Well, with me it's always about hunting for photos and searching out interesting trees (first loves always), but I do love minerals. Given the sad state of my knee, this was a rare outing to go rock hounding (with my guy and our dear friend) on Obsidian Ridge amidst the remnants of the 2011 Las Conchas Forest Fire in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. Situated between the supervolcano of Valles Caldera, Bandelier National Monument and the city of Los Alamos, obsidian lies in abundance on the ground, produced by a volcanic eruption 1.4 million years ago. Hiking along the exposed ridge among the burned stags, smoke from a distant forest fire and sweeping mountain views it feels eerie, old and earthy. No cell service, no people save for us three, just the sound of the whistling wind rushing though the valleys and glossy black obsidian winking in the sun.