I was wondering if you carry a side arm while you're out like that.

What is the smoke coming from Richard?

There are 302 wildfires burning across the state right now. East wind kept the smoke away today but tomorrow it's supposed to come from the SW so the viz will be down to 1-2miles at best, maybe less. Today was great. Got 3 honest quarts of blueberries, but it was a grunt. I carry a S&W Lew Horton .44special full of hot handloads down there because it's primarily black bear country. I'd carry a shotgun or my shorty 1886 Win .45-90 if there was much chance of a grizzly happening by. They are down there but not often.

I looked at your bio and saw that you are a minerals geologist. My Aunt Elizabeth was supposedly the first woman in Ohio with a college degree in geology( Univ. of Chicago), but later got a teaching degree and taught high school--probably tough for a woman to get a job in geology back then. She lived to be 104.
I play tennis frequently with a retired geology professor from Univ. of Pittsburg, and often bring in some interesting rock I pick up while hiking around for him to identify.
I always enjoy your pictures and posts

I do a lot of rock ID for folks who have rocks they've picked up somewhere and bring home. Everyone likes "cool rocks" it seems.

Some of the prettiest and most interesting rocks I've found were from the Kvichak and Talachulitna Rivers in AK.

Had I had room I would have brought a number of cool rocks from the beach at the landing at the head of the Kvichak home with me two years ago. Out of character for me to not have brought at least one small one out.

I find the cool rocks don't last too long

richard i have a rock i got as a kid no body has ever been able to identify it...it is bright orange in color with yellow streaks thru it..i myself have never seen such a colorfull rock...charlie

Can you post a picture of it?