January 2013 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 comes out each month (except December) so they can participate more thoroughly in club activities.

 

Here is a list of scheduled club hikes for January 2013.  Hikes scheduled during the week are of varying difficulty levels to accommodate the different skill levels of club members.  The more strenuous Tuesday hikes are only open to existing club members.  In addition, Tuesday participants should have completed at least two of the Thursday hikes, which are generally rated moderately strenuous or strenuous.  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 either moderate or moderately 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 may vary significantly depending on who has volunteered to serve as coordinator.  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 MUST begin with the later Saturday hikes or a weekday hike rated no more than moderate 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 a hike.  Whenever possible, e-mails will be sent out through Yahoo! Groups informing of any changes or cancellations.  If you have any questions or comments about any of the hikes contact Chris Dempsey at dempseylv@aol.com or at (702) 823-2355.

 

Nearly all of the hikes during January will occur either in the area around Red Rock Canyon or close to Lake Mead.  For most Red Rock area hikes, the primary meeting place is the parking lot somewhat in front of the Best Buy store on the north side of Charleston across from the Red Rock Station Casino.  The store backs up to Highway 215 and the entrance to the parking lot is off Canyon Pointe.  For hikes west on Highway 160, there is a secondary pickup point at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 to accommodate south side participants.  The primary meeting locations for Lake Mead hikes will be different depending on which side of the lake the hike occurs.  For hikes on the south side of the lake, the primary meeting location will generally be under the large outdoor sign at the Henderson Fiesta, located immediately southeast of the intersection of I-515 (also identified as Highways 93 and 95) and I-215 on Lake Mead Parkway (the extension of I-215).  For hikes on the north side of the lake, the primary assembly point will be the parking lot at the Albertsons Grocery Store located just southeast of the intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard (not Parkway) and Hollywood.  A secondary pickup point will be at the pull-off parking area at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road.  Participants from the south side may wish to carpool from Henderson Fiesta going to the secondary pickup point, but this earlier departure point is not organized or controlled.  For west side participants on Lake Mead hikes, there will be an earlier gathering site available, but it may not be controlled.  For south side hikes, that prior location is at Best Buy as indicated above.  For north side hikes, the meeting location is the top level of the Rampart Casino parking garage.  The Rampart Casino is located on Rampart Boulevard just south of Summerlin Parkway and the parking garage is on the northeast side of the casino complex.  One other primary meeting spot needs to be mentioned.  For all Valley of Fire hikes, the primary meeting site will be at Lucky Club Casino, located on Cheyenne Avenue on the east side of I-15 in North Las Vegas.  Use the eastbound Cheyenne exit ramp if heading north on I-15.  Directions to the staging points for any other hikes will be included in the descriptive write-up for those hikes.  Times indicated for each hike are departure times and are strictly observed.  Usually the group will begin assembling as much as one-half hour prior to the scheduled departure time.

 

 

