Thanks Vinny,
nice way to sum it up.
I've searched for lost treasure & gold up & down CA, particularly alot in the desert.
When I was a boy, my father took me looking for a lost-padre mine out of Tejon.
I had an adventure, about 10 years ago, I often think about. It really was about tuning in.
Once I was high-plains drifting with a partner, along the CA/AZ divide. We would walk dozens of miles, without trails, across ridges & washes. My partner had a grandmother, who was Piaute. She told of a ledge, where gold could be cut from a vein while standing on horseback. We had some vague directions we followed. We were searching for this spot. I kept trying to 'picture' the old indian, up on his horse, carving out the gold.
But no matter how I tried, the picture wouldn't come in. And it didn't feel right. I kept telling my partner that. I told him I felt we were too many mile off the mark that day. He said he felt it too, but wasn't sure what to do. So we decided to 'unfocus' and see what the terrain would bring us. Now as crazy as this seems, I kept getting visions of someone that looked indian, but more mexican (or spanish). I felt we were near someone's workings, but not our mystery ledge.
On a gut impulse I tracked NE coming out the highlands towards the basin. i got into a gulch where we saw alot of mineral/gem sign. My partner stumbled on a magnificent natural pyramid shaped mega-crystal, that was layered green & white with a white clear apex. Then we started finding more crystal & semi-precious gem-like material... some terminated & double-termiated quartz & quartz-mix, etc.
Finally we stumbled near the front range, getting nearer to civilation but still off the trail, when I found a spanish mine marker sine, posted at a big pile of boulders. There were some cave/caches there. The sign said Cerrado, or Corado (or Coronado); At the time I took as old spanish for Crystal (or Coronado). It seems to be more of a stash-location than a marker. Especially since the sign itself was sorta hidden. Anyway, we stumble around and find more near gem quality crystals... my partner is reluctant to go. But sure as the tug I had to clamber to this place, I felt the tug pulling me farther along.
Finally I hiked down near the basin, before I felt I could be satisified. The crystals were dense there. My partner was ready to go back (a long hike up awaited). Still I felt the tug. I circled a few more hills till I found 'it'. That which was pulling my mind in.
A big mine-hole opening, closed with iron-gates. Inside, a cave covered in crystals. It was a crystal cavern. Really nice sized. The only one I've really ever seen. Since we were near some roads, we figured it must be an old tourist site or something.
Funnily, my Dad stumbled across the same place with his partner, a year later, although I hadn't mentioned it to him (I told him of the ledge gold in the area we sought). He says he wandered into it to; just feeling drawn there. A coincidence?
I searched and haven't heard anyone mention this place. Any old desert-heads listening out there, please let me know.
Sorry if I've been vague, but I think I left enough details.
I'm sure to go back soon. Alot people seem unable to re-locate finds in the desert... I've had no trouble so far, but I think it's because I rely instinct more than visual cues; the desert can change alot more than people think.
So long for now, Kurt
