May 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.  All club members should at least review the newsletter when it is sent out each month so they can participate more thoroughly in club activities.

 

Here is a list of scheduled club hikes for the month of May 2012.  Hikes scheduled during the week are of varying difficulty levels to accommodate the different skill levels of club members.  Most Tuesday and Thursday hikes are intended for the more advanced hikers in the club.  Two hikes are usually offered each Saturday during the seasons at Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead.  The earlier Saturday hike will generally be rated somewhere between moderate and strenuous and will be conducted at a moderate pace.  The later hike that day is intended for the general membership, is rated no more than moderate, and is conducted at a leisurely pace.  Hikes on other days of the week will tend to be moderate, although more difficult hikes may be scheduled from time to time.  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 later 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.  Whenever possible, e-mails will be sent out through Yahoo Groups informing of any cancellations.  If you have any questions or comments about any of the hikes contact Chris Dempsey at (702) 823-2355 or e-mail him at dempseylv@aol.com.

 

May is the transition month when we change venues from Red Rock Canyon to the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains.  Hikes in the early part of the month will generally be in or near Red Rock Canyon.  The staging point for those hikes will be in front of the Best Buy store on Charleston across from the Red Rock Station Casino.  During the later part of the month club hikes will take place in the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains near Mount Charleston.  For these hikes, the group will assemble on the third floor of the southeast parking garage at Santa Fe Station (the parking garage closest to the intersection of Rancho and Lone Mountain Road) against the south wall facing Lone Mountain Road.  DO NOT confuse this with the north garage which is positioned along the edge of Highway 95.  Details for any other assembly area will be included in the appropriate hike description.

 

 

Tuesday, May 1 - White Rock Hills Peak.  The impressive sandstone peak on the east side of Willow Springs will be the target for a strenuous out-and-back hike that will kick off the month of May.  Distance is about 5 miles and elevation gain is 1,600 feet.  The starting point will be the White Rock Springs parking lot at the end of the gravel road at Mile Marker 6 of the scenic drive.  The route will follow the White Rock Hills Trail for a short distance before heading cross country toward Surprise Canyon and an ascent to the main ridge of the two peak range.  There will be a lot of Class 3 climbing along the route but the exposure is not supposed to be excessive.  Interested parties need to RSVP with and be cleared by the coordinator at 220-3224.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM start.  Coordinator - Richard Natale.

 

Wednesday, May 2 - Waterfall Canyon.  It's always astonishing when you come across a canyon with flowing water in the desert, but Waterfall Canyon seems to meet that condition for much of the year.  This moderately strenuous out-and-back hike is not long at 4 miles, but there are several tricky areas getting to the turn around point where a snack break will occur.  One of the major hurdles is climbing along the edge of a 30-foot waterfall that is rated Class 3.  Elevation gain from the starting point at Willow Springs is perhaps 1,200 feet and most of the route is along Rocky Gap Road.  This is a joint hike with Lone Mountain Hiking Club from Sun City Summerlin.  That group will meet at Desert Vista Community Center and depart from there at 8:00 AM.  The ABF contingent will leave from Best Buy at 8:15 AM for the trail head.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Thursday, May 3 - Black Velvet Canyon.  It has been more than a year since our club has undertaken this strenuous 8-mile trek across Cottonwood Valley to the boulder-strewn canyon between Black Velvet and Monument Peaks.  The last time the club did this hike was the same day the remains of an Arizona climber were found in the upper part of the canyon beyond our turn around point.  There is minimal elevation gain across the desert between the parking area and the mouth of the canyon, which contains some sizeable boulders that can be serious impediments depending on any flowing water.  Other than the short scramble into the canyon, this hike will follow a loop route.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Friday, May 4 - The Muffins & Skull Canyon.  This will be the last scheduled hike until probably November that will take place on the north end of Blue Diamond Hill across from the Red Rock Visitor Center.  The route for this moderate 6-mile loop hike will start from the horse stables parking lot and follow the trail up to the distinctive composite boulders on the north end of the main ridge.  The trail becomes fainter as it turns south, heading along a fairly deep unnamed canyon toward the old Las Vegas Overlook.  At this point, the group will turn down scenic Skull Canyon for a return to the starting point.  Elevation gain along the way is around 1,000 feet.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, May 5 - Ash Canyon Overlook Loop.  Here is an alternate version of a route our club added to its repertoire in early April.  This 4-mile loop hike is probably going to be rated moderately strenuous because it has some scrambling in Gateway Canyon and about one-half mile of bushwhacking across the south slopes of Gateway Peak.  The overall elevation gain is around 1,000 feet.  The starting point is the gravel extension to the paved road on the northwest side of Calico Basin and the early part of the hike heads up Five Stop Hill to Gateway Saddle.  The overlook above Ash Canyon provides sensational views of the west side of the Calico Hills.  The group will assemble at Best Buy with a departure at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Don Caldwell.

