Adventures at the San Rafael Swell

Lizard in the desert

Today, we found ourselves craving an escape from the confines of our home, seeking a momentary respite from our everyday routines. Our inclination led us to embark on an impromptu road trip, and before long, we found ourselves instinctively steering towards the very same location where we had previously engaged in the rewarding pursuit of rockhounding earlier during that same year.

The allure of the open road and the sheer enjoyment of the journey proved so captivating that we inadvertently overlooked the fact that we had already passed the intended destination. As time unfolded, a realization dawned upon us – we had overshot our initial objective. Consequently, we made the spontaneous decision to alter our course and drive towards the captivating San Rafael Swell, nestled in the heart of East-Central Utah, along the scenic highway 70, just skirting the edge of the Colorado border.

The notion of searching for the elusive and prized red grape agate, rumored to reside within this geological wonderland, had been lingering in our minds for some time. Upon reaching our intended location, however, we encountered an unexpected challenge: a complete absence of cell phone reception, rendering us unable to confirm whether we had correctly pinpointed the precise spot described in our research.

Adhering to the navigational insights we had previously gathered from various sources, we resolutely set off on foot, our hearts filled with anticipation as we embarked on the quest to discover the breathtaking beauty of the sought-after agate. Despite our diligent exploration of the surrounding area for a period spanning approximately two to three hours, our initial discoveries were somewhat modest, limited to what appeared to be some tastefully agatized Puddingstone specimens and a small collection of common opal fragments.

A storm brewing in the distance

Given our lack of foresight and preparation for this spontaneous excursion, we found ourselves relying on what was readily available – a simple plastic grocery bag from the car – to contain our initial, albeit modest, collection of rockhound finds.

As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the landscape, we ultimately made the decision to head back to our vehicle, opting to explore the terrain in a somewhat divided manner. It wasn’t long before my wife, Annette, emerged victorious, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she revealed a promising discovery: a cluster of exceptionally well-formed red grape agate specimens.

My own luck, however, seemed to be taking a bit longer to materialize. It wasn’t until I was nearly at the car, my hope beginning to dwindle, that I stumbled upon my own small treasure – a piece of red grape agate, though small in stature, possessed an undeniable allure. Measuring approximately one and a half inches by half an inch, it shimmered with an inner radiance that, in my humble opinion, rivaled anything I had ever encountered online or in person.

The euphoria of this find was short-lived, however. As I approached the vehicle, a chilling realization washed over me: a hole, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, had materialized in the plastic bag, allowing our rock collection to escape. With a heavy heart, I retraced my steps, diligently searching for the remnants of our adventure. I managed to salvage the other rocks we had found, but the exquisite red grape agate, my personal prize, remained stubbornly out of reach. A wave of disappointment washed over me; it was gone, vanished without a trace. Desperate to reclaim my find, I meticulously followed my footprints, fueled by the faint glimmer of hope, but the path led only to emptiness. The cherished gemstone had seemingly been swallowed by the earth.

As faint sounds drifted from the vicinity of our parked vehicle, I observed my wife diligently gathering the rock specimens she had discovered. I promptly recounted the unfortunate events surrounding the loss of my prized red grape agate, and, with admirable compassion, she immediately offered her assistance, joining me in a renewed search of the immediate surroundings. Despite our combined efforts and persistent examination, our initial search proved fruitless, and the elusive gemstone remained stubbornly out of sight.

Following this unsuccessful attempt, I conveyed my conviction that our location was indeed the correct one and expressed my intention to thoroughly explore the immediate area where we had parked our vehicle. Our subsequent investigation, however, yielded no noteworthy finds, and as we began our walk back towards our car, a small detail unexpectedly captured my attention. Situated remarkably close to the vehicle, we discovered an absolutely breathtaking geode, its interior adorned with delicately colored purple amethyst and an array of vibrant jasper, showcasing an exquisite spectrum of purple, red, orange, and yellow hues.

Following our initial unsuccessful search, we extended our exploration for a while longer, however, our persistent efforts to locate additional treasures proved futile, and we eventually decided to make our way back home. During our journey, we made a few strategic stops along the route to capture some memorable photographs and also took careful note of the specific freeway exit that had originally been on our intended itinerary.

Outlaw Country – Butch Cassidy, Elza Lay, Flat Nose George, Kid Curry, and Joe Walker were here