Tufa Beds Trails (TUSK) - Trip Notes for 03/28/2018

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This page last updated on 02/28/2018

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Directions: There are basically two primary places to enter this area. One is located at the exit of N. 5th Street off of the I-215. Exit and turn north. It abruptly dead ends. Another is from the end of Grand Teton Road (Closed). Because we were on a scheduled tour, our guides had a key to open the gate at Aliante and Grand Teton allowing us to drive to the end of the paved road.

                     

General Description of the Area:  The Tufa Beds lie within and around the Eglington Preserve in an area of sensitive habitat located within the newly established Tule Springs Fossil National Monument. The Preserve area encompasses 300 acres of the Upper Las Vegas Wash which is a primary drainage for the entire Las Vegas Valley and is a major tributary to Lake Mead and the Colorado River. It was initially selected as a preserve because it has a large population of State Listed Critically Endangered Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica) [Las Vegas Bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica)] and the candidate for state listing, Las Vegas buckwheat (Eriogonum corymbosum var. nilesii) [Las Vegas buckwheat (Eriogonum corymbosum var. nilesii)]. Today the area is entirely within the Tule Springs Fossil National Monument which is well known for its Pleistocene fossil resources.
             
Walking over the area there are what looks like a piles of porous brown rock forming a long S-shape winding through the desert. This rock is tufa, a type of limestone precipitated by “algal snot” that only forms in certain conditions. This is evidence that Tule Springs was once a vast desert wetland where springs burbled up from the ground to create meandering streams. That’s what made the region so rich in prehistoric life. Plants grew where the water was, providing ample forage for bison, camels and mammoths. This was a “honeypot” to the local dire wolves, sabercats and other carnivores. The water that set up this food web carried the sediment that later buried the bones of the local creatures.
               

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Soon the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in North Las Vegas will get its first walking trail (Fig. 02), spanning nearly 2 miles near the future site of the Villages at Tule Springs, a sprawling master-planned community. Eventually, North Fifth Street will be extended north of the 215 Beltway to access the national park. Nearby, housing developer KBS Capital Advisors will spend $5 million to build access roads, a parking lot and a 10,000-foot-long path known as the Tufa Trail — named for the type of limestone naturally found in the area.

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Description of Tufa Deposits: "During the late Pleistocene Epoch (~21,000 to 10,600 years before present), braided streams rich in dissolved calcium carbonate emanated from springs (groundwater discharge locations) throughout the valley. As the streams flowed, calcium carbonate precipitated out of the water forming tufa deposits. These dark brown, tufa deposits have been preserved in the rock record at Tule Springs and because the tufa is harder and coarser than the surrounding sediments it remains while other sediments are eroded, leaving an inverted-type of topography that mimics the flow patterns of the the latest Pleistocene and Holocene braided streams. In many cases the tufa precipitated onto tree branches and limbs that were likely dangling into the river; these features are called phytoclasts (Fig. 3). The plant material is long gone, but the tufa remains as a mold. The tufa has also been found encrusting bones, tusks, and shells. The winding and braided nature of the paleo-channel is observable in the distribution of the tufa and is frozen in time.

(Fig. 03a) - Courtesy of Robert Croke

The tufa formations (Fig. 03a) in the monument exhibit a variety of morphologies (e.g., oncoids, stromatolitic tufa, tufa crusts, tufa coated clasts, cyanoliths, and resurgence features) which is interpreted as a response to different hydrologic environments. Tufa deposits are best exposed near the Eglington Preserve and fault/scarp area where the tufa lag deposits have been thoroughly exposed Fig. 04); in the North Unit, tufa is still in the process of weathering out of the landscape. The paleo-channels in the South Unit were up to several miles long, but have been largely destroyed by urban development and installation of a water line in 2004–2005. There is no evidence that the tufa or other wetland deposits in the Las Vegas Valley were influenced by geothermal heating. Such ambient-temperature precipitation of tufa can be observed at Cold Creek in the Spring Mountains today." -- Geologic Resources Inventory Scoping Summary Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Nevada -- Prepared by Rebecca Port, October 16, 2015.
                                 