Tuesday, January 1 - Cave Canyon & Las Vegas Overlook.  This month the schedule includes a number of scrambling or minor exploratory hikes on Blue Diamond Hill across from the Red Rock Visitor Center, starting with this one.  The strenuous loop route will start with some serious boulder scrambling in the canyon that includes climbing two dry waterfalls.  At the far end of the canyon the route will turn left on an old mining road and proceed back to the new Las Vegas Overlook notch.  The last third of the hike involves a trek across the top of the hill to the Muffins and a descent to the parking lot along the regular trail.  Total distance is probably around 8 miles.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Wednesday, January 2 - Razorback Wash South.  Somewhat of a new hike for our club, this moderate point-to-point hike will cover 6.3 miles as it follows a series of washes through the Pinto Valley Wilderness Area.  The hike will start between Mile Markers 22 and 23 on Northshore Road, come along the south side of Razorback Ridge, and finish through Cottonwood Wash, exiting near Mile Marker 18.  Net elevation gain is less than 400 feet.  Extra vehicles will be required for carpooling.  An early west side group will meet at the Rampart parking garage and depart at 7:20 AM to meet the main group at the Albertsons on Lake Mead and Hollywood.  The combined group will depart from there at 8:00 AM and do a quick stop at the Mile Marker 4 pull-off at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Thursday, January 3 - Lone Palm.  The Arizona side of the Colorado River provides the setting for this moderately strenuous scramble that is reasonably short at 4 to 5 miles.  The loop route begins at a pull-out a few miles across the bridge and descends through a series of canyons to the river, where the original palm tree (now dead) has been replaced by another one at the base of a minor hot springs stream.  The return will follow the route of an abandoned road used during the construction of Hoover Dam.  Departure from the west side location at Best Buy is at 7:20 AM with the entire group leaving Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Friday, January 4 - Blue Diamond Bike Trails.  We will be using the somewhat shorter version of the return on this moderate loop hike that takes place mainly on the ridge behind the community of Blue Diamond.  That means we will stay on the left side of the canyon leading back to the town, which should keep the distance close to a total of 4.5 miles.  Elevation gain is in the order of 500 feet, there are some fairly good views of the surrounding area including southern Las Vegas, and we might spot wild burros along the way.  The group will assemble at Best Buy with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Saturday, January 5 - Callville Ridge Plane Crash Site.  A short climb to a ridge near Callville Bay and a trek along a rocky ridge line leads to the remains of a 1950's military plane crash.  The moderately strenuous loop hike continues through a wash requiring some scrambling on dry waterfalls.  Total distance will be 5 or 6 miles.  The early west side group will meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage for a 7:20 AM exit.  The main group, including the early contingent, will depart from Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood at 8:00 AM and will meet the coordinators with the sign-in sheet at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road at 8:20 AM for the final drive to the trail head.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, January 5 - Valley of Fire Three Slot Canyon.  A moderate outing with minimal elevation gain and some light scrambling, this 3.5-mile loop hike provides plentiful views of colorful sandstone formations, so be sure and bring your camera.   Because of the distance involved and the $8.00 entrance fee per vehicle, our coordinator suggests a ride share cost of $10.00 including park entrance.  The early west side group will leave the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:30 AM and will join the main group at the Lucky Club Casino for an 8:15 AM departure.  Expect to return to that meeting point around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

 

Sunday, January 6 - River Mountains Trail (Part 1).  It's back!!  The 35-mile trail circling the River Mountains will be done again this year over two Sundays in January and one in February.  The first segment of the paved trail will follow the uphill section starting at the lower lot by the Alan Bible Visitor Center and ending at the Railroad Pass Casino.  This stretch is 10 miles in length and gains probably 1,000 feet of elevation at a very gradual rate.  It's hard to rate this as any more than moderate, even with the distance, because there is no problem with the footing.  In fact, sticks are not needed.  The west side contingent will depart from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and join the other participants at Railroad Pass Casino on Highway 93-95, where at least one vehicle will be left for the car shuttle, and a departure to Alan Bible at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez. 

 

