Tarantula - These spiders have hairy,brown to black bodies, and a leg span that can exceed 4 inches.  Despite their intimidating appearance, they are generally non-aggressive and will avoid confrontation if possible.  north American desert tarantulas do have venom, but the effect on a human is generally equivalent to a bee sting.

Tarantula on trail 102409

For most of the year tarantulas are solitary creatures that seldom move far from their burrows to hunt lizards, insects and other arthropods.  They are most likely to be seen on summer nights when males are out and about searching for mates.  The mortality rate for mature males is high.  Those who manage to survive the search for a female will most likely be eaten by her soon after mating.  Females, who tend to stick close to the home burrow, may live for 20 years or more.

Nov. 20, 20009 - The winter 2009 edition of Rails to Trails is out and it feature The Historic Railroad Trail At Lake Mead on the cover, plus a six page article and photos within.  The photo shoot took place back in the spring which several of us from the River Mountains Trail Partnership participated in.  Only Jim Holland’s photo made it into the article.  Jim is the Lake Mead Park Planner and was deeply involved in the completion of the Historic Railroad Trail.  I also interviewed twice with Ben Spillman, but of course was not quoted in the article either, such is the life of one who works behind the scenes. 

Link to article:  http://www.railstotrails.org/news/magazine/index.html   

 The article is well written and certainly covers the many user groups who visit the trail on an annual basis.  The history of how the trail was built makes another story which is covered elsewhere in this BLOG site.   Look under “History” category.

JIm Holland posing for shoot, Low Lake mead shoreline spring 2009

I have a few behind the scenes photos of part of the official photo shoot.  You will also find detailed information, photos, and maps on both the Historic Railroad Trail and the River Mountains Loop Trail at  www.traillink.com

See Gallery below.

Nov. 20th 2009 10:51 a.m. - Mile Marker 1.5 to MM3.25  The geotechnical borings  are scheduled for the Equestrian Levee between Paradise Hills and Equestrian Road, just east of section 27.  This section of trail will need to be closed between November 23^rd through December 4^th while the borings are taking place to minimize the potential for injury to trail users and encroachment into the work area.   The boring locations are outside of the asphalt trail and the contractor has been informed to avoid travel on the pavement to prevent damage to trail surface.  The geotechnical investigation is necessary to certify that the levee meets FEMA requirements for construction. 

Note: It is unknown at this time whether the entire section will be closed during this work or if just each work area will be closed off to travel.  There are eight (8) bore locations indicated on work area maps.  Please be alert and avoid work areas during this time period. We will work with them to keep access open as much as possible but that may mean traversing down or up the slope of the levee.

See map below for bore sites.

Bore sites 112009

 

Desert Kit Fox NPS file photo

 

Desert Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis) – The smallest of foxes, the Desert Kit fox is about 30 inches from nose to tip of tail.  It has very large ears and is gray and buff colored with a black-tipped tail.  The bottoms of its fee are covered with fur to faciltate travel on sandy soil.  Mostly nocturnal, the fox hunts rodents, lizards, birds, and insects. (the ocasional house cat).

NOS - Desert Kit fox file photo

 Note: It is rare to see one of these guys along the trail, but they are out there. The only one I have seen was a road kill, I wore his tail on my hiking hat for awhile.

Gambel’s quail – (Callipepla gambelii)  have plump, stocky bodies, rounded wings, and prominent head plumes.  The name Callipepla comes from the Greek kalli ( beautiful) and peplos (robe).  The body is gray above and buff below, with streaked sides. Males have a black face and throat and a white headband.

These birds spend most of their time on the ground, often near washes and springs.  At night they roost in low branches of shrubs or trees.  They are generally gregarious and form coveys of 20 or more in fall and winter.

Gambles Quail male file photo 2009

 These Quail can be seen along the trail early mornings if one is quiet. Located in washes and areas where water can be found. They are fun to watch and they have a series of calls they make to each other.

Looking S.E. over Boulder city by Gary Z.