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03/28/2018 Trip Notes: The picture in (Fig. 05) above is an overview showing the area of the proposed Tufa Beds Trails. To day Bob Croke, Cindy Pace and myself (Fig. 06) had a guided tour of the proposed area provided by Sandy Croteau VP/On-Site Chairman of POTS. The map in (Fig. 02), top, shows the route of the area that we hiked today. Bob's GPS showed that the hike was about 3.4 miles. As we hike along our guide provide information about many of the plants that we encountered along the way. A geologist provided information about the creation of the topography and the surrounding mountains. Sandy also explained how future development in and around the area will affect future views while hiking around this end of the Tule Springs Fossil National Monument. Figure 02 shows these proposed areas that border the area. We encountered a variety of plant-life including the several examples of the endangered Las Vegas Poppy (Fig. 07). Click here for pictures and information on this rare plant ... Las Vegas Bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica). Though I didn't take any closeup pictures, probably the most prevalent plant was the creosote bush. Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata.  Other plants are shown in (Figs. 08 through 13). Links to pages describing each plant are displayed below each picture. Once we reached the area of the tufa beds, we were able to get some closeup shots of these tufa molds of phytoclasts (Figs. 14 thru 18). Though we were not provided enough time to do any real 'looking", we didn't find any examples of fossils. Besides this shot of a well defined ant hill, I spotted a burring owl nest at a great distance, and several long eared jack rabbits that were running away from us as we hiked. This final shot (Fig. 21) is a picture of our hiking group. The bad news is there really isn't a lot to see on a hike of this area. The good news is that it is always to get out into the fresh air away from the city and enjoy the fellowship of hiking with like minded people. It was a beautiful sunny day in the upper 70's with only a slight breeze.
                              

(Fig. 07) Learn more here ... Las Vegas Bearpoppy

(Fig. 08) Learn more here ... Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus).

(Fig. 09) Learn more here ... Desert Aalyssum (Lepedium fremontii).

(Fig. 10) Learn more here ... Desert Baccharis (Baccharis sarothroides).

(Fig. 11) Learn more here ... Desert Aalyssum (Lepedium fremontii).

(Fig. 12) Learn more here ... Astragalus.

(Fig. 13) Learn more here ... Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii).

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(Fig. 21) Learn more here ... Astragalus.

Visit ... Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK) - Summary Page.

Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Garden – Japanese Spring

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This page last updated on 03/20/2018

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Background: Envisioned by designer Ed Libby and Bellagio’s Horticulture team, the display channels Japanese culture, utilizing a variety of beautiful symbolic elements to honor the dawning of a new season. One of the most treasured elements is also one of the most celebrated in Japan: the spring blooms of cherry blossoms, which are symbolic of the brevity of life and beauty. The Japanese-inspired display contains 65,000 fragrant flowers and botanical materials. 900 flowers were used to create the turtle alone. There are 9 cherry blossom trees, 13 Japanese festival lanterns, three overhead flycatchers, a 12 foot high tea house, several tranquil waterfalls, a koi pond and the 26 foot high sculpted female character covered in 5000 square feet of moss. It took a team of 125 members to create and assemble the display.

Visit Notes: Today our friend Jim Herring, Connie and I visited the Bellagio's new spring exhibit. Guests enter the gardens through two 25-foot Torii Gates (Fig. 01) that are adorned with pink and white flowers on both sides of the pathway (Fig. 02). The pathway is lined with eight of the exhibits' cherry blossom trees flourishing with their beautiful delicate pink flowers. On each of the four corners of the East Garden’s edge are four potted bonsai trees (Fig. 03). There are two brightly colored paradise flycatchers that soar above each side of the display (Fig. 04). Representing a time of new life and renewal, the West Garden features a whimsical woman rising out of the water. that reaches its peak at 26’ in height and approximately 48’ in length (Fig. 05). The outer layer is covered in approximately 5000 square feet of moss and natural materials. These materials are 100 percent recycle Alderwood fiber. The extraordinary water feature portrays a woman rising up from the pond while gazing into a pearl held in the palms of her hands. The sculpted pearl is 12’ in diameter and is fabricated of eps foam and hard coat with an artistic finish to resemble the pearl. Her hair encompasses the perimeter of the back and sides of her head (Fig. 06) and cascades down into a curtain of water encompassing her entire head, which is adorned with Kanzashi, a formal ornamental hairpin. Made from two sticks and flowers, the hairpin is worn in Japanese culture as a good luck charm and wards off evil spirits. Wisteria, an ancient vine representing immortality and longevity, surrounds the majestic figure. (Con't below)
                                               