Monday, January 7 - Echo Canyon to Skull Canyon.  Canyons are in abundance on this moderately strenuous 7-mile loop hike on Blue Diamond Hill.  Begin with some scrambling in the confines of Echo Canyon, then follow the abandoned mining road and trails around the top of Cave Canyon and start down Boneshaker Trail for a quarter mile.  A trail to the right then crosses another canyon and ridge and intersects the Skull Canyon Trail about one-half mile below the old Las Vegas Overlook.  Keep an eye out for burros along the way as at least one herd is known to frequent the area.  The group will depart from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, January 8 - Summerlin & Bighorn Peaks.  Only aggressive hikers should attempt this double limestone peak hike standing tall above the northwest quadrant of Las Vegas.  The route crosses the desert to the back side of Eagle Peak, then starts a very steep climb without benefit of trail along a ridge with exposure and on to the first peak.  The route between the peaks is not as steep but is still quite rough and the return is back down the original ridge.  Overall, this very strenuous hike should cover a distance of 6 miles with 2,500 feet of elevation gain.  Instead of Best Buy, meet the group at the white fenced equestrian parking lot on the west end of Cheyenne Avenue for an 8:00 AM start to the hike.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Wednesday, January 9 - Arizona Hot Springs.  Visit the shores of the Colorado River on this moderately strenuous 6-mile loop hike that has the descent during the first half of the outing.  Spectacular White Rock Canyon provides the setting for this part of the trek.  After a snack break, the group will climb the ladder to the hot springs pools, wade through them, and return to the starting point in a different canyon.  Bring a towel to dry your feet and legs before putting your hiking shoes back on.  West side group will leave from Best Buy at 7:20 AM to meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Thursday, January 10 - Cholla Forest.  This moderately strenuous loop hike will cover a distance of 6 to 7 miles on the south flank of the River Mountains.  The route will begin by following a wash upwards through a series of dry waterfalls to approach a concentrated area of silver Teddy Bear Cholla cactus near the base of the mountains.  After a snack break, the group will loop back to the starting point going across the desert and use some recreational gravel roads in the process.  The group from the west side will depart from Best Buy at 8:15 AM.  The full group will leave from Henderson Fiesta at 9:00 AM.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Friday, January 11 - Black Mesa.  This elongated ridge on the north side of Lake Mead across from Fortification Hill holds a commanding presence over Boulder Basin and excellent views of the area.  The route is a moderate 4-mile loop to the summit that is accomplished without any kind of trail, so be prepared for lots of bushwhacking.  The edge of the mesa is fairly steep and rocky but is not more than Class 2 (no hands needed) with trekking poles being very helpful.  The usual Friday group from the west side will have to leave much earlier than normal as departure time from Best Buy (not Rampart) will be 7:25 AM.  This will put the departure time for main group meeting at the Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood at around 8:15 AM, and the final stopover at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road around 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Saturday, January 12 - Black Mountain.  This strenuous 7-mile loop hike will take the group to the actual Black Mountain near Boulder City.  The route goes up to the overlook and continues toward the peak on a narrow sheep trail.  Some scrambling is required to reach the peak with a sign-in box.  The return will descend through a rocky wash.  Be prepared for some rough sections of trail or no trail at all in spots.  The west side group will leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure.  The coordinators will meet the group at the River Mountains Trail parking lot next to St. Jude Children's Home for a start of the hike around 8:15 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, January 12 - White Owl Canyon.  The toughest part of the entire hike is the steep bank that comes into play at the beginning and ending of the hike.  Otherwise, there is a very minor amount of scrambling in the narrow canyon that has been home for years to at least one White Owl.  Evidence is abundant with a number of deposits of mouse bones scattered in the heart of the canyon.  Distance for this easy to moderate out-and-back hike is 2 to 3 miles with negligible elevation gain.  The west side group will leave Best Buy at 7:50 AM with the coordinator to meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

 

Sunday, January 13 - River Mountains Trail (Part 2).  The second leg of the big hike will cover the distance of 12 miles between Railroad Pass Casino and the Lake Mead fee booth by Lake Las Vegas.  This section of the paved trail tends to go upward but has some rolling terrain and a couple of inclines in the 15% range.  Perhaps we need to bump the rating up to moderately strenuous because of the distance.  The west side group will leave from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and meet the main group at the Henderson Fiesta, where all participants should be by 8:25 AM.  Cars will be shuttled to the finish before the group heads to Railroad Pass for the start of the hike.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, January 14 - Muffins to Tailings.  We don't often get to the core of the mining operation on Blue Diamond Hill, but this moderately strenuous 9-mile hike will take us there.  After climbing to the Muffins and on to both of the Las Vegas Overlooks, the route will follow a gravel mining road over to the upper tailings piles, then descend toward a seldom visited side canyon before reaching the abandoned gravel mining road that was plowed under to keep off-road vehicles from tearing up the hillside.  Our return will be along Fossil Ridge Trail above Echo Canyon.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for a departure at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, January 15 - Valley Of Fire West-East Traverse.  A new hike that was recently developed by our coordinator, this strenuous point-to-point hike will cover close to 9 miles and gain a,900 feet of gross elevation.  The route starts at the southwest corner of the state park and zigzags east to the parking lot at Mouse's Tank.  It then traverses the southern ridges of the park, eventually dropping into the north fork of Valley of Fire Wash and climbing back up to the Elephant Rock parking lot.  Lots of scrambling but no exposure along the way.  The west side group can meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage for a 7:00 AM departure and the entire group will leave from Lucky Club Casino at 7:30 AM.  Plan on not returning until late afternoon.  Coordinator - Brian Dodd. 