 

Saturday, May 5 - Lone Mountain.  It might get a little warm by the time the group is done with this out-and-back Las Vegas level hike, so bring a little extra water.  Otherwise, it should only take a couple of hours for the 2.5-mile hike to the top of the peak along the standard trail.  Elevation gain is at 750 feet and some of the trail is loose gravel while other sections of it cross limestone rock slabs.  The close-in view of the northern part of the city is quite amazing.  For this hike, the group will assemble at the parking lot on the south side of Lone Mountain Regional Park.  Entrance to this lot is from Jensen Avenue between the east-west streets of Alexander and Craig.  The group will start the hike promptly at 8:30 AM, so be a bit earlier than that if you want to go along.  Coordinator - Ed Matulis.

 

Monday, May 7 - White Rock Springs Peak.  Rescheduled from mid-April, this strenuous out-and-back hike is only 4 miles long, but it crosses some pretty difficult terrain as it climbs 1,100 feet to the lower peak in the White Rock Hills.  Much of the route is over sandstone boulders and slabs that require Class 3 maneuvering and there are areas of fairly significant exposure.  There are two tops on this peak and the most difficult terrain covers the distance between them, so it is not for the faint of heart.  The hike will start from the first gravel pullout at Mile Marker 6 of the scenic drive and will use the gravel road as a warm up.  Meet the group at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, May 8 - La Madre Notch.  It has been nearly eight years since our coordinator last accomplished this hike because it took him that long to forget exactly what a pain it was to do.  Unfortunately memory starts to fade and the thought of being able to do this hike one more time takes over for sensibility.  The very strenuous out-and-back hike will start from the White Rock Springs parking area and follow a cross country route through limestone washes and up ridges, past cliffs and steep boulder fields.  Total distance will be around 7 miles with over 1,800 feet of elevation gain.  Come prepared to loose a little blood as scrapes and cuts may be the rule of the day.  Participants should RSVP for this hike by e-mail at dempseylv@aol.com.  Meet the group at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Wednesday, May 9 - Potato Knoll.  The club's traditional route to the top of the 500-foot hill below Wilson Peak will be in play for a moderate 5.3-mile partial loop hike that will include the short scramble to the top.  Starting from the gravel parking area at the exit of the scenic loop onto Highway 159, the route follows a series of trails actually laid out by equestrians that go across the desert toward the main drainage for Oak Creek.  There is one crossing of the creek on the way out and three crossings on the way back, two of which may actually exhibit some flowing water.  The top of the hill provides a great view of the Red Rock area.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Jen Lindsay.

 

Thursday, May 10 - Hollow Rock Peak.  The back side of the escarpment will provide the setting for a strenuous 6-mile out-and-back hike to the southernmost peak of the sandstone Wilson Cliffs.  Starting near the Mountain Spring Summit on Highway 160, the route utilizes a gravel road to access a single track trail that leads to a ridge above the communities at Mountain Springs.  The highest point of the hike is attained on top of a limestone knob just over one mile into the hike.  The route then descends to a transition point between limestone and sandstone before dealing with a few steep cuts in the ridge just before getting to the peak.  Excellent views abound for those that make the destination.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for a 7:30 AM departure and there will be a second pickup point at the gas station on Highway 160 and the intersection with Highway 159 at 7:50 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, May 11 - Ice Box Canyon.  Cooler temperatures might be found in this popular canyon penetrating the northern section of the Wilson Cliffs, as the walls on either side are quite high and steep and keep direct sunlight from getting to the bottom.  Although only rated as moderate, this 3-mile out-and-back hike has nearly one-half mile of scrambling in the drainage for each direction.  Fortunately, the boulders are not very big that participants will have to climb across to get to the base of a 40-foot seasonal waterfall that will probably be dry unless we have some late spring rains.  Join the group at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Guy Galante.