 

Nov. 17, 2009 -  Per Gary in B.C. we are down to our last 1,000 feet of trail to build. Today they are pouring a retaining wall along the property line with National Parks Service Warehouse parking.  Once cured the contractor can pave the trail right up next to it.  Should be completed by November 30th and ready for use…. this is the last piece of asphalt to complete Boulder cities portions of the River Mountains Loop Trail.  This section being completed is between mile marker 30 and mile marker 31.   The follow photos were  provided by Gary Zupanic, Boulder City Engineer and project manager. Thanks Gary.

RMLT connects to Bootleg Canyon Park photo by Gary Z.

 Boulder City last 1,000 feet photo gallery:

Coyote Howling file photo 2009

Nov. 16, 2009 – Coyotes - (Canis latrans) are grizzled gray or reddish-gray with buff underparts a bushy tail with a black tip, and prominent ears.  They are excellent runners, with cruising speeds of 25 to 35 miles per hour and short bursts of up to 40 miles per hour.

Extremely intelligent and adaptable, the coyote is expanding its range despite loss of traditional habitat and human hunting pressures.  Today the coyote can be found in desert, grassland, mountain and suburban environments as far north as Alaska and as far south as Central America.

The coote is an opportunistic hunter employing a variety of methods to obatain food. It patientl stalks and pounces on small mammals. It has trememdous endurance and can simply chase prey until it is worn out. Where the food supply is predominantly small animals, it hunts alone or in a breeding pairs, while in the presence of large prey such as deer, it will hunt in packs. Coyotes will also make do with insects, lizards, carrion, fruit, and even pine nuts (grass seeds).

Coyotes are usually heard between dusk and dawn. Barks and yelps followed by drawn-out howls serve to announce location, strenghtn social bonds, and reunite separated members of a band.

NOTE: The above definition of coyotes comes from a Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication called “Geologic tours in the Las Vegas Area”.

September 15, 2009 :  Silverman Triathlon runs a 9-mile portion of the 112-mile road race on the River Mountains Loop Trail. Three hills in this section have become known as the “Three Sisters” with grades approaching 15%.  For more information and photos see BLOG page “The “Three Sisters” under Silverman Triathlon category.

Silverman bike rider file photo

"No Dumping" says it all....?

Nov. 16, 2009 – Cartoon says it all…..It is what it is…!   We in the trail business do have a sense of humor, sometimes.  To bad dogs can’t read, because dog owners sure can’t.  On a recent hike to pick up trash along the trail from a trail head all I found was piles and piles of dog crap along the trail.  The responsible dog owner picks up after his dog then dumps it in a trash can at the trail head.   “Pack it in…Pack it out!”    There is another cartoon out there from the “Far-Side” I think….shows a bear putting a sewer pipe from the woods/forrest through a side window into a house and giving the signal to the pipeline operator(another bear) to turn it on…

Then there is the dog owner who picks up his dogs business in a bag (thank you); but then leaves it along side the trail???@#@#$  Why?    Or how about the 16oz soda cup or Grande Starbucks cup found sitting 1-mile in from the trail head? You drank it walking here when it was full and heavy, why not cary it back light and empty?  “Leave No Trace” that you were here .

November 12, 2009 – The International Triathlon Union, USA Triathlon, the City of Henderson and Lowery’s Multi-Sport Races are proud to announce the 2011 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships will be held in Henderson, Nev., USA, on Nov. 5, 2011. 

 Link to PRESS RELEASE  dated 11/11/09 found here:   http://usatriathlon.org/news/article/28954

In the world of Triathon this is huge.  Lowery’s Multi-Sport Races and City of Henderson will put Henderson, Southern Nevada and the River Mountains Loop Trail on the world map for sporting events.  Stay tuned for updates through out the year.

Silverman Triathlon 2009 bike ride at 100-miles

Here are links to USA Triathlon and International Triathlon Union ( ITU) for more informaiton:

http://usatriathlon.org/

http://www.triathlon.org/

See Silverman Triathlon within this BLOG for other triathlon news & informaiton.

Silverman Triathlon Photo Gallery: