Glass Buttes 2011 Report

This year's Knap-in at Glass Buttes, while hampered by snow, wind, rain, cold and mud, was nevertheless the place to be for knapping!  Though attendance was down consideraby there were a number of new attendees - some experienced knappers, some total newbies.

The first weekend started off with snow and deep mud but that didn't deter the die-hards.  By Sunday there were 40-50 knappers and lots of activity.   Rock runs to the Black Butter and Dacite Digs yielded plenty of knappable material.

While Monday's weather was a little of this and a little of that, it was nice enough to get a full days worth of knapping for most folks.

Tuesday was even better!  A major rock run to the Dacite Digs, 5 or six pickups and a dozen or so knappers spend most of the morning and early afternoon diggin and spalling Dacite.  Emory Coons, as always, worked his special magic and produced beautiful spall after spall from the bigger stuff.

All wee long people came and went.  As some left more arrived to take their place so there was alway a crowd around the central fire pit knapping and solving the world's problems.

The weather continue to deteriorate the rest of the week and by Friday the temperatures were down to the high teens/low twentys at night with snow falling several times a day.  The freezing help keep the roads navigatible in the morning but as the snow melted or turned to rain the roads turned to mud. 

Friday morning dawned with two inches of snow on the ground, the wind howling and the temps hovering in the mid-twenties.  Most folks decided to call it a week (as well as yours truly) and packed up and left.   Some knappers did arrive for the weekend and managed to fight through the frozen ground for their annual allotment of fine Glass Buttes obsidian.

Special thanks to Rocky who arranged for the Porta-Potties.  And special thanks to Rock, Gerry, Eric and the rest of the folks that provided  a steady (and much needed) supply of firewood.

 Jeff 'The Camera Guy' Dixon took a lot of fine photos of the knap-in - to to his website here: Jeff Dixon's Photos of Glass Buttes 2011

Here some photos from the Knap-in:

On the road to Glass Buttes

'Don't worry Dear, the weather will be fine'!                I was right - Saturday morning!

The Day before - didn't look too bad.  Reports back were favorable! (photos courtesy of Gerry Clowers and his new cell phone!)

Well - maybe a little muddy - before the heavy traffic!

But with a 'little' work by Knappers Gerry Clowers and Eric Juhola things were starting to dry out.

Let the draining begin

Cutting a trench for the new stream bed in Obsidan flakes

We now have running water and a stream side campground - can't beat that!

Early morning knapping - shirtsleeve weather!

Afternoon Knapping

Jim Keffer (left) and Emory Coons (working a piece of Clown Obsidian)

(Photo by Shawn Woods)

Dressed for Success - or Survival!

Mick Hill - working a small bi-face

A few 'Black Butter' pebbles  - dug the first Saturday before the ground froze!

(Left to Right) Jim Keffer, Woody Woodside, Jim Smith and Shawn Woods

Mick Hill and his Brother-in-Law, Steve Allely

Tuesday's entertainment!

 Rock Run to the Dacite Digs

Finally - a keeper! You have to screen a lot of debitage!

Might be a keeper as well

More Emory Magic!

Ma - look what I made!

Now that's a Conchoidal Fracture!

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Sampling of Glass Buttes Obsidian Varieties