February 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 so they can participate more thoroughly in club activities.

 

Here is a list of scheduled club hikes for February 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 an equivalent weekday hike 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 dempseyv@aol.com or at (702) 823-2355.

 

Nearly all of the hikes during February 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 eastern extension of I-215).  For hikes on the north side of the lake, the primary assembly point will be the parking lot behind the CVS Pharmacy located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Lake Mead Boulevard (not Parkway) and Hollywood.  (Note - We used to have Albertsons as the landmark at this intersection but the store closed and all signs were removed.)  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 or Gold Butte 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.

 

 

Friday, February 1 - Lost Creek SMYC Trails.  Some of the best scenery at the base of the escarpment is in view on this easy to moderate 3-mile hike with minor rolling terrain.  We will begin with a counter-clockwise loop on the Lost Creek Trail that will take us across the Red Rock Wash to the base of a seasonal waterfall tucked into the escarpment cliffs.  As the group returns to the parking area, they will turn right on the SMYC Trail and take that over to the junction with the Ice Box Canyon Trail before turning around.  The group will be assembling at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Saturday, February 2 - Bootleg Ridge.  This 7-mile hike is rated strenuous for three reasons - the distance, the route goes off trail, and there is scrambling.  The group will start at the Bootleg Canyon parking area below the zip line and hike out the Mother Trail.  After a fairly level first half, the route climbs to a ridge and travels from peak to peak (five or six in all) with an option of bypassing the tops on a small trail.  Eventually, a game trail descends a rocky slope to a wash that will connect with the West Leg and Girl Scout Trails, returning to the vehicles.  Total elevation gain should be around 1,600 feet.  The early group from Best Buy should leave at 7:25 AM to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell. 

 

Saturday, February 2 - Valley of Fire Lost Wallet Loop.  Here is probably the last chance for club members to visit the Valley of Fire on a new hike never before offered to the club before the temperatures start rising and make the lower desert uncomfortable.  For this particular hike, Brian will be taking the group on a moderate 3.4-mile loop route that has 800 feet of elevation gain.  It has a good mix of rock scrambling and some level desert hiking between the fabulous sandstone formations of Valley of Fire.  The pace will be slow if not leisurely.  Part of the route passes the old Conservation Corps cabins on the edge of the state park.  West side participants should meet on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking lot and leave there at 7:50 AM.  They will join the main group at Lucky Club Casino for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Brian Dodd.

 

Saturday, February 2 - Lake Mead Shoreline.  For those wanting an easy trek on Groundhog Day there will be a third offering that will involve a cross country hike over very gradual terrain to the edge of the lake.  There will be some fantastic views of Boulder Basin and the River Mountains in the distance, and the group could see some shore birds down at the lake.  The return is along a well graded road back to the starting point.  Total distance is between 3.5 and 4 miles, and the hike will start near Mile Marker 8 on Northshore Road.  West side participants should leave Best Buy at 7:50 AM to join the main group for an 8:30 AM departure from Henderson Fiesta.  North side participants can drive to the parking area at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road for a pickup around 8:45 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Nienaber. 

 

Sunday, February 3 - River Mountains Trail (Part 3).  The most scenic part of the paved loop trail around the River Mountains is this strenuous 13-mile section that will go from the parking lot near the Lake Mead Parkway fee booth to the lower parking lot at Alan Bible Visitor Center.  Views of Lake Mead are abundant along with a few areas that have historical significance.  Part of the trail sits on top of the original Lakeshore Road that is now closed off to vehicle traffic.  There are also remnants of old motels that provided recreational access to the lake in the middle of the last century.  West side group will depart from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and join the other participants at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure.  This is a car shuttle hike that will involve a little extra driver reimbursement.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

 

