It's Time Again

- Calcite Crystals Found Above Swift Creek

Wow! The collecting window for this season is closing fast, and an early snow might be on the horizon. Last year, I found myself with 18" of snow in my front yard, so it’s definitely time to pay a visit to Tom and Julie. There’s the allure of the Periodic Spring, Swift Creek with its fluorescent calcite, and maybe even a stop at the Red Desert if the weather plays nice. Time to hit the road!

This westward trip always stirs up fond memories. Decades ago, my young family had some incredible times up this way. Interestingly, this trip last year brought a mix of emotions and anger directed toward my ex-partner. Now, what a difference! The memories are still there, but now they’re untangled from any ex-related baggage. She’s just a footnote, a textual caption. I’ve genuinely moved on.

The Periodic Spring

A day later, the weather takes a turn. A major snowstorm is expected in 36 hours, and it’s already cold, dark, and wet. It’s now or never for the Periodic Spring.

- Rocky Mountain Maples Near Swift Creek Are Changing Color

Natural periodic springs are a fascinating mystery noted since ancient times. It’s surprising that this one is so obscure. Perhaps its off-road location and proximity to the spectacular Teton mountains, abundant wilderness wildlife, and all the geothermal activity up the road in Yellowstone contribute to its under-the-radar status. Yet, there are similar glaciated Teton-like mountains around the world, abundant wildlife, and geothermal activity elsewhere. Still, periodic springs are incredibly rare, with just three on Earth.

- Periodic Spring Plumbing, How It Works

- A Short But Steep Hike Leads Up A Narrow Canyon To The Periodic Spring

- Mossy Rocks And A Dry Creek Bed Foreshadow Things To Come

Given my religious background, I couldn’t resist. I spread my arms and, with a bellowing voice echoing off the canyon walls, proclaimed my power over nature. I commanded the waters to pour forth, insisting that all should praise me and bring their tithes and offerings. LOL

There was a dull, low-frequency vibration in the shear zone. So, I pointed to the dry creek bed and commanded the water to come forth. And it did! In an abundant rushing, cascading, noisy dash down the steep canyon.

- Instant Mountain Creek

- Tom Recording The Periodic Spring

Tom, an avid backcountry skier, outdoorsman, and all-around great guy, lives in this scenic and wild area. He shares his adventures on the Tom D YouTube channel. This visit to the Periodic Spring is one of them. Check it out.

The calcite veining found here wasn’t crystalline or fluorescent. After enjoying a few more cycles, we raced the flow back down the canyon, then climbed up the opposite canyon wall looking for more red-glowing calcite.

- Racing The Flow Out

- Periodic Springs Flowing Into Swift Creek

Swift Creek Rocks

There’s unlimited limestone scree here, but calcite veining isn’t common. Only a few highly altered, poorly formed calcite crystals are visible, despite the abundance of exposed material.

- Limestone Scree

Farther up the trail is the spot where I picked up the very bright red fluorescent calcite on my last visit. Not much of an outcrop! No large rocks, but a few hand-sized pieces have vugs with good calcite crystals.

What’s that? Some well-hidden creatures not seen when we hiked behind those willows.

- Moose!

- My Brother Tom Filming Moose From The Fluorescent Calcite Location

Rocks? Here’s some of what we found.

- Nice Calcite Crystals!

A daylight check with the long-wave LED flashlight failed to show much fluorescence. They don’t have that bright orange glow seen previously.

Here’s how they glow in the dark, as seen by my cell phone. Not the best images; I’ve written about that earlier. It must do for now. I’ll post better images on my specimen pages in the future.

- Calcite Crystals Under Natural And Long Wave UV Light

Another glowing color! A medium-bright, opaque, yellow glow coats some of the crystal faces. The dark purple glow is a duller, paler, and more lavender. It resembles that lavender-glowing calcite found in the quarry. And there’s a trace of bright orange-red glowing calcite on the tips of a couple of crystals, similar to what I found on my first visit here.

Tom picked up a fingernail-sized calcite cleavage off the trail. It glows a very bright lavender easily seen in daylight! And with a long, bright phosphorescence, it vaguely resembles my calcite specimen from Mexico!

This area definitely warrants more extensive exploration and a night visit. I need to explore more Phosphoria Formation outcrops elsewhere. I’m sure there’s a Phosphoria Formation vug filled with large, translucent, zoned calcite crystals glowing neon red to orange to yellow with a subtle to brilliant lavender accent. I must find it!

Red Desert Rocks

It’s the next morning, and the weather forecast is even worse than yesterday’s. Up to 2 feet of snow north of the continental divide is possible after lunch. My next collecting destination, plan A, is south of the divide. But it’s remote with poor vehicle access. Any bad weather boiling over the divide would strand my vehicle for weeks—maybe even for the winter. This one is very iffy now. If things look bad, I’ll divert to something farther south and with better access. I need to be back on pavement by 4 pm.

- The Destination

An idyllic drive along Highway 191 brings some distant, seemingly low hills and a row of mountains into view. Those very distant hills are my destination. They mark the continental divide. And those seemingly innocent-looking clouds in that idyllic blue sky foretell extremely high-speed winds and a rapid weather shift. I can’t get there before the weather impacts them. On to plan B.

With better weather, improved road, and more time, Highway 21 leads to interesting geology about 90 miles east of here. I can easily get in and out by 4 pm. And that road should remain drivable longer than that. It might get nasty, but I won’t get stranded.

- Onward To Plan B

Really neat country. I haven’t been here before and could easily spend a week exploring what I’ve seen so far. But now, after lunch, that idyllic sky is gone. The winds are howling, rocking the car as I drive. The sky is overcast, and it’s cold. Not much fun here!

- Onward To Plan C

Rather than heading down a track like this to collect, I’ll continue on down Highway 21. I’ll spend the few hours remaining touring the area from the road. When back on pavement, there’s still South Pass and the continental divide to cross. It might be snowing there now. If so, the roads are icy and bound to get worse.

Should I stop, get out, lift my gaze and arms toward the sky, and in a booming voice command the clouds? Nah! I know the real bounds of my religious experience. Time for plan C. I’ll play it safe in my nice, warm car and be home for a late dinner. I’m wimping out. LOL

Squally, mixed precipitation blasts me at South Pass. But no ice, and all is good. Now it’s the end of this collecting season. Time for warm coffee, snuggling, scouting out more Phosphoria locations, and dreaming of next year’s adventures. ✨

Cheers,
D 🪨🔥