Mt. Charleston

We spent a couple days on Mt. Charleston. Coming up here is such a great relief from the heat (it's a good 30 degrees cooler than Las Vegas)! 

One morning I joined Red Rock Audubon for a guided birding walk at Mt Charleston's Deer Creek where I saw a Cordilleran Flycatcher (lifer)! Our guide, Jeanne, is a fantastic birder and so great at teaching us not just about birds, but also other wildlife like this Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. I was pleased to find out she lives at the wildlife refuge where we lived for four months as work campers. 

After the walk, Daddy and the kids joined me for the Fletcher Canyon hike. I like the variety this trail offers. First you walk thru many trees, low-growing plants once you reach the river crossing, which was dry in June, and then suddenly you're greeted with steep rock walls of the canyon. 

I found a Virginia's Warbler (lifer) calling from the trees!

There were lots of butterflies, most of them tiny, visiting the plants along this section of trail.

We decided to turn around when we encountered boulders and steep walls at the end of the canyon. Asher tried out the natural slide.

Asher spotted a cool skink!

We met a couple along the trail and all of us ended up hiking back to the cars together while enjoying a lovely conversation. Back at the truck, we enjoyed the cooler weather just a little bit longer while eating a picnic lunch.

We always stop at the viewpoint and recently they added a paved trail that takes you down the side a bit to more interpretive signs.

Sadly the lodge at the very top of the mountain has recently burned down. We used to enjoy grabbing lunch or a hot chocolate there during the winter. The main lodge is still around (below). 

Here's a view of the newer visitor center from the road above. My favorite feature is the painted glass. It appears to just be etched, but when you look thru a polarized lens, a vibrant wildlife scene comes to life!