"...the Hay Mountain Project remains our main focus right now. We hope to have positive news on that front soon."

Given the likelyhood of, perhaps, multiple confidentiality agreements by now, I believe "soon" to be a bit more than just hopeful verbiage at this point.  Could this mean a partnership and drilling by the end of the year?  [Rhetorical question.]

So, the way I read all of this, and upon recalling some of the interests expressed by others here, don't get caught up in the idea that a clear path to allowing futher work at Silverbell will be a means of advancing Hay Mountain.

...just the way I see things for now.

VP