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Tour to the Ruby Mountains, Nevada
July 29 - August 5, 2001
The North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) expedition committee has chosen for its first American tour a trip to the Ruby Mountains near Elko, Nevada, July 29 to August 5, 2001. The Rubies, named after the red garnets that were mined there, are believed by many to be the most scenic and beautiful of Nevada's 314 mountain ranges. Rich in wildflowers, the Ruby Mountains contain over 700 species of plants of which 189 are alpine, in addition to abundant wildlife and birds. There is more alpine habitat in the Ruby Mountains than any other mountain range in Nevada. The tops of the Rubies receive over 45 inches of precipitation yearly, mostly in the form of winter snow, while the nearby desert receives less than 10 inches of moisture a year.
Also included in the tour are hikes in the nearby East Humboldt and Schell Creek ranges. In addition, we will visit Great Basin National Park and the Snake Range near the Utah-Nevada border. Great Basin is Nevada's only National Park and was designated as such in 1986. It too has fine scenic qualities and is noted for having the oldest living plants on earth, bristlecone pines, Pinus longaeva. Some of these pines are believed to be almost 5,000 years old.
We hope to see many endemic and rare alpines as well as high desert plants. Some of the species we might see are Astragalus robbinsii var. occidentalis, Astragalus lentiginosus var. latus, Cymopterus nivalis, Eriogonum kingii, Eriogonum lewisii, Penstemon rhizomatosus, Primula capillaris and Silene nachlingerae. Although the primary purpose of the tour will be to see wildflowers (especially alpines), wildlife, and mountain scenery, we also will learn a little western history and take in the local culture.
The mountain ranges that the tour will visit are near the center of the Great Basin, a geographical area named by John C. Fremont on his 1843 expedition west. The Great Basin is a cold high desert between the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies. Water in the Great Basin does not flow to the sea but instead forms inland lakes or dries up in the desert. The Great Basin is divided up by numerous narrow north-south running ranges that on a map look like fingers or worms. It is sometimes referred to collectively as the "Basin and Range." The basins (valleys) generally are 4,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation while some of the mountain ranges are over 13,000 feet.
The cities where we will stay in Nevada are very different from the urban communities where most of us live. Wendover is a gambling and tourist town of about 2,000 people at 4,250 feet above sea level, on Interstate 80 at the Utah and Nevada border. Elko is a buckaroo, or cowboy, town of 18,500 at 5,067 feet, also on Interstate 80. It is the county seat and supply point for ranches and nearby gold mines. It has been named several times as the best small town in America and also has its share of tourists and gamblers. Ely, to the south of Elko on Highway 50 ("the loneliest road in America"), is a smaller mining town of 5,400 people. At 6,427 feet it also has gambling and is the seat of White Pine County. While we will stay in small towns, northern Nevada has one of the lowest population densities in the U. S. The open expanses are both breathtaking and a bit intimidating.
Weather in the high desert in July and August is generally hot but dry. The average daytime high in Elko in July will be around 90 degrees Fahrenheit and could go as high as 100 degrees; however, it generally cools off at night with the nighttime low in the 50's. The climate is very dry, with relative humidity sometimes falling to single digits in the afternoon. The mountains, where we will be hiking, will be 15 to 20 degrees cooler, but late afternoon thunder showers sometimes occur, especially in the Rubies, usually lasting only a few minutes. Lightning can be a threat to mountain hikers, and we will try to avoid it by hiking in the mornings and early afternoons.
Distances are approximate.
Rubies Planned Itinerary and Schedule:
Sunday, July 29, 2001:Optional pre-tour warm up hike and equipment shake down of 3 miles round trip and 1,000 vertical feet to 10,500 feet to Albion Basin, Wasatch Range, from 9:00 AM to Noon. After hiking we will have lunch and then stop at REI for your last minute equipment needs. No extra charge for pre-tour hike or lunch.
Sunday, July 29, 2001: We will meet at the Salt Lake Airport at 5:00 p.m. and drive to Wendover 125 miles west of Salt Lake on the Utah-Nevada border. Spend the night.
Monday, July 30: Drive to Wells, Nevada, then to Angel Lake (8378 ft.), in the East Humboldt Range, just north of the Ruby Mountains. We will hike to Smith Lake (9096 ft.), 3 miles round trip and about 700 vertical feet. The first part will be on a Forest Service trail, but the last part will be across an open ridge line. The drive to Angel Lake is one of Nevada's most scenic byways. Then we will drive to Elko, stopping at the Northeast Nevada Museum and staying the night, 132 miles driving for the day.
Tuesday, July 31: Lamoille Canyon, Ruby Mountains: we will hike to Liberty Pass, 6 miles roundtrip, 2,000 vertical feet to 10,400 feet. This hike is on a very good Forest Service trail that winds between several alpine lakes and on up to the pass from which we will see the beautiful Ruby Crest to the south. We will have lunch in a very large patch of Primula parryi and also stop along the way to see a wonderful bunnery of alpine plants on an overhang. We will return to Elko for the night, 64 miles driving for the day.
