River Mountains Loop Trail

Desert Tortoise On the Trail….March 2009

It is March 2009 and the warm weather will bring our Desert Tortoise out of their burrows any day now.  We had numerous sightings last year on the trail.  Please…please do not touch them or harass in any way.  Tortoise are protected under the Federal Endanged Species Act* as a Threatened Species.  If you think one is in danger on the trail you can flag other users around it until it leaves the area.

 Tortoise Crossing trail 2008

If you see a desert tortoise wandering in a developed area or find an injured tortoise, please call the Tortoise hotline at 702-383-TORT (8678).

Large Tortoise on Trail 2008

Large Tortoise on Trail 2008

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 NOTE: Federal protection means it is illegal to “take” a desert tortoise. “Take” means to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct.” The habitat of the desert tortoise is also protected and may not not be damaged.  Both civil and criminal penalties can be levied. Criminal penalties of $25,000 fines and 6 months in jail can be assessed for each violation.
PHOTO GALLERY TORTOISE –

DOGS UNLEASHED….@##$%^

 No this not the latest horror movie at the theater… it is real everyday occurrence on the Trail.  It is the policy of the Advisory Council that dogs are welcomed on the trail on a leash.  All jurisdictions through which the trail runs has rules and ordinances about dogs on a leash.  Dogs love the outdoors and they all love to walk with their masters and we encourage that, but when off leash they also chase things and we have alot of wildlife long the trail.  Desert tortoise and Desert Big Horn sheep are protected forms of wildlife and they occur throughout the River Mountains Loop Trail.  Horses and dogs do not necessarily mix. Dogs must be kept clear of horses and all wild life. 

Leash & clean up after Rover

  

Our four legged friends also are known for doing their duty while walking/running along the trails. Be responsible and considerate of other trail users and clean it up.  Other hikers and bike riders do not want to step in dog crap or ride through it and have it flip up on them.  Look for doggy bags at trail heads or take a bag with you…pick it up and carry it out.

I look forward to seeing all of you and your four legged walking buddies on the trail following all the rules for a safe and pleasant trail outting.  Try these guidelines for a great time on area trails:

Trail Manners for You and Your Dog

1.       Respect wildlife and their habitat – you are in their home.

2.       Respect the environment – don’t let your dog dig or cause damage.

3.       Clean up after your dog. Leave all trails as clean or cleaner than when you arrived.

4.       Yield the right-of-way to other hikers. Many people are afraid of dogs. Communicate with others and always keep your dog under control.

5.       Yield the right-of-way to equestrians. Move off the trail far enough to allow horses to pass. Keep you dog close to you, quiet and under control.

6.       Always be courteous. Don’t give other trail users any reason to complain. Set an example for others by being a conscientious owner with a well-behaved dog out enjoying the trails.

 rmlt-dog_cleanupblog

       Happy trails to all….

Three Kids Mine site along Trail

Jan.29th, 2009   Three Kids Mine is part of Southern Nevada’s mining history. It is locate near Lake Las Vegas at trail mile marker 9.0 to 10.5.  There are several deep open pit mines where manganese ore was mined then processed in a mill on site. Mining was activity from around 1917 until the plant was closed in 1961. The site has sat idle for 48 years. It was used in two movies over the years and has been an eyesore for most of the 48-yrs.  Plans are now afoot to clean up the area and turn it into a master planned development of some 1250+ acres.  The development is currently known as “Lakemoor Canyons”.  The project is in the planning, review, approval stage and will require many permits. The actual clean up of the site is about 12 months out if all goes well.

Three kids mine unger/RJ photo

Three kids Mine Unger/RJ photo

History:

The following is an except out of the Review Journal dated May 12, 2005. The article is written by A.D. Hopkins and talks about the Merle Frehner family history….
During World War I the Three Kids Mine, the remains of which are visible southeast of Sunrise Mountain, was producing manganese ore. Harry (Frehner) hauled the ore to the Las Vegas rail yards behind a 10-horse team pulling three heavy-duty freight wagons and a feed cart, hooked one behind the other. “When reaching the east end of Fremont Street, Harry drove straight up the center to the depot, then south to an unloading platform. Crowds of people would line the sidewalks to watch the long outfit go up the street.”  This would have been between 1914 and 1918.

 
 
 

Three Kids mine site today RJ Photo 11-08-09

The following notes and statements come from an article printed in the “MINING CONGRESS JOURNAL dated October 1944….”The three Kids Mine near Las Vegas, owned by the Manganese Ore Company, wholly-owned subsidiary of The M.A. Hanna Company, has proved to be the largest open pit deposit of good grade manganese ore available in America, Vice President M.C. Lake of the ore company said in a recent statement.”

The millling plant next to the mine was owned and operated by the Defense Plant Corporation and as of this writing had produced several thousand tons of high grade manganese nodules. The plant had not yet reached full production according to the article.

Other items of interest from the article are: 1.) Part of the process involved leaching a processing pulp …”in a series of seven thickeners, the first two of which are acid-proof construction and 250 feet in diameter, thus making them the largest acid-proof thickeners ever constructed.” 2.)The “manganese sulphate salt which is roasted in a rotary kiln 360-ft. long and 11ft 3 inches in diameter, to yield a calcine of Manganese oxide and sulpher dioxide gas.”
The article from the Mining Congress Journal also had multiple photos of operations at the mine….Steam shovel loading dump trucks;beginning of the open pit mine operation; Drilling being done by churn drills and rock drills; mining pit with stock piles of ore and mill.

