River Mountains Loop Trail

Wild flowers of The River Mountains Loop Trail

 
Blazing Star -Mentzella tricuspus 2009

Blazing Star -Mentzella tricuspus 2009

 Mentzelia tricuspus in the Blazing Star Family.The common names are blazing star, desert corsage or velcro plant. The last two names are derived from the stiff re-curved hairs on the leaves that makes the plant stick to clothing. Its common throughout the Mojave Desert in gravels at low elevations.  Photo by rmltman 3-21-09

 

Desert Senna @Railroad Pass 2008

Desert Senna @ Railroad Pass 2008This wildflower specimen was show casing fall of 2008 near Railroad Pass. Diane is doing her Trail Watch trash pick up near by. ÂÂ

 

Desert Senna Boulder city April 2009

Desert Senna Boulder city April 2009

The Desert Senna abounds in the River Mountains foothills along the trail.  The Desert Senna (cassia armata) in this photo taken April 28th is found near the trail below Cascada Golf Course in the Boulder City foothills.

Wildflower Gallery:

 

 

Trail Enforcement takes many forms…

The River Mountains Loop Trail within the City of Henderson falls under the Federal land management of the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR); however, enforcement of trail rules, ordinances and NRS falls to the City of Henderson Police  and to a lesser degree the Parks and Recreation Departments.  The RMLT from Railroad Pass on the south to Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Northeast is patrolled by the Henderson Police Dept.  using a variety of modes or forms of transportation. 

On any given day or hour of the day you may see HPD trucks, cars, motorcycles, ATV’s, bicycles, and even horses patrolling along the trail corridor.  Their patrols are for user safety.  The trail has been GPS’d and trail mileage markers are used for reference points.  You will also see Trail Watch volunteers wearing orange vests along the trail through out the day. These volunteers are trained to be the “eyes and ears” on all of Henderson’s trails. Again for the safety of trail users.

HPD ATV Units

HPD ATV Units

What type of Enforcement Issues are they looking for??  The rules applicable to city parks apply along the trail.

  • Dogs on leash
  • Trash and illegal dumping
  • Non-authorized vehicles, ATV’s and motorcycles on trail
  • Fire-arms and target shooting on, near or across the trail
  • Use after closing hours
  • Other non-authorized uses

 

 
 

HPD Mounted horse patrol

HPD Mounted horse patrol

Besides Enforcement HPD and Trail Watch are also there to provide:

  • Information and directions to trail users
  • Aid and assistance as needed
  • Trail safety and maintenance needs
  • A positive use influence along the trail

 

 

 

 

Trail Watch Volunteers

Trail Watch Volunteers

Additional Enforcement is provided in the River Mountains area by National Park Service Rangers; BLM Wilderness Rangers; and both Nevada Dept. of Wildlife and U.S Fish and Wildlife.

 Gallery Photos:

 

Boulder City – Bridge Deck Poured 8/06/09; Completion to Railroad Pass nears…

August 19, 2009 – It’s not official, “BUT” the bridge is done and open for use.  I have heard reports that the new B.C. connection is getting lots of use.  We may have  to install traffic signals?   Just kidding. 

 

 

 

B.C. Bridge concrete curing 8-08-09

B.C. Bridge concrete curing 8-08-09

 

 

SAFETY NOTE:  Until the signs and stop lines are installed at the railroad crossing PLEASE stay back from the RR-tracks on weekends when the tourist train is passing. Ill try and get the hours of operation post here in the next few days.

AUGUST 6, 2009 – Bridge decking was poured early this morning (see photo below).  Please give it a few days to cure and respect the contractors closed signs.  Getting lots of feedback about riders riding the new paved sections to and from Boulder City.   

BOULDER CITY  AND THE RMLT PLANNING OCTOBER 17TH TRAIL OPENING CELEBRATION.  STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS!!!

  
 

 

rmlt #5 Bridge Decking poured 8-06-09

rmlt #5 Bridge Decking poured 8-06-09

 

 

 

 

 

July 28, 2009 – Bridge approaches paved. Bridge decking scheduled to be poured this week; then needs a week to cure.  So look for  bridge opening August 10th more or less. 