 

Saturday, May 12 - Fern Canyon.  Officially known as North Fork Pine Creek, this narrow canyon got its localized name because of the abundance of ferns that grow in the moist environment between its steep side walls.  Although only 4 miles in length, this out-and-back hike includes some pretty significant boulder scrambling after the trail drops into the drainage at the bottom of the canyon and consequently draws a rating of strenuous.  Several of the east facing walls are used by technical climbers and it's not unusual to see them scaling the walls on a nice weekend day.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ed Matulis.

 

Saturday, May 12 - SMYC Wildflower Hike.  Join our coordinator for an easy to moderate trek along a sensational trail that will hopefully highlight wildflower and cactus blossoms along the way.  Starting from Willow Springs Picnic Area, the out-and-back hike should cover 3+ miles as it heads south along the escarpment toward the Ice Box Trail.  Pace will be leisurely and participants should bring their cameras in case they run into the great photo opportunities that only desert flowers can provide.  Overall elevation gain will be minimal but the terrain is somewhat rolling.  The group will be assembling at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

 

Monday, May 14 - Keystone Thrust Loop.  Here is a different version of the Red Rock hike that features passing the somewhat famous Keystone Thrust Fault.  The moderately strenuous 7-mile partial loop hike will begin at Sandstone Quarry and follow the Grand Circle Trail up to the White Rock Springs parking lot.  The group will then continue around the back side of Cactus Hill and scramble down the length of Keystone Thrust Canyon, going either over or under the scenic drive.  Continuing in the drainage for another half mile, the route turns left on Grand Circle and returns to the starting point.  Overall elevation gain is less than 1,000 feet.  The group will meet early at Best Buy with a 7:00 AM departure for the trail head.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Tuesday, May 15 - Hidden Forest.  We are going to need some high clearance vehicles to drive Alamo Road between the Corn Creek Station of Desert National Wildlife Range and the starting point at Deadman's Canyon, with rough road for almost twenty miles.  Participants will definitely be rewarded for their effort, however, when they reach the pine forest in the heart of the Sheep Mountains and visit a rest cabin originally built by the CCC and recently restored.  The out-and-back hike is 11 miles in length with 2,000 feet of elevation gain, but it is quite gradual without any steep sections.  Because the drive takes nearly two hours in each direction, don't make other plans until the evening.  The group will meet at Santa Fe Station for this hike and will depart from there at 7:30 AM.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Wednesday, May 16 - First Creek.  If Red Rock Canyon has any late spring blossoms left we are sure to see them on this short trek across the desert to the mouth of a canyon in the Wilson Cliffs.  Halfway to our rest area we will see if there is any flowage over the waterfall in the hidden grotto in the creek drainage.  Continuing over the top of the waterfall, we will follow the stream bed up to some colorful canyon boulders that comprise another seasonal waterfall (usually dry).  Total distance for the easy to moderate out-and-back hike is 4 miles with 200 feet of elevation gain.  The pace will be leisurely.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey. 

