January 2012 Hike List

This hike schedule is a supplement to the club's monthly newsletter, which includes other important information regarding club business and activities, along with a contact list for members of the group. All club members should view the attachment sent out by the newsletter editor each month and print whatever pages they feel are pertinent so they can participate more thoroughly in club activities.

Here is a list of scheduled club hikes for the month of January 2012. Hikes scheduled during the week are of varying difficulty levels to accommodate the various skill levels of club members. Most Tuesday and Thursday hikes are intended for the more advanced hikers in the club. Some of the Sunday hikes may be very strenuous and are exploratory by nature. When indicated, these hikes may require advance clearance by the hike coordinator. Two hikes are usually offered each Saturday during the hiking seasons at Red Rock Canyon and the Lake Mead area. The earlier hike is a general hike that will be conducted at a moderate pace while the later hike is intended for the general membership and is conducted at a more leisurely pace. Hikes on other days of the week will tend to be moderate, although occasionally a more difficult hike may be scheduled. While sometimes equivalent to the more leisurely Saturday hikes, they may have a faster pace or some difficult terrain. Please pay attention to the difficulty ratings for each hike offered and do not attempt hikes that are beyond your abilities. New hikers without recent hiking experience are encouraged to join the 8:30 AM Saturday hikes or equivalent before attempting any of the more difficult offerings. No reservations are required for any of the hikes unless specified below. Cancellation due to weather may occur without prior notice the morning of the hike. If you have any questions or need directions for any of the hikes contact Chris Dempsey at (702) 823-2355 or e-mail him at dempseylv@aol.com.

Hikes scheduled during January will be in a variety of locations with different assembly points. The hikes near Red Rock and some other locations will have a primary meeting location at the parking lot in front of the Best Buy store on Charleston across from the Red Rock Station Casino. Lake Mead hikes will generally meet under the outdoor sign at the Henderson Fiesta on Lake Mead Parkway near the intersection of I-215 and I-515, especially if the hike is on the south side of the lake. Hikes north of Lake Mead will generally meet at the Albertsons Grocery on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood on the east side of Las Vegas. Valley of Fire hikes will assemble at the Lucky Club Casino near the intersection of I-15 and Cheyenne. Secondary meeting locations will include the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage on Rampart Boulevard just south of Summerlin Parkway or at one of the Mile Markers along Northshore or Lakeshore Drives at Lake Mead. Be at the selected designated location at least five to ten minutes prior to the departure time listed to allow for carpooling arrangements and driving directions.

SPECIAL NOTE - On several of the Lake Mead hikes, the coordinators will NOT be at the early west side meeting locations or even at some of the primary assembly points. The hike descriptions that follow will indicate this when applicable. Participants will have to take it upon themselves to form carpools and to leave at the times indicated in order to meet the coordinators at the indicated locations. DO NOT expect the group to wait as timing is critical to maintaining the schedule.

The schedule below includes three hikes that will encircle the River Mountains on the 34-mile paved multi-purpose trail. These Sunday hikes are currently scheduled for January 1, January 8, and January 15. In case of inclement weather on any of those dates, January 29 is being held in reserve as the rain-out day. If it is necessary to complete the series on that date, further notification will be sent out through normal Around the Bend Friends channels.


Sunday, January 1 - River Mountains Trail (Part 1). Kick off the new year with the first of a three-part series of hikes held on successive Sundays that will cover the entire 34-mile trail circling the River Mountains between Boulder City and Lake Las Vegas. The opening point-to-point segment will cover 10 miles from the parking area near Alan Bible Visitor Center and culminate at the Railroad Pass Casino. While the entire trail is hard surface, this section will gain over 1,000 feet of elevation. Because of the distance and elevation change, the hike will be rated strenuous. An early west side group will meet at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure, with the primary meeting location at the Henderson Fiesta and a departure around 8:00 AM. Extra vehicles will be required for the car shuttle. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Monday, January 2 - Black Mountain (Boulder City). Join the group for a moderate 6-mile out-and-back hike to the observation point on Black Mountain above the St. Jude Children's Ranch in Boulder City. The well-maintained city trail climbs up a canyon to a saddle between Red and Black Mountains and then on to the observation point on Black Mountain, gaining 1,100 feet in the process. From the top there is an excellent view of Boulder Basin, the southernmost section of Lake Mead. The initial west side group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM and will head over to the Henderson Fiesta, the primary meeting spot. Departure from there will be around 8:40 AM. Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.

