Greetings, Friends!
Waterfalls are so magical, don't you think? There's a really pretty one that everyone sees driving into the mountains on I-70, in a little town called Idaho Springs just as you enter the mountains. It's called the Charlie Taylor Waterwheel, and in the summer snowmelt comes down the mountain rivers and creeks and makes it come alive. I always get excited when I see that waterfall, because I know my mountain adventure is about to begin!
Source: www.alltrails.com
Back in 1859, George Andrew Jackson discovered gold in Idaho Springs, setting off the famous decades-long Gold Rush of the West. The area is so rich in minerals because of the convergence of so many riverbeds and geological activity, and there you can find clear and rose crystal quartz, garnet, and citrine - but mostly people were interested in the MILES-long ores of gold in that area. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Idaho Springs' mining activity ceased during a ban on crystal mining during World War II, as all mining activity needed to be focused on the war effort.
It's a perfect spot for a field trip, James and I thought, and we so trekked our gear out to Clear Creek last weekend to fish and rock hunt. Driving along Highway 6, we picked a spot we thought would yield our treasures. There are so many breathtaking properties along that road - it always gets me dreaming about living in the mountains, right on the river. What could be better than that?! I bet those lucky homeowners have the loveliest built-in nature amenities: the sound of the river greeting you as you gently wake in the morning, the lush and revitalizing greenery all around, the incredible smell of the evergreens, bright stars at night, and that special something about mountain air…
Clear Creek in Idaho Springs, Colorado
For so long I have dreamed about making art in those magical mountains, setting up shop and giving all of my energy to creating. June Moon Homescapes is a big part of that dream - someday we hope to launch a new line of handmade, authentic, one-of-a-kind pieces for both home and self! So who knows….maybe one day you'll be exploring a small mountain town and stumble upon a IRL June Moon Homescapes shop!
James and I spent that morning peacefully fishing and searching, and it was perfection. A beautiful sunny day that wasn't too hot, with a nice little breeze to keep us energized. Idaho Springs minerals are beautiful and complicated, as they conglomerated to create these incredibly intricate patterns. Pyrite flecks, stacks of mica, and bands of quartz decorate nearly every rock you see. The river is true to its name, Clear Creek, as you can see straight down to the bottom of the riverbed. The minerals in the river are so smooth and can be much bigger than the ones found on the sides of the bed. While not the greatest quality piece, I did find a charming cube of rose quartz in the river that I just absolutely adore! This is an item, along with a number of other rocks I've collected along the way, that sits proudly on the bureau beneath the television. It's helped to create this beautiful landscape that my eyes rest upon often.
Idaho Springs minerals
James found a couple of fish, but it's never about catching the fish for him. He is all about the motion and technique of flyfishing. He probably cast 200 times that morning, and it is something to see. Flyfishing is the type where you have a really long line, and you whip it back and forth to cast your line far out into the river. He's also into tying his own flies. He learned that flies are nearly 100% made by people working under unfair conditions, and so started watching a guy on You Tube who could have been very famous during the pandemic (I'm just saying…). So now, he spends the night before a big fish tying these intricate flies that - as spoken in Peter Heller's novel The Guide - "could be jewelry." Never ceases to amaze me, that man.
We came home dirty, tired, and blissfully sunned. You know that feeling? Those summer days where you've done something with yourself fully present in nature, and it's filled your cup? I love, love, love those days. The only thing missing was June! <3
I hope you have as great a weekend or better, friends. Stay tuned, as I'll be giving some sneak peaks and behind the scenes updates on our new handmade line!
Flyfishing and rockhounding on Clear Creek
