incredibly-preserved fossil footprints were captured in one moment of time when a storm event covered the shallow floor of this Ordovician – Harding Sandstone Formation estuary. Literally stopped in their tracks\, we will learn to spot a resting spot\, feeding trace\, flick of a fin in the sand\, even the impression of bristles on a leg\, a stinger on a tail\, and the tiniest trilobite tracks. \nIndian Springs is considered the best Ordovician trace fossil site in North America and has been a federally protected registered National Natural Landmark since 1979. It is a significant location for paleontology\, geology\, archeology\, botany\, and recent history. It is the type locality for 9 trace fossil genera and species\, and illustrates traces of arthropods (trilobites\, eurypterids\, horseshoe crabs)\, polycheate worms\, and ostracoderm fish – primarily Astraspis desiderata\, a primitive jawless fish which represents the earliest record of cartilage-to-bone in the chain of evolution. \nDuring the walk through pristine juniper woods and then along a 2-track\, Carly will describe the medicinal nature of various plants\, a Civil War site\, a petroglyph\, and geologic features. \nIndian Springs is a private working ranch. No collecting is allowed. Participants must walk in as a group and leave as a group – no early departures except in an emergency. The 1/2 mile walk to the monument is not strenuous\, but there can be cactus\, rattlesnakes\, cows\, barbed wire\, etc. Wear sunscreen\, bring water and snacks/lunch\, and wear hiking boots; no open toed shoes allowed. The tour will depart at 9:30 am sharp. Please arrive by 9:15 am. For safety reasons\, late arrivals will not be allowed to go on the field trip. The field trip will last 2-3 hours. \nAn additional $15 per person for the guided tour will be collected at the site on the day of the field trip. Be certain to bring the exact cash of $15 per person\, as checks and credit cards can’t be accepted. Additional information will be sent out a week prior to the field trip.
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/indian-springs-trace-fossil-nnl-site/
LOCATION:Indian Springs\, 3257 County Road 67\, Penrose\, CO\, 81240\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thumbnail.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Cindy Smith - Leader":MAILTO:cindysmithrocks@me.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20251102T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20251102T150000
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20250915T141633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250916T141351Z
UID:15390-1762088400-1762095600@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:Tour of Steve Jorgensen's Ammonite Collection
DESCRIPTION:Steve Jorgensen has accumulated a world-class collection of ammonites from the Western Interior Seaway and has invited WIPS members to his home to tour his collection. During the tour\, Steve will show examples of the wide variety of ammonites that lived during the Campanian and Maastrichtian Stages of the Late Cretaceous. You will see closely coiled planispiral ammonites\, as well as weirdly shaped heteromorph ammonites and straight baculites. As part of the tour\, he will touch on how ammonites fit in the ecosystem of the Western Interior Seaway. \nSeveral ammonites in his collection show signs of predation from other creatures that feasted on ammonites in the Western Interior Seaway. \nThe tour will last 2 hours\, beginning at 1 pm\, and is open to adult and high school WIPS members. It is limited to 10 participants. Cameras are welcome. Participants are encouraged to bring Western Interior Seaway ammonites with locality information that you would like Steve to tentatively identify. \nAnd plan to bring food to share with the group.
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/tour-of-steve-jorgensens-ammonite-collection/
LOCATION:Highlands Ranch\, Highlands Ranch\, CO\, 80129\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jorgensen-Tour-Photo.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dennis Gertenbach - Leader":MAILTO:gertenbach1@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20251227T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20251231T170000
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20251016T214020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251224T183356Z
UID:17228-1766826000-1767200400@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:Comanche National Grassland: Upper Carlile and Lower Niobrara
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, December 27\, 2025 \nWIPS member Steve Miller (Principal Investigator) has obtained a Paleontological Resources Research Permit through the US Forest Service (USFS) to conduct a survey of the Blue Hill Shale Member of the Carlile Formation in the Comanche National Grassland. The survey enabled by this permit provides WIPS members with an opportunity to do some information gathering and fossil collecting that will benefit the USFS and those who choose to participate. \nThe survey involves examining the Blue Hill Shale Member to look for fossils and other influences in the paleoenvironment. We will be looking for features such as indications of wave base activity on a horizon\, localized denser and less fissile shales perhaps including nodules which encase fossils\, or any other horizon of paleontological interest. \nIndividuals are responsible for correctly identifying fossils as vertebrate\, invertebrate\, plant\, or some other feature or artifact. Consult the Principal Investigator or experienced member if you have questions about a fossil\, its provenance\, or its disposition. \nThe site is in a more remote area of the Comanche National Grassland. It is accessible with vehicles that have eight inches or more of ground clearance. Carpooling is recommended from a meet-up location. Shuttling can be arranged if necessary. \nThis trip will take place on Saturday\, December 27. \nThe area is large\, and people will be encouraged to spread out as far as they are comfortable from the parking area. Pack your lunch. Bring lots of water. \nWe’ll meet up at the Timpas Picnic Area on US 350 at 9:00 and leave there at 9:30 for the site. \n20 person limit. Kids under 18 allowed with adult members!