Tuesday, January 3 - River Mountain. For the second straight day the club hike will start from the River Mountains trail head next to St. Jude Children's Ranch, but this version will penetrate the caldera north of the saddle between Red and Black Mountains and continue over to the highest point in the mountain range north of Boulder City. With a total distance of 8 miles and an elevation gain around 1,600 feet, this strenuous outing also includes a section of steep climb on obscure trail getting to the peak itself. The small top affords great views of the lake and the Las Vegas valley. The west side group will leave from Best Buy at 7:15 AM and head for a meeting with the main group at Henderson Fiesta. The larger group will leave there at 8:00 AM and join the hike coordinators and any other Boulder City residents at the trail head for an 8:20 AM start up the trail. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Wednesday, January 4 - Boy Scout Canyon. The hike today will include two segments of the canyon using the parking location as the starting point for each one. The group will start by exploring the upper portion of the wash first and then backtrack to the vehicles for a snack break. After everyone has replenished their energy it will be time for a somewhat shorter jaunt into the lower section of the wash. Total distance for the day will probably be around 6 miles with some scrambling and a moderate rating. High clearance vehicles are recommended for the gravel road leading to the canyon. The west side group can meet at Best Buy for a 7:50 AM departure to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:30 AM takeoff. Coordinator - Keith Lane.

Thursday, January 5 - Hamblin Mountain. One of the grandest views in the Lake Mead area awaits those who reach the top ridge of this remote peak north of Boulder Narrows connecting Virgin Basin with Boulder Basin. The largely out-and-back hike is rated strenuous, covers a distance of 7 miles, and climbs 1,400 feet. An alternate route on the return follows the Arrowhead Highway through Pinto Valley Wash back to Cottonwood Spring. The west side group will leave from the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:15 AM. The primary meeting location is the Albertsons Grocery on Lake Mead and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure. The final pick up point will be Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road. This stop will be extremely quick, so anyone joining the group at that location must be there by 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

Friday, January 6 - Waterfall Canyon. Occasionally we schedule Red Rock hikes in the dead of winter and here is an excellent one. The moderately strenuous 4-mile out-and-back hike visits a side canyon off Rocky Gap Road in which a stream flows year round over a series of cascading waterfalls of various heights. Good footwear is required as the trail crosses several areas of slick rock and has a few short, steep climbs and descents over loose surface conditions. Those who reach the 30-foot waterfall deep in the canyon will be amazed by the surrounding beauty. The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure. Coordinator - Ed Matulis.

Saturday, January 7 - White Owl Canyon. Don't confuse this hike with the short version that starts at the Hole 33 parking area along Lakeshore Drive. This moderately strenuous loop hike will cover a distance of 7 or 8 miles as it enters White Owl Canyon from the top rather than at lake level and continues through on a loop route. The hike will start at the old Las Vegas Bay boat ramp near the ranger station off Lakeshore Drive. The west side group can assemble at Best Buy for a 7:20 AM departure for the primary meeting location at the Henderson Fiesta, where the entire group will leave at 8:00 AM, meeting the coordinators at the trail head around 8:15 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Saturday, January 7 - Lake Mead Route 89. Club members will be treated to another new hike on the second offering for this Saturday. The 4-mile loop route starts with a gentle cross-country trek down a dry wash to the edge of the lake for a potential sighting of migratory birds. After a short snack break near the water, the group will return to the vehicles along a gravel road. There is little elevation change an the hike is rated easy to moderate, making it ideal for recreational hikers. The group will meet under the large outdoor sign at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM getaway. Coordinator - Chris Nienaber.

