Lichen Unto Us - Gold Butte Full Of It

How many of us ever stop to look at Lichen? I do, but I have to confess it's pretty much just in passing - even on Gold Butte.

We mostly think of the tiny, colorful stuff in relation to wet, damp, cool places; but, I'm here to tell you it's all over the desert as well. Naturally, I don't have to convince riders in Utah, Colorado, California, Wyoming or Arizona that their rides are full of rocks with lichen attached.  But, Nevada… well… that's an equine of a different wavelength.

For them I present — DATA! Look at the photo of Ladybug Rock in Cottonwood Wash to the right. Ignore the ladybug if you can and look at the rock. I can see at least three kinds of lichen. Can you?

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CRITICAL - The Fiends of Gold Butte Are At It Again

Better late than never, the Mesquite City Council has placed their previous misguided "resolution #649" on their upcoming agenda for additional public discussion and comment. They are calling it a "Work Session," and what that means to them I don't have a clue. [I've just realized that it probably means they want to talk about it BEFORE everybody gets home from work and can attend the 3pm meeting!]

You remember, that was the idiocy which gave support for the legislative designation of Gold Butte (and much of Bunkerville Flats) as a WILDERNESS AREA!

Nancy Hall, the paid lobbyist (and lead "fiend"), has emailed all her croney's asking for them to attend this afternoon's meeting in masse, and to call the mayor's answering line [702-346-5295] to leave a message.  Nancy claims that us "opponents" are putting pressure on the Council to rescind the stupid thing.  YOU BET WE ARE NANCY!

Doesn't the US Government "OWN" too much of Nevada land already!  Utah has realized, almost too late, that their previous placidity with the government has been only to their detriment.  THE ACEC DESIGNATION IS COMPLETELY ADEQUATE FOR THE AREA.  There is absolutely NO need to prohibit multi-use in the area - AND, contrary to what Nancy and her buds say, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO URGENCY IN THE MATTER!

The meeting seemed to "spring up" on us - apparently Nancy knew about it soon enough to get the word out to "her people."  I just called the number she gave and you should too. It's painless, quick and easy. You need to listen to the telephone tree and press the buttons first for the "mayor and council" and then to "leave a message."

Additionally, you need to also send an email message to the council members. I KNOW... many of you think that you've already said your piece; BUT, that was then and now is now. They expect you to KEEP JUMPING THROUGH THE HOOPS again and again.  Councilwoman Fairchild has informed me that many emails are coming in from the "fiends" - undoubtedly nearly all from elsewhere besides Mesquite.

It will be very enlightening to keep track of exactly which of the six members want us to VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE this next round.  The mentioned resolution was passed unanimously by them; but, you all saw as well as I did how, at the last public meeting, not one of them stood up to be counted for their handiwork.  It was as though the resolution had passed itself!

I've researched all the emails and will list them below for your convenience. Just click on each one and send a quick email stating "I am requesting that you RESCIND the Mesquite City's resolution (#649) which supports creation of wilderness areas" — that's all there is too it.

I'm going to do it myself (I've already called the mayor's message line) as soon as I finish typing!

"Ence, Randy" rence@mesquitenv.gov ; "Donna Fairchild" dfairchild@mesquitenv.gov ; "Gustavenson, Karl" kgustaveson@mesquitenv.gov ; "Mayor Susan Holecheck" sholecheck@mesquitenv.gov ; "Bennett, David" dbennett@mesquitenv.gov ; "Withelder, Geno" gwithelder@mesquitenv.gov .

"Megalithic Portal" Website

Recently I was told about a webpage entitled: "Megalithic Portal Meets Google Earth" so for grins I took a look to see if by chance they had something in the area.

It turns out they actually did — at least a few. Additionally, it seems the site is based in England and was set up (at least probably initially) by persons selling information about Stonehendge, hence the grandiose name.  [For a free Google Earth file of this route see: Megalithic Portal Sites]

I guess people had difficulty distinquishing between "lith" (meaning 'stone') and "glyph" (writing) because eventually their database began including "ancient" sites of all types and from all over the world.

I have extracted from their database, those sites which are found in the western US and put them into the Google Earth file linked above.

From perusing the sites they list in the area's I know well, it seems like their database is quite limited, and I cannot acertain its accuracy. However, as there are a couple near snowbird headquarters which I have not heard of, I thought you would like to see them too.

You should take a quick peek at the file, if for no other reason than to just see how many "ancient" sites people have submitted from around the world.

Ride Index: 2009-10 Riding Season: Gold Butte-Mesquite Area

The 2009-10 offroading season being nearly over for the Mesquite - Gold Butte riding areas, it's probably a good time to post an index of the rides, something I've been meaning to do for some time.

As you know, shortly after the season, I begin transfering the season's ride tracks over to the "Master Map" files under more descriptive names in order to make them easier to find.

There are two ways to find an Offroading Home trail: One — Look at the over-all master map with all the trails turned on and see where you would like to go; and, Two — search for your destination using the "search" box on the blog.

