Off Trail in Red Rock OS

A cold and cloudy day, perfect for sneaking off-trail in Red Rock Open Space at the South End of Kenmuir Quarry

But first, another casualty of the rains last fall.  You don't see this from the trail above.  It's on the muddy banks of the lower lake next to the pavilion.  Rebuilding this will be a project.

This Canada Goose was just so comfortable (is that Tree Pose?)  it doesn't even raise it's head as I troop by.
This time last year we thought this lake would never reoccur naturally--with nature, never say never.

Following a tumbleweed choked creek bed into...the backcountry of Red Rock.

Making my way up a narrow space between 2 red sandstone fins, aka 2 different climbing walls.  These Rocky Mountain junipers are like Bristlecones in the way they have a few live branches on an ancient trunk.

This is the payoff on this hike.  It seems, to me, to be authentic being kinda rounded and not scratchy like the lower right.

At the top of the ridge I enter into the Kenmuir Quarry area atop the ridge.

Blocks were released by boring several parallel "channels" and inserting wedges, plugs and feathers or, more likely, low level explosive charges.

Benches.....

Now, the best part is how the quarry walls have weathered.  Which, by the way, is not the best part for the buildings constructed with Kenmuir Quarry sandstone.

It's awesome looking down from the quarry rim.

This is an interesting seam of old charcoal along the trail.  The seam is at the top and below is slough.  By the way, I put my hand on a cactus bending over to look at the seam.  Just an FYI (maybe for parents?) cactus pricks hurt like hell for about 5 minutes, then get better.

For sacrificing virgins?--of course.

Trees are awesome!