Sunday, January 8 - River Mountains Trail (Part 2). The second installment of the trek around the River Mountains involves a section of trail that was just completed this last summer, so those who participated in this marathon last year will get to see something new. The section to be chewed off today will start from the Railroad Pass Casino, where the group left off the previous Sunday, and head north and east through part of Henderson to the parking lot near the Lake Mead Fee Station by Lake Las Vegas. This point-to-point section is about 11 miles in length and has some sharply rolling terrain. Even though it is entirely paved, the rating is strenuous. West side participants should meet at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure, with the primary meeting location at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Monday, January 9 - Historic Railroad Tunnels. Although rated moderate because the distance is 7 miles, this out-and-back hike has less than 400 feet of elevation gain and most of that is on the start of the return leg. The route follows the railroad bed that carried construction trains to the Hoover Dam site, passing through five tunnels in the first couple miles. The turn around point and snack break will occur at the parking garage by the dam. Those who want to take the short walk onto the dam and cross into Arizona should have the chance if they don't plan on eating much. The west side group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM and head for the primary meeting location at Henderson Fiesta, from which the entire group will depart about 8:40 AM. Coordinator - Ann Hoskin.

Tuesday, January 10 - Cleopatra's Wash. This strenuous 7-mile out-and-back hike is through an amazing canyon that leads down to the very edge of Lake Mead. To get there participants will have to scramble over and past boulders and other obstacles, bypassing a 40-foot vertical waterfall very close turn the turn around point. Scenic cliff walls abound along the route. Getting to the hike involves a lengthy drive and the final section is on unmaintained gravel road requiring high clearance vehicles. Drivers need to be careful of boulders in the road near the parking spot. West side participants should meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage for a 7:15 AM departure. The main meeting spot is Albertsons on Lake Mead and Hollywood with an 8:00 AM departure. Final stop is Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Drive. Those meeting at that location need to be there by 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Wednesday, January 11 - Potato Knoll. In the shadow of Wilson Peak is a 500-foot hill that is actually a slump pile from an avalanche that occurred eons ago on the front cliffs of the mountain. The objective for this hike will be to reach the top and take in the expansive view of Red Rock Canyon to the north and Cottonwood Valley to the south. At a total distance of 5 miles, this partial loop hike carries a moderate rating with very little elevation gain other than the short climb from the main trail behind the hill. There are also four crossings of Oak Creek along the way with a fairly good chance to see running water. The group will be meeting at Best Buy and departing for the hike at 9:00 AM. Coordinator - Jen Lindsay.

Wednesday, January 11 - Las Vegas Adventure. Looking for something different than the run of the mill hike? Here is a day of adventure that should stand out from the rest. Join members of the Lone Mountain Hiking Club for a trip downtown. The group will be leaving Desert Vista Community Center in Sun City Summerlin at 10:00 AM and driving to the Stratosphere Casino for a 2.5-mile walk to downtown. Participants will then ride the zip line on Fremont Street and have the buffet lunch at the Main Street Station before walking back to the Stratosphere. Estimated cost including transportation, zip line ride, and buffet is $35. Those interested should contact Lorraine Stalians at 927-0312. Reservations are necessary and must be made by January 5.

