Articles from Janice and Cowboy John

Nevada Adventure Hikes Get You Red and Blue!

Red and blue. My fingers, red and blue.

Berry picking.

We sampled as we hiked Sunday up Right Fork Creek above Lions camp. Thimble berries and Servis berries.

The trail goes straight up the mountain. That is, when you finally find it. This year the trail is in the lake, a beaver lake. Beaver are clearing aspen for another dam, so now the little stream is a shallow lake. I shloshed through without getting both boots wet, just the left one.

We hiked straight up through shrubs, Quaking Aspen, and Rose, the sun thankfully hidden behind clouds. A steep hike. Halfway up I remember why I don’t like this part of the hike.

When we have a chance to breathe again I’m amazed at the vegetation. Lush and thick clear up the mountain to my left, perfect Mule Deer and Blue Grouse country. The trail ahead slopes down and we, like Alice, descend into the rabbit hole.

Into a cool jungle of green and shadow. My favorite, Dogwood, is here, white berries catching the light, orange Rose hips, and gray-trunked Alder. There are the seductive red clusters of Baneberry, and Mountain Ash berry bunches turning autumn orange already. Purple gray berries lie against the deep green leaves of Elderberry.

We walk through Aspen, Willow, and Thimbleberry and can’t resist the berries. Wide maple-shaped leaves form a thicket high as my shoulder. Spotted in the green mass are the bright red treats that stain our fingers. Tasty, they remind me of raspberries.

Growing up we had raspberries. Dad and Mom had a very productive garden and the raspberries were one of the favorites.

Later when John and I visited with our three boys Mom held out buckets which they grabbed on the way to the patch. Thimble Berries are much smaller, but they’re just as good, freshly tart.

Even John eats, stopping at each patch.

Our hike will be a long one. We’re not making much progress up the trail. John usually nags me to quit eating everything I see. “You gonna eat or hike?” But today he’s sampling just as I am.

I stop at Servis Bushes to scoop blue-black, plump berries into my mouth. Servis berries aren’t quite as soft and juicy as Thimble berries. A Thimble berry in the mouth dissolves into sweetness the minute it touches your tongue. Tiny seeds with a delicious crunch are all that’s left behind.

Except for red and blue fingers.

This is what you really want to do!

Hike with us in barren (let those who whizz by on the freeway think that!)Nevada!

Janice Collett

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