Page 27 - 2006 DT 12 Issues

to birds, mice to domestic cats. Both away, please let us know when your this winding, hilly, and often danger-
species have exceptional night vision mail will be stopped and we won’t ous road from 45 MPH to 60 MPH,
and hearing. send it at all (we must pay full rate because it was determined to be the
Pit vipers, or rattlesnakes, gener- for returned bulk mail). If you plan to average speed people were traveling
ally hunt when nights are warm for as move, please email us with your new on the road.
long as their body temperature will address and expected arrival date at Petitions to Governor Guinn were
allow, but will be active during the forrc@coam.net or forrcnews@cox. signed in February 2002 by many
day when breeding in the early spring. net, or, send it to us at the address on organizations to bring the speed limit
While their vision is relatively poor, page 8. We’ll try to get it right, but if back to a saner 45 MPH. Today, the 60
they have evolved special infrared heat not, give us a yell. MPH speed limit still stands.
sensing “pits” on their snouts which Remember, you can access the Blue Diamond residents have

allow them to efficiently locate warm Desert Trumpet and all the latest never given up the fi ght to make the
blooded prey. Rattlesnakes can read a Friends news on our website at www. highway safer for all. Since the speed
very precise infrared signal within a friendsofredrockcanyon.org. To access limit was raised, Rte. 159 has claimed
few degrees, telling them whether they the Desert Trumpet you must sign in many victims, both human and animal.
are sensing prey or predator. Although to the Friends Room with your sign- The saveredrock.com organization and
snakes have no ears, they can detect on and password. If you’ve forgotten the Nevada Scenic Byways Coalition
and locate “sound” through minute it, email us at either of the above ad- lead by Heather Fisher, have engaged
vibrations in the ground. dresses and we’ll email it to you. in a dialog with the State and the local
Other night hunters include the government in finding solutions.

scorpion, the desert centipede and the Good News for Scenic Over the course of several well-
tarantula—all carnivorous. They will attended public meetings at the Blue
eat anything they can subdue, from in- Byway 159 Diamond Recreation Hall—the latest
sects and spiders to small lizards. The of which was held August 31, 2005
desert tarantula does not spin a web but s a designated Scenic Byway, with NDOT, the Regional Transporta-
catches food by speed, paralyzing and State Rte. 159 (Charleston tion Corporation (RTC), the Nevada

digesting the prey it liquefies. ABlvd.) is extensively used by Highway Patrol, and County Com-
Through various adaptations and tourists and local residents who avail missioners Lynette Boggs MacDonald
a good dose of “common sense,” themselves of the many recreational and Chip Maxfield and attended by

animals have found ways to share resources along the corridor linking
precious resources and still thrive in Summerlin with
the harsh desert environment. Like Blue Diamond
Las Vegas, the desert never sleeps. and State Route
As you turn out the lights and pull up 160. The road is
the covers, someone is just leaving a regular venue
for work. ❏ for visitors to Red
Rock Canyon, run-
ners and cyclists,
Leaving home? motorcyclists, doz-
ens of wild burros
eaving home for the summer or (and occasionally
an extended vacation? Perhaps wild horses) and
Lyou’re moving and haven’t let a large number of
us know? (Bulk Mail delivery trucks and
is not forwarded.) Just 18-wheeler’s. It terminates at SR 160 numerous cycling organizations and
U.S.
U.S.
MAIL give us your temporary just past the small village of Blue Dia- Nevada residents and the media—a
MAIL
address and start/stop mond, whose residents must travel the commitment was made to study
dates and we’ll mail your road to Las Vegas.
Desert Trumpet to you. If At the end of 2001, the Nevada
you would prefer to stop Department of Transportation (NDOT)
delivery while you’re decided to raise the speed limit on News and Notes, continued on page 7

FORRC/April 2006 Page 3