Movies:
Do you know the names of the two Hollywood Movie productions that took place at Three Kids Mine????

The first one I’m still researching. It was filmed after 1961 and involved the blowing up of the mill/plant during filming. I’m told it was in the early 1970’s? Does anyone know…please help me out.

The second film/movie was released February 5, 1987. It was shot entirely on location in southern Nevada. A major battle scene and shoot out occured at the Three Kids Mine site. The name of the movie is “CHERRY 2000” – a 1987 science fiction cult film starring Melanie Griffith and David Andrews. My personal review of movie would make it a “B” movie, acting was not so hot, plot was ?; but the scenery of Southern Nevada was great. The Three Kids Mine shots show some of the remaining structures from the mining days. The big 250-ft concrete thickeners look like alien structures in the film. The movie pops up every now and again on HBO, don’t waste your money renting a DVD.

 
 
 
 
 

Cherry 2000 Movie Poster 1987

Cherry 2000 Movie Poster 1987

The River Mountains Loop Trail:

The trail will front the Three Kids Mine site along the south side of Lake Mead Parkway from the tunnel underpass east to the commercial buildings. At this location the trail will cross to the north side via a tunnel and then follow the BMI waterline right-of-way east for about one mile. The trail will pass under Lake Mead Parkway at the far eastern edge of the Lake moor Canyons development.  This trail alignment is currently under design. We expect completion by end of 2009 2010.

THREE KIDS MINE PHOTO GALLERY:

 
 

 

 

Henderson Schedules Trail Clean up event March 21st, 2009

 

March 9, 2009 – UPDATE: Clean-up March 21st. , 2009 8:00 a.m. to noon; sign up at Equestrian Park. Come enjoy the desert trail and all the spring colors. Questions call 267-4050.

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Dec. 30, 2008 – City of Henderson Parks & Recreation Dept. has scheduled an annual trail clean up project along the River Mountains Loop Trail for Saturday March 21st.  We are looking for areas along the trail in need of cleaning. We usually break up into two or three groups of about 20+ and cover as much area as possible. The volunteer project runs from about 7:30 a.m. to noon. Check the Parks event calendar for actual times and location.

 Trail clean up 2008

 

 One key element we need to remember this year, is for volunteers to stay within the work permit areas. The city pulls a permit with the Bureau of Reclamation  for a special event. The permit puts limits on the area to be worked during the clean up.  Special needs areas outside the trail corridor will be done by the City of Henderson with BOR permits.
Things to bring would include work gloves, good boots or walking shoes, a five-gallon bucket(makes for easy collection of smaller trash items ex. glass, bottles, cans etc). City provides trash bags, grippers, some gloves, some buckets, water to drink and snacks, transportation to and from the work areas via bus.

 

Safety on clean up projects is number one. We hold a tailgate safety talk before heading into the field. Broken glass, fire works, needles/drugs, unexploded gun shells, and nails in boards always watched for. We also need to be alert to wildlife such as snakes, spiders and desert tortoise that may live in and under some trash items we may encounter. We leave all wildlife alone…do not touch.

Picking up trash along trail

Picking up trash along trail

 

Snow & Ice on trail ???

Dec. 18 & 19 – YES SNOW AND ICE ON TRAIL!  I can’t believe it either.  Bikers, joggers and hikers should beware of snow and ice on the trail.  Out in open trail should be clearing, but in shadows snow and ice could remain for several days.  Portions of the River Mountains near Railroad Pass experienced snow depths 8″ and more.  Slow down and be safe. 

If you got snow/trail photos please share will all.

Happy Trails are Safety trails…..rmltman 🙂

Snow & Ice on trail ???

Dec. 18 & 19 – YES SNOW AND ICE ON TRAIL!  I can’t believe it either.  Bikers, joggers and hikers should beware of snow and ice on the trail.  Out in open trail should be clearing, but in shadows snow and ice could remain for several days.  Portions of the River Mountains near Railroad Pass experienced snow depths 8″ and more.  Slow down and be safe. 

If you got snow/trail photos please share will all.

Happy Trails are Safety trails…..rmltman 🙂

Rain & Snow brings Colorful Spring Bloom…

Are you ready?  Experience has shown that  good soaking rains and yesterday’s snow will lead to a very colorful spring bloom.  Depending on the amount of rain and the depth of water soaking in we could see flowers and grasses that have been dormant for the past several years.  The forecast for the next week or two gives us hope of more rain and now is the time.  My good friend, Jim the botanists , has told me this truth over the last several years. He is a park planner for the NPS, plus was born and raised here.

So the point of this post is to get you fired up for the spring bloom of 2009.  Should start in mid-March and last through May.death-valley-flowers-22605-009-3

You can do you part by going out on the trail on every cloudy day and do the River Mountains “raindance”.

Rain & Snow brings Colorful Spring Bloom…

Are you ready?  Experience has shown that  good soaking rains and yesterday’s snow will lead to a very colorful spring bloom.  Depending on the amount of rain and the depth of water soaking in we could see flowers and grasses that have been dormant for the past several years.  The forecast for the next week or two gives us hope of more rain and now is the time.  My good friend, Jim the botanists , has told me this truth over the last several years. He is a park planner for the NPS, plus was born and raised here.

So the point of this post is to get you fired up for the spring bloom of 2009.  Should start in mid-March and last through May.death-valley-flowers-22605-009-3

You can do you part by going out on the trail on every cloudy day and do the River Mountains “raindance”.