Page 2 - Summer 2012 magazine-2

by Mark Beauchamp

Dear Friends Members.
A few weekends ago, I had an opportunity to hike through Black Velvet Canyon in Red Rock. I noticed that the

crowds of early spring had gone. For some reason their absence caused me to think about the many people who
visit Red Rock Canyon and the variety of activities they enjoy here.
We have cyclists on the Scenic Drive and mountain bikers in Cottonwood Valley; equestrians on the front

country trails and peak hikers in the backcountry; casual tourists sightseeing by car along with motorcyclists
giving their machines a good workout on the drive. Red Rock is visited by birdwatchers moving methodically
along the trails and trail runners going for a big workout. There are rock climbers, canyoneers, picnickers and
hiking clubs. There are folks looking for solitude in the canyons and people finding new friends with common
interests. They come from Las Vegas and from all over the world to experience Red Rock. All of these people

are passionate about what they do during their visit here.
So this, I believe is the challenge for the future of Red Rock: How do we educate people to take care of this
special place? We must first be willing to work closely with our partners in the Bureau of Land Management

and the Red Rock Canyon Interpretative Association. It is only together that we can reach out to our community
and offer educational, recreational, and volunteer opportunities. Friends of Red Rock Canyon is unique among
our partners in our ability to offer volunteer opportunities that give people a sense of ownership in Red Rock.
Red Rock needs good management, visitor education and interpretive programs, as well as good community
involvement. With all three partners working together, the future of Red Rock is a bright one.

In the Beginning...references
Copyright illustrations and front cover 1. BLM – Our Heritage, Our Future website (www.blm.gov.so/st/en.html)
by Robert Tuvell 2. Wikipedia – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Land_Management
3. Friends of Red Rock Canyon archives
Photo Credits: 4. “Transforming space into place: Development, rock climbing, and
Through The Lens---Les Farris interpretation in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation

Tort Tattler---Pat Williams Area, 1960-2010” by Megan Sharp Weatherly - UNLV
In the Begining---BLM and FORRC Archives
Helix Electric

Page 2