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| Let me at 'em! |
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| Wilson Cliffs from Rock Ridge |
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| Burros (Foal & Mom) |
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| Starting out the Spanish Trail from Blue Diamond |
There are many bike trails found in the desert and hills behind the community of Blue Diamond, Nevada within the bounds of the Red Rock Canyon NCA. But, there is one particular route that we have used the longest for a nice moderate hike. For a long time, it was only a 5 mile hike but, now, since the people of the Blue Diamond community prefer hikers and bikers to use a parking area further down from the trailhead, it is a 6 mile hike. The views from this hike among the Bird Spring Formation are tremendous and, today, ... well, see the photos! Incredible!
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| Spanish Trail Marker |
Although this is the Bird Spring Formation, we did not see any fossils
in the limestone that we passed. Perhaps it is because the visible limestone is
joined by an abundance of dolomite.
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| Marina hides from Camera! |
Ten hikers arrived at the Blue Diamond Town Trailhead found on the town's entrance road just past the bridge on the right.
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| Bike Trail Sign and Mt. Potosi |
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| Climbing Hill to Landmine Loop |
We crossed the road and the ball field then made a stop at the restrooms. The route through town makes a couple of turns before arriving at the upper trailhead. Here, we noted that we were starting our hike as a local race event was finishing. A couple of competitors passed us and that was all. We dipped down to start the hike on the Old Spanish Trail. A long gentle hill brought us up to the location of one of two Old Spanish Trail markers. The Old Spanish Trail was in use between 1829 and 1848 to travel between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Los Angeles, California. There were four routes made to avoid the Grand Canyon and the rough terrain of what is now Grand Escalante and Canyonlands.
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| Sunrise on Escarpment |
The Main Route passed through Santa Fe, Durango (CO), Moab (UT), Green River (UT), Panguitch (UT), Gunlock (UT), Mesquite (NV), Las Vegas (NV), Blue Diamond (NV), Tecopa (CA), Barstow (CA) and Los Angeles.
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| Starting up Hill on The Hurl Trail |
We left the Old Spanish Trail after we rounded the corner with Highway 160 in view. Next, we headed over the hill to the Landmine Loop and turned onto The Hurl Trail.
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| More Hurl Hill |
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| Still more Hurl Hill |
The Hurl Trail has many many curves as it winds itself up to the top of the tertiary ridge behind Blue Diamond. Today, one hiker jokingly asked if this was the "Stairway to Heaven!" On and on, the hill climbed. But, oh, what views with which we were treated! This was the last day of Daylight Savings Time so, even at the late start hour of 8:30am, the sunrise on Mt. Potosi, the Red Rock escarpment and surrounding terrain was spectacular! We also dodged the threat of predicted harsh gusty wind. In fact, the weather for the morning hike was ... PERFECT!
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| Blue Diamond & Canyon #1 over David's Saddle |
We wound our way up to the top of the ridge and came to the trail junction for the Blue Diamond Cactus Garden, aka The Crags.
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| Yucca with Potosi Beyond |
Our route continued straight and we started our descent. We passed the sandstone outcropping where we used to take our snack break. These rocks presumably slid down from the ancient Keystone Thrust.
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| Sandstone Outcropping |
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| Taking a Break on the Rock Ridge |
The story goes that these hills were made by landslides from the Keystone Thrust. Then Cottonwood Valley was eroded away to create what we see today. Once we passed the sandstone boulders, we balanced the ridge then took a left onto a protruding rocky ridge. We hiked all the way out to the end of the limestone/dolomite and took our snack break with a fantastic view of the Wilson Cliffs on a beautiful day. Eventually, we got up to leave and hiked back off the ridge and back to the trail. Turning left, we worked our way down to a trail junction.
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| A Snack Break with a View |
If you go straight here, you still get back to Blue Diamond but we took a right and started on what the bikers call the Inner Hurl Trail. This trail leads along under the cliffs to the right above.
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| Returning to The Hurl Trail |
We were hiking along with the knowledge that this trail oftentimes has burros hanging out on it.
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| Starting down the Inner Hurl Trail |
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| Inner Hurl looking for Burros |
When we were more than halfway along the cliffs, we saw them. As we stopped and stared, we saw that there were about ten of them. Within the small herd, there were a few (maybe 4 young ones). So cute! Deciding to see just how close we could get before they took off in the other direction, we advanced slowly. We stopped a few times before we reached their position. They had not moved very far. In fact, it seemed like the parents were cautiously allowing the little ones to get a good look at these things called hikers! Still, the adults' menacing stare was quite clear in its meaning.
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| We found them! |
When we were among the burros, three of them slowly advanced on us! Part of the group of hikers stood their ground and took photos.
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| Burro Foal |
I guess the burros were so comfortable with our presence that one of the young ones began suckling her mother while we watched. Look at how the mother hugs the little one in the photo below.
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| I'm hungry Mom! |
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| Another Foal |
All of the burros were of similar color and the color was really quite nice. Kind of a grayish brown. There were no black or gray burros in this bunch. We got our fill of photos and continued to watch them for a few minutes. Yes, they watched us, too. Finally, we decided to proceed down the trail as the trail dove into the shade. This part of the trail used to be steep and slippery but it is much better now. Still, a hiking stick is useful. So, we dropped down to the area where the Old Spanish Trail marker is on the other side of the hill. Then, we turned to our left and headed back to Blue Diamond. This was a very beautiful hike on a perfect day!
6 miles; 1000 feet elevation gain; 3.25 hours
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| Hiking in Shade from Cliffs Above |
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| Heading back toward Blue Diamond |
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| Nearing the Trailhead |
3 comments:
Outstanding narrative and photos. The first time I did that hike with AtBF a few years back, I was intrigued by the burros. I did some “Google” research and found this fascinating history/account:
Burros are a member of the horse family, Equidae. Originally from Africa, they were introduced to the Desert Southwest by the Spaniards in the 1500’s. (The word “burro” is derived from the Spanish word “borrico,” meaning donkey.) Today, most of America’s wild burros reside in Arizona, where they have been present since 1679, when Jesuit priest Padre Eusebion Kino brought them to the Spanish mission at San Xavier del Bac near what is now Tucson.
Burros accompanied explorers and pioneers on their treks throughout the West, surviving even when the harsh conditions claimed the lives of their human “owners.” By the Gold Rush years of the 19th century, burros were used primarily in the Southwest as pack animals for prospectors. They worked tirelessly to carry supplies, ore, water and machinery to mining camps, and became indispensable to the workers. At the end of the mining boom many of them escaped or were turned loose, and with their innate ability to survive under the harshest conditions, wild herds eventually formed and flourished.
Description
Wild Burros have long ears, a short mane and come in a variety of colors, from black to brown to gray to red roan, pink and blue. The most common coloring is grey with a white muzzle and white underbelly. Wild burros average 44 inches tall and weight about 500 pounds at maturity. Male burros are known as jacks while females are called jennies.
Tony
Kay, you do such a marvelous job on the club’s blogs. Though I was not there, I still feel a part of it!!
Laszlo & Rozie
Hi Kay, LOVED all your burro shots, especially the nursing one!
Susan
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