Wednesday, August 1: We will go to Lamoille Canyon again, hike Thomas Canyon, and search for Primula capillaris, 5-6 miles, 2,000 vertical feet to 9,600 feet. Thomas Canyon, while not far from Liberty Pass, has a very different look and somewhat different flora. There are certainly more high desert species and also several boggy areas along the trail. The trail is very well defined at the bottom but nearly disappears near the top. We will return to Elko, 60 miles driving for day. It will be your option to stay at the hotel in Elko on this day, if you are tired of hiking too many days in a row.
Thursday, August 2: Drive the scenic byway through Harrison Pass (7200 ft.) in the southern Rubies to Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (birding), visit historic sites, no hike today. Harrison pass divides the Rubies, to the north the mountains are granitic rock and to the south limestone rock, with different species growing on each strata. The drive for the day will be 150 miles, and much of it will be on dirt roads. We will spend the night in Ely.
Friday. August 3: Drive to Great Basin National Park, hike to Bristlecone Pine Grove and Wheeler Glacier, 6-mile hike round-trip, 850 vertical feet to 10,800 feet. The trail to the bristlecones is well worn, but the extension to Nevada's only real glacier is less traveled. The cirque below Wheeler Peak is very picturesque. We will tour Lehman Cave and Visitor center if we have time, then return to Ely for the night, 130 miles driving for the day.
Saturday, August 4: Take Success Summit loop through the Schell Creek Range near Ely. We will hike Timber Creek North about 3 miles round trip to a spring at 10,660 feet. The views should be wonderful. We will return to Salt Lake via Wendover, having dinner in Wendover. Our last night will be in Salt Lake City, near the airport, 255 miles driving for the day.
Sunday, August 5: Breakfast, group photos, and fly home.
A typical daily time schedule while in Nevada is expected to be:
6:45 AM Awake.
8:00 AM Breakfast.
9:00 AM Load the vehicles and drive to trailhead.
10:00 AM Start the hike.
12:30 PM Box lunch on the mountain (provided by Tour)
1:00 PM Continue the hike.
3:30 PM Return to the vehicle.
4:30 PM Back at the motel, shower, laundry, or relax
5:30 PM Social Hour.
6:30 PM Dinner.
8:30 PM Back at hotel.
10:00 PM Bedtime.
Terms, Conditions, and Responsibilities:
Dress for the tour will be casual (including dinners) and layered clothing a must, as the weather will be variable. Hiking boots are required; tennis or gym shoes will not be permitted on the trail. Hiking boots need only be light to medium duty but should have good gripping soles with ankle support. It is important to "break in" new boots well in advance of the tour; comfortable boots are a necessity.
You should definitely provide and take the following items with you on each hike: at least one quart of water, sack lunch (provided by Tour), hiking boots, hat, layered clothing, light weight rain gear, personal medication if needed, suntan lotion, and a small backpack.
The following are optional items you might bring along: insect repellent, lip gloss, camera, film, walking stick, small binoculars, loop or small lens, field guides, notepad, and pencil. Please make sure that all personal property, especially cameras, is fully insured to your homeowner's policy or trip insurance. Please do not bring along unnecessary valuables.
There will be a shortage of room for luggage in the vehicles, and each participant will be limited to the following luggage: one airline carry on bag (9" x 14" x 22") for your clothing and personal effects, one small to medium backpack (no frames), and camera gear.
Some individuals experience mild altitude sickness above 9,000 or 10,000 feet in elevation; the highest we will hike is about 11,000 feet. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, and fatigue. This is caused by a reduction in the amount of oxygen in the blood. Your body can adjust to this, but it takes time. We will only be at these elevations a few hours each day, and we will always be sleeping at lower elevations. If you live at sea level or have experienced altitude sickness before, we would suggest that you fly into Salt Lake City (elevation 4,300 feet), a day or two early.
The conservation policy of this tour prohibits collection of any plants. Take home only fond memories and photos. No trash of any kind can be left on the trail. Alpine environments are very fragile; we ask that you step lightly and carefully while in sensitive areas.
We will be staying in motels that are mostly three-star rated by AAA. We will be eating dinners at local restaurants; and you will have your choice of the menu up to a fixed price point. Sack lunches will be prepared for you daily for the hikes. We will have breakfasts at motels that provide them; otherwise we will eat breakfast at local restaurants. Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.
We will meet at the Salt Lake International Airport at 5:00 PM, July 29, 2001, at baggage carousel number 4 in terminal number 1 or carousel number 8 in terminal number 2 (Delta). The airport is a Delta Airlines hub and is also served extensively by Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Northwest, Continental, and American. Other regional airlines also fly into Salt Lake City. If you fly into Salt Lake before July 29, please let us know in advance where you are staying, and we will pick you up at your hotel on the 29th. Please do not make nonrefundable airline reservations before you are notified whether the tour has been filled or not. This will occur on or before June 15, 2001.
