Page 59 - 2006 DT 12 Issues

which allows the plant to store water. The proposed budget for 2006-07 The Raintree
After separating the mucilage into will be reviewed and presented for and the Mummy’s Spring
two parts—a gel and a liquid—they a vote. We will also be holding our
found that the gel portion alone could annual election for two-year open by Norm Kresge
filter water in only five minutes. board positions, as follows:
Modern methods used in water pu- President: Pat Williams hike to the Raintree is a

rification plants take three times as Vice President: Gracia Friesema chance to see living history.
Th
long. After further testing, research- Director-at-Large: Blaine Benedict A e Raintree is a 3,000-
ers learned that this “goo” also took Members interesting in placing year-old bristlecone pine at Mount
half of the arsenic out of the water their names in nomination for any of Charleston amid the largest bristle-
after thirty-six hours. these positions must contact Athena cone forest in Southern Nevada.
Next, the researchers will test Sparks at Athena@rrcia.com or The tree resides at an elevation just
the liquid portion of the mucilage to Norm Kresge at nkresge@cox.net. under 10,000 ft. The hike is 5 ½ miles
see what magic it holds. And, once N o m i n a t i o n s w i l l a l s o roundtrip and it is strenuous. The trail
they learn how much “goo” is needed be taken from the floor for starts at 8,400 ft—an elevation gain
to do an effective job of filtering, qualifi ed candidates.

Alcantar hopes to have a cactus
filtration system in place by next

summer in Temamatla, Mex., where
the water contains a lot of particles Answers to Quiz:
and arsenic.
Next time you get stung by the
sharp spines of the Opuntia on your
desert hike, calling forth all the
expletives you’re ever learned won’t
help that much. But it may hurt a
little less if you allow yourself to
think about how wonderful Opuntia
really is. Or, you could just cut off a
pad, split it lengthwise and apply it
to your wound. ❏

General Meeting Trumpet said, “It’s only fi tting.” Chuck Williams at the Raintree
and Election, August 12 unusual punishment, but the Desert of about 1,500 ft.
To get to the trailhead, take SR
this quiz protested at such cruel and
ur favorite meeting of the throws fruit at you. The author of stocks—while an outraged crowd 157, Kyle Canyon Road, to the junc-
year will be held at lovely at the Visitor Center for 12 hours—in tion with SR 158, Deer Creek Road.
ORed Spring. Sign-in is at Turn right and follow 158 for about
5 miles to a paved parking area on
means you will be publicly displayed
the left side of the road. This is the
ignate for Rhyolite. Four and under
beginning of the North Loop Trail.
With 5 to 8, you are the sheriff-des-
It’s not marked along the road, but
singing lessons from Dolly Parton.
there is a large interpretive sign at the
saddle, plus Country and Western
4:30 p.m. with the business meeting to 12 right . . . congratulations, Hoss. parking area. From the parking lot,
You get a $25,000 silver-embossed
beginning at 5 p.m., sharp. The dinner Rewards and Penalties: You got 9 the trail heads west into a forest of
will be catered by John Mull’s Road
Kill Grill immediately following the 9-E, 10-K, 11-C, 12-L
business portion of the meeting. 1-H, 2-F, 3-D, 4-I, 5-G, 6-B, 7-J, 8-A, Raintree, continued on page 5

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