This week we moved from Red RockCanyon, near LasVegas to one of the National Forest campgrounds about 25 miles north of LasVegas. We are at 7,000 to 7,500 feet in altitude, so we have gone from 95-100 degree weather to quite a pleasent climate, with very cool nights. We are on the lower slopes, I beleive of Mount Charleston. At any rate there are some snow-covered peaks near us.
Below see some picthres we took of a hike into Fletcher Canyon. This was about a three mile round-trip hike, that started through pleasant woods, with lots of Ponderosa Pines, and eventually came to a small stream . We then followed the stream bed into what eventully became a slot canyon and ended up with three small, but very beautiful waterfalls.
Then we travelled home, had a visit from family, so we had a picnic supper, followed by Grandpa and Great Grandchild Christie making somoas.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
Red Rock Park, Las Vegas
Saturday night our grandson, Chris and his wife and children came out to our RV and had dinner. Chris and his two boys stayed at the park and tented overnight. It was a bright night with a nearly full moon, so it was a wonderful night to camp out on the desert.
The nest morning Madie and I , Chris and the two boys took a hike out in the desert. In the picture below see Chris, Max and Oscar resting on a rock, against a background of cliffs. In the other picture I am taking a little rest, also . As you can guess, it as pretty hot, so we had to wear hats and drink lots of warer.
Those little kids did real well walking. We went about a mile and a half, perhaps two miles. The trip was just about the right length, as the boys were just about ready to quit when we were done!
The nest morning Madie and I , Chris and the two boys took a hike out in the desert. In the picture below see Chris, Max and Oscar resting on a rock, against a background of cliffs. In the other picture I am taking a little rest, also . As you can guess, it as pretty hot, so we had to wear hats and drink lots of warer.
Those little kids did real well walking. We went about a mile and a half, perhaps two miles. The trip was just about the right length, as the boys were just about ready to quit when we were done!
Friday, May 12, 2006
A Wild Time in Las Vegas
We have been in Las Vegas about a week and a half, visiting our daughter, Diana and her family, my grandson, Chris and his family and my granddaughter, Dale and her family. So we have had a good time, renewing our bonds, and of course getting together with all the great grandchildren. There are five great grandchildren in all.
We are parked up at a BLM campground West of Las Vegas. It is a beautiful place with lots of good hiking and beautiful cliffs and mountains. So far the weather has been pleasant – up in the high 80’s to low 90’s in the day, down in the 60’s as soon as it gets dark. Next week, hotter weather is predicted, and we may move to higher altitude.
As you can see in the pictures below, there is a wild crowd here in Las Vegas. Wild indeed, we have seen a coyote hunting in our camping area, and there are lots of long- legged jackrabbits hopping about. We were riding around the other day and saw several wild burros. They are protected here. There is a picture of them below under the shade of a Joshua tree – so you also can get an idea of what a Joshua tree is.
Of course many people come to Los Vegas to gamble. I have decided that I don’t like to gamble at all, so that is not much of a temptation for me. It is surprising how pervasive gambling is here, with slot machines widely distributed in area far outside the strip. In the grocery stores and in gas stations there is usually a small area set aside for slot machines.
I wonder how ordinary people could afford to feed that thing for an hour or so every day. Anyway, it seems to be a normal thing here.
We have just done a little hiking. We went on a 3-mile trip the other day. It gets too hot after 11:00 to be very comfortable walking.
We are parked up at a BLM campground West of Las Vegas. It is a beautiful place with lots of good hiking and beautiful cliffs and mountains. So far the weather has been pleasant – up in the high 80’s to low 90’s in the day, down in the 60’s as soon as it gets dark. Next week, hotter weather is predicted, and we may move to higher altitude.
As you can see in the pictures below, there is a wild crowd here in Las Vegas. Wild indeed, we have seen a coyote hunting in our camping area, and there are lots of long- legged jackrabbits hopping about. We were riding around the other day and saw several wild burros. They are protected here. There is a picture of them below under the shade of a Joshua tree – so you also can get an idea of what a Joshua tree is.
Of course many people come to Los Vegas to gamble. I have decided that I don’t like to gamble at all, so that is not much of a temptation for me. It is surprising how pervasive gambling is here, with slot machines widely distributed in area far outside the strip. In the grocery stores and in gas stations there is usually a small area set aside for slot machines.
I wonder how ordinary people could afford to feed that thing for an hour or so every day. Anyway, it seems to be a normal thing here.
We have just done a little hiking. We went on a 3-mile trip the other day. It gets too hot after 11:00 to be very comfortable walking.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Deserts
Today we are in Los Vegas, NV, visiting our daughter and her family and our grandson and his family. We are camping in Red Rock Canyon, which is a park, operated by the BLM with a small campground. So we are again out in the desert, pretty much surrounded by mountains. We are dry docking, but with all the sunshine here, our solar panels are keeping us in pretty good shape.
From here, we will head for Boulder, CO around Memorial Day. We have not decides whether we will participate in the 8 kilometer race/stroll. I am having some issue with my hips, which may make the walk a little risky for future summer hiking.
I am reflecting that in a little under 90 days we will have encountered all four of the great American deserts: the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave, and the Great Basin Desert. It is somewhat confusing what distinguishes one desert from another, and I gather that the demarcation between them is not sharp. I believe the Sonoran Desert is is characterized by the giant Saguaro cactus. There is a picture below of one of these, said to be one of the largest in Arizona and New Mexico. It is in the Escapees RV Park near Congress, Arizona. Joshua trees grow only in the Mojave Desert. However that is confusing. On the road to Los Vegas from Phoenix, there is one spot where both Joshua Trees and Saguaros grow! In any event deserts can be very beautiful. When the sun is low in the sky in early morning or evening, the colors of the stones in the mountains come out, with many different shades. There is a surprising amount of life in the desert. Here where we are camping we see lots of jackrabbits and an occasional coyote.
From here, we will head for Boulder, CO around Memorial Day. We have not decides whether we will participate in the 8 kilometer race/stroll. I am having some issue with my hips, which may make the walk a little risky for future summer hiking.
I am reflecting that in a little under 90 days we will have encountered all four of the great American deserts: the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave, and the Great Basin Desert. It is somewhat confusing what distinguishes one desert from another, and I gather that the demarcation between them is not sharp. I believe the Sonoran Desert is is characterized by the giant Saguaro cactus. There is a picture below of one of these, said to be one of the largest in Arizona and New Mexico. It is in the Escapees RV Park near Congress, Arizona. Joshua trees grow only in the Mojave Desert. However that is confusing. On the road to Los Vegas from Phoenix, there is one spot where both Joshua Trees and Saguaros grow! In any event deserts can be very beautiful. When the sun is low in the sky in early morning or evening, the colors of the stones in the mountains come out, with many different shades. There is a surprising amount of life in the desert. Here where we are camping we see lots of jackrabbits and an occasional coyote.
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