April 24th, 2010 Earth Day  Weekend – The photo’s posted herein were taken on Saturday April 24th, 2010. We were doing our “Trail Watch” work along the trail from Railroad Pass Casino (MM 0.0 east to MM 32.5). We started early at 6:30 a.m. to beat the heat and to get the best color contrast for photos. We found the best flowers not far from the trail and best over the first mile over to the Cascata Bridge. We also parallel the railroad tracks for most of the first two miles also.  With camera in hand, a five gallon bucket for trash, grippers, and a small street broom for sweeping rocks we set out….while picking up trash along the tracks & trail the sun on the tracks called out to me….. ÂÂ
Rails to Boulder City early morning 4-24-10
Beaver tail cactus were all along the trail most with just a bloom or two opening the best yet to come. We also noted up on the mountain side in gullies and drainages lots of yellow brittlebush in full bloom, the entire area yellow from a distance…. the yellow contrasted with the dark brown and black volcanic rocks were awe-inspiring.ÂÂ
Cresote Bush in bloom with Brittle Bush on hillside 42410
Along with the wildflowers we found the droppings of nature’s worst insect, “The Litterbug”. In our opinion the trash came from the freeway and not trail users based on location and droppings found. The worst item repeatedly found this day was t-paper, unrolled and stuck in bushes, you ever try to pick up t-paper? This stuff was not used, but allowed to unroll in the wind of a speeding car then let loose… Here is a photo of the days “litterbug’ harvest…ÂÂ
Litterbug droppings harvest along trail 42410
 Despite the litterbug sightings we did enjoy all the wildflowers along the way. The “Stone Hedge” trailhead at Bootleg Canyon proves to be a very interesting photo backdrop along the trail. We discovered several small barrel cactus in full bloom on our way back to Railroad Pass…..they were on the uphill side of the trail. I’ll include one here and more in the photo gallery below. There is much color to be seen out there and you have two weeks before it has peaked (Mothers Day); so get your camera, your hiking boots on and get out there. Don’t just take my word for it…ÂÂ
Barrel cactus two blooms RRpass 42410
We finished our day by viewing the Southern Nevada Railways train pulling into Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino at 10:20 a.m. followed by a great breakfast at the hotel coffee shop. Saturday mornings in  the April desert don’t get any better….:)ÂÂ
Photo Gallery of Desert blooms Railroad Pass, Nevada:
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