Most topaz crystals are colorless, but diligent searchers may find specimens of various shades. Yellow crystals are considered the most valuable. The desert can also hold vivid reminders of just how forbidding and desolate a land this barren expanse can be. The occasional stark white bones of an animal that did not survive, or broken auto parts lying on the side of the road, are quick reality checks that the elements are in control here, not man. Survival in the desert is a delicate balance for the creatures that have adapted to life here.
Human intervention is limited by the surroundings themselves.
The lack of water in most areas and the vast temperature range from summer to winter make living here unsuitable for most. But playing here can be very rewarding for those who are ready to gear up for adventure. Many Utahns have discovered the beauty that awaits the traveler on the numerous dusty roads crisscrossing the thousands of acres west of Delta. Adventure is also readily available for those who wish to travel only near paved roads and leave the backcountry adventure for those better-equipped. In dry weather, travel on many of the unpaved back roads is as smooth as on most two-lane highways.