Nevada’s Elbow

I imagined all of Nevada looking like Las Vegas; flat, dry, rocky, brown and dusty..with some mountains in the distance. Nevada’s elbow proves to be quite different. We spent the past two days hiking through the green rolling hills that surround Pyramid lake. We pushed our way through thick groves of Woods’ rose (Rosa woodsi) and black cottonwood(Populus trichocarpa). We drove through mountains covered in Utah juniper(Juniperus osteosperma) and we camped between Big sagebrush(Artemisia tridentata), rubber rabbitbrush(Ericameria nauseosa), and desert peach(Prunus andersonii). Everything is in bloom. Everything smells good. The sunsets are jaw dropping.

Our assignment was to collect stubble height data from grazing springs that are important Lek areas for the Greater Sage-Grouse. The measurements we gather will provide a baseline analysis for our range department to determine if the areas should be grazed.

In my mind, we were grass hunting.

Tomorrow I’m spending my day planting trees. I can’t wait.