Well, I spent another morning at Red Rock, and I figured rather than make a new thread I'll just add to this one. I was in a different section, across the valley from where the last set were taken. The trail is 2mi each way, from Willow Springs to White Rock Springs. And now, with commentary!
On the way up:
Detail of lichen on rocks:
Halfway there, lol. Red Rock is known for its iron oxide deposits, as well as the juxtaposition of the newer iron oxide against the older granite of the Spring Mountains:
There are four distinct ecosystems covered by this hike. The center section is like this, flat and covered with Mojave Yucca and creosote:
The smalless habitat, and the most fragile, are the riparian systems. Las Vegas Valley is the largest natural aquifier in the Mojave Desert. There were ten large springs in the Valley once, but by 1960 demand for fresh water had outpaced the flow and the springs dried up. there are still dozens of small springs up at Red Rock, though - the largest is at my starting point (Willow Springs), but the quietest is here, the White Rock Spring. In the 1970s the BLM got a little overzealous and built the conctrete trough, with a pipe running from the source of the spring, about fifty feet up behind where the picture was taken. For all of you interested in biology, look up Pyrgulopsis deaconi - they are the reason the BLM is so adamant in saving these riparian habitats:
Another view, showing the Spring Mountains in the background:
See, you learned something!
Anyways....nice shots.
