Every breath I take into the wilderness is full of adventure and thrill of the unknowns before me, especially when I am on a determined mission to find beautiful, precious rocks. My head is down, my focus is pulled into a world of colors, light, luster and patterns. My spirit is unleashed and untamed. I feel wild yet overcome by an overwhelming sense of peace. Everything around me is a blur. The sounds that fill my mind are those of pondering questions that will likely never be answered. I use my fingers to feel the textures of the stones beneath my feet. My eyes become fixed on the smallest of details, sometimes unaware of potential dangers hidden just feet away. Our bodies get tired, our defenses lowered. This day was a perfect example of an adventure into the wilderness in which I could have been better prepared, a reminder to myself that I need to be alert every time I enter the rugged back country to seek the thrill every rockhound has felt deep inside.

#rockhounding