Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Share info and Pictures about gardens, parks, nurseries, and other locations with cacti.
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

There are over 600 cactus in habitat images to process so I'm trying to batch resize them down in Photoshop.
Testing...first image of first batch
Attachments
Ferocactus acantodes growing on limestone.
Ferocactus acantodes growing on limestone.
IMG_4052.jpg (169.21 KiB) Viewed 4566 times
Last edited by Steve-0 on Thu Jan 21, 2021 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

Okay that worked....lots more to come soon. The drive was 704 miles round trip staying overnight. Roughly 1123 km.
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

Looking south and west from a limestone ridge where many of the species of cacti were present. On the valley floor mostly cholla were present.

The species which I could ID are: Ferocactus acanthodes, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa- Silver cholla, Echinocereus engelmannii, Echinomastus johnsonii, Mammillaria tetrancistra, Opuntia engelmannii, maybe this one -Opuntia erinacea, and Escobaria vivipara desertii.

Also present were the Joshua trees - Yucca brevifolia, Agave utahensis and perhaps a couple more yucca or agave species I didn't recognize.
Attachments
Looking south
Looking south
IMG_20210115_154855908.jpg (153.93 KiB) Viewed 4519 times
looking west ...Nevada is behind the ridge in the distance.
looking west ...Nevada is behind the ridge in the distance.
IMG_20210115_154906228_HDR.jpg (160.3 KiB) Viewed 4519 times
Google assembled this collage. One of the two largest specimens I saw.
Google assembled this collage. One of the two largest specimens I saw.
IMG_20210115_163439351_HDR-COLLAGE.jpg (101.77 KiB) Viewed 4519 times
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

And more pics...

Please chime in with questions or comments. I'll do my best in response.
Attachments
Escobaria v. desertii
Escobaria v. desertii
IMG_3620.jpg (162.01 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Escobaria v. desertii
Escobaria v. desertii
IMG_3623.jpg (175.86 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Escobaria v. desertii
Escobaria v. desertii
IMG_3622.jpg (118.3 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Ech. Englemanii
Ech. Englemanii
IMG_3616.jpg (120.75 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Ech. Englemanii
Ech. Englemanii
IMG_3630.jpg (97.48 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Ech. Englemanii
Ech. Englemanii
IMG_3632.jpg (85.8 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Ech. Englemanii
Ech. Englemanii
IMG_3639.jpg (107.83 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Esco v.
Esco v.
IMG_3656.jpg (168.21 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
IMG_3663.jpg
IMG_3663.jpg (95.64 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
IMG_3668.jpg
IMG_3668.jpg (142.76 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

more pics
Attachments
IMG_3672.jpg
IMG_3672.jpg (126.69 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
IMG_3682.jpg
IMG_3682.jpg (177.41 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
IMG_3692.jpg
IMG_3692.jpg (139.49 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
IMG_3695.jpg
IMG_3695.jpg (132.84 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
Echinomastus johnsonii
Echinomastus johnsonii
IMG_3699.jpg (134.6 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
IMG_3708.jpg
IMG_3708.jpg (121.34 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
IMG_3710.jpg
IMG_3710.jpg (128.25 KiB) Viewed 4513 times
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

About a mile south of the previous canyon. This terrain opened up into an alluvial plain or wash. Joshua trees and Cholla were about as abundant on the flat land as are the Ferocactus on the south facing hillsides.
Attachments
IMG_3716.jpg
IMG_3716.jpg (97.37 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3717.jpg
IMG_3717.jpg (125.47 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3718.jpg
IMG_3718.jpg (127.39 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3719.jpg
IMG_3719.jpg (96.16 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3720.jpg
IMG_3720.jpg (146.32 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3721.jpg
IMG_3721.jpg (139.79 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3729.jpg
IMG_3729.jpg (141.21 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

Ferocactus and opuntia grew into the limestone hills. My thought is seed dispersion via birds is the main way they got established here. Then gravity, rainfall and wind did the rest. The ferocactus are nicknamed compass or miner's cactus because they point south. But they point south for other reasons, primarily for the best sun exposure- the most in winter and least in high summer. Simplest explanation.

As far as variation among the species of ferocactus goes...my observations lead me to think it's somewhat random. Spination color differences were what I saw. From mostly rich pink or red if you want to call it red to creamy yellow with some being a mix of red and yellow.
Attachments
A pair of young Feros
A pair of young Feros
IMG_3732.jpg (145.82 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3733.jpg
IMG_3733.jpg (150.05 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3735.jpg
IMG_3735.jpg (118.58 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3736.jpg
IMG_3736.jpg (131.21 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3744.jpg
IMG_3744.jpg (124.24 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
mostly yellow spines
mostly yellow spines
IMG_3746.jpg (160.64 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
more red
more red
IMG_3747.jpg (167 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
some yellow some red
some yellow some red
IMG_3750.jpg (188.65 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
size 11...45 boot for scale
size 11...45 boot for scale
IMG_3764.jpg (168.55 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
growing in cracks in the wall
growing in cracks in the wall
IMG_3766.jpg (146.54 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
IMG_3768.jpg
IMG_3768.jpg (144.82 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
A couple dozen feros in this pic
A couple dozen feros in this pic
IMG_3776.jpg (166.3 KiB) Viewed 4510 times
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

a few more...
Attachments
IMG_4017.jpg
IMG_4017.jpg (175.92 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_4019.jpg
IMG_4019.jpg (162.32 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_4026.jpg
IMG_4026.jpg (130.81 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_4041.jpg
IMG_4041.jpg (173.29 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_4047.jpg
IMG_4047.jpg (172.67 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
Quite healthy looking ...for growing out of a limestone wall.
Quite healthy looking ...for growing out of a limestone wall.
IMG_4052.jpg (172.73 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_4064.jpg
IMG_4064.jpg (32.54 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike - test pic