 

Thursday, May 17 - Raintree via North Loop.  It's certainly possible that we may encounter snow in shaded sections on our first endeavor to the higher Spring Mountains this year.  We will be climbing to almost 10,000 feet along the trail that leads to a 3,000 year old bristlecone pine near the base of Mummy's Toe.  Our first 2012 experience in the higher elevations should provide an insight into how soon it will be possible to hike to the major peaks surrounding Mount Charleston.  The hike today will be out-and-back along North Loop Trail and cover a total distance of 6 miles, gaining over 1,500 feet in the process.  Rating is moderately strenuous.  Meet the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Friday, May 18 - Calico Hills Scramble.  A new route for our club, this moderately strenuous hike through the south end of the Calico Hills will cover a distance of 4 or 5 miles.  The intended route will start from Red Springs Picnic Area and will proceed to climb over the ridge behind the boardwalk and drop into the canyon on the Red Rock side leading to Calico I Overlook.  This section involves significant scrambling over difficult terrain.  Once at Calico I, the group will use the low trail to get to Calico II Overlook and return along the higher trail that used to be part of Grand Circle.  The return to Red Springs is along the high trail.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, May 19 - Harris Slot Canyon.  The first Saturday hike in the Spring Mountains will be a bit lower in elevation at closer to 6,000 feet when the group conducts an out-and-back hike through a narrow slot canyon and into a long drainage emanating from the eastern slopes of Harris Peak.  The full length moderate hike covers a total distance of 6 miles and probably gains about 700 feet getting to an old car graveyard where the vehicles had been pushed from the top of the north ridge toward the bottom of the canyon.  Some participants may opt for a shorter hike of 3 or 4 miles by turning around earlier.  Carpooling should be arranged accordingly.  Meet the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Guy Galante.

 

Sunday, May 20 - Cave Springs.  The route is pretty straightforward for this moderately strenuous 6-mile out-and-back hike on the north side of Kyle Canyon.  Start at the trail head for Trail Canyon at the edge of the Echo community near Mount Charleston, take it all the way to its intersection with North Loop Trail, then turn left and go up to Cave Springs for a shaded snack spot near a horse trough fed by a hose anchored in the spring above.  To get back, simply turn around and follow the trail back to the start.  Elevation gain is probably 2,000 feet for the hike near the base of Mummy Mountain.  Assembly point will be at the Santa Fe Station with the group leaving there at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, May 21 - Fletcher Canyon.  Perhaps the most repeated hike in the Spring Mountains will be featured on a Monday as the transition to the higher elevations near Mount Charleston continues.  The 4-mile out-an-back trek gains 600 feet starting from the trail head at Kyle Canyon Road.  Although rated as moderate, it is one of the better novice hikes in the mountain range with its gradual elevation gain and its dramatic scenery in the slot canyon near the turn-around point.  With 80-foot walls closing in to a 6-foot width, it is a great spot for photographers.  Late snowdrifts can sometimes create a hindrance in getting to the snack spot below Obstacle Rock.  Join the group at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin. 

 

Tuesday, May 22 - Raintree via Trail Canyon.  It's not nearly as tough as a standard Tuesday hike, but it will give club members another chance to acclimate to the higher elevations before going for any of the major peaks in the area.  Even so, this moderately strenuous out-and-back hike will wind up at 7.3 miles in length while gaining 2,200 feet of elevation.  There is no scrambling involved, but the Trail Canyon section is fairly steep trail.  The section of the hike directly above Fletcher Canyon is one of the prettiest side ridge trails in the Spring Mountains, with views of peaks and canyons galore.  The group will assemble at Santa Fe Station for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Wednesday, May 23 - Deer Creek & Robbers' Roost.  A couple of short hikes are combined to stretch today's daily distance to 4 miles.  First is a moderate out-and-back hike covering 3 miles that will pass the picnic grounds along the creek and connect with a gravel road that services a number of private residences on the lower slopes of Mummy Mountain.  The rest stop will be at the top of a ridge with great views to the north.  After a return to the vehicles, the group will drive to Robbers' Roost and hike up to the shallow caves once used as a hideout by rustlers.  This segment is something less than one mile.  The group will get together at Santa Fe Station for a 9:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Jen Lindsay.  