The group will travel by van or sport utility vehicle (SUV) but will take hikes on 5 of the 7 days. The ability to hike 3 to 6 miles, per day, at altitudes above 8,000 feet above sea level is required. We will take plenty of time along the trails to see the flora and take photographs. The hiking pace will average about one mile per hour, slower going uphill and a bit faster going down. Participants should be in good physical condition; if you have any physical problems or illnesses that might impair your ability to hike, such as heart, lung or circulatory conditions, you must consult your physician and have his/her written approval before signing up for this tour. It is each participant's responsibility to judge his or her own ability to make the described hikes; no refund will be made for those who cannot complete the hikes or the tour. Please get yourself in good shape by taking practice hikes of comparable length in your own area. We will be hiking in the mountains, and medical help may be more than three hours away, with community hospitals in Elko and in Ely. The tour will be led by NARGS members and supplemented by local naturalists.
The NARGS leader in charge reserves the right to modify the above itinerary and daily schedule to adjust for weather conditions, fires, snow pack, road conditions, flower bloom, participants, or any other item the leader feels is necessary. No refunds will be made if the itinerary is changed. NARGS reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person on the tour for any reason that affects the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other tour participants. NARGS tours will not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, sex, or national origin.
Reading List and Background Materials:
Those who sign up for the NARGS trip to the Ruby Mountains will be provided a suggested reading and resource list. One recommended book is:
Anderson, Steve and others, 1998. RUBY MOUNTAIN FLORA. Humboldt National Forest Interpretive Association, Elko, Nevada. Not a flora in the traditional sense but rather a collection of 114 photos of more common plants in the Rubies with description.
Internet resources include:
The cost of the tour is $950 per participant from Salt Lake City, double occupancy (two persons per room), which includes meals and restaurant tips, lodging, and transportation from Salt Lake in vans or SUV's. All participants must be NARGS members. New members are always welcome to join at $25. The totals are 7 nights, estimated 916 miles driving (two-and-a-half hours per day average), 5 hikes, 24 miles hiking, and 4 mountain ranges. The price does not include alcoholic beverages, the cost of personal property, medical or life insurance, telephone calls, gratuities for services at motels or porters, optional night-time entertainment, gambling, or items of a personal nature.
You must supply all your hiking equipment. Price does not include your airfare to Salt Lake City. In addition, all participants must purchase a trip insurance policy that includes coverage for medical cost, medical evacuation, baggage loss, and trip cancellation. Because there are inherent risks to a trip of this nature, especially hiking in the mountains and driving over 900 miles, all participants will be asked to sign a release, waiver, and indemnification form and assume all risks personally before they will be allowed on the trip.
A $200 deposit, per person, on the trip will hold your spot until April 1, 2001, at which time an additional $370 is required. The final payment of $380 is due on June 1, 2001. Or you may make your entire payment at once. You may cancel your reservation prior to May 20, 2001, by sending written notice to the registrar. All of your deposit and payments up to that time, less $50, will be refunded to you. If NARGS decides to cancel the entire tour for insufficient number of participants or for any other reason, you will receive a 100% refund by June 15, 2001. NARGS reserves the right to cancel your reservation for nonpayment of funds by the above dates.
If NARGS cancels your reservation for nonpayment your payment will be returned less $50. After June 1, 2001, no refunds can be made for cancellations unless a replacement is found. Any replacement participants must be approved by NARGS in advance.
Payments must be made in personal checks or money orders in U. S. funds only. Credit card payment can be specially arranged.
The minimum number of participants will be 10 and the maximum 14. Spaces are limited; please sign up early!
For further information, contact Bobby J. Ward at the mailing address below, by email at biblio@pagesZ.net, or by telephone at 919-781-3291.
Send your application and deposit check of $200, made out to NARGS, to Bobby J. Ward, 930 Wimbleton Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609-4356. USA.
North American Rock Garden Society
Ruby Mountain Tour Application
Name_______________________________Street___________________________
City______________________State/Province__________________ZIP_________
Phone______________________________E-mail___________________________
Payment Enclosed________________($U.S. only)
Name_______________________________Street___________________________
City______________________State/Province__________________ZIP_________
Phone______________________________E-mail___________________________
Payment Enclosed__________________($U.S. only)
Accommodations: Prices are based on double occupancy. Please indicate the name of the person you wish to room with:
_________________________________________
Would you like NARGS to assign a roommate for you? Yes No If Yes, Smoker, Non Smoker, or Either
Single Occupancy Rooms may be available for an extra $210 for the trip. Would you prefer single occupancy? Yes No
Are you a NARGS member? Yes or No. If not, memberships are available for an extra $25 for the first year.