Page 37 - 2003 DT 12 Issues

a wash of trail just off the beaten track. ○ a variety of mountain wildflowers and plant di- ○ ○ We’ll begin by hiking south a half-
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Mod., 4 mi. (*) ○ versity along this loop trail. Mod., 5 mi. (*) ○ mile along the gravel road that leads from
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Fri. 16, “Paranagat Expedition” (8 a.m. - ○ Fri. 23, “It’s Your Fault, Partially” - Okay, ○ the parking lot toward the Scenic Drive.
3 p.m.) - We will carpool 90 miles north of Las ○ it’s not your fault, but it is your La Madre Fault. ○ ○ If the careening, gravel-spitting SUV’s
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Vegas to the Paranagat National Wildlife Ref- ○ Enjoy a part of it with Melissa this Friday morn- ○ on this road don’t scare you, then the evil
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uge to watch for wildlife, wildflowers, hike and ○ ing. Stren., 7 mi. (#) ○ Scenic Drive crossing is waiting just
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do some great birding. Lakes and marshes are ○ ○ Sat. 24, “Stars and S’mores” (Night) - ○ ahead. You may recall my warning last
a rare sight in this part of Nevada. Bring a fa- ○ Stars, s’mores, spooky stories, sounds of the ○ ○ month about the kamikaze drivers on this
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vorite inspirational quote, poem, short essay or ○ night! What more could you ask for on a Satur- ○
○ ○ road. You’re not paranoid; they really are
other for a lunchtime read-about. (*) ○ day night? Mod., 2 mi. (#) ○
○ out to get you, so please be careful. Once
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Fri. 16, “Night Wings” (Evening) - Ranger ○ Sun. 25, “Pace it Slow” - Hmm, think ○
○ you get across the road, you’ll quickly
Jim will be exploring the evening aerial activi- ○ you’re not in shape? OR, maybe just the ol’ joints ○
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ties in the Canyon. Come with him into the ○ need to take it a little easy? Come on out, it’s ○ leave civilization behind as the trail drops
shadow world of the unique winged hunters of ○ ○ okay! We are going to Pace it Slow! (*) ○ ○ down into a surprisingly tranquil desert
○ meadow with several varieties of flow-
the night. Mod., 2 mi. (#) ○ Sun. 25, “Big Falls in Spring” - Join Jack
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○ ers and cacti. This portion of the trail is
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Sat. 17, 24 & Sun. 25, “Batty about Bats” ○ on his annual pilgrimage to this spectacular
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○ ○ lightly traveled, so
- Have you ever seen a bat close up? Or heard ○ sight! It should be outstanding this year with the
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one as it’s flying after an insect? Join us for a ○ recent heavy snowmelt. (+) ○ ○ you’ll find that
slide program in the Visitor Center on bats ○ ○ Fri. 30, “Hike Leader’s Choice: The Rain ○ ○ it’s quite natural
around the world. Then we’ll drive to a spring ○ Tree” - This is a cool Mt. Charleston trek past a ○ and undisturbed
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where we’ll watch and listen to the bats. Don’t ○ ○ 3,000 year old bristlecone pine on the way to ○ for the next
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forget a hat and scarf! Easy, 1/2 mi. (#) ○ Mummy Spring. Stren., 7 mi.(*) ○ couple of miles.
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Sun. 18 & 25, “Creative Canyon Series: ○ Fri. 30, “Strike it Rich” - No, there is no ○ The path takes
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Big Sky Yoga and Walking Program” - Join ○ gold in this canyon. But the journey will remain ○ you over several hills and valleys in min-
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us for Gentle Yoga combined with walking the ○ priceless within your memory bank. Mod., ○ ○ iature basin-and-range topography. It’s
trails at Calico Basin with Melanie Paulk ○ 2 mi. (#) ○ interesting to see how everything adapts
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Abderraham, certified yoga teacher. All experi- ○ Sat. 31, “Beach Party” - The sun has set ○ to its environment, from the tops of these
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ence levels, an easy trail. Explore breath ○ ○ . . . time for a party on the beach! Wait, we’re ○ ridges to the lush washes below. Except
awareness exercises, developmental warm- several hundred million years too late! Oh well, for one more hair-raising Scenic Drive
ups, meditation, etc. Course fills up quickly. (*) I guess we’ll search for fossils of the sea crea- ○ crossing, it’s pretty nice out here, and
Sun. 18, “Windy Peak Revisited” - Hike ○ ○ tures instead and enjoy the quiet of the night. ○
○ chances are good that you’ll have this
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to a little known and seldom hiked peak on top ○ 3 mi. (#) ○ portion of the trail all to yourself.
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of the Red Rock Canyon escarpment. Great ○ ○ ○ As you approach the Sandstone
views! Stren., 6 mi. (+) ○ ○ Quarry area from the west, look for the
Mon. 19, “Cathedral Rock” - Aspen, pine, ○ ○ BOOT TRACKS, part II ○ ○
elderberries, and Palmer’s chipmunks; Hike to ○ ○ ○ ○ soil to suddenly turn dark grey. This is a
the rock and enjoy the scenic Mt. Charleston ○ ○ by Tom Pfaendler ○ clue that the area was once an agave
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view of the valley below. Mod., 800 ft. elev. ○ ○ roasting pit. For some reason, there are
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○ ast month, I left you stranded several trails at Red Rock that bisect these
gain. (*) ○ ○
about six miles out, halfway ancient cultural sites, so when you cross
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Tues. 20, “Ice Box Canyon Chills” - Rock ○ ○
○L around the Grand Circle Adven- one please tread lightly to preserve what’s
scrambling to cool pools and waterfalls. This ○
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trail offers a diverse view of wildflowers and ○ ture in the White Rock parking lot. I left of these irreplaceable historical
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○ know it’s been a long wait and I hope that ○
natural water pools. Mod. - Stren., 3 mi. (+) ○ ○ records. Once you arrive at Sandstone
Tues. 20, “Basic Rappelling” - Harness ○ ○ you didn’t run out of food, but with this ○ Quarry, you’ll probably be overrun by
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up, hook up and drop off the side of Sandstone ○ edition of Boot Tracks, I can now tell you crowds of people and a seeming crush of
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Quarry boulders. No previous experience re- ○ ○ how to get back to the Red Rock Canyon humanity that will completely shatter the
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quired. Climbing Ranger Jed will teach and ○ ○ Visitor Center. Hopefully, you’ve got serenity of the previous hour’s hike. But,
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guide you through. Challenge yourself to some- ○ about a half-gallon of water left over from ○ ○
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thing new! Clinic limited to 15. (#,*) ○ part one of this little trek, so slap on a ○
Fri. 23, “The Bristlecone Trail” - One of ○ ○ fresh coat of sunscreen, grab your hat and ○ ○
Mt. Charleston’s most popular hikes! Discover let’s go! Boot Tracks, continued on page 6