Flint Knap-In and Paleo Tool Demonstration at Chilao School in Angeles National Forest
The July 2022 Field Trip will feature an educational visit to Chilao School, 40 minutes from La Canada. (Note that Chilao School and Chilao campground are different locales.) Chilao School is located next to the US Forest Service Chilao Fire Station. To get to Chilao School from La Canada, take Angeles Crest Highway 25.1 miles to the Chilao Campground loop. Turn left into the campground. Drive .9 miles past the Little Pines and Manzanita loops and turn left at Mt Hillyer Road (3N141). Proceed down 3N141 for .5 miles to Chilao School. The one room school is on the right BEFORE you get to the fire station. Some of the roads may not have names on them, so please look at the map before starting your journey.
Though the field trip is Saturday only, we’ll be camping ¼ mile down the road at Chilao campground on Friday night so we can get an early start on Saturday. There will be a potluck at the school or campground on Saturday night. Expect daytime temperatures in the 80’s and nighttime lows in the 50’s. If you want to camp overnight, you should arrive ASAP on Friday afternoon to claim a campsite. Better yet, arrange with someone who is going to be up there on Friday morning to reserve you a spot. Campground use is heavy especially in the summer. The cost is $12 a night. Water is provided along with a vault toilet. Note that the Station Fire ravaged Chilao about 13 years ago and new trees are now starting to repopulate the area.
We’ll be learning how to make spear tips, arrowheads, hatchets, and knives similar to what prehistoric man used thousands of years ago. This paleo tool get-together is casual; there is no schedule for instruction, hence there is no official meet up time. You can arrive and go when you please. I recommend getting there by 10AM.
I’ll bring obsidian slabs to practice on. You can contact me at rexch8@yahoo.com.
There is no charge, but a small donation to the nonprofit Redbird/Chilao Visions is recommended. Our hosts are Corina Roberts, founder of Redbird, and Gary Pickett, flint knapping artist.
GPS coordinates for Chilao School:
34.3341764547053, -118.02406758638696
Chilao School Community Programs
Obsidian shards are very sharp. DO NOT WEAR SHORTS.
Please bring:
Leather gloves
Safety glasses/reading glasses
Dust mask
Leather pad/carpet to protect your legs
Chair/shade umbrella/popup
Deer antlers (can be found at Petco and on Amazon, among other places)
Copper tools
Abrading stone or a piece of grind stone
Bug repellent
Small drop cloth to catch fragments
Water/drinks
Typical camping gear
DO NOT WEAR SHORTS