The Spring Mountains ECHO

The Bonanza Peak Trail in July

By Barbara Washington

Inspired by a recent OUTDOOR NEVADA segment, we went looking for our local elk herd in the Cold Creek area. Our first stop was the trail head for Bonanza Peak. Feeling the need for a hike we donned boots and hats and day packs and headed up. The map shows lots of little squiggles which truly represent this trail. It zig zags up the east face of the mountain before crossing around to the north side to zig and zag some more. In our 1½ hour ascent, we did not reach the peak, but enjoyed the exercise, the view and, of course, the flora.

Mother Nature and the trail builders provide several rock outcroppings and downed trees for rest stops. I needed them much more often than I would have liked, but it was July at 1:30 and it is at altitude and I haven't been working out very regularly. The stops provided time for us to observe our surroundings and we found a surprising number of interesting plants.

Gambel's oak grows along the road from Cold Creek to the trail head. These shrubby, deciduous trees have glossy, lobed leaves. Ponderosa pines are present at the parking lot and all along the trail. Subalpine fir is seen about half way up the west face. Ponderosa pines are readily identified by their cinnamon colored bark, 5" needles in bundles of three, and vanilla or pineapple scented sap (get nose-to-bark in June for a real treat). After looking at the non-ponderosa-like needles, subalpine fir is best identified from above. It won't take long on this trail to get a viewing spot to identify these trees! This fir's cones are seen at the top of the tree and stand erect; the needles are soft, single, flat and about 1" long.

Currant bushes with red, ripening berries mark the foot of the trail. The berries are edible, but bland. Silvery green sage brush is widespread and the showy, post-bloom seed heads help identify the mountain mahogany. Soon, groups of red penstemons appear. There are many varieties of red penstemons and they are difficult for us to tell apart. We have settled on "firecracker" to describe all red ones. The penstemons were accompanied by red skyrockets, a star-shaped, delicate, red flower. A beautiful patch of sego lilies decorated just one spot. This white, three leaved lily is the state flower of Utah. Several colonies of prickly pear cactus were just beginning to show yellow blooms. Pink thistles with only disk flowers provided nectar for insects and hummingbirds. Lupines joined us at a fairly lofty altitude soon after the trail moved toward the north slope. Lichens of all colors and thick, black mosses cover many rocks; leafless mistletoe can be found in some pines.

The view of the valley below, Cold Creek and the Desert Wildlife Range is spectacular even from half-way up. We never did find the elk, but we did see several small lizards "doing pushups" on the rocks. (Whether this activity cools them off or attracts mates is a topic for discussion.) Remember to make time for enjoying the outdoors, take along plenty of water and a trailside snack, pack it in & pack it out. Don't forget to look around you, for there is "lots to see!"

SMA HAS U.S.G.S. MAPS FOR SALE

By Charles Washington

The SMA has placed an order with the U.S.G.S. for maps of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, and surrounding Southern Nevada. We will begin selling the maps at the Kyle Canyon Information Center and the Forest Service office at 2881 S. Valley View, Ste. 15., when the order is received. Most of the maps ordered are topographical 7.5 minute quadrangles, and will sell to the general public for $6. Current SMA members can purchase the maps for $5; please call Tricia Scaggs at 396-6459 for availability and to place your order.