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Notes Continued: On both sides of the central passageway there are two large steel bird houses (Fig. 08) containing dozens of colorful finches (Fig. 09). In the South Garden, left of the central passageway, passersby encounter a 10-foot-tall stone Japanese lantern, traditionally used to line and illuminate paths (Fig. 10). The lantern rests upon a waterfall cascading into a shallow pond. Floating atop the water are multiple blooming pink lotus flowers. The flower is honored throughout Japanese culture for its ability to bloom from the mud of a murky pond – a process which symbolizes attaining enlightenment. Thirteen hand-painted festival lanterns illuminate a soft flickering glow over the garden when dusk arrives (Fig. 11). Just pass the waterfall there is a large turtle covered with yellow roses and other flowers (Fig. 07) totaling more than 900. In the North Garden, right of the central passageway, a traditional Japanese house (Fig. 12) sits on the edge of a pond showing a tea ceremony that honors  grace, etiquette and hospitality that dates back to the ninth century. The 12-foot-tall house is made of bamboo and other natural materials. It is framed by pond filled with koi (Fig. 13) and ornamented with mineral copper accents (Fig. 14). Sitting on the branch of the cherry blossom tree is an additional paradise flycatcher watching its reflection in the pond below (Fig. 04). Behind the woman rising out of the water there is a beautiful urn covered with thousands of hand painted white petals (Fig. 15). In front of the woman there are two beautiful trees on both sides (Fig. 16). The final picture is a shot of Connie in front of the turtle. We all agreed that this was one of the best we've seen. Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is complimentary to the public and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This exhibit ends April 4th.

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Visit to Gold Butte National Monument - Trip Notes for 03/14/2018

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This page last updated on 03/18/2018

(Fig. 01) Whitney Pocket

03/14/2018 Trip Notes: On this day, Harvey Smith and I took Bob Croke and Jim Herring to four sites that neither of them had ever been do in Gold Butte; Devil's Throat, Mud Wash Petroglyphs, Kirk's Grotto and Little Finland. The map in (Fig. 02) shows the roughly 40 miles miles we had to travel in order to reach these locations. Before we can ever get to take any of the beautiful pictures in Gold Butte, such as the landscape taken at Whitney Pocket in (Fig. 01), the parking lot and staging area for our day of off-roading, we have to 'load up' all the equipment (Fig. 03) needed to get to some of the desolated sites scattered around the Gold Butte National Monument. Referring to the map, we departed from Whitney Pocket and headed south on the graded dirt road the Devil's Throat. This spot was very disappointing due to a four and a half foot high chain linked fenced, several feet back from the edges of the 'hole' that prevented anyone from taking into the hole. Even though there was a fence the last time I was there, it was much closer. For pictures, see my previous page for this site ... Devils Throat - Gold Butte. From here we traveled west to Mud Wash Road. From this intersection we headed southwest for a few miles to the site of the Mud Road Petroglyphs. The picture in (Fig. 04) shows the five panel locations of petroglyphs. I think Bob Croke figured out why I hadn't noticed one of these on my previous visit (Fig. 04a).  For more pictures, see my previous page for this site ... Mud Wash Road Petroglyphs. After leaving this site we continued down and around the corner of the wash until we came to a road the left the wash and switched back its way up to a mesa that overlooked Mud Wash Road. Looking northwest is showed a good view of Bitter Ridge in the distance. (Fig. 05). This road followed the wash for a while and then turn to the west (refer to the map) until it intersected Backcountry Byway. We then turned to the left and then veered to the left and headed southeast to Kirk's Grotto. (Con't below)

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Trip Notes Continued: Once we reached the parking area and trailhead for Kirt's Grotto (Fig. 06), we hiked down the fairly steep road that leads to the area below. On the way to the actual grotto area, we passed several petroglyph panels on the cliffs on the right that I'm not sure I noticed on my previous trip here (Fig. 07). For more pictures and detailed description on Kirt's Grotto, see my previous page for this site ... Kirt's Grotto. After a picnic lunch in the shade of the grotto we spotted a large Chuckwalla Lizard climbing way up on the side of the cliff (Fig. 08). After touring this area we retraced out tracks back to the Backcountry Byway. Before heading northwest up the byway towards the Mud Wash Road and the road to Little Finland, we stopped to capture this shot of the landscape vista ahead of us (Fig. 09). Finally we reached Little Finland, probably one of my most favorite spots in all of Gold Butte. We climbed up onto the mesa that stretches for nearly a half mile. Unfortunately, by the time we reached this area the winds picked up considerably; the blowing dust and the late time of day forced us to cut short our photo taking opportunities. In spite of this I was able to still capture dozens of outstanding pictures (Figs. 10 - 14). For more pictures and detailed description on Little Finland, see my previous page for this site ... Little Finland Gold Butte. By the time we got back to Whitney Pocket, reloaded all the equipment and drove home, it was nearly 7:00 pm. Even though it was a long day, everyone really enjoyed.

                                   

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Return to the Gold Butte summary page ... Gold Butte National Monument - Summary Page.