That's All Folks

-This Season Ends, Here.

The higher ground is now snowed in, but the basins are still clear. So, just like last year, it’s back to the Wind River for the final adventure of the season.

A few miles upstream from last year’s gravel bar, there’s another one. I haven’t been to this spot in ages, so in some ways, it feels like a deeper dive into my past.

Not Quite a Perfect Day

Unlike last year’s paradise-lost moment, this late fall outing finds the leaves all gone—everything draped in brown and gray. That cozy layer of solitude is missing, but the river is lower, giving me hope for some decent rock hunting.

The air is cold and crisp, with just a touch of warmth in the sunlight. Most of the wildlife is tucked in for winter, so the focus is on the rocks from the very start. And, just like last year, I end up with muddy shoes again. Totally worth it.

Rocks? Not So Much

All that fascinating rock variety is still here. Yet… not a single silica treasure in sight! I did find a couple of marginal jasper pieces recently exposed in the mud. So there’s still some material to dig, but the surface has been thoroughly picked over long ago. It’s hard to imagine how abundant it once was.

jasper jasper