Hunting Pegmatites in a Kilt

**Norm** · 16th September 15, 07:58 PM

The summer is almost over and it has been a lot of fun wearing my UT Kilt out and about to the mall, grocery stores, gun shows, on walks with my wife, and rock hunting / hiking. Nearly all comments I heard were positive; most everyone knows what a kilt is these days (except for the loud mouthed types in a truck who called out "nice dress"; my wife hollered back "it's a KILT!"... I did not hear what they said, but she sure did!).

Recently, a friend and I went rock hunting in the Bradshaw mountains near Prescott, Arizona. First we found a large formation called a pegmatite, which is like granite but the crystals are fist size or bigger. Lots of mica, feldspar and a nice big green beryl crystal my friend, John, found. The only oops was when I was atop the pegmatite formation, which is built like a stone wall, elevated above the surrounding granite, and a gust of wind came up from below and.... my kilt went up around me like a blown umbrella. THAT is why I do not go commando. This is how I look at it: A kilt worn without underwear is a kilt. A kilt worn with underwear is..... still a kilt. Anyhow, good thing no one was on the road going up to Crown King whilst my kilt was thus mis-adjusted.

We then took a trail to the bottom of the canyon, and I mean a LONG, steep trail. I attached a photo of me near the trail entrance... you can see from the background that it is mighty rough country. The only downside of the kilt was it does not protect your legs from cat claw bushes sprinkled along the trail. So I got a few scratches. Still, the comfort and freedom of said garment more than made up for that. The Lord was watching over us on that trail. We encountered a BIG rattlesnake, and on the way up, bolts of lightning stabbing the surrounding terrain, and my subsequent wet kilt (from rain, not from that other possible cause).

All in all, the UT Kilt really performed well. Nothing can beat it for comfort. Just gotta be better at dodging those pesky sticker bushes....

And no, I didn't shoot the snake... it was off the trail and away from anything so why destroy if you don't have to?

But now.... kilt season is about to say bye bye here in the plateau country of Arizona. Cold and wind do not make for good kilt wearing. Back to... uh.. er... um... p....pa.... PANTS. There, I said it.

**Dughlas mor** · 16th September 15, 08:30 PM

Nice to hear from you, Norm. It sounds like you have been having a good summer. If I was going rockhounding, I have to say that a kilt would probably not be my first choice in most circumstances, so kudos to you for pushing the limits. Let me know when you find a pegmatite full of nice fat tourmalines and beryls, and I`ll be there!!

**CMcG** · 18th September 15, 04:45 AM

Tobus lives in Texas, and also enjoys hiking in a utility kilt. He uses canvas gaiters to protect his legs and socks from the pricklies, which you might look into, Norm.

**Norm** · 20th September 15, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Dughlas mor

Nice to hear from you, Norm. It sounds like you have been having a good summer. If I was going rockhounding, I have to say that a kilt would probably not be my first choice in most circumstances, so kudos to you for pushing the limits. Let me know when you find a pegmatite full of nice fat tourmalines and beryls, and I`ll be there!!

Thanks, Dughlas.... We found tourmalines, but they were needle thin and black. Not exactly facet grade material. I think gem tourmalines are unknown in Arizona. However, there IS gem aquamarine in the Sierrita mountains, southwest of Tucson. Haven't been there, haven't done that.
Bought some high socks to try and remedy the leg scratch issue. We'll see how that works...

**Dughlas mor** · 21st September 15, 08:01 AM

Sounds like fun, good luck.

**Michael Weatherhead** · 23rd October 15, 09:35 AM

Hey, Norm. First, I can't wait to wear my kilt on outdoor excursions, with our scouts, in my kilt. I'm recovering from back surgery, can't do much yet. Second, my heart is in the Bradshaws. My dad's family moved to Crown King, in the 50's, to work in a gold mine. Then, in the 60's, they all ended up in Bagdad, where there were jobs. When I grew up in Bagdad, my dad took us all over the Bradshaws. Driving the back rd from Prescott, to Crown King, on Senator Hwy, is one of AZ's most scenic drives. We've hiked, camped, and explored all over the area. We even met a guy, named Tommy Cleator, in the little town of Cleator (between I-17, and Crown King). Do you know the history of the switchback road, going up the mtn? It was an old rail line. The train would go forward for a stretch, go past the switchback, then back up the next part. It went forward, backward, forward, backward, all the way up the mtn.. Anyway, It's nice to hear about my favorite mtn range. Thanks.

**Norm** · 25th October 15, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Michael Weatherhead

Hey, Norm. First, I can't wait to wear my kilt on outdoor excursions, with our scouts, in my kilt. I'm recovering from back surgery, can't do much yet. Second, my heart is in the Bradshaws. My dad's family moved to Crown King, in the 50's, to work in a gold mine. Then, in the 60's, they all ended up in Bagdad, where there were jobs. When I grew up in Bagdad, my dad took us all over the Bradshaws. Driving the back rd from Prescott, to Crown King, on Senator Hwy, is one of AZ's most scenic drives. We've hiked, camped, and explored all over the area. We even met a guy, named Tommy Cleator, in the little town of Cleator (between I-17, and Crown King). Do you know the history of the switchback road, going up the mtn? It was an old rail line. The train would go forward for a stretch, go past the switchback, then back up the next part. It went forward, backward, forward, backward, all the way up the mtn.. Anyway, It's nice to hear about my favorite mtn range. Thanks.

My friend that I was with whilst rock hunting told me about the railroad switchbacks and how they would back up and go forward to get up the mountain. If you like mica, that hiking trail is a wonderland; the ground shimmers and sparkles like gold with it. The kilt was awesome for the task but next time I am wearing high socks to avoid leg scratches by the cat claw bushes. Hope you get to do some kilted hiking before winter sets in. My wife and I drove to Phoenix yesterday and I wore my UT Kilts Black Watch tartan utility kilt. Got some good comments. One boy said "wow... a kilt! That is a Scottish thing!" Sharp little dude. He had no trouble knowing what it is. That particular kilt kind of sways and moves a lot nicer than the other utility kilts. Anyhow, hope you get to feeling better....