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/comanche-national-grassland-upper-carlile-and-lower-niobrara/
LOCATION:Timpas\, CO\, Rt. 350\, Timpas\, CO\, 81050\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251013_141309-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Steve Miller - Leader":MAILTO:steve_miller_cs@yahoo.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260110T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260110T110000
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20251101T193131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251214T224032Z
UID:17280-1768035600-1768042800@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:Denver Museum of Nature & Science
DESCRIPTION:The Museum has offered WIPS members a behind the scenes tour. Group(s) of 10 to 15 members will be guided by an Earth Sciences curator. Tours will last about 60 to 90 minutes. After the tour members are encouraged to view the rest of the Museum on their own. Accompanied children\, age 10-17 are allowed. \nRegular WIPS field trip fees apply\, but there are no admission fees to the Museum. Enter at staff-volunteer entrance\, about 100 feet east (left) of main entrance and say you are here for WIPS tour. A greeter will direct you to our group. The Museum opens at 9:00\, so there is little point in arriving early. If you are running later than 9:15\, call trip leader Dan Winester at 303-709-4585 or curator James Hagadorn at 413-348-1176. \nThere is space to store jackets etc. and time to use the restroom. \nRegistration ends on January 2nd.
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/denver-museum-of-nature-science/
LOCATION:DMNS\, 2001 Colorado Blvd.\, Denver\, CO\, 80205\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/dmns-1093-1201x801-d21b45d.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dan Winester":MAILTO:deadfishrman@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260529
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20260227T164216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T225502Z
UID:18284-1780012800-1780271999@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:WIPS Contingent to the Tate Museum Conference
DESCRIPTION:Dates: May 29th – 31st – One day of speakers and two days of field trips. Saturday evening includes a dinner and Keynote Speaker Kirk Johnson. \nTheme: Twilight of the Dinosaurs: Terrestrial Life in the Cretaceous \nLeader:  Dennis Gertenbach \nLocation: Tate Museum\, 125 College Drive\, Casper\, WY 82601. \nLodging: The Ramkota Hotel in Casper is the host hotel. The Keynote Dinner will be held there. They also have a shuttle available to bring folks to the Casper College campus\, as long as there is no airport shuttle at that time. The number is 307-266-6000. \nField Trip(s): Still being finalized. One will include the Lance Formation area in eastern Wyoming. We will visit sites that have been worked on by Tate Museum crews for years. This is less of a collecting trip\, but rather a show and tell. There will be time for prospecting. On our field trips we usually allow personal collecting and/or collecting for your institution\, but the Tate Museum and the landowner would have first rights of refusal for any fairly complete or unusual specimens found. \nCost:  Participants are responsible for the conference cost\, lodging\, food\, and transportation to Casper and back. The cost for the conference has not been announced\, but those who sign up for the WIPS contingent will be notified about the cost and how to register for the conference. Note: There is no WIPS field trip fee for signing up to join the ‘WIPS contingent’ to the Conference. \nEvery year the Tate Museum in Casper\, Wyoming\, holds a three-day conference\, with one day of talks and two days of field trips. The topic for this year’s 30th Annual Conference will be Twilight of the Dinosaurs: Terrestrial Life in the Cretaceous. Kirk Johnson is the keynote speaker and Saturday’s talks will feature speakers from around the country. \nOnce again the WIPS Education Subcommittee is organizing a WIPS contingent to the Conference. We will meet up for breakfasts and dinners\, and enjoy each other’s company over the weekend. Participants can arrange for carpooling to Casper among themselves. \nParticipants are responsible for the conference cost\, lodging\, food\, and transportation to Casper and back. The cost for the conference has not been announced\, but those who sign up for the WIPS contingent will be notified about the cost and how to register for the conference. The Ramkota Hotel in Casper is the host hotel for the Conference\, and there are blocks of rooms reserved at the hotel for the pre-tax price of $89 per night. \nQuestions? Contact Dennis Gertenbach at gertenbach1@gmail.com. Come for an enjoyable weekend of Cretaceous terrestrial life.
