![\"d20110821_0025\"](\"http:\/\/www.soleillapierre.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/d20110821_0025.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNext stop, the nearby amethyst mine<\/a> – I’ve always been partial to amethyst even though it’s just colored quartz.\u00a0 The mine isn’t much to see – just a big pit:<\/p>\n But they give a 15-minute talk about the origins of the stone and this particular vein.\u00a0 Apparently this is the largest known amethyst vein in North America, and they’ve mined less than one quarter of it so far.\u00a0 The gift shop is good – they have various nice stones and carvings, but the real bonus is tables and tables of raw amethyst rocks at $3 per pound.\u00a0 I bought several pieces totalling eight pounds.\u00a0 They had pieces large enough to make fireplaces or lawn ornaments out of – running into the thousands of dollars.\u00a0 When I have a place of my own to decorate, I just might come back for a large piece.<\/p>\n Next stop, not far down the road, Eagle Canyon and Quimet Canyon.<\/p>\n Eagle Canyon is a commercial tourist trap. For $20 (a bit excessive) you go on a 20-minute hike that takes you across the canyon twice on suspension bridges – one of which they claim is the longest in Canada at 600 feet. Here’s that bridge as seen from the shorter one:<\/p>\n And here’s what the long one looks like from one end:<\/p>\n They also have what they claim is Canada’s longest zipline, starting at the opposite end of this bridge and running down the length of the canyon to the lake at the end. It’s another $60 if you want to do that – I didn’t.<\/p>\n Quimet Canyon is a provincial park and admission is by donation.\u00a0 It’s a bit more spectacular:<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n