Post by Steve-0 »

Next morning...
Attachments
IMG_20210116_095039209.jpg
IMG_20210116_095039209.jpg (99.98 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
golf ball sized
golf ball sized
IMG_20210116_100925199_HDR.jpg (192.28 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
They grow right on up the limestone hill
They grow right on up the limestone hill
IMG_20210116_100945569_HDR.jpg (140.2 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
This one shows corking & predation nibbles
This one shows corking & predation nibbles
IMG_20210116_101046766_HDR.jpg (122.44 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
probably pack rat nibbling on it
probably pack rat nibbling on it
IMG_20210116_101050747_HDR.jpg (114.03 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
across the wash is the rock climbers' spot. The cactus at the bottom is the one above.
across the wash is the rock climbers' spot. The cactus at the bottom is the one above.
IMG_20210116_101147579_HDR.jpg (126.64 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
Opuntia in a rock
Opuntia in a rock
IMG_20210116_101656532_HDR.jpg (142.91 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_20210116_101720931_HDR.jpg
IMG_20210116_101720931_HDR.jpg (140.39 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_20210116_101725539_HDR.jpg
IMG_20210116_101725539_HDR.jpg (137 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
IMG_20210116_102234686_HDR.jpg
IMG_20210116_102234686_HDR.jpg (117.54 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
Echinomastus johnsonii about 24 cm tall
Echinomastus johnsonii about 24 cm tall
IMG_20210116_102326225.jpg (155.25 KiB) Viewed 4509 times
User avatar
Shane
Posts: 1075
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2017 5:55 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA (zone 10b)

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Shane »

What area are you in exactly? (I've been thinking about getting out into the desert and am not exactly which areas are the interesting ones)
Los Angeles, California (USA)
Zone 10b (yearly minimum temperature 1-5° C)

Fishhook cacti are like cats, they only like to be petted in one direction
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

Shane wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:14 am What area are you in exactly? (I've been thinking about getting out into the desert and am not exactly which areas are the interesting ones)
This particular adventure took place in the SW corner of Utah...bordering AZ and NV. I was about 15 miles from each state. St. George is the nearest city. The exact area for this hike was in or near the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area right next to Shivwits Paiute Indian Reservation....which is private property.

My home is in the southern end of the Salt Lake Valley near Salt Lake City.

The BLM maps are a good guide to where one can go on public lands. It's color coded to make it easy for anyone to figure out what is public, private, federal, state, National Park, Conservation Areas and such.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files ... oomMap.pdf

There are wild cactus growing 5 minutes from my house and the variety of species increases with distance especially southwards.

Some sites are popular tourist or outdoor recreation areas or one can research to find the roads less traveled for solitude. Kind of amazing to be somewhere and see no one with no noise except bugs, birds and breezes....and at night coyotes yodeling. Works for me.
keith
Posts: 1860
Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:50 am
Location: S. CA USA

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by keith »

Mojave is a spectacular desert I often go to the southern part not as many cactus as the Sonoran Desert but it has a wilder look, more rock and more colors. Cactus from there are usually pretty hard to grow in greenhouses outside of the desert.
User avatar
RyManUtah
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:18 am
Location: St. George, UT, USA

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by RyManUtah »

That Joshua tree forest is my favorite place in Utah
St. George, UT - Zone 8 - 2600’
User avatar
Steve-0
Posts: 716
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm
Location: Salt Lake Valley, Utah...high mountain desert climate

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by Steve-0 »

RyManUtah wrote: Sun Jan 24, 2021 4:14 pm That Joshua tree forest is my favorite place in Utah
Near the end of my hike on the second day I was driving back towards Old hiway 91 and on the right was a draw, wash, gulley or whatever you prefer to call it. And from the base of the peak to the road was such a forest or Joshua trees. So I stopped and hiked it. An old miner's camp or something was evidenced there also. Very old rusted steel cans, sardine or meat tins and purple glass. The clues weren't enough for me to correctly deduce any other possibility except prospector's passing through?

This is where I saw two specimens of Mammilaria tetrancistra and a few large and small Echinomastus johnsonii.

I have a bunch more images to go through and will post those this week.
I stopped at the Sunset Star nursery on my way back to Salt Lake. They told me the end of Feb or early March will see a lot more new I inventory coming to the nursery . Sounds like a road trip to me.
Attachments
JTrees.png
JTrees.png (212.91 KiB) Viewed 4344 times
User avatar
7george
Posts: 2628
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:49 pm
Location: Calgary, Canada
Contact:

Re: Upper Mojave Desert Hike

Post by 7george »

Nice hike, Steve! Enjoying your habitat photos.

Liked those Agave utahensis plants you shut there. My potted plant also loses dry some of the old leaves regularly, maybe this is normal for some of the plants anyway.
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
Post Reply