Page 6 - Winter 2013 magazine 2 layout

“Mr. Moulin, we’d like to offer you a position as ‘Civil Engineering Tech’ through a hiring agency. After six months
of employment we will review your position and discuss becoming a permanent VTN Nevada employee. The com-
pensation is $15 per hour. Can you begin in two weeks?”

“Yes, I can.”

It was August 2002. I pushed the “end call” button on my phone sitting
in the back seat of my friend’s car while passing down a hill towards
Rocky Mountain National Park. I was nervous about what was to come.
It was my first job out of college. I had been to Red Rock only once on a
rock climbing trip in high school, and so many questions swirled in my
head: Will I be up to par for the job? How will I meet new friends in Ve-
gas? Will I be able to live with the craziness of it? Where will I live?

“Sure, I can take your picture!” The author I presume that many young people had similar experiences during the
helps guests record their Red Rock Canyon visit.
Photo provided by T. Moulin early 2000s when Vegas’ population was increasing rapidly, seemingly
on a daily basis. My favorite escape from the traffic of Charleston and
Rainbow, the awkward social encounters and monotony of
work was Red Rock Canyon. Every free hour I had was an
opportunity to explore another nook, look for new rocks to
climb or simply enjoy the wildness of the place.

Each trip into my new backyard brought exciting animal
encounters, plants to see, rocks to climb, and a sense of
awe at the savage beauty of the windswept buttresses, or-
nately gnarled pinyon pines and the many faces of nature I
experienced from the tranquil, sunny meadow in Pine
Creek where birds would sing to the harsh winter storms
lashing out wind and snow on barren cliffs.
Above the clouds — Turtlehead Peak
Photo by T. Moulin
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