Turtlehead
Peak
is a mountain which looks sort of like a turtle's head.
Now that is original. It is not likely
to have been any place that turtle's would be heading to because this area
has one of the challenging trails in Red Rock Canyon. The views along this
trail are excellent and it is possible to see the whole Red Rock Canyon
area from different areas and perspectives.
In this view we
are looking north at a mountain that looks like a turtle's head.
This difficult but rewarding trail skirts the boundaries of geologic
ages.
In the background are limestone formations that originated as ocean
bottoms. In the foreground are the remains of an ancient desert.
The photo on the upper-right was taken from the top of a huge sandstone outcrop
overlooking the trail. During and for some time after a rainstorm, water
pools in the low spots on the flat tops of these small sandstone
mountains.
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These photos were taken late in the summer. We will come back in rainier
times times and publish those photos when we get them.
We do have photos taken along this trail from after a late winter
snowfall.
Water pools in many places providing a temporary, wet habitat.
Red Rock Canyon is
known for its numerous local or micro environments.
When we see how closely life adapts to all the environments available, we
also see where the water is or has been.
When the sun comes out on a day after a snowfall, the south facing slopes
give up their snow quickly and fill the low lying cavities that become
temporary pools.
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