Monday, February 4 - The Muffins Loop.  Return to the days (maybe seven or eight years ago) when there was no trail leading to the stacked conglomerate boulders on the north end of Blue Diamond Hill on this moderately strenuous 4-mile hike.  What we had to do then and what we will be doing today is bushwhacking straight up the western face of the northern extension of the hill.  The terrain is quite steep and there are a few cliff sections to get around (not climb).  After being exhausted from the first half of the hike, there will be a snack break at the top and the return will be along the trail.  Meet the rest of the participants at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Tuesday, February 5 - Cleopatra Wash.  This strenuous 7-mile out-and-back hike to a remote cove of Lake Mead usually gets scheduled once each year about this same time.  The route (no trail) generally follows a scenic canyon through the surrounding mountains but has to make a detour over a steep side ridge when a 30-foot dry waterfall is encountered that cannot be climbed up or down without equipment.  Elevation gain is around 800 feet on the return.  The seldom maintained gravel road to the trail head is very rough and does require high clearance vehicles.  West side participants should meet at the Rampart parking garage and leave at 7:20 AM to join the main group behind CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  That combined group will depart at 8:00 AM and pick up any south side participants at the Northshore Road Mile Marker 4 about fifteen minutes later.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Wednesday, February 6 - Krafft Mountain Loop.  One of our favorite club hikes in the Red Rock area is this moderately strenuous 5-mile loop hike that involves the lower section of Gateway Canyon.  The hike today will be the standard route that starts at Red Springs Picnic Area and follows the trail up Five Stop Hill before dropping into the canyon behind Krafft Mountain.  After exiting the canyon on the east side of the peak, the trail passes a 40-foot dry waterfall and heads through a significant boulder field used by free climbers.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for a 9:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Thursday, February 7 - Northshore Peak.  This strenuous 5-mile loop hike to a spectacular peak just south of Northshore Road is completely off-trail.  The ascent in the first mile to the high point is very steep and route specific.  On the way down the group will head into a scenic canyon that leads to Razorback North Wash for a bit, then climbs another ridge slightly separated from Northshore Peak for a descent through another canyon with a few scattered dry waterfalls.  The final part of the hike is a trek across rolling desert.  The standard arrangement of a west side group departure from the Rampart Casino parking garage at 7:20 AM, a main group departure from the parking lot behind CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard at 8:00 AM, and a stopover at Mile Marker 4 around 8:15 AM is in effect.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, February 8 - Lava Butte.  Rising 2,871 feet above sea level, this small peak just east of Frenchman's Mountain overlooks Rainbow Gardens on the east side of Las Vegas.  The trek will start from the pullout at Mile Marker 2 on Northshore Road and follow a gentle drainage toward the base of the peak, where the route becomes very steep and intense.  There isn't any significant exposure, but there is plenty of tough Class 2 scrambling.  Distance for the strenuous out-and-back hike is 6 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain.  The west side group can meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:20 AM to join the main contingent behind CVS Pharmacy and an 8:00 AM departure.  South side participants driving directly must be at Mile Marker 2 by 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Friday, February 8 - Ash Canyon Overlook.  This easy to moderate loop hike is fairly short at 3 miles, but there is a bit of off-trail scrambling involved in negotiating the shallow drainages through the colorful formations near Sandstone Quarry.  Starting from that point, the route will take participants around the base of Red Cap for a fantastic view of the back side of the Calico Hills.  The snack break will occur on a rocky ledge overlooking Ash Canyon and the community of Calico Basin.  In the second half of the hike, we will be looking for petroglyphs in the smaller sandstone hills close to the Turtlehead Peak Trail.  Assembly point will be at the Best Buy parking lot with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Saturday, February 9 - White Owl Canyon.  Don't go on this hike if you're thinking this is the short one from the Hole 33 parking area.  This moderately strenuous loop hike will cover a distance of about 8 miles, starting from the old Las Vegas boat ramp.  The hike goes along the Lake Mead shoreline almost to Hole 33 and passes through White Owl Canyon going west.  The return is across the desert and includes some significant Class 3 scrambling down a boulder strewn canyon under Lakeshore Road.  The west side group should leave Best Buy no later than 7:25 AM to get to the primary meeting location at the Henderson Fiesta for an 8:00 AM departure.  The combined group will have to leave the Fiesta and drive east on Lake Mead Parkway, meeting the coordinators at the parking lot on the right side of the road just before the Park fee booth about 8:10 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, February 9 - Rainbow Gardens.  There will probably be two options available for this moderate hike that starts from the pullout at Mile Marker 2 on Northshore Road, but both of them involve scrambling through a narrow but picturesque mud canyon with a few surprises.  The short version is about 3 miles in length and returns to the gentle wash used for the first mile of the hike not much past the exit from the canyon.  The longer version is nearly 6 miles and visits a finger of Lake Las Vegas and possibly an interesting dry waterfall before returning along the same route.  With this hike on the north side of the lake, the group from the west side will meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage and leave at 7:50 AM to join the main group at the Lake Mead Boulevard CVS Pharmacy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Henderson or Boulder City participants can drive directly to the Mile Marker 2 pullout.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Sunday, February 10 - Frenchman's Mountain.  This very strenuous hike is fairly short at about 4 or 5 miles but it is very steep and includes a heavy dose of Class 3 scrambling.  The out-and-back route will start from the end of Bonanza, which offers very limited parking, and opens on an old gravel road across the desert to a wash.  Once in a narrow canyon, the route turns very steep and contains lots of obstacles as it climbs to the top ridge line and the narrow peak.  Elevation gain is 2,400 feet and the hike should take 4 to 5 hours to complete.  The west side group should meet at the Rampart parking garage and leave at 7:20 AM to meet the main group at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Richard Natale or Steve Anderson.         

