Friends of Gold Butte

Help us celebrate the NINTH Anniversary of the designation of Gold Butte National Monument! Please join the Friends of Gold Butte on Sunday, December 7, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Wolf Creek Golf Club at 403 Paradise Pkwy in Mesquite for a celebration in recognition of the 9th anniversary of the designation of Gold Butte National Monument. We will have a cash bar, soft drinks, hot & cold appetizers and of course, DESSERT!

We are conducting an online auction fundraiser beginning Monday, November 24 which will culminate during the evening of the celebration. We have some awesome items and experiences up for bid, and this is a great opportunity to not only support FoGB, but do a little Christmas shopping or get something nice for yourself.

All bidding will be done through fgb.betterworld.org and you can keep bidding during the evening up until 6:45 PM on your phone! Check out our Facebook page for some of the highlighted items, or stop by our office and see them in person. This auction is a fundraiser for our organization and we welcome your support. Please RSVP by Saturday, November29th so we can have an accurate head count for food, and come prepared for an evening of fun! There is no set fee to join the event but there will be donation jars available to help cover the cost of food, beverages and the venue. Please come and celebrate with us, and register to bid on fgb.betterworld.org even if you're not able to attend the event.

Take a different path to gain a new perspective on a favorite overlook. Join hike leader Frank Golden and the Friends of Gold Butte on this amazing adventure to the western rim of Gold Butte's Cauldron of Fire**. Gaze into the "flames" and marvel at its grandeur.

**Previously, some people called it the "Bowl of Fire" but that name already exists at Lake Meade NRA... so I'm calling it Cauldron of Fire to avoid the confusion.

This is a moderately strenuous hike for its distance of 6 miles round trip. The total elevation gain of 700 feet is not too challenging as the slope is very gentle. Our pace will be slow enough to take picture and we'll also stop occasionally for discussions relating to the area's natural history. Though we will be hiking at a comfortable pace, you will still need to be in reasonable shape to complete the 6 mile hike. About half of the hike is in a wash with mostly gravel and some grapefruit/watermelon sized rocks. We will also follow the remnants of an old rancher's road that is slowly being reclaimed by nature via vegetation and erosion. Sturdy boots with ankle support are recommended. Long pants are suggested to protect your legs. Trekking poles may help some with balance. Please dress in layers to adjust to changing temperatures. Please bring a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and sun screen. Please bring your lunch, snacks, and water/sports drinks.

Our path leads us through a gap in a ridge as we follow the valley upstream. There are steep cliffs that showcase the sedimentary nature of the limestone rock layers. We'll pass through a small opening between two smaller hills. This track leads us to a hidden forest of Joshua Trees. We'll crest a low ridge that brings into view the red sandstone outcroppings that lie under the limestone peaks, that make up the southern edge of the Virgin Mountains. In another quarter mile, you will stand on a point that offers an unobstructed view into the cauldron and the valley leading south to Whitney Pocket and beyond. Members who have hiked via Whitney Wash into the Cauldron of Fire will certainly recognize the path and some of the landmarks along its path. 300 feet south of the view point is a sandstone outcropping where we will have our lunch. After a short period of exploration we will retrace our steps back to the trail head.

A demonstration and assistance on the app iNaturalist will also be provided for those who wish to begin tracking their "living observations".

The gravel road to the trail head is 1.5 miles off Gold Butte Rd. It has some rocky sections, but is passible for a high clearance car/SUV with all-wheel drive. Sedans and compact cars won't do well on this road. We are currently not organizing carpooling but you are welcome to make your own arrangements to do so. It is understood that if you arrive at the Meetup with someone who does not reside in your household that you are comfortable with any risk of contracting Covid-19 or any other illness and are doing so of your own volition.

We are pleased to offer all of our events to the public at no charge. Please, if you register for this hike and are unable to attend, take yourself off the "going" list and/or let one of the organizers know in sufficient time to let waitlisted people participate. We understand that last-minute things happen, but if possible be courteous and give at least 48 hours notice. If you register and then do not let us know that you won't be attending but just fail to show up, you will be tagged as a "no-show" and this may result in your not being permitted to register for future events that have a participant limit. Please be courteous!

Gold Butte National Monument is primitive and has no services of any kind. Event participants must bring and carry their own water, food, sunscreen, basic first-aid items, any medications (e.g., EpiPen or asthma inhalers, etc.) a participant may need, and any other supplies they may want or need while participating in the event. Participants must wear appropriate footwear for the event (for example, for trash-clean-up events, sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots would be appropriate). Participants are strongly encouraged to wear broad-brimmed hats and dress in weather-appropriate clothing when participating outdoors. Participants are reminded to be plant and animal aware at all times. Finally, if the event necessitates, participants are strongly encouraged to provide their medical information (pre-existing conditions, medications, etc.) and their Emergency Contact information (name and phone number) on a card or piece of paper in a sealed envelope with their name on the outside. The volunteer organizer will collect and hold the envelopes during the event and return them, unopened, at the conclusion of the event if they are not needed. Please also review the statement found at this link, which all participants must sign before going on this hike. In-person Assumption of Risk

Join Jim Boone and the Friends of Gold Butte as they explore this scenic hike through the iconic petroglyph area, including the famed 21 Goats. This is a place to wander slowly and marvel in the glorious scenery where the rock walls are adorned with petroglyphs and pictographs. If the group wishes and the weather permits, we’ll also walk down to 21 Goats and Black Butte, making a loop. This hike requires a small bit of rock scrambling as we move among the crags and precipitous cliffy areas.

