1 We went on a field trip to the quarry today in a 15 passenger van: 5 parents and 8 kids ages 4mo to 4yrs.
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3 Loading up the van at my house...car seats were lined up and waiting for me to pull up :)
4 Ready to roll!
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7 Liisa cleaning the windows for better viewing!
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9 The pit is about 1000' deep at least - the peaks are 800' above sea level and we are at 200' elevation for this photo.
10 Each berm is 25' wide and 50'-100' tall. They are intended to prevent rocks from falling and damaging vehicles. Sometimes the quarry fills with water runoff during the winter. This pool of water is beautiful and can only be seen from above. I hiked up there in May 2007 and it was a beautiful iriquois blue.
11 Our guide, Linda, was so knowledgeable!
12 Look at the paparazzi!
13 Ben took his morning nap during the tour :)
14 Describing the explosives used - ANFO or ammonium nitrate/fuel oil - to break up the very, very hard basalt rock.
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19 This would be a great birthday party spot for boys! Just bring toy dump trucks!
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21 The drillers down in the pit.
22 Liisa climbing back in from jumping out to take pictures :)
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25 The 50-ton haulers are very advanced, computer controlled rigs. The tires are as tall as our XTerra.
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31 Don't you love Kathy's girls!?
32 The kids loved the huge rig!
33 That's where the driver sits!
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38 McD's afterwards compliments of Ameron. Thanks for a great time!
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42 Big Ben! He's almost as big as Caleigh!
43 Flirting with Liisa :)
44 There's a cement truck coming back from the quarry! (I've just dropped off the van back at Enterprise.)
45 The rest of the pictures are compliments of our photojournalist, Liisa :) Enjoy her view...you might just find beauty in the mining machinery and quarry!
