The mountain of fire.
In January of 2025, Kim and I started to climb Saddle Mountain, an extinct volcano west of Phoenix. We had only hiked along the trail about a mile when Kim, my step-daughter, discovered a vertical zone of greenish rock that contained patches of crystals, but only a few fire agates.

But Kim knew what to look for – a vein that had fire agates in it. At last she found one — we could see a beautiful thin vein of copper colored, white, and black fire agates, but we couldn’t extract it, because like a dummy I had left the hammer and chisel behind. But we were thrilled by the potential when we return, and we will return!

On that same day, we did find some very good fire agates lower down the mountain, where we have rock-hounded before – see two pics here of some of the best.


Never too young to learn.
My step-great grand daughter is named Kamryn, or KamBam as we sometimes call her. She is three years old and a pistol. She was all over the fire agates, and quickly started finding them by herself when we took her with her mom Kelby to the lower slopes below Saddle Mountain.



.Goldfield Ghost Town near Apache Junction
Apache Junction is west of downtown Phoenix and lies below the Superstition Mountains. I have hiked in there many times, and read books about 20 different murders which occurred while prospectors searched for Jacob Walz’ lost gold mine.

At the bar of the restored pub you can have a drink, order a meal, while gazing at the awesome Superstitions in their sunset splendor. G-daughters Kelby and Kara are doing that with Kim.

The Goldfield Ghost Town is the site of a once-active gold mine now restored to a theme park. The town has a tour of the old gold mine. On weekends they even have a cowboy shootout in full costume – see in the pic where Kara squeezed her way in between a couple of old-timers.



Today the Albuquerque temperature is above 60F for the first time in about a month. Can spring be far away?

Best regards from the Gray Nomad.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.”
And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind;
And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire;
And after the fire a still small voice.

[I Kings, chapter 19]


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Vanessa Chavez
Vanessa Chavez
1 day ago

Good morning Ian ~
How are you? I was in Apache Junction for my birthday last summer. A Steamboat cruise dinner. I live in Pima AZ. 82° yesterday!

Karen Larre
Karen Larre
1 day ago

Looks like a really great time! Especially with Kamryn. Thanks for sharing, Ian!

Marie
Marie
1 day ago

Thanks for sharing your adventures. I love to read about them.

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