 

Wednesday, January 16 - South Bowl of Fire.  This moderate 4-mile loop hike in the Lake Mead area will climb through colorful rock formations to an overlook in the sandstone hills of the South Bowl.  On the return, the group will head down a wash toward the the trail head.  There is significant scrambling involved on both the climb and the descent, but it is generally moderate and is only slightly challenging.  The west side group can meet on top of the Rampart Casino parking garage for an 8:15 AM departure, meet other north side participants at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for a 9:00 AM departure, and stop at the Mile Marker 4 pull off to meet the south group, which will leave with the coordinator from Henderson Fiesta at 9:00 AM.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Thursday, January 17 - Gold Strike Canyon.  Near the Hacienda Casino on 95 is the entrance to Gold Strike Canyon, which contains Nevada's hot springs just below Hoover Dam.  This Thursday hike will explore the entire length of the canyon, passing the hot springs pools and continuing on the the edge of the Colorado River.  There is some pretty significant boulder scrambling along the way, in places aided by existing ropes the scale some of the larger boulders.  Total distance is around 5 miles with a moderately strenuous rating.  The west side group should leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM with the complete group departing from Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Friday, January 18 - Razorback Wash North.  On the other side of Razorback Ridge from the January 2 outing, this moderate 5.4-mile point-to-point hike also runs through the Pinto Valley Wilderness Area.  Starting point is close to Mile Marker 22 on Northshore Road, with the route following a series of gentle washes to Cottonwood Wash above the dry waterfall at Cottonwood Springs, then follows Cottonwood Wash to the finish near Mile Marker 18.  Extra vehicles will be required to accomplish the car shuttle.  Again Best Buy will be used as the west side assembly point and a 7:25 AM departure.  The entire group will assemble at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood and leave at 8:15 AM, picking up any southeast participants at Northshore Road Mile Marker 4 around 8:30 AM on the way to the hike.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Saturday, January 19 - Cholla Forest.  The only repeat of a hike this month will be this moderately strenuous 6 to 7-mile loop hike on the south flank of the River Mountains, but it will probably attract an entirely different crowd from the trek on January 10.  The group will hike up a wash with a series of dry waterfalls, spend the break time next to a sensational Teddy Bear Cholla forest, and return to the starting point via a colorful wash to the original wash.  Some  moderate scrambling is involved in negotiating the dry falls in the early part of the hike.  Progression of departure times from the various meeting locations is 7:25 AM from Best Buy and 8:00 AM from Henderson Fiesta, with the group meeting the coordinators and any Boulder City participants at the lower parking lot at Alan Bible Visitor Center for an 8:20 AM departure.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, January 19 - Valley of Fire White Domes/Fire Wave.  The third hike this month in Valley of Fire will be an easy to moderate 3-mile jaunt that begins at the White Domes parking lot near the end of the main drive into the State Park.  The route will follow the White Domes Trail past the structure that was part of the movie set for "The Professionals", a 1966 western starring Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, and Claudia Cardinale.  From there it will turn left and pass through a couple narrow slots to a point where you can see a sandstone formation some people have dubbed the Fire Wave.  West side group should meet on top of the Rampart Casino parking garage and leave by 8:00 AM to join the main group at Lucky Club Casino and an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Monday, January 21 - Mystery Canyon on Blue Diamond Hill.  This hike is so new not even the coordinator has explored every nuance of it.  The moderately strenuous 6-mile loop hike will start up Skull Canyon and will turn right into a canyon that parallels the ridge with Boneshaker Trail.  Crossing a connector trail to the top of Skull Canyon, we will continue scrambling up the unnamed canyon to the top, coming out in the vicinity of the radio antenna supporting part of Red Rock.  After a snack break, we will use the infamous Boneshaker Trail to make the descent back to the parking area.  The assembled group will depart from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, January 22 - Calico Scramble.  For those of you who did Kay's famous November 4 scramble hike in the Calico Hills, it's back on the docket - with a twist.  This time the group will be doing it in the reverse direction from that Sunday.  From Red Spring Picnic Area, we'll hike over to Ash Meadows and start up from the east side, which entails a precarious ascent in a nasty chute on the south side of Ash Canyon.  Once on the top ridge of the hills, the route will proceed to the top of Calico Peak and descend through Angel Pass before heading around the south side of the Calico Hills to the starting point.  Total distance for this very strenuous hike is 4 to 5 miles.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Michael O'Connor & Kay Blackwell.

 

Wednesday, January 23 - Red & Black Mountains.  Traditional will be the buzzword for this hike as the group will start from the River Mountains parking lot next to St. Jude Children's Ranch and use the official city trail up to and down from the saddle between the two peaks.  Technically a double out-and-back, distance covered will be around 7 miles for both peaks and gross elevation gain should be around 1,500 feet.  Rating is moderate.  On top of Red Mountain we might catch site of some people experiencing the zip line down Bootleg Canyon.  West side group will leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM and join the main contingent at Henderson Fiesta with an 8:30 AM departure time.  Coordinator - Richard Hansen.

