Rock hounds finding treasure in Monte Lake ashes

After a wildfire roared through Monte Lake last season, rock hounds have returned in abundance, searching for newly exposed gems.

Since the White Rock Lake wildfire burned much of the area, Vernon Lapidary and Mineral Club vice president Tony Heisterkamp said it exposed some materials that would have otherwise been covered by leaves and brush. At its peak, the wildfire reached 83,000 hectares in size.

“We’re probably one of the biggest clubs in the province because we do lots of field trips and we’re seeing a lot more action,” he said, adding up to 50 people can attend the trips.

Last week, Heisterkamp was driving along Highway 97 and already saw rock enthusiasts out at 7 a.m.

“We have over 400 members and that’s everything from babies to seniors. Monte Lake is more or less world famous,” he said.

READ MORE: Rock collectors captivated by crystal formations near Monte Lake

The Monte Lake location has been producing minerals for decades. With highway improvements, people have also become more aware of the location and have stopped to inquire.

The area is under a mineral claim, so people are limited to the space beside the highway.

Heisterkamp thinks the uptick in interest is because of social media and people are sharing their findings online. After the pandemic, more residents are also itching to explore the outdoors.

“Five years ago it was tough to get more than 10 people out on a trip and now… we did an Easter Egg hunt and we probably had 40 or 50 kids, never mind the parents,” he said.

However, certain spots in the Okanagan have been restricted from ATVs to let the habitat recover following the fire.

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