Thursday, January 12 - South Bowl of Fire. Today's outing explores a colorful area of sandstone outcroppings near the base of the Muddy Mountains and east of the now inaccessible Anniversary Narrows. Rated moderately strenuous, the hike includes sections of scrambling through the rock formations and covers a distance of about 5 miles. The hike will start from the parking area used for Hamblin Mountain but will head in the opposite direction. An early west side group will leave from the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:15 AM, meeting the main group at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure to join the coordinators at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road about 8:20 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Friday, January 13 - Fossil Ridge & First Finger. Here is a hike we have thought about doing anytime we have followed the upper part of the Fossil Ridge Trail but usually forgot about when it was time to put together the schedule. The moderate route will follow the first trail to the right from the cowboy stables entrance, hook up with the Fossil Ridge Trail to the upper part of Echo Canyon, then proceed along the relatively level trail onto the ridge that separates Echo from Cave Canyon. A partial loop route, participants will find the distance to be somewhere around 6 miles. The return leg of the hike will follow along the western edge of Fossil Ridge past the horse stables and down the point of the ridge to the parking lot. Meeting location is Best Buy with an 8:15 AM departure. Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Saturday, January 14 - Rainbow Gardens. The earlier Saturday hike this weekend will visit a colorful canyon on the eastern slopes of Lava Butte that drains into Lake Las Vegas. Besides enjoying some scrambling action down the main canyon that exhibits traces of copper, the group will visit a couple of hidden grottos and turn around near a narrow inlet for Lake Las Vegas itself. Total distance for the moderate out-and-back hike is 5 miles and some scrambling is involved. A short diversion on the return passes a couple old mining claims and their junk remains. West side group will leave from the top of the Rampart parking garage at 7:20 AM and meet the main group at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure. The hike will start near Mile Marker 3 on Northshore Road about 8:20 AM. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, January 14 - Bluff Trail. Starting from the old campground along the northern section of Lakeshore Drive, this easy to moderate out-and-back hike will cover a distance of 2 or 3 miles, depending on whether the group stops on the top of a knoll where the main trail ends or continues along the fainter trail that heads to a somewhat higher knob to the north. This seldom hiked trail is unique because it holds the high ground above the lowest section of the Las Vegas Wash, which carries all of the runoff from the city and is usually full of water. The primary meeting location is Henderson Fiesta with an 8:30 AM departure. West side participants may wish to carpool from Best Buy but would probably have to leave there about 40 minutes before that. Coordinator - Guy Galante.

Sunday, January 15 - River Mountains Trail (Part 3). The circling of the River Mountains will conclude today with a 13-mile point-to-point segment starting from the Lake Mead Parkway entrance to the recreation area and finishing at the Alan Bible Visitor Center lower parking lot. This stretch includes several magnificent views of the lake with part of the trail overlaid on an abandoned section of Lakeshore Drive prior to its rerouting. Rating is strenuous because of distance even though the entire route is blacktopped or paved. Extra vehicles and time will be needed for carpooling. West side group will meet at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure. Primary meeting location is Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Monday, January 16 - Ash Canyon Overlook Loop. The distance for this moderate loop hike is only about 3 miles, but it passes through some great back country terrain on the north side of the Calico Hills and includes some relatively minor scrambling in several sections of the route. After a snack break on a ledge above scenic Ash Canyon, the group will head through the sandstone formations that continue toward Turtlehead Peak, climbing up and over one sandstone formation to view an area of petroglyphs. The group will assemble in the Best Buy lot on Charleston and leave for Sandstone Quarry at 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Tuesday, January 17 - Fortification Hill. The hike up the black lava ridge that sits almost directly north of Hoover Dam on the Arizona side of the Colorado River drainage is relatively short but is sure daunting. You will only cover a total distance of 4 miles getting to and back from the sign-in box at the top, but the terrain in between is quite steep and there is some significant exposure when climbing through the cliff face to reach the top level even though no gear is required. This hike is classified as strenuous. Also, the gravel road accessing the trail head is not maintained on a regular basis and requires high clearance vehicles. Meet the west side group at Best Buy for a 7:20 AM departure or the entire group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Ed Matulis.

Wednesday, January 18 - The Muffins, Overlook & Tailings Piles. The basic opening of this moderately strenuous 8 or 9-mile loop hike is the standard approach to the caliche boulders on the north end of Blue Diamond Hill and the trek across to the highest overlook above the city. From this point the route will follow some seldom used trails and abandoned roads that wind past the tailings piles from the gypsum mining operations on the central part of the high ridge. A trail descends into a remote canyon below a couple of massive tailings piles before returning to the standard routes and a descent along Fossil Ridge. The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Thursday, January 19 - Valley of Fire North-South Traverse. The north-south traverse is a classic point-to-point hike (requiring a car shuttle) from the parking area at White Domes to the Visitor Center along the ridges and mesas and through the canyons between the two points. This strenuous 6-mile hike with 2,000 feet of gross elevation gain is over very rough terrain with minimal exposure and will probably take around five hours to accomplish. Participants will need good balance to handle the terrain. The west side group will meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage for a 7:00 AM departure. The entire group will leave from the Lucky Club Casino parking lot on Cheyenne at the I-15 exit at 7:30 AM. Coordinator - Brian Dodd.

