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Please click here for Part Four
More Discoveries
We found a dentist in Boulder City who could see me at 3:30 in the afternoon. Prior to the appointment we took care of resupply and other needs. We also enjoyed all the neat public art on display around the historic downtown. With my crown glued back in place we headed into the backcountry of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Red rock and tracking ancient beasts called us back to a favorite area.
The weather had turned warm. We started out early the next morning.
This was a land of chaos, geologically speaking. Layers tilted this way and that and did not match up. I could not make sense of it but it is always fun to come back. First off, we made a daylong loop through and around red Aztec Sandstone in an area called The Bowl of Fire. We were not following any directions or guide. We know our way around this landscape. We topped out on a saddle and our objective came into view.
Notice that salmon colored sandstone nob just right of center.
I walked around the nob. The Lady took a more direct approach.
Remember the Lady had two total knee replacements a few years back. Look at the amount of flexion she has in her knees and the high step she is making. This girl just wants to have fun.
“What can I climb next?”
This area is like having Valley of Fire all to ourselves.
And chaos underlies it all.
But today we came for the red rock.
We exited out of the bowl to the south and passed by two bighorn ewes.
The wind had returned but the warm temperature made it more tolerable.
We spent the following day doing a long loop to the north from our dispersed campsite. Years ago, posted on a hiking club’s blog, I had seen an area the group named “Colorful Canyon,” a small outcrop of Aztec sandstone with striking vibrant color. Could we find it?
Up a familiar wash we went.
There is an outcrop of siltstone that slabs of rock fall from.
We found recent rockfall since our last visit here. We investigated as these layers hold fossil tracks millions of years old. Ancient horse tracks.
Birds
A herd of ancient hooved creatures moved through here.
Here’s a canid track.
And more.
The canyon narrows in spectacular fashion.
Even up here we found fossil tracks. Always keep your eyes open.
We finally climbed out of the maze of shallow canyons. Our destination – as I had marked on our map – was two miles away. A handheld compass sent us in the right direction.
On the opposite side of a ridge, we saw it in the distance, Colorful Canyon.
It was incredible.
Wow, just wow.
We packed up the next morning. It was time to return to California and the Mojave National Preserve, the final chapter of this tri state adventure.
Our adventure continues. Please click here for Part Six.
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