Rubber Ducky Yucca - 1/20/18

Rubber Ducky Yucca in its Natural Environment

View from Switchy Hill

Brrrr on Mustang Trail

 A common name for yucca brevifolia is Joshua Tree, named by the Mormon settlers for the way the branches reach up to the sun as if in prayer. This tree can have roots up to 36 feet long, can survive hundreds of years and can grow a rapid 3 inches per year when it is young. Years ago, someone decided to single out a particular Joshua Tree in a protective small wash of Cottonwood Valley of the Red Rock Canyon NCA by hanging toy rubber ducks among its branches. Although the BLM frowns on this practice and periodically removes the toys, hikers and bikers enjoy the spectacle and continue the decoration. On a very desertly cold morning, eight hikers went out to check on the tree.

Clouds flow off of Escarpment

 The wind was blowing in very cold air. The clouds had dusted the Keystone Thrust with snow last night. And, the now, low clouds shrouded the peaks threatening us with some kind of precipitation. Rain? Sleet? Snow?

Brrrr ... Again ... on Inner Loop

 We bundled up, jumped around, and started out the Mustang Trail from Late Night Trailhead. There was some blue sky overhead and we took a positive outlook on that.

Wash Crossing

A Little Sun coming Through

 From the Mustang, we connected with the Inner Loop and headed toward Black Velvet Canyon. The clouds had begun to cover our heads but the sky was beautiful with the morning sun and varied cloud cover reaching across north Cottonwood Valley. Before the Inner Loop began its curvy section, we found our trail junction to the right. This was called Lil' Daytona Trail. It was a very nice trail that ran along the side of a small curvy wash between two small red hills. We crossed Black Velvet dirt Road and continued until we came to another wider wash. Here, there were a few sitting rocks and we were sheltered from some of the wind. So, we stopped for our snack break.

Sign Repair

 Having had a snack and a few good laughs, we continued on Lil' Daytona until we came to another junction. Straight and left put hikers and bikers on the Landmine Loop. Our turn to the right put us on the Switchy Hill Trail!

Watching Sign Repair

 This is a nice little trail that leads out to an overlook, then takes a dive downward by way of a few switchbacks. The view from the overlook was very nice as seen in the third photo.

Side Wash

Snack Spot Wash

 We saw a few bikes today but, just a few. The government shutdown did not affect the Scenic Loop nor the many trailheads around Red Rock Canyon NCA for today, Saturday.

At the bottom of the Switchy Hill, we turned right on the Cactus Slalom Trail then soon veered left onto the Rubber Ducky Trail. (Sometimes, it is simply referred to as the Ducky Trail on those little low-to-the-ground signs.)

Lil' Daytona Trail

 This section of trail climbs up and over the end of a trailing ridge and passes the junction for the Wounded Knee Trail. (Don't you love the bikers' creativity in naming trails?!)

Junction to Switchy Hill Trail

 Eventually, we veered into a small wash where the trail runs alongside. We were, again, out of the wind.

Another Colorful Wash Crossing

Hiking the Rubber Ducky Trail

 Soon, we came around a corner and saw the Rubber Ducky Yucca tree filled ... and we mean "filled" ... with ducks! They were so colorful against the threatening sky and the morning sunlight. Seeing the tree was like spotting elusive large wildlife! ... well ... not really, but. There were a few ducks that had been blown off by the wind so we replaced them and took our photos. Next, we climbed out of the wash and headed back to the cars. The wind was at its worst on the way back presumably because the shelter effect was gone. As we started back home, we saw that the Red Rock Scenic Loop was getting pounded by rain. We were very happy to have had a great morning for hiking in the desert.

5.5 miles; 500 feet elevation gain; 2.75 hours

Rubber Ducky Yucca

Cottonwood Valley

Happy Ending