NOTE TIME CHANGE; NOW 7:30 FOR CARPOOLING AND 8AM AT THE MOUNT ROSE PARKING AREA.
Join us as we walk from Mt Rose Pass Parking area to the top of Slide Mountain to check out the variety of hardy plants that grow on the slopes. On this hike we will have the opportunity to examine many high elevation ground hugging endemics.
Four high elevation Eriogonums- ovalifolium var. eximium, marifolium, rosense, and lobbii.
Four Penstemon- davisonii, newberrii, speciosus, and gracilentus.
Two Drabas- oligosperma and asterophora
Other noteworthy plants colonizing the scree beds are – Chaenactis alpigena, Pakera cana, Erigeron pygmaeus, Ipomopsis congesta ssp. montana, Diplacus nanus, Hieracium horridum, Linanthus pungens and Astragalus austiniae.
We will start this field trip a little earlier than normal to help assure we have space to park in the Mount Rose Summit parking lot. This parking spot gets a lot of use on the weekends.
Our first car pooling location will be at the Dough Boys Donuts shop at 57 Damonte Ranch Pkwy in Reno. This shop is located in the South Towne Crossing mall. We will meet at 7:30 am to car pool and be on site by 8:00am.
Our course follows the unpaved service road for the Mount Rose Sky Resort as it ascends the west face of Slide Mountain. This road can be rutted and uneven in some places. We will hike about a mile with an elevation gain of approximately 600’. The first two thirds of our assent will be on a gradually sloping road that skirts open Jeffrey's pine forest. The last third of the hike will see a steeper incline as we negotiate the switch-back portion of the road. This last section of the trail accounts for 300’ of our elevation gain. As we proceed we will start to encounter decomposed granite scree beds hosting many of our target plants. When we reach our goal we will be walking across undulating scree beds strewn with boulders and outcroppings. The forest at this exposed location is somewhat stunted, gnarly, and wind blown but the views of Reno and Washoe Lake are outstanding. Plan on spending several hours on site.
Bring plenty of water, hats, walking sticks, lunch etc. The summit is exposed to the weather so be prepared for windy and possible chilly conditions. Watch the weather reports prepare, as you see fit.
Be aware that we will be required to walk across the Mount Rose Highway to get to our starting point and due to curves in the road at this location great care needs to be on ever-ones mind while crossing over.