Another new hike for the Around the Bend Friends was added to our repertoire with twenty- three hikers and a beautiful day. We drove in caravan out Highway 160, turned right on Lovell Canyon Road, turned right again on the first gravel road and finally stopped at the end of the road to began hiking.
Following a small wash, we hiked on a gradual climb for about two miles. The scenery was filled with limestone, pines and junipers. The air was cool and the sky was sunny.
At the top of the climb, one by one, our breath was taken away as we crested the hill. Suddenly, the escarpment came into view right before us ... not unlike the feeling one gets as they approach the rim of the Grand Canyon. We had arrived at the top of Sandstone Canyon which leads down to the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.
After taking a few pictures, we continued around the rim of the canyon and escarpment to the south. This brought us up in elevation to a ridge which turned out to be the lip of the encroaching limestone. Below us was a wide expanse of acres and acres of sandstone. To the left was Sandstone Peak and we began our descent through the final limestone wash.
We settled on a large area of sandstone to snack and a few hikers dispersed to explore. Exploration possibilities were plenty. A few of us went down the sandstone and found where the water emptied down the cliff. Then we climbed up to a large natural arch-in-the-making. Perhaps eons from now, people will be travelling to the Park to take sunrise pictures through the arch very much like Mesa Arch in Utah .... Okay, maybe not.
Our excursion brought us full circle back to the drainage which led back up to the ridge. This was the most difficult part of the hike as the drainage was very steep and the gain was approximately 500 feet. When we reached the ridge and giant cairn (as seen below), we waited for some hikers whose explorations took them further away.
As we hiked the return leg of the hike, the views of three surrounding snowy mountain ranges kept us company. To the right is a photo of Telescope Peak which is found on the far side of Death Valley.
Of course, Mt. Charleston of the Spring Mountains was in view throughout the hike. It's still covered in snow.
Last, but not least, Mt. Potosi was seen just across Highway 160 covered in fresh snow after the rain/ snow event we experienced last week.
On the way back, we took a small side trip to a spring where we found water bugs dancing on the crystal clear water. This was not our only wildlife sighting. Earlier, on the way to the trailhead, we saw two wild horses not far from the gravel road. We returned to the cars after 6 miles and 2000 feet of net elevation gain.
The Around the Bend Friends celebrated a beautiful spring day, when tempera- tures reached 80 degrees, with a jaunt around Potato Knoll in front of Wilson Peak of the Red Rock Canyon escarpment. Nearby, the Visitor's Center and Scenic Loop was crawling with activity as the new Visitor's Center was having its Grand Opening and Senator Reid was attending for the ceremony. We were able to avoid the bustle by starting the hike from the parking lot at the exit of the scenic loop.
There were forty- two hikers hiking the 5 mile trek around the knoll. We started out through the desert on the horse trails which were worn into the terrain. Throughout the hike, we crossed Oak Creek four times. The creek was still flowing with a small to medium amount of water. The desert had an abundance of indications of spring. Every direction you looked, was a beautiful view. We hiked around the knoll in a clockwise direction.
When we arrived at the backside of the knoll, a small group of hikers took their break as they waited for a larger group of hikers to climb the knoll. While waiting for the climbers, we took note of some of the details that the desert had to offer.
The Joshua Trees are blooming this year after taking a break last year. This bloom to the left was one of the few that had already made a showing here at Red Rock.
The Indian Paintbrush is blooming in full force.
LPF's (Little Purple Flowers) were carpeting the ground underneath creosote bushes. Periwinkle flowers are a trailing ground cover whose real name is vinca.
The beaver- tail prickly pear cacti are budding. This particular one will have many blooms very soon.
This beetle quickly made his way across the trail while we were waiting for the climbers.
This is a common lizard of the southwest found in hot and dry locations. They start becoming very active as the weather begins to warm up.
Wild rhubarb has been appearing in the area for three to four weeks.
The flowers and berries of most of the 106 species of manzanita are edible. The bark can be chewed to deter thirst.
When the climbers returned, we continued around the knoll passing between Potato Knoll and Rainbow Peak. Back here, the earth is very red. As you round the corner, the floor of Red Rock Canyon comes back into view. Oak Creek Canyon is also seen close by.
When we met Oak Creek for the third time, some hikers decided to balance their way down the creek to the fourth crossing. We hopped from rock to rock and made our way through some tall brush. The creek was still flowing all the way through. In the summer, this creek bed becomes dry in spots as the water goes underground for yards at a time. After our creek excursion, we all returned to the cars.
