Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Share info and Pictures about gardens, parks, nurseries, and other locations with cacti.
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hiawog
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by hiawog »

Great pictures, thank you!!
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Steve-0
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Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

More pics...
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Limestone...
Limestone...
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Exposed to the elements, eroded, dissolved by the rain's carbonic acid...
Exposed to the elements, eroded, dissolved by the rain's carbonic acid...
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...into Nature's sculptures.
...into Nature's sculptures.
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Some Yuccas ...
Some Yuccas ...
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Agave Utahensis
Agave Utahensis
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Ephedera - great "pick me up" snack bush.
Ephedera - great "pick me up" snack bush.
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One very dry Opuntia Engl...pad
One very dry Opuntia Engl...pad
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"Looks like his belly button is rubbing a hole in his backbone" - said the hungry cowboy
"Looks like his belly button is rubbing a hole in his backbone" - said the hungry cowboy
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Steve-0
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Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

More pics...
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Escos in the rocks
Escos in the rocks
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Very dry terrain
Very dry terrain
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Cacti are compact during winter
Cacti are compact during winter
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Steve-0
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Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

Some more images...
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The immediate terrain near these images. Lots of limestone
The immediate terrain near these images. Lots of limestone
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Echino. engelmannii clusters. The variation seems to be, IMO the spine color.
Echino. engelmannii clusters. The variation seems to be, IMO the spine color.
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Some darker on the red side.
Some darker on the red side.
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Some on the yellow side.
Some on the yellow side.
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Standing on a cliff edge- road below in top right corner
Standing on a cliff edge- road below in top right corner
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Steve-0
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Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

A few more...
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Steve-0
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Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

pics...
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Mammilaria tetrancistra
Mammilaria tetrancistra
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mikethecactusguy
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by mikethecactusguy »

You have been a busy boy.. Nice Hike..
Mike The Cactus Guy
Enjoying the Spines
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Steve-0
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

Wish I had stayed another couple of days...but it's only 300 miles away.
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Nice view from up here
Nice view from up here
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Just for clarification...the really red Feros got a boost with a spritz of water to bring out that color.
Just for clarification...the really red Feros got a boost with a spritz of water to bring out that color.
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Anywhere a seed ends up... it grows...
Anywhere a seed ends up... it grows...
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...sometimes in a room...
...sometimes in a room...
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...with a view.
...with a view.
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Steve-0
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

and ...a few more.
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This is the second tallest specimen I saw. Also the lowest down and furthest from the hillside. Good soil, nutrients, water and lack of Death by Cow may be some factors. It's the one I sat beside.
This is the second tallest specimen I saw. Also the lowest down and furthest from the hillside. Good soil, nutrients, water and lack of Death by Cow may be some factors. It's the one I sat beside.
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Steve-0
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

The eroded and cupped limestone rock is said to be "razor sharp"....it's not...it's more like Sawzall blade sharp. lol. Very grippy on my LaSportiva hiking boot soles which was a plus. Some of the angles I walked along on the hillside were 45 to 70 degrees . I was very fortunate not to fall. The rock climbing signs warn of the "cheese grater" effect if one falls or slips. I think I have one last batch of images to post.
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mmcavall
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by mmcavall »

Very cool, Steve, thanks for sharing it.
It look very dry (it is called a desert for a reason)...is it dry like that all year round? Or is there some time with more green things ?
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Steve-0
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

It was pretty dry even by desert standards. All of last year saw very little rainfall in the desert climate zones in our state.


This particular area has a mild winter and this week was the first snowfall in years for Southern Utah & Nevada. It made the news!

Spring arrives late next month and is short and vigorous. Everything green happens quickly and a few weeks afterwards spring is gone a bright, hot light turns on called summer which lasts into late September or October. July & August have regular temps of 100-112F. The green fades to yellows and browns soon, too.

I did see one plant showing green leaves emerging. I forget the name of it but it is odd looking.
Oh...the plant is the Desert Trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum).

I hope to return when flowers are present.
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mmcavall
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by mmcavall »

Cool, thanks!
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Steve-0
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

And the last batch...
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A little Fero
A little Fero
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Standard sized car key for scale
Standard sized car key for scale
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Extra showy Cholla
Extra showy Cholla
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Largest clump of Ech. engelmannii I saw
Largest clump of Ech. engelmannii I saw
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Wait, what's that in the arroyo?
Wait, what's that in the arroyo?
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A Saguaro?
A Saguaro?
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Predation? Or deer scrape?
Predation? Or deer scrape?
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Good night, moon...til next time.
Good night, moon...til next time.
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Steve-0
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Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

That last Ferocactus acanthodes measured 51 inches/129.5 cm tall . Also located away from the hillsides, in a gully/wash.
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