Meadow Valley Wilderness

Southern Nevada is good for more than just nuclear waste. Things live there too!

January 2007

My brother and I ventured relatively unprepared into the Meadow Valley Wilderness (and it's surrounding quasi-wilderness) on the second day of the new year for a four day adventure in the harsh but magnificent landscape of south-eastern Nevada. It's an experience I highly recommend. Enjoy these pictures and be sure to check out the links to learn more about the area and its geology.


Meadow Valley Wilderness description: Click here.

the rugged hills are a lesson in geology

yucca fibers

shell of a consumed Desert Tortoise

positive reflections of industry

Teddy Bear Cholla - Makes you want to hug it

looking east across Meadow Valley Wash at the Mormon Mountains

barrel cactus defense shield

super gnarly canyon we dubbed "Agave Canyon" due to its many Agave plants

Desert National Wildlife Refuge - New backyard of the new biped infection

In this shot, only the lonely highway 93 exists between the foreground hill and background mountains, the Sheep Range in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. However, some nice folks decided that there needed to be more there, so soon the third largest Nevada city will spring up with zit-like speed. As many as 160,000 homes will be built with several golf courses, stores, restaurants, schools and recreational centers. It shall be named Coyote Springs. Don't believe me? Check out the propaganda right here.
And here is a site that seems to understand things better, with good pictures of the confusing contruction: http://www.roamingphotos.com/us/nv/coyotesprings/

The things rich people can get away with in the desert.....

=====================

Another view of Coyote Springs location. Notice the small patch of land in the valley already being developed. It's actually a golf course. You have to build the golf course before you can build the course-front property, right? They have already built artificial lakes to evaporate in the sun; and green grass that they water for no one. Rooted firmly in one spot, these yuccas get to watch the destruction - front seat!

a beautiful power plant west of Moapa grimly reminds the wilderness traveler of his own society's dirty vices

"One of the penalties of having an ecological education is living alone in a world of wounds."
-Aldo Leopold 1947