Rockhounding Wyoming

The 75 sites described in this guide take you across the red desert to the high mountain majesty of the Big Horns and Wind Rivers as well as the geologic wonders of Yellowstone National Park. Graham, a former hardrock miner, developed an interest in rocks at an early age, and he shares his enthusiasm for rockhounding and his appreciation for the diverse Wyoming landscape that holds the treasure. Each description provides detailed information complete with maps on how to find the remote as well as popular digs, what will likely be found there, the tools to bring, the best season to visit, the appropriate vehicle to drive, or when to lace up your hiking boots to get to those out-of-the-way places.

Born in Wyoming near the southwestern edge of the Black Hills, Ken still considers himself a native. The old west history came to life at an early age, which contributed to the urge to explore and especially find undiscovered wonders. Black Hills Gold lured many colorful characters to The Black Hills adding to his desire to gain more knowledge of this mysterious connection between rocks and men. Kens search cut a trail through local mines and ghost towns, including work as an underground miner at Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, and then expanded into an international quest. A serious mining accident created a career change from underground mining to writing. As time marched on a new perspective on mining presented an opportunity for Ken to attend Montana Tech at Butte, Montana, resulting in a Mining Engineer degree. This opened more new doors to explore previously unseen minerals and metals of all types. The adventure then expanded to tunnels in places such as the Weehawken Tunnel in New Jersey, and the Seymour-Capilano Twin Tunnels in Vancouver, BC. The interest in rocks, minerals and geology is still very active with historical information helping to focus on some specifics. Writing is taking on a more prominent place at this stage of life as his body just can’t do what it used to. A novel is in the works. Rockhounding Wyoming is an attempt to share the “treasure trail” with those who would like to embark on their own adventure. It is hoped that the sites and information shared in this book will help enlighten seekers and provide a little more clarity on what to look for in the geology that surrounds us all. Currently Ken lives in Craig, Colorado with his wife Sandy. They still load up and head into the vast expanse all around them at any opportunity. The adventure of the treasure hunt lives on, even if the destiny of old age slows Ken up.