Until somehow suddenly, it was time to begin wrapping things up, not just the specimens, but the actual operation itself. The days had finally run their course, the weeks had gone by and now, over a month later, it was time. We collected right down to the end, hoeing the back fillings Jon dumped, deeply burying everything until next time. Then we cleaned up after ourselves and stripped the pit of mining support and then headed down, focusing next on camp.
The tear down was a bitter sweet experience that seemed to end in a flash and yet seemed also to last forever, an intensely melancholy exercise. In one sense it was time to go and it'd be great to finally steer myself back towards home, to see my family and those I love and yet in another sense, there's a side of me that will always wonder what lay behind that next rake of the bucket, that next pry of the bar. We'd endured camp shredding storms, insect plaques, fire storms, governmental inspections, and on and on and on and what an experience it'd been but now, now it was time to come down off the mountain.
With the rigs all loaded for that last trip out, we followed Jon in the backhoe off the mountain to the drop spot where the equipment would be picked up in the morning. It was late and dark by the time we'd finished and I must admit, I was tired. Lost in our thoughts and reflections, the drive back was a quiet one for Scott and I. What an adventure we'd had. We'd learned a lot about the mountain, about each other too and ya know, it'd been a grand time. For me, those last miles back to Scott's place just sort of fell away.
The next couple of days found us all unwrapping our boxed treasures at Ed's place, lining up the tables with separated smokys and amethysts, scepters and faceting rough. This took hours to unveil and what was in the beginning a bare table, soon became cluttered with growing accumulations of treasure. With everything finally out and the pizza on order, next, we began the split.
The split. One of those intense anxiety ridden fun times, one of those ultimate times for a collector when it finally comes down to who gets what. And the selection begins, piece by piece, specimen by specimen and the minutes fell away...
Until finally, it was time to wrap up the rocks again, only this time it'd be our own specimens we'd be wrapping. Jon and Ed's would stay there at the house while Scott and mine would begin their separate journeys home. We still had pounds and pounds of amethyst faceting rough to work up prior to their being shipped off for cutting and from this lot, we estimated that there'd be innumerable fine stones cut below 20 carats ascending in size and rarity towards an estimated top carat weight amethyst that is projected to cut a stone over 80 carats. Many of these stones will be the finest quality as their rough displays an awesome bright deep red colored flash. Each of us is eager to see these upon their completion.
And then, after the good-byes and the hugs, there were only the miles that were left ahead and it was time to go home. I left in the early afternoon and drove straight through and pulled into our driveway sometime in the wee hours between four and five a.m. I was blurry and ecstatic and most importantly, I was home.
For all I've told, for every line and for every photo I've shared, there were dozens and dozens more that could have been written, photos that could have been shot. Like a sponge, I tried so hard to soak everything in, everything. And yet, there was so much that slipped through, that will go unsung and for that I apologize. This was such a big adventure, such an experience, a world class quartz collecting experience in every sense and it's been just so fantastic, so incredible. I'll carry the memories of these days for the rest of my life and I feel so thankful, so privileged to have been a part of this grand time, sharing it with these good friends.
I've brought home crystal treasure, but no doubt, the very best treasure of all was the experience! Thanks so much Jon (and Noni) for inviting me to participate in this incredible adventure. Thank you Scott for all your help and camaraderie and for taking many of the awesome photos which were used in this report. Jim and Ed, we couldn't have done it without you guys!
Thanks so much for coming along everyone. All the very best,
John