 

Monday, February 11 - La Madre Miner's Cabin.  This moderately strenuous 5-mile out-and-back hike is quite deceptive in regard to the elevation gain of 1,600 feet.  Although you know that the trail climbs pretty good, it isn't until you sit in the small courtyard of the stone shelter and look back at the White Rock mountains that you realize just how high you are.  As the trail passes the wildlife dam at La Madre Springs, it narrows to single track and follows a year round flowing creek to the ridge that leads to the cabin, and crosses the creek at several spots.  Meeting place for this hike will be at Best Buy with the group leaving at 8:00 AM for the trail head.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

 

Tuesday, February 12 - River Mountain.  Starting from the trail head next to St. Jude Children's Ranch, this strenuous out-and-back hike follows the city trail to the saddle between Red and Black Mountain Overlooks and drops into the caldera on the north side.  The series of trails then heads toward and eventually follows a power line to another saddle near the base of River Mountain, which is the highest point in the range.  The final approach to the peak is off-trail over steep and uneven ground.  With a distance of 8 miles and an elevation gain of 1,600 feet, the peak affords great views of the entire surrounding area.  West side participants should meet at Best Buy for a 7:20 AM departure to join the main group at Henderson Fiesta, leaving there at 8:00 AM for the trail head parking lot, where they will meet the coordinators at 8:15 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Wednesday, February 13 - Park Peak.  Here is another new hike for our group, but one that starts in a familiar place - the Black Mountain trail head near Sun City Anthem.  The moderate out-and-back route starts across the desert for about a mile to a new trail that accesses a ridge that leads to the peak.  There is a total distance of about 6 miles with an elevation gain of 800 feet involved in reaching the top, which offers scenic views of the valley below.  West side group can gather at Best Buy, leaving at 8:15 AM to join the main contingent at the Albertsons located at the intersection of Sun City Anthem Drive and Bicentennial Parkway for a 9:00 AM departure.  We may be joined by members of the Sun City Anthem Hiking Club on this outing.  Coordinator - Keith Lane.

