Page 5 - 2004 DT 9 Issues
P. 5
you learn about the people that once lived there; Sat. 24, Fun for the Whole Family - against this system to determine the cor-
Easy, 3 mi. Join Susan for an interactive Red Rock Nature rect number of boots. (And you thought
Sat. 17, Hot Springs - Another wonder- Program. Indoor and outdoor activities in- I was just winging it). I’ve been asked
ful day with Peppe! Hike to the hot springs cluded; Easy. on occasion why I’ve scored something
around Lake Mead and enjoy yourself in 100 Sun 25, A Sunday Stroll Along Badger the way I did, and that usually results in
degrees of natural spring water; Mod. 6 mi. Trail - The slope of the mountain of fabulous a detailed explanation involving sun-
Sat 17, Tracks and Signs - Join natu- riches (Mt. Potosi) will smooth the ups and spots and the rotation of the earth. It
ralist Linda and explore the Ash Creek area for downs of this cottonwood Valley hike with Jack; never really occurred to me to publish
sighs of winter wildlife. An easy hike in search Easy-Mod., 5 mi. the actual scoring system. So that being
of . . . ? Easy, 1-2 mi. Sun. 25, What Makes a Wilderness? - said, here is the official Boot Tracks
Sun. 18, Winter Survival Skills (10 - Walk up to the spring at La Madre while learn- “yardstick,” and the truth behind the
11:30 a.m., Visitor Center) - Being prepared ing what makes a natural area a wilderness. question “why aren’t there ever any 10’s”?
is the best strategy for surviving winter haz- Decide whether this area is wild enough to fit
ards such as exposure to cold, wind, wet, ice, the definition; Mod. 3 mi. Boot Scoring System
and snow. Brush up your skills or learn new ones. Fri. 30, Step Back in Time - Hike among 0 Not reviewed
Sun. 18, Ice Box Canyon - Explore this the creatures fossilized long ago beneath a re- 1 Should have slept in today. You
cool canyon and perhaps icicles will point to ceding shallow ocean. Be amazed at the corals, would rather go to the dentist.Give it the
polls to fresh water; Mod. 3 mi. sponges, brachiopods, and crinoids that com- boot.
Wed. 21, Exploring Red Rock Canyon prise the limestone of Fossil Ridge; Easy-Mod. 2 Boring, dull, noisy, polluted, trashed.
- Just one day exploring this unique ecological 2.5 mi. You’ll need a REAL good reason to be
island may change how you view the Mojave out here.
Desert forever. Experience the challenges that 3 Flawed trail, but has some redeeming
adaptation presents to plants and animals that characteristics. can hike here if
live in the Conservation Area; Mod. 2-3. Boot Tracks, continued from p. 3 desperate.
Thurs. 22, Red Rock Canyon Trees and 4 Interesting trail with some annoying
Shrubs - Visit several Red Rock ecosystems. FORRC over the past 20 years. We be- problems. Not a bad trek.
Learn to recognize different trees and other long to an organization with a rich and 5 Good basic trail. You like it and it
dominant plant species, as well as what kinds wonderful history. While we celebrate deserves the “C.” You will probably hike
of birds and mammals make their home here; the past, let’s be mindful of the signifi- this again.
Easy-Mod., 3 mi. cant challenges that face the Canyon in 6 A really good hike that’s more
Fri. 23, Hike Leaders Choice - There challenging and beautiful the average.
is a fascination and mystery about those who the next 20 years, and be thinking about 7 You love this one. You want to bring
came before us. Discover some of the Conser- what we can be doing now to strengthen all of your friends and share it with them.
vation Areas best native rock art; Mod. 4 mi. our foundation for the future. 8 Simply awesome trail. You would
Fri. 23, Date with Kate - Lets see what I am so travel far to do this one and it is a very
creepy crawlies and flowering flora can be proud to be a memorable experience.
found on this 3-4 mi. family hike with Ranger part of this 9 World-class, near-perfect experience.
Kate. Put the babies in a backpack, tots on the group. Volun- this trail will turn you into a poet. You’ll
trail, and snacks for both; Easy, 2 mi. teers are the tell everyone you meet about this.
Sat. 24, 1/4 Grand Circle Loop - Prac- most sincere, 10 Possible life-changing experience.
tice your winter adaptations and bundle up for giving people on This will make you sit in quiet
a brisk-paced, mid-winter hike from the fee sta- the planet, and contemplation and thank Mother Earth
tion to Calico 1 to Moenkopi Hill and back. we’ve got the best group of volunteers for giving you this moment in time. You
Fabulous views, easy return if weather turns anywhere. Thank you all! won’t tell anyone about this place, it’s
bad; Mod. 3.5 mi. OK. I know this article was supposed too personal.
Sat. 24, Arnight and Knoll Trails - Pat to be about hiking and next month I
Oleson will take you from Oak Creek to Pine promise to be back on the trails! When I —Tom Pfaendler
Creek and back again hoping to see wildlife. started writing Boots, I developed a scor-
Mule deer have been spotted in the past; ing system of zero to ten boots. Every
Mod., 4 mi. trail that I’ve hiked has been held up
FORRC/January 2004 Page 5
