Coyote Hills Flintknappers

Monthly Get-Together Knapping Session

The Coyote Hills Flintknappers is a knapping get-together of flintknappers who like to flake stones, learn from each other, trade for materials, socialize and meet fellow knappers. The knapping get-together is open to beginners, intermediate and advanced flintknappers. Anyone who is interested in learning the skill of making stone tools is more than welcome. We will meet one day in every month. Check this webpage for monthly dates.

Update on January 9 knapping get-together:
Six people attended the January knapping session. Despite the overcast sky, everyone came prepared and was bundled up for winter weather. Pete brought basalt and various chert stones that he gathered in California. He gave anyone the opportunity to flake some spalls from the stones. Some people worked on their lithic project, while others got some one-on-one instruction on knapping basics. We had a few inquisitive people stop by and wanted to know what flintknapping was all about.

Here is the information for the next Coyote Hills Flintknappers get-together:

DATE: February 28, 2010 (Sunday) NOTE: Due to the possibility of rain on Saturday (Feb. 27), the date for the Coyote Hills Flintknappers get-together has been moved to February 28 (Sunday). The weather report should be mostly sunny on Sunday. Patchy fog predicted in the morning, but it should burn off before the afternoon. Dress for the weather. We will still MEET AT KARK NORDVIK PARK in Fremont.
TIME: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LOCATION: Karl Nordvik Park, 5850 Commerce Dr, Fremont, CA 94555
The park is on the corner of Commerce Dr. and Ardenwood Blvd. We will be located near the children's swings, under a pine tree. Parking is free.
If it rains, then the location will be at Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area, 2100 Isherwood Way, Fremont, CA 94536 (we'll meet at the South Ensenada pavilion) - $5.00 parking fee per vehicle. I will inform everyone if we switch to Quarry Lakes. Check this webpage the night before the get-together for any last minute changes.
INFORMATION: Contact Dino Labiste via e-mail for any questions at kahikoarts@yahoo.com

DIRECTIONS TO KARL NORDVIK PARK:
Heading I-880 south, take the Decoto/Dumbarton Bridge/84 exit near Fremont. Turn right onto Highway 84 headed west. Take the Ardenwood Blvd./Newark Blvd. exit. Turn right at the end of the exit. When you get to the cross street called Commerce Dr., turn right (the park is on the corner). Park in the parking lot closest to the restrooms. Look for the children's swings, past the restrooms. We will be under a pine tree near the swings.
Heading I-880 north, take the Decoto Rd. exit near Fremont. Turn left, headed west. Take the Ardenwood Blvd./Newark Blvd. exit. Turn right at the end of the exit. When you get to the cross street called Commerce Dr., turn right (the park is on the corner). Park in the parking lot closest to the restrooms. Look for the children's swings, past the restrooms. We will be under a pine tree near the swings.
Coming from the Dumbarton Bridge, headed towards Fremont, take the Newark Blvd./Ardenwood Blvd. exit. Turn left at the end of the exit. When you get to the cross street called Commerce Dr., turn right (the park is on the corner). Park in the parking lot closest to the restrooms. Look for the children's swings, past the restrooms. We will be under a pine tree near the swings.

WHAT TO BRING:
1. Bring your knapping tools and stones to work on.
2. Bring safety gear, like leather gloves, safety goggles, leather pads, etc. I will bring a few knapping tools and safety gear for the beginners who are there for the first time. I’ll also have spalls for beginners to work on.
3. Do not wear shorts. Dress in long pants. Do not wear slippers, open-toed shoes or sandals. Wear shoes that cover your entire feet.
4. Bring a bucket or chair to sit on.
5. Dress for the weather.
6. Bring a lunch and a water bottle. There are good places to eat nearby, if you decide to go out for lunch.
7. If you have a large plastic tarp that you would like to bring to the knapping session, we can use it to cover the ground. Just be aware that your tarp might acquire small holes from all the obsidian and chert flakes. I have a large tarp that I will bring.

NOTE: This knapping get-together is not sponsored by any park, organization or individual. This is a get-together of fellow knappers. Every person is responsible for any injuries they incur. Cuts from sharp flakes are possible. You are responsible for your own actions. So, be safe when handling obsidian, flint, chert or any glass-like stone. Protect yourself and use common sense.

The Coyote Hills Flintknappers get-together is open to the public. There is no fee to attend. Come and work on your lithic project or practice the art of flintknapping and learn from other fellow knappers.

If you are a beginner and will be attending the knapping get-together for the first time, let me know via e-mail whether you will need to borrow knapping tools and safety gear. If you want, I'll add your e-mail address to the Coyote Hills Flintknappers list for the next monthly knapping get-together dates.
If you don't want to receive any Coyote Hills Flintknappers e-mail notices, let me know and I'll take your e-mail address off the Coyote Hills Flintknappers list.

Hope to see y'all there,
Dino Labiste
kahikoarts@yahoo.com

The PrimitiveWays™ Book

The PrimitiveWays™ CD

PrimitiveWays Home Page