Page 59 - 2007 DT 12 Issues

After achieving the summit, the ceiling with Jack’s group before we returned in May of this year was devoted to
lifted and it was time to descend. As to our cars. Jack looked at his watch his love for hiking, a humorous tale
they started down, “Jack the Intrepid” and said, ‘You turned around before about coping with the foibles of an
looked down at the billiard-ball-like 10:30, didn’t you!’” exasperating hiking partner.
trail in front of him and said that if he In addition to Jack’s thousands of
had seen this view earlier, he would Chuck said, “I started to hike with hours of volunteer time for Friends of
never have started up! Jack because he was going on hikes Red Rock Canyon, he volunteered as
Chuck Williams also shared that I had not done before. But I soon historian at the Nevada State Museum
some stories: realized it was not the destination that and Historical Society. He has left
No Short-cuts to Heaven (as Jack was important, it was the journey itself a legacy of dedication, humor, hard
would say.) that created the memories. Jack was a work, friendship, love and respect for
“Jack liked to take hikes that master craftsman, etching memories nature, and above all, excellence.
reached summits. During the last year that we will carry with us the rest of
our lives.” The Dawn Boy’s Song*
Norm Kresge hiked often with
Jack, who liked his hikes rugged and "Oh, Little Dawn Boy am I!
enjoyed his "Guinness time" at the end From the House of Evening Light!
of a hike. He tells this one: On the Trail of Evening Light!
“Jack became really irritated To Red Rock House I return!
when we hiked Dark Canyon at Held fast in my hands are gifts!
Mount Charleston. We made a wrong With soft rains above me,
turn and had to continue the hike for With sweet flowers below me,
about 1/10 mile along Deer Creek With white corn behind me,
Road. He said that it had ruined the
whole hike because he didn't like With green plants before me,
hiking on roads. He always liked to With pale mists all round me,
explore and discover new ways to go Over the Rainbow Trail I go!
and new hikes to take. He was a gem, Hither I wander, thither I wander,
as you well know.” Over the beautiful trail I go!"
“Cactus Jack” Ryan was Red Rock
Canyon’s greatest booster, the icon of *from Navajo legend.
that he was hiking, we began to use the Visitor Center Interpretive Trail.
walkie-talkies to keep in contact when Happy trails, Jack!
the group became spread out. As Jack Each Tuesday at several times during —Editor
hiked at a slower pace, he was usually the day, he would introduce visitors to
at the back of the group. If the front the natural history of Red Rock
group came to a fork in the trail, we or talk about Southern Nevada’s
would generally call back to Jack to many natural treasures, weaving
see which way he wanted to go. His a story—as only he could—of
normal reply was, ‘Take the one that native plants and animals, spec-
goes up.’ If we said that both trails tacular geology and fantastic
were going up, he would answer,
‘Then either will work.’ characters, as he walked them
“I once asked Jack why he went around the trail.
on such difficult hikes. He said The Desert Trumpet was
because it made him feel alive. If fortunate to have him on its staff,
we were not hiking to a specific contributing a number of wonder-
destination, Jack would provide the ful front page articles over the years.
faster group of hikers with a time to He covered old Las Vegas—its people, (Photos courtesy of Norm Kresge and
turn around in order to return to the events, scandals and mysteries; tales of Mark Rekshynskyj.)
vehicles at a certain time. Once when
we were hiking the Bonanza Trail, Red Rock, Mt. Charleston and South-
the faster group decided to turn back ern Nevada; and of the desert’s fragile
about 20 minutes early. We caught up environment. His last article published News & Notes, cont’d on p.5

FORRC/August/2007 Page 3