Olympic gold in long-distance fossil carry (FW Formation He-Man)

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

In North Texas, we finally had enough of a dry spell to see the previously flooded creek waters recede, so 100-degree heat or not, I was magnetically drawn to the sweltering algae-covered rocks of my favorite local creeks. 
my first stops were Oliver Creek and Elizabeth Creek west of I35W near Justin, TX (2 separate days). Oliver covers a number of formations, but I was along the Duck Creek and Fort Worth formation sections. Estimated weight carried up a steep embankment after a shorter 1/3 mile hike: 50 pounds. Mostly eopachydiscus ammonites between 8-12 inches diameter, and a couple of nice mortoniceras ammonites positioned a few inches higher than the eop. One has ELECTRIC sutures (shown under UV).
 

next up is Elizabeth Creek, a FW formation/Weno(?) spot with various elevations each delivering different fossils. This was the bear of a hike. Almost a mile during mid-day, and I had the biggest mortoniceras I’ve ever recovered, 14 inch diameter. I had to carry it because my backpack was full. Then I stopped because a 10-inch mort that I missed initially was poking out of a gravel bar. So then I had 40 pounds on my back and another 40 in my hands (I weighed them when I got home), total weight 80 pounds. I probably lost 10 pounds of water from sweating (exaggeration), but I think I am ready to start a fossil hunters boot camp. I had to stop and sit down every couple hundred feet..no wonder! I also ended up with a super nice neithea pectin, but mostly mortoniceras ammonites. No echinoids, strangely. 
 

That trip took it out of me, well, at least for a couple of days. Next stop was about a week later, closer to home. This spot is almost strictly Fort Worth formation, and it has the best and biggest echinoids I’ve found, including a3-inch holaster in perfect condition. This trip resulted in one of the nicest nautiloids I’ve found, and several nice ammonites as well. I have my work cut out for me on the preparation front!

oliver creek:

Elizabeth creek (except heteromorph, which was Oliver):

local Johnson County FW Formation finds (I’m unwilling to name the creek):

Edited August 11 by Shaun-DFW Fossils

[AK hiker]

Wow just Wow! That load in those high temps would have melted me and my fossil dog. 
AK hiker

[Ludwigia]

My oh my! What a load! Methinks you might soon be running out of space to display your myriad finds.

[automech]

I would say you earned a gold for each day and location. Great work Shawn! 
No pain! No gain!

[trilobites_are_awesome]

Very nice ammonites!

[hemipristis]

Nice haul!

 

That first bivalve is a treasure+

 

.

[Ironhead42]

Those are some really nice finds! Especially like the detail on some of those echiniods.