Friday, January 20 - Krafft Mountain Loop. Red Springs Picnic Area at Calico Basin will be the starting point for one of the most scenic canyon hikes in the Red Rock area. The moderate partial loop hike is about 5 miles in length and does include nearly one mile of scrambling in the colorful canyon behind magenta colored Krafft Mountain. A couple of the scramble sections require good concentration, even if they are not really that difficult. The return section passes through a boulder field used quite often by free climbers who like to demonstrate their talents. The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

Saturday, January 21 - Red Mountain. The starting point for this moderately strenuous 6-mile loop hike with 1,200 feet of elevation gain is the River Mountains trail head near St. Jude Children's Ranch and the initial route is still the traditional city trail heading toward the saddle between Red and Black Mountains, Our coordinator plans on taking the steep trails up the steep trails on the south side of the mountain that lead into the top section of Bootleg Canyon. The top of the mountain offers great views of the Boulder City area before a return down the regular city trail from the saddle between Red and Black Mountains. The west side meeting location for carpooling is Best Buy, leaving from there at 7:20 AM. The primary meeting spot will be at Henderson Fiesta with an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Guy Galante.

Saturday, January 21 - Pinto Valley Wash. At 6 miles, this outing will be slightly longer than the normal later Saturday hike but the elevation gain is very gradual. Although essentially in the wash, much of the route is on packed trail up the drainage toward a remote valley that was home to several small mining operations in the earlier parts of the last century. A portion of the old Arrowhead Highway, the first route for motorized vehicles between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, runs through the wash and portions of the road bed are still in existence and somewhat maintained by off-road enthusiasts. West side residents can carpool from the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage, but must leave there by 7:50 AM. The general meeting location is Albertsons Grocery on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood with an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinators - Kay & John Blackwell.

Monday, January 23 - Lava Butte. After a one year absence, the 1,000-foot lava ridge just east of Frenchmen's Mountain is back on the schedule. This strenuous short hike combines trekking along gravel roads and boulder scrambling up a narrow ridge to the summit. Almost the entire hike is off-trail and a there is a fair amount of brush and scree to contend with. The plan for this outing is to park some distance away from the mountain and do a little exploration on the side slopes either on the way up or the way down. Total distance will probably be between 4 and 6 miles. The west side group should meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving there by 7:20 AM. The primary meeting location is Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood with an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Ed Matulis.

Tuesday, January 24 - Colorful Canyon. The hike will start at Mile Marker 20 on Northshore Road and go to the camel tracks near North Bowl of Fire before heading through a couple of canyons, the second which exhibits a variety of colorful formations. The hike is about 7 miles long and the coordinator feels that the rating should be labeled as strenuous. The west side group should meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage and leave there by 7:15 AM to join the main group at Albertsons Grocery on Lake mead Boulevard and Hollywood, departing from there by 8:00 AM. The final assembly point, where the group will meet the hike coordinators, is at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Drive at 8:20 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Wednesday, January 25 - White Rock Hills Loop. The standard loop around the two cream colored sandstone peaks on the north end of Red Rock Canyon begins at Willow Springs Picnic Area, and this hike will be no exception. What remains to be seen is whether the coordinator will choose to follow the route clockwise, hiking through the valley between the White Rock Hills and the La Madre Mountains first, or whether she will reverse the route and start with the front desert section. In any event, total distance for the moderate loop is 6.4 miles and elevation gain is about 900 feet. The snack break will probably occur near the high point on the trail northeast of White Rock Springs Peak. If interested, meet the group at Best Buy for a 9:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Jen Lindsay.

