First Creek II
I wasnt able to go and do Icebox Canyon like I anticipated due to a late night Friday. I did not want to do this hike alone however I did want to go hiking so I went back to the Red Rock Recreation area and did First Creek again. This is an easy hike over the open desert and into a canyon oasis with a seasonal waterfall. This being my second time going and I still have not seen the waterfall. Which I do always seem to take alternate trails in hopes of finding more wildlife.
Click here for more details on First Creek
I would have to agree with my fellow blogger The Everyday Adventurer that seeing wildlife in the wild is how I get my adrenaline rushing, that is one reason why I picked this trail. The first time I was on this trail I got to see an abundance of wildlife, not so much this time around. The burro was interested in me coming closer as I was walking toward him. After a certain distance though I broke away and continued my journey into the desert.
Again I saw rabbits and seeing them play and hop around between the sage brush was thrilling, trying to take a picture was frustrating. I was never able to get a snapshot of the rabbits but was able to pull out one picture of the ground squirrels that was roaming around. They are fast little critters that do not sit still long, so I am proud of the one picture I did get of him.
The temperature has been really nice this past week, with temperatures under 100 and a constant breeze, I don’t realize that I am getting sunburned. I wear sun protection but with my light complexion the sun has no mercy in this arid climate.
The desert is alive, what you see is the living desert, plants grow by the inch and die by the foot. (sign I saw at Indian Gardens along the Bright Angel Trail) And living in this environment makes me respect the plants that thrive here that much more. Which brings me to remind everyone to remember the Leave No Trace principles. I saddens me every time I see trash along a trail. When you leave trash behind it hurts more than my eyes, so please leave only footsteps and take only memories.
I am still on the lookout for rattlesnakes and scorpions, maybe I will get to see one in the Valley of Fire tonight.

Tags: arid climate, blogger, bright angel trail, canyon oasis, desert plants, easy hike, foot sign, ground squirrels, indian gardens, journey into the desert, light complexion, little critters, living desert, no mercy, open desert, recreation area, rock recreation, sage brush, sun protection, trace principles








