Red Rock Canyon NV: Turtlehead Peak
Tarantula Gamboling
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Clark County Nevada is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (not a park ranger) overseeing thousands of acres of old growth dead cacti, sandstone and thrusts, and sturdy little shrubs lucky enough to locate in the draws and washes. 17 miles west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon’s numerous trails and creatures are all available for $7 a car. We took in the 13 mile one-way scenic drive through the NCA and the “most difficult” trail up to Turtlehead Peak, just over 6300 feet above sea level -- not an angle or reid in sight.
(Well, others made it over 6300 feet to the peak, but 6000footdrop.com was so excited about locating the tarantula line -- 5500 feet -- that we scrambled back to report the news about the tarantula line. Summarizing our “xxx-lines” reported to far: timberline -- oregon: 6000 feet; timberline -- colorado 12,000 feet; timberline -- hawaii 9000 feet; tranatula line -- nevada: 5500 feet.)
The way up to the 5500 foot tarantula line is downright amusing and pleasant -- especially hitting it on a tolerable 65 degree day. Here is the Sphynx The Donald is having carved of himself and a babe to be carved later.
Here is where the intelligent designer was testing colors. Ask yourself -- what happened here?
Here is where the intelligent designer was working on cubes. This prismatic work of genius later became famous as a messy candy and a rapper.
Here is where the intelligent designer got bored with the hard rock hard rock hard rock and started stacking on the leftover pancakes. Mitch Hedberg was speaking for the ages in pointing out “Pancakes are disappointing. You’re all happy at first but then by the end you’re sick of it...”
Here is the view from Turtlehead across the valley back down to the (climbable by anyone) red sandstone formations at the trailhead. This is the 5500 foot tarantula line, so when you are enjoying this overlook, don’t forget to look down.
Tarantulas are carnivorous arachnids who can eat lizards, birds and mice. But one-armed bandit veteran Turtlehead locals like to invite tourists to shake one of the tarantulas eight hands. Bad odds.
See you on all hallows eve.