The Spring Mountains ECHO

MEET THE MOUNTAIN CAR TOURS

By John O'Donnell

5/31/97: OFF TO THE LUCKY STRIKE MINE

(A Historic Mine, Canyons and Other Interesting Things)

The trip started with an attempted rendezvous at Corn Creek Station. While waiting for the tardy rascals to show, we toured the Station, talking to a knowledgeable bird-watcher, and sighting the glimmering solar panels of Metro's radio station on Gass Peak. However, we were not fortunate enough to see them levitate above the peak as other observers have reported.

Crossing US 95, we headed up Lucky Strike Canyon (LSC) toward Angels Peak. Following a telephone pole road, we passed the Grapevine Springs/Grassy Springs road to Kyle, the only other way out of the canyon. The LSC road does continue all the way to the peak, but after listening to many harrowing stories of the near vertical road this was not considered a prudent option. We crossed the wash and parked at a junction to listen to the entertaining local stories of Bob Maichle. Attracted by the stories, three burros watched us intently from a nearby ridge. While debating the similarities and differences of banana yucca and Spanish bayonet yucca we saw another small off-road caravan pass by on the main road. Leaving the congestion behind we traveled up a side canyon on the northern side of Lucky Strike.

We stopped for more stories at the ruins of an old cabin from the canyon's mining days. After a brief snack the group continued on foot to the mine shaft at the top of the mountain. The perfect weather, 80F with a slight breeze, still seemed hot when hiking up this steep road at 8000 ft. The miners underground shelter, where they could rest out of the sun, has seen better days. Today's campers would prefer the campsite 1/4 mile past the mine, looking down into LSC.

7/13/97: SHADY REST, FIRE'S EDGE, AND THE HOOT BY THE HOLLER

(Talking About Fire On The Mountain)

Dinner in the Desert was the first topic. A banana yucca provided us with a kiwi tasting fruit. The taste of the fruit is taken on faith as the ones we picked were wormy and under-ripe. Tea can be made from creosote or from the aptly named Mormon tea plant. But be sure to carefully prepare the crickets and wild rhubarb, for your own safety. Sugar for the Indian diet was extracted in Agave pits. Many of these round piles of limestone rocks can be seen from highway 160.

Continuing past these delicacies, we traveled up Wheeler Pass road. Turning into Wheeler Wash, we headed to the charcoal kilns, passing some impressive rock pinnacles on the way. The kilns used the timber >from the surrounding forest to make charcoal until the railroad arrived and provided cheaper supplies. Two of the kilns have collapsed, but the third is still standing and being gradually restored by the Forest Service; volunteers are welcome. Call Kathy Moskowitz at 873-8800, if interested.

We continued up the mountain until we reached the Shady Rest campsite, where we stopped for lunch and conversation. A forest expects occasional fires and many fires can be beneficial. The timing and extent of these fires, however, remain hard to predict or control. Combined with different patterns of use and development, agreement of a single overall fire management policy is difficult. The area near Wheeler Pass has seen occasional fires and is a good spot to see the different stages of regrowth. Close to the top of Wheeler Pass summit a 1961 fire swept through, leaving isolated clumps of trees and a still stark line of mature trees showing the extent of the fire. A more recent, though smaller, fire burned off some of the new growth earlier this year. The road travels through this blackened area giving visitors a good view of the recovery process. The bright green leaves of returning Scrub Oak contrasted with the charred landscape.

At the Wheeler Pass summit, drivers admired the expansive view and decided whether to return by way of the bumpy road down to Indian Springs or back the way they came to Pahrump. Many tempting side trips exist on either route and will be the destination of future Meet the Mountain tours.