Also contractor working on segments 3 & 4 paved portions of segment #4 around the Vet’s home.  The trail is trekking east day by day toward a late summer completion. 

 July 23, 2009 – More progress to report as paving took place earlier this week on the remain portions of Segment #5 from Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino to the Pedestrian Bridge.  The bridge is not complete, no decking, so do not plan to ride just yet.

 

RMLT #5 paved to Railroad Pass Casino 72309

RMLT #5 paved to Railroad Pass Casino 72309

 

 July 16, 2009 – More retaining wall work photos. this one is where the River Mountains Loop Trail will cross the historic railroad .  Work progresses daily and everyone is waiting for the pavement lay down day and completion. 

 

  

RMLT # 5 Retaining wall ar RR Tracks crossing 71409

RMLT # 5 Retaining wall ar RR Tracks crossing 71409

 

Retaining Wall at Railroad crossing 71409

Retaining Wall at Railroad crossing 71409

June 29, 2009 – Retaining wall work above the highway and below the railroad tracks is tedious work. Here is photo provided by Gary Zupanic, B.c. Engineer of the work being completed.

 
 
 June 24th, 2009 – Bridge decking has not been poured yet.  Trail construction continues toward Railroad Pass Hotel, one more retaining wall and drainage culvert needs to be placed, then final grading, type two gravel base, and paving in about three weeks. Could be available by mid-July for riding???
Retaining wall work near Railroad Pass 62909

Retaining wall work near Railroad Pass 62909

 

 

Segments 3 & 4 have been given the green light to start and grading started Monday this week. We’re estimated late September/early October for completion.  We are so hopeful that we have scheduled a trail ribbon cutting ceremony for Oct 17, 2009. Stay tuned for details.

May 28th, 2009 – Bridge now in place. Due to traffic considerations on private Cascata Drive, bridge was set in place over night May 27 -28, 2009. Bridge is 163 -ft long. This is truly a milestone in the completion of the River Mountians Loop Trail. The paved section from the Bridge to Railroad Pass Hotel is still several weeks from completion. 

RMLT Bridge #5 installed Zupanic photo 52809

RMLT Bridge #5 installed Zupanic photo 52809

Bridge Facts:  It is 163-ft. long & 14-ft wide between trusses

  • Built by Contech Bridge Solutions (formerly Continental Bridge) 
  • Contractors bid amount for bridge $240,000
  • Concrete Bridge abutments cost $58,000
  • Bridge is a free span steel, model H1-SQ, fabricated from self-weathering atmospheric corrosion resistant steel
  • Bridge will have a lightweight concrete deck

May 27th, 2009 – BRIDGE READY TO BE PLACED TODAY. CHECK IT OUT…..HOPE TO HAVE PHOTOS POSTED BY DAYS END. 

Photos by Jim Holland

 Ped. Bridge ready to set 52709

 April 13th, 2009 – The long awaited Boulder City Trail bridge for segment #5 has arrived on the job site. The footings are still being placed, but the bridge is here. The bridge is required to span the gap across the private Cascata Golf course road and will be placed just north of the railroad bridge .  No date has been set for the placement, but you’ll see and hear about it here. 
 
RMLT #5 Bridge 150-ft arrives

RMLT #5 Bridge 150-ft arrives

April 20th, 2009 – The other great news regarding Boulder City’s portion of the RMLT is they have advertised for bids on trail segments 3 & 4 with bids due on May 7th, 2009. This means we/they could be under construction on their last trail segments by mid-June or  at least by July 1st, 2009 .
We are slowly closing the loop on a 12+ year trail project which will connect and link the cities of Southern Nevada to Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Hoover Dam.  The River Mountains Loop Trail will become a national destination trail system. 🙂
April 29th, 2009 – RMLT field trip to Segment #5 bridge abuttments. Nice walk with great views of Eldorado Valley,  River Mountains and wild flowers along the way.
SEg. #5 bridge abuttment 42909

SEg. #5 bridge abuttment 42909   163-ft. bridge May 28,2009 Holland photo

 

Gallery of photos:

RMLT #5 Bridge Lift zupanic photo 52709

RMLT #5 Bridge Lift zupanic photo 52709

RMLT #5 paved to Railroad Pass Casino 72309 Garys photo

RMLT #5 paved to Railroad Pass Casino 72309 Garys photo

 

RMLT#5 pavement crosses Railroad wst of bridge 72309

RMLT#5 pavement crosses Railroad wst of bridge 72309

Does this pile of Trash and Household Garbage belong to you??!!

