Page 30 - 2003 DT 12 Issues

April ○ ○ ○ ○ Boot Tracks, continued from p. 5 ○ important to all of the wildlife in this
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area. After lunch, it’s a short walk up
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○ ○ the hill to the halfway point—the White
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Desk Schedule ○ ○ Wash. This bumpy, rutted road was once ○ Rock parking lot and long awaited
the main drag out here, and part of it is ○ ○ restroom!
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Tues/1 I. Grieco E. Rothfuss ○ ○ ○ still in use today as Rocky Gap Road. ○ ○ We’ll continue with part two of the
Nature is reclaiming some of this jeep
Wed/ 2 D./V. Wray C. Gilmore ○ ○ ○ trail after several decades of non-use. It’s ○ Grand Circle Adventure next month.
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Thur/3 G. Sayles J. Barrett ○ ○ interesting to think about the impact that ○ ○ ○ Until then, I’ll see you on the trails! ;
Fri/4 R. Kinn J. Geier ○ ○ ○ was made by this road and how long it ○
takes the desert to recover. If you’re out ○ ○
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Sat/5 W. Barbuck W. Barbuck ○ ○ here in the morning light, you’ll have a ○
C. Williams B. Wolin ○ ○ ○ spectacular panoramic view of the Wil- ○ ○ Hooked on Cacti, part II
Daylight Savings Time begins ○ ○ ○ son Cliffs. But for a special treat, look ○ ○ ○ by H. Dan Wray
Sun/6 G. Gabbert P. Kepner ○ ○ downward along the edges of the old ○ ○
road to find delicate cryptobiotic (liv- ○
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Mon/7 M. Slagle F. Rhea ○ ○ ast month we looked at what dis-
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○ tinguished cacti from other
P. Christensen ○ ○ ○ ○
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Tues/8 F. Rhea P. Kepner ○ ○ ○ ○Lplants. This month we’ll look at
○ the more common types of cacti which
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Wed/9 C. Williams D. Powers ○ ○ ○ © Brian Buttazoni ○ ○ grow in Red Rock Canyon and how, ba-
P. Olsen ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ sically, to identify them.
Thur/10 G. Sayles J. Barrett ○ ○ ○ Probably the most common variety
○ of cactus in Red Rock is the Opuntia
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Fri/11 H. Perlman J. Geier ○ ○ ○ genus. It is easily recognized because
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E. Schliepp ○ ○ ○ ○ the joints of its stem are flattened and
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Sat/12 T. Borg J. McManus ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ look like large leaves or pancakes. Look
Sun/13 E. Turkin N. Kresge ○ ○ ○ ○ at one closely. Does it have spines? If
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada ○ so, they are likely to be without sheathes.
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Mon/14 E. Turkin F. Rhea ○ ○ ○ Look at the areole, which we mentioned
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Tues/15 I. Grieco P. Kepner ○ ○ ○ ing) soils that are forming there. Hiking ○ last time, and you will find that it is well
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Tip: you can usually see and experience ○ provided with glochids. Touch the
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Wed/16 R. Keough C. Gilmore much more when you hike slowly and ○
Thur/17 G. Sayles J. Barrett quietly. Always take plenty of time to ○ ○ ○ spines and they will prick you, but cer-
tainly don’t touch the glochids or you
Fri/18 E. Meeks J. Geier connect with and enjoy being a part of ○ will be left with a plentiful collection of
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Sat/19 J. Kisosondi P. Oleson your environment. That way, you can get ○ fine hairs which will persist for days,
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the most out of your time on the trail. ○ weeks, or even months. If you have the
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T. Borg A good photo stop would be at the ○
Sun/20 R. Augulis N. Kresge unique “high-point” view of Ice Box ○ misfortune to come into contact with the
glochids, try coating the affected area
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Mon/21 M. Slagle R. Kinn Canyon, and then, it’s on to the end of ○ ○ with a white craft glue. Let it dry and
P. Christensen the old jeep trail where it finally inter- ○ ○ then peel off the glue, (with any luck)
sects with the Scenic Drive. You’ll need ○ pulling out the glochids with it.
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Tues/22 R. Keough P. Kepner ○ ○ to cross the perilous scenic loop four ○ There are various varieties of the
Wed/23 M. Burk C. Gilmore ○ ○ times during this hike, so please use ex- ○ ○ Opuntia. O. basilaris, Beaver Tail Cac-
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treme caution. Once you’ve crossed the
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Thur/24 G. Sayles J. Barrett ○ ○ ○ road, the trail continues north toward the ○ tus, is found throughout Red Rock. It
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Fr/25 I. Grieco E. Schliepp ○ ○ ○ Willow Springs junction and then fol- ○ ○ forms low growing clumps and has ma-
H. Perlman J. Geier ○ ○ ○ lows the beautiful foothills of White ○ ○ genta flowers. It has no spines, but ample
glochids so, once more, beware. Its rela-
Sat/26 T. Borg S. Kantrud ○ ○ Rock Mountain. You may find a se- ○ ○ tive, O. chlorotica or Pancake Prickly
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cluded spot for lunch down in the wash
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Sun/27 P. VanDooremaal L./M. Utah ○ ○ ○ among the pine and juniper trees. Or ○ Pear, however, has up to six spines
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Mon/28 P. Christensen N. Kresge ○ maybe, take a short side trail to White ○ growing from its areoles. These are usu-
Rock Spring and enjoy a picnic on the ally yellowish at first, but eventually turn
Tues/29 E. Meeks E. Schliepp park bench next to the “Guzzler,” a small black as they age. The mature plant has
Wed/30 M. Burk C. Gilmore watercress-filled catchment that is vitally a well developed trunk and can be found
Changes? Call Jim Cribbs (515-5354)