Nestled in the Clouds

by Alan Socolik

Title

Nestled in the Clouds

Artist

Alan Socolik

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

I frequently hike in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is near Las Vegas, NV (really!!!). I spotted this scene one day as I was hiking on the trail to Turtlehead. The hike started off below the clouds - the trail was barely visible because we were hiking in the clouds! As we approached the saddle, this magnificent scene astonished us. The craggy, snow covered mountain peaks appeared to be nestled in the clouds. Amazing artwork by Mother Nature!
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Turtlehead Peak is the only limestone peak in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the most popular hiking peak. This area has incredible scenery and makes for amazing artwork.
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The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada is an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of its National Landscape Conservation System, and protected as a National Conservation Area. It is located about 15 miles (24 km) west of Las Vegas, and easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip. The area is visited by over 1 million visitors each year.
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The conservation area showcases a set of large red rock formations: a set of sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 feet (910 m) high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination. The highest point is La Madre Mountain, at 8,154 feet (2,485 m).
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A one-way loop road, 13 miles (21 km) long, provides vehicle access to many of the features in the area. Several side roads and parking areas allow access to many of the trails located in the area. A visitor center is located at the start of the loop road. The loop road is very popular for bicycle touring; it begins with a moderate climb, then is mostly downhill or flat.
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Red Rock Canyon itself is a side-canyon accessible only by four-wheel-drive road off of the scenic loop. The unnamed but often visited valley cut through by State Route 159 is commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as Red Rock Canyon. The massive wall of rock called the Wilson Cliffs, or Keystone Thrust, can be seen to the west along this highway.
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Towards the southern end of the National Conservation Area are Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, the western ghost town replica attraction of Bonnie Springs, and the village of Blue Diamond.
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Red Rock provides a wide variety of activities, the most popular being hiking, biking, rock scrambling, and rock climbing. Horseback riding and camping are also allowed on specific trails and designated areas. Automobile and motorcycle clubs such as Flat 4 LV (Subaru enthusiasts club) often do group drives through the 13-mile scenic drive. ATV use is not permitted in the area.
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Aside from the obvious dangers from climbing rock faces and cliffs, visitors should know that temperatures can routinely exceed 105 degrees F (41 degrees C) in the summer, so bringing plenty of water is a must. Visitors hiking into the backcountry off established trails should never go alone, and should inform other people of their plans. There is also the threat of venomous rattlesnakes and flash flooding/lightning from thunderstorms.
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Red Rock has hiking trails and picnic areas. Trails are changed and diverted depending upon the needs of the ecosystem. In early spring, depending upon the precipitation, it is possible to see waterfalls on the edge of the canyons.
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Wildfires in Red Rock, especially those in the loop area, allow visitors to see both the damage caused by these events as well as the ability of the desert to heal itself over time. While wildfires are nothing new to the Red Rock Area, recent fires seemed to have been in part fueled by the thick growth of non-native red brome and cheat grasses. They provide fuel for fires and also compete with the native plants in the area for resources. So far there have been no plans to control these weeds, as control methods such as using herbicides can be both costly and also damaging to the native plants.
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Most of text above copied/paraphrased from wikipedia.org
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FEATURED PHOTO, USA Artist News, 1/14/2013
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FEATURED PHOTO, FAA Sun Clouds and Water Group, 1/14/2013

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January 14th, 2013

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