 

Thursday, February 14 - Red & Black Mountains.  This will be the strenuous version of the hike that incorporates the two peaks overshadowing Boulder City in the River Mountains.  The 7-mile partial loop hike will climb to the top of Red Mountain using the system of trails through the top section of Bootleg Canyon used by the kamikaze bikers.  Maybe we will get to see some zip line riders as the launch point is also from the top.  After descending to a saddle, we will then climb to the park bench located on what is really Black Mountain Overlook Peak before returning down the well-maintained city trail to the starting point.  West side group will leave Best Buy at 7:20 AM, meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta, and everyone in attendance will leave for the parking area next to St. Jude at 8:00 AM.  Boulder City residents can meet us there about 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

 

Friday, February 15 - Peak 3488 Ridges Loop.  This 3-mile hike in the Red Rock area begins along Calico Basin Road shortly before the housing area and follows a series of interconnected horse trails that criss-cross the desert.  The route turns toward Krafft Mountain and then veers first east and then south to reach the summit of a small peak named for its top elevation.  After a snack on the summit, the group will descend steeply off the side of the peak on a rocky trail, then return back to the trail head in a southwest direction.  This is a pleasant hike with great scenery, a nice craggy peak, and even a bit of solitude starting only minutes from Las Vegas.  Elevation gain is about 400 feet and the rating is easy to moderate.  The group will assemble at Best Buy with a departure time of 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Boone.

 

Saturday, February 16 - Pumpkin Parfait Canyon.  A moderately strenuous 6-mile hike with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain, this hike explores a couple of interesting canyons with ancient seabed fossils before arriving at Pumpkin Parfait Canyon with its colorful rock formations.  The hike starts near Mile Marker 40 on Northshore Road, so it is quite a distance from Las Vegas and is a fifty minute drive from the major assembly point.  West side group will again assemble on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage and leave at 7:20 AM.  The main group will assemble behind the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  The coordinators and anyone else from Boulder City or Henderson will meet the group at the Mile Marker 4 parking area along Northshore Road about 8:15 AM.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Saturday, February 16 - Anniversary Narrows.  The shorter version of this largely out-and-back hike will start from the Ore Car Mine pullout.  This spot is about a mile from the highway start of the hike at Mile Marker 16 along Northshore Road, and will make the total distance on foot about 4 miles.  The group will be walking up a gravel road to the abandoned processing center and returning to the main wash via a narrow and somewhat steep trail before entering the very narrow slot canyon at the base of the Muddy Mountains.  The gravel road leading to the parking area has been maintained and high clearance vehicles are not essential.  Rating is perhaps moderate with only a couple hundred feet of elevation change.  Participants from the west side can gather at the Rampart parking garage and depart at 7:50 AM.  The main group should meet at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead and Hollywood for an 8:30 AM departure.  The drive through at the Mile Marker 4 parking area on Northshore Road will be about 8:45 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Sunday, February 17 - River Mountains Trail & Brunch Buffet.  The route will be entirely paved on this easy to moderate 4 to 5-mile segment of the River Mountains Trail that has more downhill than uphill.  That's because it's a point-to-point hike that will start at the River Mountains parking area next to St. Jude Children's Ranch and finish at the Railroad Pass Casino.  Along the way we will see parts of Boulder City, a bit of the Cascata Golf Course, and follow the rail line that runs between Boulder City and the casino.  After the walk you will get to replenish your energy with the fairly inexpensive champagne brunch at the casino.  West side departure from Best Buy is at 7:45 AM and the main group should assemble at the lower parking lot at Railroad Pass Casino for an 8:30 AM departure to the starting point.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

 

Monday, February 18 - Bootleg Canyon Loop.  Beginning at the Bootleg parking area below the zip line, this moderate 6-mile clockwise loop heads west on the Mother Trail past colorful rock formations.  As the route passes Cascata Golf Course on the high side, it turns east and attains a higher ridge line and follows a trail along the ridge toward the starting point.  The high ground provides many views of Las Vegas and the Spring Mountains.  The west side group will meet at Best Buy for a 7:20 AM departure to meet the main group at Henderson Fiesta and an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Linda O'Leary.

