[Rockhounds] giant garnets exposed: a field trip gone awry

[DonH]

Kitty & Bill Heacox wrote:

> OT comment:  Moose?  Pretty unusual in Idaho!  


Hi all,

well, to bring it back on topic sort of, it is definitely important to 
know the environment where you will be collecting.  I have seen moose, 
bear, and elk tracks and droppings all over, some of them very fresh. I 
also saw a wolf this summer, which I reported to the ranger station, to 
which they replied "oh yeah, there is a pack living up there."  I always 
carry bear mace, and depending how far off the road I am going, I may 
carry a sidearm.  Believe it or not, open range cattle are pretty 
aggressive, because they hardly interact with people and don't rely on 
people for their food.  The grazing ranges have changed around here, 
resulting in more cattle hanging out on the roads.  They are mean.  Not 
only that, it is hunting season, so I wear my bright yellow vest.  When 
that moose ran in front of us, I wasn't worried so much about the moose 
as I was wondering what might be coming after it: a gunshot, or a pack 
of wolves.

Many people collect in quarries and dumps, which requires a particular 
safety protocol.  When you collect out in the open range, far from 
people where there is no cell phone signal, it requires another set of 
safety measures.

Be careful,
Don