as they slowly slithered away under a bush or other shelter. Some can be more stubborn and stand their ground, in which case I am happy to make a wide detour around them.
A few years ago while I was aboard a boat, also on Lake Mohave, a fellow passenger noticed a rattlesnake floating in the river. He had the bright idea of scooping up the dead snake with a paddle to show us what it looked like. This snake turned out to be very much alive. This is approximately how most snakebites occur — meddling with snakes. Leave them alone and they’ll usually return the favor.
Pictographs were painted on rock.
Petroglyphs and pictographs
Petroglyphs and pictographs, or “rock writings” as some call them, can be found on natural rock faces throughout our area.
Long ago, people pecked, carved or etched designs through the desert varnish, a dark coating that forms naturally on rock surfaces in dry climates. Where the varnish was scraped away, the lighter rock surface beneath showed through and made the design, called a petroglyph, visible at a distance. Pictographs were painted on rock and today, survive mostly in caves, alcoves, and other places sheltered from weathering.
Many of the images are easily recognizable as mountain sheep or human beings, but others seem less representational, perhaps standing for concepts rather than objects. Despite years of study, scientists understand relatively little of the writings’ meaning and context. It is believed many were made by ancestors of the same Native American peoples, who have occupied the Southwest in recent history. But other writings in Nevada are as much as 6,000 years old, and are associated with cultures that vanished long ago.
Both petroglyphs and pictographs are very fragile and are irreplaceable. Never touch rock art as the natural oils on our hands will damage it. Also, don’t climb or sit on boulders that contain rock art. Many boulders are unstable and could easily dislodge, not only displacing an important part of history but also endangering you and other visitors. If you want a closer look, bring binoculars.
Defacing a petroglyph, or taking one for a souvenir, is irresponsible and seriously illegal. Many were so lost in the past, but in recent years people have faced federal prosecution for such offenses.
Personally, I feel too reverent toward petroglyphs to even consider harming one. To look at some petroglyphs is to ponder a message from people who lived before the rise of Rome! What did they mean to tell those of us who came after? Whatever the intended message, the one I always read Is this: That our culture is only a steward of this land, and not its owner. We are not the first, and perhaps may not be the last, to hold dominion here.
Hiking with Children
Giving your child an outdoor lifestyle
One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is an appreciation of the outdoors, and one of the easiest ways to do this is taking them hiking. You won’t put many miles on your boots, but you will be laying a foundation for a lifetime admiration of the natural world. The key is to go at their pace, allowing plenty of time to go short distances, so they can take pleasure in the details like wildlife, flowers, plants, and rocks.
Up to the age of three or so, hiking with kids is fairly easy. For the most part they’ll walk a short ways on their own and get tired, whereupon you can put them in a child carrier-pack and be on your mutual way. Once they are too heavy to carry, the real work begins. You’ll want to keep them moving and interested in their surroundings, so the trail becomes an exciting adventure.
Desert tortoise.
Besides an eagerness to explore, children need a few things for hiking. Most you already own: comfortable yet rugged clothing that you can layer, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a whistle to hang around each child’s neck, and either hiking boots or sneakers, with good tread. Add their favorite snacks and water. Many kids will have more fun if you bring each one’s favorite small stuffed animal or doll.
Parents have better luck when they select trails based on their children’s interests and abilities. Best bets are short loop trails that have a variety of things to see, or hikes to some rewarding destination, such as a waterfall, a great view, or even a field of boulders to play on.
Walking a quarter-mile trail could easily take an hour with kids who really like looking at rocks and lizards, but others just zip along, focused on the destination. Setting unrealistic goals is a mistake I have made many times, and I have paid for it by carrying a heavy and unhappy child miles back to the trailhead.
Boredom may kill any hike but can be beat with a few tricks. Older kids might want to learn how to use a compass or global positioning system, or read a map. All ages enjoy a contest such as seeing who can find the biggest cactus, rock, or tree; or who can spot the first jackrabbit, raven or lizard.
A laminated regional field guide to Southwestern desert life may have color pictures of familiar plants and animals in our area. No matter where you hike you will find at least one cactus, plant, or bird listed. When they identify something on the sheet, mark the date and location with a Sharpie and after just a few outings your child will have a simple diary. These field guides fold up flat and are available at park visitor centers and bookstores.
Consider buying your child one of the water hydration packs now used by nearly all seasoned hikers. If you’re not already familiar with them, they include bladder-style reservoirs that are filled with water or some other liquid, and inserted either into a traditional backpack or a backpack built for the specific purpose. In either case a tube with a valve runs from the top of the pack over your shoulder and lies on your chest. You bite down on the valve and the water flows freely.
Children (adults, for that matter) will drink more often from the convenient drinking tube than if they had to unscrew a canteen lid, so they’re less likely to become dehydrated. Furthermore, hydration systems keep your child’s hands free for safer climbing, or to break a fall if the child stumbles. Hydration packs come in dozens of sizes and have pockets for extra items like binoculars, food, and extra clothing.
It’s a good habit to repeat the family’s standing safety rules, and announce any new ones for the specific hike, at the trailhead before taking the first step. Some good standing rules are always staying on the trail, no running ahead, always wearing a whistle, and never putting hands and feet into holes and crevices. In my experience, discussing rules with a child leads to better compliance than simply decreeing them. Ask the child why such-and-such behavior isn’t a good idea, and the child will usually articulate a need for the rule.
The patience you’ll need to hike with children is great but the payoff is worth it; before you know it, your child will be willing and eager to head out on the trail at the next opportunity.
Leaving no trace
Visitors to public lands and even private ones are often encouraged to follow the “Leave No Trace” principles designed to maintain, for future use, the same lands we enjoy. The author agrees with this trend and the principles are reprinted here (courtesy of www.LNT.org) for the reader’s convenience.
The Leave No Trace Seven Principles
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly.
4.