 

Tuesday, February 19 - Anniversary Narrows to South Bowl of Fire.  Plan on doing a little exploration on a strenuous 8-mile hike starting from Mile Marker 16 on Northshore Road that follows the gravel road past Ore Car Mine and passes through the spectacular slot canyon known as Anniversary Narrows.  The route will continue up the wash from the narrows and start climbing south toward a notch above the South Bowl.  After achieving the notch, a trail leads down into South Bowl and eventually winds its way back to the starting point via a small wash.  Besides scrambling there is plenty of desert hiking.  West side group will leave from Rampart Casino at 7:20 AM and join the main contingent at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  There will be a pass through at the parking area at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road about 8:15 AM to pick up south side participants.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Wednesday, February 20 - Oak Creek Canyon.  This moderate 5-mile out-and-back hike provides great scenery at the edge of the escarpment without requiring a super effort from the participants, as the elevation gain is only about 300 feet.  It will start from the gravel parking lot next to the scenic loop exit back onto Highway 159 and follow a series of horse trails and an abandoned gravel road back to the first of three crossings of Oak Creek in either direction.  Toward the turn around point, the trail climbs a ridge on the south side of the canyon and follows that back until it ends in the canyon between significant cliff walls.  Participants should gather at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

 

Thursday, February 21 - Hamblin Mountain.  Undoubtedly one of the best hikes on the north side of Lake Mead, this moderately strenuous 7-mile hike basically follows an out-and-back route with one variation - a detour into Pinto Valley Wash above the waterfall at Cottonwood Springs.  The last Thursday hike of the early 2013 season near Lake Mead, part of the finish parallels the old Arrowhead Highway route as it exited from Pinto Valley back in the 1930's.  The 360 degree view from the top of the peak is one of the most spectacular in the Lake Mead area.  The parking garage at Rampart Casino will be the staging point for west side participants, who will leave there at 7:20 AM to join the main group for an 8:00 AM departure from the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  A final pickup of south side participants will occur at the Mile Marker 4 parking area on Northshore Drive around 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

 

Friday, February 22 - Grand Staircase/Guardian Angel Loop.  This moderately strenuous 4-mile outing is a combination of two popular scrambling routes in the Calico Hills.  Starting from the Red Springs Picnic Area, the group will ascend at Grand Staircase and descend on the back side into a wash, hike a short distance near the base of Calico I Overlook, then climb Guardian Angel Pass from the Red Rock Canyon side.  The return to the parking lot is in reverse of our normal route.  Gross elevation gain is estimated at 1,500 feet.  The hike should take about three hours as there is quite a bit of Class 3 scrambling involved.  Gloves are recommended and hiking sticks could get in the way.  The group will depart from Best Buy at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.

 

Saturday, February 23 - Gold Butte Little Finland/Subway Loop.  The last scheduled hike of the early season in Gold Butte will be a moderately strenuous 8-mile loop with 1,000 feet of elevation gain including both scrambling and desert hiking.  There is some exposure as the route climbs and descends over some of the colorful sandstone formations in the area.  Since the trail head in Gold Butte is a two hour drive from Las Vegas, plan on being gone for most of the daylight hours.  High clearance vehicles will be needed to get to the starting point for the hike.  West side group should meet at the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:30 AM to join the main group at Lucky Club Casino and an 8:00 AM getaway.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Saturday, February 23 - Historic Railroad Tunnels.  We end the early season of 2013 at Lake Mead with the hike that started it back in December when the group tackles this easy to moderate 4-mile out-and-back hike following the rail bed used during the construction of Hoover Dam back in the early 1930's.  With less than 200 feet of elevation gain at a very gradual rate, participants won't have to breathe very hard as they pass through a series of five tunnels drilled through the rock which has volcanic origins.  At the discretion of the coordinator (and the group) the hike may be extended to 7 miles and visit either the new bridge over the Colorado River at Black Canyon or the dam itself.  West side group should leave from Best Buy at 7:50 AM.  The main gathering point is at Henderson Fiesta with a departure at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Lorraine Stalians.