The master maps allow…

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Ride 31: More of Whitney

You know, I'll bet that not 1 in 25 or maybe even 50 visitors to Whitney Junction/Pockets know who "Whitney" is/was. I'm not sure even now I understand the whole genealogy thing, but I have it on good authority it goes something like this:

George Burton Whitney settled in Bunkerville in the late 1880's as a farmer and school teacher. He moved to St. Thomas Nevada, taught school and fathered 12…

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Ride 30: Petro's and Cistern

After all the rain during the past couple of weeks (no complaint) dad and I decided to run down to the natural cistern near the 21 Goats Petroglyphs to check on reports that it was full to overflowing.   [For a free Google Earth file of this 10 mile route see: Ride 30: Petro's and Cistern] (500 ft elevation change)

We didn't feel up to too long…

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Ride 29: Doing "Whitney"

Pretty much everything on the Gold Butte can begin at Whitney Pockets (Junction). For one thing, it's at the end of the pavement! For another, roads go in all directions. And… it's a great place for a picnic.   [For a free Google Earth file of this route see: Ride 29: Picnic at Whitney]

Actually, if you want to be a purist (and who doesn't) the pavement ends at…

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Sierra Club Dilemma

If you are a card carrying, so-called, "Friend" of Gold Butte or Sierra Club member you may need to avert your eyes for this post
          — it isn't pretty.

[Dilemma, n. A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive.]

Two of your most endeared "causes" are duke-ing it out! And, how oh how, will you ever choose?

The only thing that might make it worse would be if the avian involved would have been a Bald Eagle — but I think they're smarter'n to live in this kind of heat!

You see, a very public endeared species decided to set up…

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Mesquite Mayor/Council - Still No Action

Mayor Susan Holecheck
10 East Mesquite Blvd.
Mesquite, NV 89027
702-346-5295
Email: sholecheck@mesquitenv.gov

Just in case any of you are wondering — the Mesquite City Council only meets every other week. And, despite how anxious they wanted to "appear" to us to be about putting the Gold Butte/wilderness area issue on the "real" agenda, the follow-up meeting has come and gone - still without any action!   On an issue which is time-critical to the preservation of the riding-experience in Mesquite, so far it looks as though their only motivaton was placation, spin-doctoring and smoke and mirrors.

Ride 28: Tassi Springs Trail

Most of us who have ridden around "the Butte" a lot actually long for a ride like this one.   [For a free Google Earth file of this route see: Ride 28: Tassi Springs Loop]

There is a lot to see down here – more than most places – but after awhile it takes on a bit of… let's say… "familiarity." So you can understand when you take a ride that you haven't been on before and see things that you haven't seen before and find that it is a bit unexpected to boot!

A friend and I realized recently that although we were using the same "label" were were talking about different places: "Cottonwood Wash." Did you know that there were two?

The first is in Nevada and I've posted about it previously – Cottonwood Wash leading to Devil's Cove. The other is mere…

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Wilderness and Resolutions and Re-Election - Oh No!

Pure and simple, the Mesquite City Council and Mayor's resolution of support for creating the wilderness areas surrounding the city has caused so much angst that it puts their continued seating in their respective offices in doubt.

As such, the item was placed on a recent open council meeting agenda which enabled public comment. As I reported in part-one, the place was packed (an ominous sign when an offroader willingly sits in a folding chair excruciatingly immobile.)

And not only with us lowly rabble-rowsers but with Mesquite's long time and major citizenry: judges, major land-owners, founding families, former politico's, seniors, handicapped and elected officials of adjoining areas.

The mayor and council made opening remarks. To my ears, most of it seemed the expected non-committal rhetoric of elected officials; but, at least one statement which, if I heard it correctly, at best reflects incredibly poor thinking, at worst a dangerously…

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Ride 27: Davidson Family Graves

It's not that pretty – at least not by Gold Butte standards – but there isn't anywhere more historic or poignant in the whole area than a trip up toward Davidson Peak.   [For a free Google Earth file of this route see: Ride 27 - Davidson Family Graves. This map also contains the old wagon trails previously posted.]

On a short day where we just didn't want to haul the trailer very far, Gordon and I took the ride and were still back in time for the block party!

We staged at the Toquop wash trailhead just around the corner from the south exit to Mesquite. The first draw was toward the river which looked high from the recent rains.

Then north all the while looking for a passage up to the mesa on the west so we could avoid that "hateful"…

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Mayor and Council and Lobbyists - Oh My!

Riders of the Gold Butte area know that the Mesquite City Mayor and Council generated and passed a resolution in "support" of creating an NCA (Conservation Area) and "Wilderness" designation encompassing nearly the totality of Gold Butte and into Bunkerville Flats! Why would they feel the need to do that?

And, the so-called "Friends" of Gold Butte have made much ado about having the City's backing in their continued attempts to close the butte to offroad use. How does such a group garner such preference?

What many people don't realize is just how tightly the two tendrils are entwined and where the culpability lies; but, what is dawning on life-long residents is just how damaging to the Mesquite experience this bill will be, if implemented. And they are becoming increasingly vocal about it!

Realizing the growing animosity toward their actions, the Mayor and Council announced an agenda item for their last meeting, ostensibly to "discuss" their previous resolution; but, as it turned out, to attempt some "damage control."

This, as a matter of course, gave another opportunity for citizens…

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Spanish, Mormon-Wagon and Pack-Mule Trails

People traveling through (or past as the case may be) Mesquite could possibly be wondering: "Why on earth is this town here?"

The answer, as with most other western towns, is that "because it is one days journey on horseback from the last town."   [For a free Google Earth file of this route see: Mormon Wagon Road]

Several groups of Native Americans used the route, then the Spaniards, then the Mormon Pioneers then the Gold Rushers and on and on — and all that was before they invented asphalt, concrete or Interstate systems.

A few Native American tribes actually stayed a while in the area but most were smart enough to just keep "passing through," until…

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This Bloomin' Town: Mesquite

It's not just the lower Parashant which is in bloom — Mesquite's Flowering Pears are well underway and pretty much with leaves now.

Word has it that Beaver Dam Wash is actually "washing" with the rain runoff — although Hugh has been known to exaggerate a bit in the past. [It could just be his fishing-withdrawn mind playing tricks on him.]