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, this is a safe area, but be careful scrambling around on the rocks. The walking is fairly easy, but parts of the route cross rocky areas where the use-trail is faint. While in the area, remember that petroglyphs and pictographs are national treasures and are easily damaged. Please do not touch them, as the oils from you skin can degrade them. Be sure and bring your camera, and take plenty of photos to remember your hike.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Be prepared to pack out everything you pack in. Also, even though this hike is short, this is a wild and remote area without services of any kind (no restrooms, no water, no gas, no food, no cell service).

Bring plenty of water, food/snacks for yourself, and wear weather-appropriate clothing. Layers are best, so you can adjust for the temperature fluctuations during the day. Please also bring hand sanitizer and sunscreen and wear closed-toed shoes and a hat. Hiking poles may also be helpful.

We will meet at the junction of Highway 170 and Gold Butte Road at 9:00 AM and will return by 4:00 PM. The trailhead is accessible with a carefully driven sedan, although high clearance vehicles are preferred.

Please provide a cell phone number so we can contact you in case of changes. If you register for this hike and then find that you are unable to attend, please change your status to "not going" and/or let one of the organizers know so someone from the waitlist will have the opportunity to participate. We understand that emergencies happen, but if you decide not to go, please kindly give 48 hours notice so someone else may attend. We know this hike is scheduled very close to the holiday, so we will need a minimum of 8 participants to be able to go ahead with it. Jim drives out from Las Vegas, so we would like to have that many to make it worthwhile for him.

Please, also, if you go out with our group, be courteous and tell the leader if you need to leave prior to the end of the tour, or if you wish to stay later on your own. Friends of Gold Butte cannot be responsible for those who fail to stay with and inform the group of a change in plans. We want everyone to be safe!

Gold Butte National Monument is primitive and has no services of any kind. Event participants must bring and carry their own water, food, sunscreen, basic first-aid items, any medications (e.g., EpiPen or asthma inhalers, etc.) a participant may need, and any other supplies they may want or need while participating in the event. Participants must wear appropriate footwear for the event (for example, for trash-clean-up events, sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots would be appropriate). Participants are strongly encouraged to wear broad-brimmed hats and dress in weather-appropriate clothing when participating outdoors. Participants are reminded to be plant and animal aware at all times. Finally, if the event necessitates, participants are strongly encouraged to provide their medical information (pre-existing conditions, medications, etc.) and their Emergency Contact information (name and phone number) on a card or piece of paper in a sealed envelope with their name on the outside. The volunteer organizer will collect and hold the envelopes during the event and return them, unopened, at the conclusion of the event if they are not needed; and the assumption of risk statement found at In-person Assumption of Risk

The Cactus Garden route starts at Fisherman Flats Gravel Pit Trailhead and wanders off-trail up the bajada towards the base of the Virgin Mountains. If we get that far (2 miles out), we’ll nose up into a narrow canyon beneath towering limestone cliffs and stop for lunch. We’ll probably return over most of the same route, but we could detour onto an old road as we return to the trailhead. Friends of Gold Butte hiked in this area many years ago, and we were struck by the number and diversity of cacti in the area. The walking should be easy, but there is no trail, so that automatically makes this a moderate hike. Given that it's December, there probably won't be many flowering plants on this hike, but we have had rain fairly recently, so you never know.

We will meet at the junction of Gold Butte Road and Riverside Road (dirt parking lot) at 9:00 AM and plan to return no later than 3:00 PM. You won't need a 4WD vehicle for this one, but high clearance may be helpful. We will be parking near the road, so a carefully driven sedan is sufficient.

Be sure to wear sturdy shoes/boots, and bring a wind-proof jacket and a hat. Trekking poles may be helpful.Don't forget to bring sunscreen, water, lunch, and snacks. There are no stores or facilities in Gold Butte; be prepared to pee in the bushes.

We are pleased to offer all of our events to the public at no charge. Please, if you register for this hike and are unable to attend, take yourself off the "going" list and/or let one of the organizers know in sufficient time to let waitlisted people participate. We understand that last-minute things happen, but if possible be courteous and give at least 48 hours notice. If you register and then do not let us know that you won't be attending but just fail to show up, you will be tagged as a "no-show" and this may result in your not being permitted to register for future events that have a participant limit. Please be courteous!

Gold Butte National Monument is primitive and has no services of any kind. Event participants must bring and carry their own water, food, sunscreen, basic first-aid items, any medications (e.g., EpiPen or asthma inhalers, etc.) a participant may need, and any other supplies they may want or need while participating in the event. Participants must wear appropriate footwear for the event (for example, for trash-clean-up events, sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots would be appropriate). Participants are strongly encouraged to wear broad-brimmed hats and dress in weather-appropriate clothing when participating outdoors. Participants are reminded to be plant and animal aware at all times. Finally, if the event necessitates, participants are strongly encouraged to provide their medical information (pre-existing conditions, medications, etc.) and their Emergency Contact information (name and phone number) on a card or piece of paper in a sealed envelope with their name on the outside. The volunteer organizer will collect and hold the envelopes during the event and return them, unopened, at the conclusion of the event if they are not needed; and the assumption of risk statement found at In-person Assumption of Risk