It's a stunning bluebird sky today as I pack my bags for another short trip to the Blue Mountain-UT quadrangle. On a day like today, I'd prefer to be skiing, but COVID-19 has shut down all the ski resorts in Utah after a significant outbreak in Park City, UT. All was well and good one day at our local Brian Head, UT resort, and the next day my wife, Linda, was packing her bags as the resort decided (or was asked) to close. Linda is a full-time PSI certified level 2 ski instructor, and with everyone else at the resort scrambled to grab all their gear and leave before the doors were locked.

Part of the reason I decided to climb UNP 6530 today is the Utah wonderstone ridge that lay at the base of the mountain. Linda makes jewelry from the rocks and stones we often garner from our hikes, and part of my job for Jewelry Art by Linda is to keep an eye open for suitable stones during my hiking adventures. The wonderstone makes beautiful cabs that Linda will turn into her stunning works of jewelry art between seasons.

Linda gathering Wonderstone at the old mining site. UNP 6530; Beaver County; Blue Mountain-UT quad; Rise: 320’; UT Rank: 2935; UT Prominence Rank: 3982 in the background

I help her get situated, gather a bucket of rocks myself, before leaving for the summit. The hike will be short, as I follow the mined wonderstone ridgeline up and over into the next ravine. Juniper trees dot the hillside and I zig-zag up the rocky terrain. The peak is a plateau of sorts, so I hike to the far side to make the summit. A large stone cap marks the spot, and I note that a rough road cut into the hillside just below the peak as mining operations continued digging the slope.

Dropping back down to the Fj, Linda has picked up a few more buckets of rock as we load the jeep and head for home. Much too beautiful of a day to be on total lockdown from the pandemic.