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/wips-contingent-to-the-tate-museum-conference/
LOCATION:Tate Museum\, Casper College\, 125 College Drive\, Casper\, 82601\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Tate-Conference.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dennis Gertenbach - Leader":MAILTO:gertenbach1@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260620
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260623
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20260324T222441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260328T162318Z
UID:18436-1781913600-1782172799@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:Delta\, Utah
DESCRIPTION:Dates:  Saturday\, June 20 – Monday\, June 22. \nLeader:  Dennis Gertenbach \nLocation:  Delta\, UT – U-Dig Quarry\, Fossil Mountain\, Conger Spring \nOver three days\, participants will be collecting fossils covering 150 million years of Earth’s history. \n \nOn Saturday\, we will head to the U-dig Quarry to collect trilobites and other Middle Cambrian fossils from the Wheeler Shale\, which dates to 500-513 million years ago. This is a pay quarry\, with the following rates for a half day: \nAdults (ages 17+): $70\nChildren (ages 7-16): $42\nYoungsters (ages 6 and younger): FREE with an adult\nMilitary (bring ID): $59.50\nUtah Resident (bring ID): $59.50 \nOn Sunday\, we jump 50 million years to collect Early to Middle Ordovician fossils from the Pogonip Group\, 458 to 485 million years ago\, at Fossil Mountain. This site has a wide variety of fossils that evolved during the Ordovician Radiation\, including brachiopods\, bryozoans\, gastropods\, ostracods\, nautiloids\, and even a trilobite species. \nOn our last day\, we jump another 100 million years to the Late Mississippian Chainman Formation at Conger Spring. These fossils date to 330 to 350 million years\, and include brachiopods\, horn and tabulate coral\, gastropods\, bivalves\, and crinoids. \nIn addition to the fee for the U-dig Quarry\, participants are responsible for their own transportation\, lodging (motel or camping)\, and food. \nFor more information about the trip\, please contact Dennis Gertenbach at gertenbach1@gmail.com.
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/deckers-utah/
LOCATION:Delta\, Utah\, Delta\, UT\, 84624\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Deckers-Utah-trio-e1774390941845.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dennis Gertenbach - Leader":MAILTO:gertenbach1@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260718
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260719
DTSTAMP:20260607T084007
CREATED:20260324T225619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T022459Z
UID:18452-1784332800-1784419199@westernpaleo.org
SUMMARY:Trout Creek
DESCRIPTION:Dates:  Saturday\, July 18th \nLeader:  Dennis Gertenbach \nLocation:  Trout Creek\, CO – Collecting on local\, state\, or federal public land between Deckers and Woodland Park \nOn this trip\, we will be collecting is in the Manitou Formation from two sites. During the Ordovician (439 to 500 million years ago)\, Colorado was covered with an ocean. Fossils from that time include trilobites (mostly molts)\, brachiopods\, cystoids\, and other marine animals. \nBoth sites we plan to visit are old quarries. We will look for fossils that remain in the loose rock. \nThe first site is a half-mile uphill hike from where we will park. This site has brachiopods and cystoids. (Cystoids were ancient animals that were related to crinoids and other five-sided echinoderms.) \nThe quarry at the second site is about 1/2 mile up a rough road. If we have enough high-clearance vehicles\, we can all ride to the quarry. If not\, there will be a moderate hike with a 500-foot elevation gain. (At least we’ll be hiking our specimens downhill\, rather than uphill.) This site has trilobites (mostly separate pygidiums and cephalons) and several species of brachiopods. \nThe field trip leader has a permit from the Forest Service to provide information about the fossils we collect. Please show any interesting fossils you find to him. \nIf you have questions about the trip\, please contact Dennis Gertenbach at gertenbach1@gmail.com.
URL:https://westernpaleo.org/event/trout-creek/
LOCATION:Trout Creek\, CO\, Trout Creek\, CO\, 80135\, United States
CATEGORIES:Field Trips
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westernpaleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Trout-Creek-Pic-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dennis Gertenbach - Leader":MAILTO:gertenbach1@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
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