 

Thursday, May 24 - Fletcher Peak.  The peak baggers didn't have to wait very long for a chance at one of the major summits in the Spring Mountains.  The strenuous out-and-back hike to 10,200-foot Fletcher Peak will follow the North Loop Trail from its eastern terminus at Deer Creek Road (Highway 158), cutting off on the trail that passes the top of Hummingbird Gulch on the way to the top.  Net elevation gain is 1,800 feet for this 7.4 mile trek.  The final section getting to the summit is fairly steep and could involve some minor scrambling (rock or snow).  The meeting point for the group is Santa Fe Station with a departure time of 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Friday, May 25 - Upper Bristlecone Trail.  A prelude to the following Thursday scheduled hike, this outing will feature the section of the Lee Canyon trail that stretches between the upper trail head near the ski resort and the junction with the Bonanza Trail.  The out-and-back hike will be 5 miles long with an elevation gain of just 600 feet, making this one of the easier moderate hikes in the Spring Mountains.  While the lower section of trail follows a forest service road, this section is primarily single track trail that threads past the top of Lee Canyon and provides sensational views of the surrounding mountain peaks.  Join the group at Santa Fe Station with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, May 26 - Telephone Canyon.  Here is a rare occasion to do a hike that goes downhill the entire way.  There will be a need for extra vehicles on the car shuttle, but the group will start this hike at the Robbers' Roost parking area just off Highway 158 and end up in the high desert near the police substation and Highway 157.  In between, the route will utilize a bit of old gravel road and lots of mountain biking trails as it descends into a canyon that has a storied name.  It is always possible to see horseback riders in the lower section of the canyon.  At 4 miles, this point-to-point hike loses about 1,000 feet of elevation and is rated easy to moderate.  The group will get together at Santa Fe Station for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Monday, May 28 - Sawmill Trails.  It's Memorial Day but there is no reason we can't do our remembering on a hiking trail in the Spring Mountains.  The Sawmill Picnic Area is located along Lee Canyon Road as it approaches the transition area between scrub desert and pine forest and is used as an equestrian staging site as well.  The hike we have planned will wander through a grove of cliff roses, climb a ridge that provides a great view stretching north toward the Nevada Testing Site, and descend along the top section of Blue Tree Road.  It's a loop hike that will cover a distance of roughly 3 miles and carry a moderate rating.  The group will meet at Santa Fe Station and depart there at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

 

Tuesday, May 29 - Bonanza Peak.  It may be aggressive to attempt this hike so early in the season, but the veritable lack of snowfall this year means we have a chance of clear trail all the way to the top at 10,400 feet of elevation.  The straightforward hike follows the north end of the Bonanza Trail with a bit of bushwhacking just below the summit.  The total distance is about 10 miles with gain of 2,600 feet and a strenuous rating.  The worst part may be the drive, which is long and includes a couple of miles on a high clearance gravel road just before the trail head.  Watch for wild horses near the community of Cold Creek.  The long day requires us to meet at Santa Fe Station for a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Thursday, May 31 - Bristlecone Loop.  One of the most popular hiking trails in the Spring Mountains is this moderate 6-mile loop route at the top of Lee Canyon.  A slight complication for hikers, this is the only official trail in the higher elevations that permits mountain biking.  Hopefully we won't get run over by any as we close the loop from the lower trail head and perform the hike in a counter clockwise direction.  This means we will be hiking the single track trail near the ski resort just before having to take the paved road back down to the vehicles.  In all, there is between 700 and 800 feet of gradual elevation gain, so thinner air won't be a huge problem.  The group will meet at Santa Fe Station and leave there at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

 

During the summer months the attendance on our hikes drops somewhat as people return to their northern residences and others avoid the higher elevations because of thinner air.  We also have a reduced number of trails to design hikes around, especially this year when the Forest Service has undertaken to make improvements to many trails and parking areas in Kyle Canyon.  Rather than keep repeating hikes on a two or three week rotation, we will probably cut back to scheduling hikes no more than five days each week.  We will also be only offering one hike on Saturdays instead of the two we have scheduled in Red Rock and Lake Mead.  If necessary, we may split the group before leaving Santa Fe Station and provide a five or ten minute interval between them on the trails.  Regardless, if there is a particular hike you would like to coordinate this summer and would like to get it scheduled, please contact Chris Dempsey at dempseylv@aol.com and provide him with the information.  We are always looking for new hiking opportunities at all levels so we can keep the full spectrum of our membership involved in hiking.