I continued on into the canyon in search of wildflowers where there was really no easy way to go.
Fortunately the local residents, Bighorn Sheep, made trails throughout the area
which I took full advantage of and made for much easier hiking.
I think you can just make out the sheep trail. Just imagine them taking the same route over and over again throughout the years and eventually the rocks get displaced creating a path.
This is a Clustered Barrel Cactus so named for they grow in clusters.
"I'd rather be alone". There's always someone who has to be different.
It is difficult to tell but the cactus is about 10 inches across.
Those spines are real hard and you could sew heavy cloth with them as a needle.
I noticed some of the rocks had splashes of white to them but didn't pay much attention to it thinking it was just bird doo. Then I saw this outcropping and realized it was the rock itself.
Then I remembered earlier seeing on my map Marble Mountains Wilderness.
Huh! And so it was...marble.
8 comments:
You are undoubtedly on your way to find the treasure of the Sierra Madre here.
That is nice the sheep had paved a path for you, clever animals. To find marble just like that in the open air is amazing. I always thought it was found underground in marble quarries.
You could take some marble home and make something with it
I think cacti are so interesting...I don't have any but my mom always had one or two.
The sheep in the mountains of Britain, not being true mountain sheep at all, don't like going up or down if it can be avoided. Their tracks are exactly what you want to find if you ever need to contour around a slope.
Easy to lose your marbles in a place like that!
How amazing to find marble!
treasures - no matter growing or inert - or disturbed by hooves. :)
It's always comforting to find an animal trail. It'll probably lead to water, sooner or later. Unless you're following a dumb animal. Then, who knows?
The marble rocks are pretty, and unusual, too.
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