 

Sunday, February 24 - Sandstone Peak Scramble.  Another new hike for Around the Bend Friends, this very strenuous out-and-back (or up-and-down and up-and-down) hike will only cover a distance of 3 miles, but what a 3 miles it is.  Most of the route involves Class 3 or 4 scrambling, with ropes necessary in a few spots.  Gross elevation gain is estimated at close to 2,600 feet.  With all the steep terrain, it will probably take about seven hours to reach the peak and return.  The group will leave at 8:00 AM from the Albertsons parking lot in the shopping center on Charleston Boulevard and Desert Foothills Drive.  The group will carpool to Bonnie Springs Ranch where the hike will begin.  Coordinators - Richard Natale & Steve Anderson.

 

Monday, February 25 - Railroad Pass Mountain Route.  Our coordinator checked the route out on Google and determined that the moderate loop route will cover a distance of 5 miles and possibly gain 1,000 feet using a series of trails accessed from the Railroad Pass Casino.  It will begin climbing almost immediately as it heads to the north of the Cascata Golf Course, providing great views of the lush private course.  At the far end of the loop, the group will turn north and be treated to excellent views of Las Vegas with the Spring Mountains and Sheep Mountains in the background.  The hike will finish by dropping toward a section of the paved River Mountains Trail.  Those coming from the west side should leave from Best Buy at 7:50 AM and join the main group at Henderson Fiesta for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

 

Tuesday, February 26 - Sea World.  You won't have to go to San Diego to take part in this strenuous 10 to 12-mile hike that leaves from Mile Marker 20 on Northshore Road.  The route heads toward the camel tracks near North Bowl of Fire, then goes northeasterly toward Bittersprings Valley and left toward the foothills of the Muddy Mountains.  After going around two small peaks, it arrives at Sea World Canyon, named for its spectacular rock formations.  The return to the starting point is through a small slot canyon.  West side participants should leave from the Rampart parking garage at 7:05 AM to meet the main group at CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  That combined group will leave at 7:45 AM and meet the coordinators at Mile Marker 4 of Northshore Road at 8:00 AM.  High clearance vehicles are required for the primary starting point but there is an alternative at Mile Marker 20 on Northshore Road.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

 

Wednesday, February 27 - White Rock Hills Loop.  The month of February ends with a couple of standard hikes that most of our members are familiar with.  For Wednesday, the group will be following the moderate 6.4-mile loop trail that makes a circle around the two cream colored sandstone peaks at the north end of Red Rock Canyon.  I'm not sure if the route will head in a clockwise direction or the reverse, but it will start from the Willow Springs Picnic Area tucked into the northwest corner of Red Rock.  The route passes through two different vegetative areas, with creosote bursage desert on the south side and larger bushes and trees, including juniper, pine, scrub oak, and manzanita on the north side.  Meet the group at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Susan Haase.

 

Thursday, February 28 - Turtlehead Peak.  This strenuous 5-mile out-and-back hike climbs 1,900 feet getting to the top of the limestone peak on the north side of Red Rock Canyon.  The hike starts at Sandstone Quarry and follows the distinct trail until it starts breaking into several options below the ridge line that extends northward from the peak.  On top, the sweeping views from 6,244 feet include much of Las Vegas, a part of Lake Mead, and mountains in Arizona and California.  Hiking sticks are almost essential on the descent as all of the possible trails are steep and loose.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

 

Above are thirty-four hikes encompassing every day of the month that should offer several possibilities for each member of the club.  Get out and enjoy the wonderful hiking opportunities around Las Vegas if you are able to and have the chance.  Also, mark your calendar for Saturday, March 2, as that day we will be making our annual trip to China Ranch Date Farm and the wonderful date shakes at the ranch's country store.