Cascade Canyon Corundum
May 2006
Cascade canyon is a small arm of San Antonio canyon.
Mt. Baldy road runs along the west wall.
From Mt. Baldy rd. a small fire road leads down to the trailless wash.
Once a lush grove of trees, recent flooding has left a vertical lumber yard.
Melting snows of the high elevations keeps the water flowing in the wash.
The group makes it's way across boulders, creeks, and fallen trees.
The weather was nice and the hike not far. Happy hikers.
It took a little courage but eventually we all made it across.
It was easier on the way back, once you knew you could do it.
Survived the treacherous river crossing!
Well, this is the spot! Start looking for those rubies!
A couple of hours opening rocks sounds fun!
This is the rock wash that comes down the ravine from the outcrop high up the mountain.
Look for corundum crystals in these.
Before long, the sun started heading down and it was time to go back.
A small falls along the way.
A sample of the corundum crystals typical of the locality.
They're a bit purple to be called rubies, grape sapphire maybe?
Ultra-violet light reveals their flourescent nature!
~end~
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All images copyright ©2006 Adriano DeFreitas