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The
Trip: We
begin the trip in Sparks. This city of about 67,000 is just west of
Reno and the two communities bump up against each other in an almost
seamless manner. Sparks is Nevada's fifth largest city, with a business
core and rapidly growing residential neighborhoods. Our climate is mild,
with lots of sun, low humidity and rainfall and a full four seasons.
Summer and winter outdoor activities abound.
Alvin draws our attention to a petroglyph that he finds especially significant. It incorporates solar interaction, meaning that at certain times of year it is designed to incorporate sun and shadow in its design to map the movement of the. Thus, the petroglyph acts as a prehistoric calendar. Alvin has shown us a place that feels like it's isolated from modern civilization, yet is only a few miles from thousands of people. These places need protection, and Alvin supports the Nevada Rock Art Foundation, which was formed for the preservation, protection and recording of Nevada's petroglyphs and pictographs. You can get more information by calling (775) 348-7011.
Though snowshoeing feels a bit like a combination of playing in the snow and hiking, it is a practical way to travel in the snow. Being able to stay more on top of the snow pack rather than sinking into it with every step means that you are able to move faster and with more. Snowshoes are a great way to explore the Tahoe Rim Trail this time of year. On the second day of our adventure we meet journalist and author Frank Mullen in Verdi. The community of Verdi was originally constructed by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1867. It was an active mill and logging town into the twentieth century, but a disastrous fire in 1926 and the depletion of timber reserves resulted in the town's eventual decline. From Verdi we head out on to Dog Valley Road to intercept the Donner Trail. Frank wrote "The Donner Party Chronicles," a day by day account of the fateful Donner Party's journey. This area and trail is rich in the history of western migration, but on a snowy day like the one of our visit, it is difficult to imagine traversing this terrain in wagons.
The geological variety of the area we choose to hike in is beautiful. It seems every few steps brings another unique texture and color. The more we hike, the better the view becomes. The area is full of intriguing and unusual examples of desert erosion, such as hoodoos, rock arches and slot canyons. Exploring this intriguing landscape is a great way to end this adventure. Thanks to the advisors and contributors of Wild Nevada Program #117:
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This
trip takes us from the desert floor to the mountains and back again.
Reno and Sparks is our hub for our activities this time, and we will
be heading out northeast to the desert, and then west and southwest
to the mountains. 
We
follow a well-graded dirt road for a few miles before heading out on
foot, hiking to a nearby canyon. It's a great area to explore with lots
of beautiful desert scenery. The canyon is dotted with a number of natural
springs and small pools, as well as a multitude of 
We
have quite a few miles to cover, back to Sparks and on through Reno
on State Route 445, south on US Highway 395, and then west along State
Route 432, also known as the Mount Rose Highway. We head up Mount Rose
to a popular recreation area known as The Meadows where we meet Sara
Holm of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association for some snowshoeing. 
After
returning to Verdi, we drive east on Interstate 80. Back on State Route
445, we drive about 25 miles north of Sparks and through Spanish Springs
to Palomino Valley. We rejoin Alvin McLane, and we head out toward an
area called Needle Rock. Leaving the van behind, we turn off the paved
road and onto a four-wheel drive only, rough road.