 

Desert Dumping 4-11-09

Desert Dumping 4-11-09

April 11, 2009

– While doing a volunteer trail project Saturday morning a group of us came across this pile of trash, yard clippings and just plan old household garbage. Ten plus bags of it just off the trail. This trash could have been left at the curb for Republic Services to pick up, at no cost to the owner; or he or she could have taken it to the Republic Services transfer station and dumped it for free, legally. Now an enforcement officer will go through the trash, look for any item with a name and address on it, cite the owner into court where various degrees of fines can be leveled on the owner. You see, according to Nevada Revised Statues (NRS) you own this trash until it is properly disposed of in a legal landfill. I hope this is not your trash, as the next knock at your door could be the police.


The desert is not a dump…it is our responsibliity to be good stewards of the land.
So love it more…:)
 Photo Gallery of dumps:

 

 
 
 

Trail Maintenence Costs – Help keep it down

March 30, 2009-  This post may come close to an editorial.  The community at large is beginning to question what we all love dearly and that is our trails.  Henderson has been a leader and still is in trail development.  Through SNPLMA funds they have been able to design and  build trail like no other community in Southern Nevada.  But at what price? With a down economy and all entities looking to cut expenses, trails and parks will and are coming under attack.

How can you budget to maintain all these parks and trails??Alot of the programs ran in the parks are self-funded to degree, or so I have been told.  Trail maintenance does cost money…weekly patrols, sign repairs, picking up trash, annual striping and surface maintenance adds up over the year.  RTC funds are part of the answer! A portion of our gasoline tax goes to RTC trail system annual maintenance costs. If the city trails are on the RTC map you can apply for trail maintenace funds.  It comes out to something like $9,000/mile per year.  This certainly helps toward the annual costs.  But trail pavement needing seal coating will eat up an entire years budget real quick.

This is where you and I come into the picture…  JOIN HENDERSON’S “TRAIL WATCH” program and become part of the solution.  True they preach “eyes & ears” on the trail, but no reason why we can not pick up trash when patrolling the trails; kick few rocks off the trail now and then; and we can certainly volunteer for special work project events which help reduce trail maintenance.  We certainly do not want our trails closed because of maintenance or unsafe conditions, so we need to do our part.  Ask a friend, a business associate or someone you meet on the trail to join “Trail Watch”.   If we do not ‘Watch out” we could see fewer trails to enjoy.

Arnie’s Resort to Resort Trek on the River Mountains Loop Trail. March 2009

March 27th, 2009:  Last week I received an email from Arnie regarding a trek he was planning over a three day period to hike from resort to resort along the trail spending one night at each of the hotels along the way.  This is something my wife and I and several trail buddies have discussed doing once the trail is complete next spring.  Below are portions of Arnie’s Trek notes as shared with me.   

ARNIE’S TREK NOTES:    I finished my River Mountains Loop Trail hike on Tuesday and am currently attempting to make sense of my  tape recorded journal entries and identifying the more than 352 photos I took along the way.

Briefly, I would have to say the trip was a success:

 

1.  Flowers along a four mile stretch between the Pacifica Trailhead and the Hacienda were at their peak. ( Arnie started the trip at Railroad Pass Hotel)

2.  Winds which were 20 to 30 on Sunday were from the Northwest and I was traveling Southeast and down hill so were no problem. In addition the forecasted rains didn’t show up until after I was at the hotel.

