Winter Escape
- Behold The Bright Green, Peach, Aqua Fluorescent Opal In Its Natural Light Glory!
Hey Adventure Seekers! Grab a cup of cocoa and cozy up for a tale of winter escapades in the Seminoe Mountains of Wyoming!
You won’t believe it, but with sixty mph winds and big snow drifts being the norm this time of year, Mother Nature has thrown us a curveball. Unseasonably warm weather, with winds at a breezy 50+ mph and temperatures above 50 degrees, has melted away the earlier snow. That means the backcountry is still fair game, and I’m itching to revisit that opal outcrop.
The Plan
So, here’s the game plan: I’ll take a leisurely stroll for a mile or two along the exposure, snap some photos, do some daylight rock hunting, and then switch on my new lamp once the sun bids adieu.
The Day
Surprisingly, it looks more like late summer than early winter out here. Don’t let appearances fool you, though. It’s a whopping 70 degrees colder, and the winds are twice as fierce as they were last summer. Back in the day, making this trek would’ve been labeled risky and downright foolish. Without the luxury of modern weather forecasting, these conditions could spell trouble, with a storm lurking just around the corner. But fear not, today is different. With accurate forecasts and the assurance that help is just a phone call away, the risk is minimal. Although a vehicle might end up stranded for five months, losing one’s life is highly unlikely.
Out of the wind and in the sun, it feels more like spring. I ditch my coat and hat, reveling in the pleasantness. However, it’s not an entirely carefree visit. There’s an urgency that quickens my pace. I scan the sky as much as the ground, aware of how swiftly my warm cocoon will vanish with the sunlight, based on past experiences.
This is the same formation, a few miles up the strike from the opal location. The tuffs aren’t as blocky, and the hills aren’t as resistant to weathering, giving the landscape a more rounded topography. It’s a much safer area to explore at night than clinging to those cliffs. And…
The talus yields some opal and chalcedony. No need to cling to a rock face. I can break out specimens and toss them up and over the cliff.
The Night
As the sun dips low on this high-elevation plateau, the temperature drops another 20 degrees. The wind cuts through my coat, and my hands, even with gloves, are numb from carrying those talus specimens. It’s becoming brutal and unsafe clambering around that cliff with numb fingers in the dark.
The fun has waned, so I’ll stash some talus specimens, call it a day, and eagerly await the adventures that next June will surely bring.
Stay warm and adventurous! ✨
Cheers, D 🪨🔥
