Winter is here for rock and treasure hunters in the North. Looking out of my window today, I can see the snow caps on the mountains near by. I really can't complain too much. My home hasn't been turned into the inside of an aquarium or been swept away, so I can consider myself fortunate. Nonetheless, I am a rockhound, and for a rockhound winter is never all that welcome.

Chiseling rocks frozen to hillsides out of the ice is not completely unknown to me, but it's not the best of rockhound experiences by all means.

Winter doesn't have to be a dead time of year for us though. By organizing the phases of your recreation to the different seasons, you will find you have much more time in your hunting seasons to actually hunt. Your hunts will be more productive as well if you use your down season for learning, planning, crafting, and selling.

Now is the perfect time to browse the libraries and old maps and books to plan our trips for next summer. Local museums often contain many old maps and pictures that can be used to research areas that there is little time to research during the summer This is also the perfect time of year to join clubs and attend seminars or classes that you were reluctant to give up time outdoors for in better weather. These activities will not only teach you more about your chosen

Rocks that have been tucked away during the summer months can now be conveniently brought out, cleaned, classified, and crafted as well. Cold, rainy or snowy days were just made for get togethers with other rockhounds to craft your finds. With Christmas just around the corner you may be able to get some ideas from other rockhounds about what kind of gifts you can make from your summer caches. Displaying and selling your crafts and any finds labeled for sale you can also gain funding for a winter trip or next season's hunts.

For those of you in the south who are looking out your window and thinking about how great it is that hunting season is coming your way, it's now time to shake off the winter duldrums. While you're hunting season gets under way, we hope you will think of us in the north and send us some pictures of your finds and information about the areas you are hunting in down there. You just never know when some of us will decide that enough is enough and head south to hunt in areas that we wouldn't have ventured to during the blast of the summer sun.

©2005 Sally Taylor: Sal is an avid gem and treasure hunter, explorer, writer, and is the owner of http://www.rockhoundstation1.com

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