3.  The scenery along the trail between the Hacienda and Lake Las Vegas was spectacular, especially liked the deep arroyos that cut into the desert and the civil engineering attempts through the use of culverts, bridges and rip rap to keep the trails from being washed away. One of the more interesting spots was a small oasis about a mile or so  before reconnecting  with Lakeshore Road, trailhead is about 100 yds past the park fee stations and 2 miles South of Lake Las Vegas. This is where the original water line to Las Vegas first comes out. Managed by BMI they arrange for water releases to feed the wildlife. There (is) a huge cottonwood tree at the location. ( BMI provides a water guzzler for wildlife here)

4.  Since the distance between the Hacienda and Lake Las Vegas was 16.9 miles (according to my GPS) when I arrived at the waterfall, as suggested the concierge at Lowes, I called the valet service and they sent a shuttle to pick me up.   Accomodations, food and service at the hotel was well worth the price. And they dropped me off just outside Lake Las Vegas early the next morning (about a half mile from where the RMLT reconnects).

5.  The final leg from Lake las Vegas was also enjoyable with nice views off Vegas and Henderson, and great flowers between “B Mountain” and Railroad Pass.

 

Summary details of the hiking distances and times were as follows:
 
1.  38 total miles walked
2.  14 hours average moving time
3.  18 hours total time on trail.
 

I have details for each leg of the trail with GPS coordinates for key points along the trail as well as a note of convenient pit stops. ( Editor will add some of these details when available)

Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort

Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort

 

 

 

In terms of accomodations:

1. The rooms at all three hotels ranged from sufficent at the Railroad Pass Hotel to better than expected at the Hacienda and outstanding at Loews.  Room rates range from $29 at the Hacienda, $49 at Railroad Pass and $119 at Loews. Normally Loews charges $239 for their “Best Value” rate but since I was a local and first time visitor to Loews they upgraded me to one of their nicest rooms with a view.

2. Quality of meals and service ranged from good to excellent. My favorite was the chicken picatta at Railroad Pass. Prices ranged from $17 to $40 for dinner depending upon what was selected.

 
My wife joined me at both Railroad Pass and the Hacienda.  We both did a little gambling before and after meals. She won and I lost. Loews does not have gambling.

Thank you Arnie for sharing this adventure with me.  I’m going to start planning my “Resort to Resort Trekking” adventure tomorrow. 🙂

Trail Trash in the Bag March 21st

Trail Clean up March 2009

Trail Clean up March 2009

March 26, 2009 -  Saturday morning March 21st was a clear warm pleasant spring day. Some hundred plus volunteers showed up at Equestrain Park for what has become an annual River Mountains Loop Trail clean up.  The group split up into three groups and cleaned three different areas along the trail. There was also a Boy Scout Troop/cub pack which worked within the Equestrain Park picking up trash.

I had volunteered to work in group#3 which went to a new area of trail at the City of Henderson – National Park Service boundary near Lake Las Vegas. The lands are actually managed by the Bureau of Reclamation.  This area was an old rock gravel pit/mining area, target shooting, illegal camping, etc. and has not been clean up in 10-yrs easy. 

We had a great group of 16 hard working people including 11 Navy recruits soon to ship off to boot camp. We probably covered the shortest distance of any group, but collected the most heavy duty trash.  We picked up buckets of glass, concrete, tires, railroad ties, car parts, mattresess, tree limbs, and much much more.

We really appreciate our trail volunteers.  THANKS A MILLION!!!!

Snakes of the River Mountains

Are there snakes on the trail?  What type of snakes do you have here?  YES…we have snakes in the River Mountains…and along the trail and even on the trail from time to time. We have Rattlesnakes, several varieties such as Western Diamondback, the Southwest Speckled and the Sidewinder.  You see Gopher snakes, lizards, and horny toads, too.  You’ll see the snakes early morning and early evening to dark.  Rattlesnakes usually give you plenty of warning….just back away and leave them alone. 

One day last fall while picking up trash along the trail with my grippers, up near the powerlines at Railroad Pass, I almost stepped on a rattlesnake. I think he was a Speckled about 30″ long.  Needless to say that piece of trash is still there today. And yes, it gave me warning, but not as much as I would have liked.  

Western Diamondback

Western Diamondback

 

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