 

Thursday, January 24 - Sandstone Spring & Redstone.  This moderate 7-mile hike on the north side of Lake Mead starts at Mile Marker 25 on Northshore Road and heads south to a canyon leading into Pinto Valley that requires some scrambling.  The route crosses a section of Pinto Valley to a natural spring, then heads toward an area of red sandstone for a trek past a series of formations before returning to the starting point.  Westsiders will leave the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:15 AM, join the main group at Albertsons on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure, then pick up the coordinators and any Boulder City participants at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road at 8:20 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Friday, January 25 - Dale's Trail.  It's between 4 and 5 miles to cover the entire distance on this moderate out-and-back hike that explores the slopes below Rainbow Peak.  The route to be used for this hike will start at the Ice Box Canyon parking lot, starting off on the Ice Box Trail, turning left on Dale's, and taking it all the way over to the Pine Creek Trail before turning around.  Terrain is quite rolling even though there is minimal net elevation gain.  This hike carries a moderate rating.  The group will stage at Best Buy and will leave there at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

 

Saturday, January 26 - Gold Butte Grand Petroglyph.  The Gold Butte area provides the backdrop for a moderate 8-mile loop hike with minimal elevation gain that starts at the Falling Man and continues to the Khota Circus Wall, the largest panel of petroglyphs in Clark County.  The return section of the hike will include lots of fun scrambling in a slot canyon.  High clearance vehicles will be required and the drive from Las Vegas to the trail head will take two hours.  As a result, an earlier start than normal will be necessary to get the group back to Las Vegas before nightfall.  The early west side group will meet on top of the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:00 AM.  The main collection point will be at Lucky Club Casino with a 7:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, January 26 - River Mountains Trail Segment.  The leisurely hike for the last Saturday in January will be an easy to moderate 4-mile out-and-back hike along a section of the paved River Mountains Trail starting from the parking lot near the Lake Mead fee booth on Lake Mead Parkway near Lake Las Vegas.  The two mile portion hiked will have some rolling terrain and should provide views of the Lake Mead area where the Las Vegas Wash empties into the lake.  Best Buy will be used for the early west side staging with a departure time of 7:50 AM.  The entire group will leave from Henderson Fiesta at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Monday, January 28 - Calico Hills.  A really straightforward hike is this moderate 6-mile trek along the west side of the Calico Hills.  One of the more rolling trails in Red Rock Canyon, it will cover a distance of 6 miles between the fee booth parking lot and Sandstone Quarry and back.  While net elevation gain is only 700 feet there are several short uphill stretches even on the downward return leg.  Rating is moderate.  The group will get together at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Richard Hansen. 

 

Wednesday, January 30 - White Rock Hills Loop.  It's kind of surprising that this often repeated standard hike in Red Rock Canyon hasn't been scheduled since December 7.  In any event, it's back on the schedule even though quite a number of our members will still be involved in the Palm Springs outing.  The loop hike will start and end at Willow Springs Picnic Area and cover a distance of 6.4 miles in a counter-clockwise direction.  Elevation gain is right at 900 feet and the rating is moderate.  Departure from Best Buy for the trail head will take place at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Richard Hansen.

 

Thursday, January 31 - Virlis Fisher & Bridge Spring Arches.  Two quite different types of arches serve as destinations for this strenuous 4-mile loop hike near the community of Nelson south of Boulder City.  From the small parking area at the top of a gravel pullout, the hike will negotiate a series of drainages to attain a saddle near a shallow cave where the limestone Virlis Fisher arch is visible.  A choppy trek across the desert and a short serious climb takes participants under the arch.  On the return, the group will cross a partial sandstone ridge and descend right to the sandstone arch that spans a narrow canyon with views of the Colorado River.  Best Buy at 7:25 AM and Henderson Fiesta at 8:00 AM are the departure times.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

January is also the month our very large group of 67 people head to Palm Springs, California for lots of opportunities to explore new trails.  As our erstwhile blog master is going on the journey, you will definitely get to see pictures of some of the great terrain south of us in the Sonoran Desert.  Hopefully all those going will enjoy the trip tremendously.