Thursday, January 26 - Valley of Fire Pinnacles. This new version of the pinnacles hike involves climbing up the mesa next to the geologic formations not once but twice. The distance is about 4.5 miles with 2,000 feet of gross elevation gain and a strenuous rating. Besides scrambling on sandstone, the route for this hike involves a sandy wash and lots of sharp loose rocks. The start will occur near the newly named Valley of Fire "Wave." West side participants will meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage and carpool to the primary location at 7:00 AM. The main group will assemble at the Lucky Club Casino parking lot for a 7:30 AM departure. The hike should take about 4 hours to accomplish. Coordinator - Brian Dodd.

Friday, January 27 - Dale's Trail. Join the group for a leisurely out-and-back trek along the trail that forms the middle section of the larger Escarpment Base Trail. Total distance covered will be between 4 and 5 miles on the undulating trail that connects Ice Box Canyon with Pine Creek Canyon. Overall rating is moderate. There is no scrambling involved on this trail hike that gets away from the scenic drive and leaves participants with a feeling of isolation from the humdrum of the core at Red Rock. The group will be assembling at Best Buy on Charleston for a departure at 8:15 AM. Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

Saturday, January 28 - Ejection Seat Ridge. The early hike this Saturday is a moderately strenuous 5-mile loop that explores a ridge just to the east of Black Butte on the north side of Boulder Basin where a Nellis Air Force fighter plane crashed about fifty years ago and the pilot was forced to eject. The route also includes some exploration of the canyons on the south side of the ridge where the participants will be able to test their scrambling abilities. West side residents can meet on the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage, departing at 7:15 AM for the main location at Albertsons Grocery on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for the customary 8:00 AM departure. The coordinators will meet the group at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Drive around 8:20 AM. Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Saturday, January 28 - Las Vegas Wetlands/Duck Creek. Level terrain is the rule of the day for this 3 to 4-mile easy walk near the Las Vegas wash where it flows out of the city toward Lake Las Vegas. The opening leg will follow the concrete sidewalks and a few of the dirt paths through the established wetlands replete with small ponds and flowing water. One section includes crossing a bridge above the wash where the current is fairly strong. After the return toward the entrance to the park, the group will head over to the larger ponds by Duck Creek that are populated by a host of migrating waterfowl. The early west side group will meet at Best Buy for a 7:55 AM departure. The main assembly point will be Henderson Fiesta with an 8:30 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Monday, January 30 - Blue Diamond Cactus Garden. The group will be hiking on the ridge behind the community of Blue Diamond but on the north end of the ridge toward Bonnie Springs on this moderate 5 to 6-mile trek. Starting from just off Highway 159 near Oliver Ranch, the route will climb onto the ridge in search of a dense area of cactus hidden in the recesses of a drainage with western exposure. Part of the hike is on trail and part is bushwhacking, but even that terrain is not formidable. Along the way is the remains of a turquoise mine where shards can still be found. Met the group at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure. Coordinator - Helmut De Candia.

Tuesday, January 31 - Virlis Fisher & Bridge Spring Arches. It has been a couple of years since our club scheduled this strenuous 5-mile partial loop hike near the community of Nelson, but hopefully we won't get lost as we wander around in the wilderness just northeast of Highway 165. The two arches visited today will be strikingly different. Virlis Fisher is a limestone arch partially up the side of a ridge that involves some fancy work getting up an exposed area through a crevice. Bridge Spring is a colorful sandstone arch than spans the two sides of a narrow canyon looking down toward Lake Mohave below Hoover Dam. The initial meeting point will be at Best Buy for a 7:20 AM departure. The main meeting location will be Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure. Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.


Around the middle of February we will start shifting more of our hiking opportunities back to the Red Rock Canyon area. If you have any favorite hikes that you would like to see scheduled, now is the time to provide your input. You don't need to coordinate a hike to make requests, but any volunteers who step up and offer to coordinate are greatly appreciated. Comments or offerings should be addressed to Chris Dempsey at dempseylv@aol.com, or you can call him at 823-2355. We need involvement from as many members as possible to keep our club vibrant and exciting.