On The Fly

On April 6, 2013 , an at times poetic interlude of authors, geologists, gemologists, hobbyists, and lovers of that rare and beautiful mineral corundum (Al 2 O 3 ), met to celebrate the late author and collector of gemological literature, John Sinkankas. It was a wide spectrum of gem enthusiasts that attended the Eleventh Annual Sinkankas Symposium - Ruby . The event is co-hosted by the San Diego Mineral & Gem Society and the Gemologicial Institute of America (GIA). This one-day only event took place at GIA world headquarters in Carlsbad, California. The conference organizer and master of ceremonies was Roger Merk, who serves on the board of directors for the San Diego Mineral & Gem Society. This celebrated day was devoted to sharing the collective knowledge of rubies, and presentation titles included; Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Geology and Ruby localities, the Implications of Optical Orientation, the Ruby Mines of Nepal, Rubies of Afghanistan, Photographing Rubies for Th...

Ediza Lake - photo by Robert Weldon "Whoa!" - for an instant my concentration lapses, feet flailing in the air, a quick flash of puffy white clouds in a clear blue sky, a golden brown hillside cluttered with very large boulders, twisting as I fall, the next instant I hit the ground hard . . . pain shoots through my left hip, "damn!" My immediate thought, “Oh no . . . will I be able to get up, how will I get down this mountain?” Descending the mountain with hiking pole in one hand and fishing rod in the other, a slower pace, very unpredictable. A habitual quick check padding my pocket; camera, fishing rod, my ankle, my back, nothing broken. Ok, let’s try to get up. My partners, Robert Weldon and Brendan Laurs were further up the mountain photographing the majestic view completely unaware of what just happened. For me, this moment was the culmination of all my training and instincts converging in a painful flash. It was day two of our high Sierra adventure. ...

Wrapped in the cozy warmth of a down bag I’m jolted awake from a deep slumber - nature calls. The silence is shattered by the rustle of my sleeping bag. The sweet aroma of the mountain fills the air, and that ever-present biting crisp air on your cheeks!  The zipper moans as you free yourself, then the struggle to find your wool sweater, pants, and shoes to stumble into the brisk morning air. Another zipper whines as you crawl to escape the protection of your mountain shelter. Quietly . . .  do not disturb  is the invisible sign worn by your fellow campers. Photo: Robert Weldon Darkness surrounds you, it's early morning, late summer. It’s tranquil, except for the soft gurgle of the trout stream that lulled you to sleep the night before.  Finally - clear weather, the rains have stopped; millions of stars twinkle like tiny sparkling diamonds against a pitch-black sky. Orion, the hunter is clearly visible in the eastern sky; careful inspection you can see ...