March 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 March 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 dempseylv@aol.com or at (702) 823-2355.

Except for a couple of hikes, all of the offerings in March are located in the vicinity of Red Rock Canyon.  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 Boulevard across from 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.  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, March 1 - La Madre Miner's Cabin.  Remnants of the historic mining efforts in Nevada are on display at the top of this moderately strenuous 5-mile out-and-back hike originating at Willow Springs.  Located on an outcropping on the side of the major ridge of the La Madre Mountains is a stone shelter presumably constructed by the person who also dug the mine shafts about one-quarter mile farther up the ridge.  Built from the native limestone, the shelter offers great views of the back side of the White Rock Peaks.  Total elevation gain is around 1,600 feet with half of that in the last mile above a wildlife dam near La Madre Springs.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

Saturday, March 2 - China Ranch Date Farm.  Located 85 miles west of Las Vegas is a lush piece of greenery in the middle of the forbidding Mojave Desert that features a collection of different kinds of producing date palms.  Our annual outing to this small paradise in California will feature a moderate 6-mile point-to-point hike along the Amargosa River starting from the Tecopa Post Office and finishing at the farm.  Those looking for something a bit shorter can drive the vehicles directly to China Ranch and take in the 1.5-mile Badlands Trail or the 2.5-mile Mesa Trail accessible directly from the gift shop in the heart of the date farm.  After expending all that energy, it will be necessary to slurp down one of the fabulous date shakes for which the farm is known.  Pack a lunch and sit out on the veranda to enjoy a bit of the beautiful midday weather.  Because of the longer drive, our departure time from Best Buy will be at 7:30 AM with a brief stopover at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 at 7:50 AM to pick up south side participants.  If you are planning on participating in this day trip, please RSVP at dempseylv@aol.com by February 28 so we can advise the folks at the date farm how many people to expect.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Sunday, March 3 - Brownstone Canyon.  This strenuous out-and-back hike will cover a distance of 7 or 8 miles and probably take 6 or more hours to complete because of the difficult terrain.  The hike will begin at the gravel parking area on the northwest side of Calico Basin, proceed up Five Stop Hill, and descend into Gateway Canyon.  There is lots of Class 3 scrambling as the route climbs to the top of that canyon, crosses a wide section of colorful sandstone, and descends through a series of narrow slots into Brownstone Canyon in the immediate vicinity of an immense wall of early native pictographs on the national register of historic sites.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, March 4 - North Bowl of Fire.  This strenuous 7 to 8-mile loop hike will head for the colorful sandstone formations at the base of the Muddy Mountains, and will include some serious rock scrambling and a passage through a rabbit hole on the way to a stunning view at a lookout called Raven's Balcony.  The route across the desert to the sandstone starts near Mile Marker 20 on Northshore Road in the Lake Mead area.  Any participants from the west side can meet at the top of the Rampart Casino parking garage for a carpool departure at 7:20 AM and join the main group in the parking lot behind the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood.  That combined group will leave at 8:00 AM and join the coordinators and any other south side participants at the Mile Marker 4 pullout on Northshore Road about 8:15 AM before heading to the starting point of the hike.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Tuesday, March 5 - Calico Hills Triple Peak.  Since there are so many noteworthy and challenging summits in the Calico Hills, we need to specify that participants on this very strenuous outing will be aiming for the tops of Red Cap, Calico Peak, and Guardian Angel Peak.  The 4 to 5-mile hike will stage from Calico Basin and begin with a scrambling effort up Ash Canyon to the back side of Red Cap for the first ascent.  The route then continues along to top ridge of the Calico Hills to Calico Peak, then transitions over to another sandstone peak above Guardian Angel Pass and a scrambling descent in another steep canyon to the starting point.  Because of the difficulty of the terrain, the expected time frame is about 6 hours.  Only the most accomplished members of the club should attempt this particular adventure, and can assemble at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinators - Kay Blackwell & Michael O'Connor.

Thursday, March 7 - Rattlesnake Canyon.  Located close to Willow Springs on the north end of the main Red Rock Canyon area is an obscure side canyon that offers pure boulder scrambling  for its entire length.  The canyon gets its name from a long ago outing of the Buffet Boys during which a rattlesnake was encountered sunning itself on one of the large boulders close to the main route.  While it is generally a bit early for such snake encounters, one never knows what to expect.  Rated as strenuous with an out-and-back distance of 4 miles, this hike reaches a terraced area somewhat at the base of the ridge leading to the sandstone North Peak on the escarpment.  The group will assemble at Best Buy, leaving at 9:00 AM for the drive along the scenic loop to Willow Springs.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

Friday, March 8 - Calico Scramble.  This outing on the south end of the Calico Hills will begin at Red Springs Picnic Area and climb over the ridge south of the boardwalk, crossing a narrow valley and taking the high trail along the scenic loop drive in Red Rock to the Calico I Overlook.  The trek will continue on the low trail to Calico II, taking a break in a small cave or rock enclosure below the overlook.  After the break, the group will cross to the high trail back toward Calico I and drop into the canyon just west of the Calico Hills for some scrambling on the return to the starting point.  Total distance should be around 4 to 5 miles with a generally moderate rating but a few more difficult spots.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure.  Coordinator - Roger Hembree.

Saturday, March 9 - Potato Knoll.  The moderate 5-mile partial loop hike to the top of the 500-foot hill in the shadow of Wilson Peak is on the venue for the early hike today.  Besides a climb to the top of the rock outcropping on a short but fairly steep trail, the route includes crossings of Oak Creek at three different locations and it is normal to expect some amount of flowing water at two of them.  Starting point is the gravel parking lot where the scenic drive exits onto Highway 159 and parts of the hike are along trail originally established by horseback riders.  The group will meet at Best Buy and leave at 8:00 AM for the hike.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

Saturday, March 9 - Henderson Bird Preserve.  There is absolutely no elevation gain on this easy stroll through the bird preserve located near Boulder Highway and Galleria.  Total distance will be somewhere around 2 or 3 miles depending on the number of ponds visited and will be done at a leisurely rate as viewing migratory waterfall will be the main objective.  Access to the preserve is controlled and visitors will need to be checked in, but there are not any limitations.  The initial west side group will also meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure, which should give them just enough time to reach the group at the main assembly point at Henderson Fiesta by 8:30 AM.  After a short delay to get everyone signed in, the entire group will head out for the preserve.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

Sunday, March 10 - White Rock Springs Peak.  It's a relatively short hike at a little under 3 miles for this out-and-back trek, but it will probably provide a good workout for up to 4 hours as there is extensive scrambling and some minor exposure.  The route begins at the White Rock Springs parking lot at the end of the gravel road at Mile Marker 6 along the scenic drive and almost immediately starts climbing on the boulders along an ascending ridge to the destination.  Rated as strenuous, there is significant reward with exceptional views at the top.  The return to the parking lot will retrace the route taken to the peak rather than try any of the more difficult descents down the side of the mountain.  The group will meet at Best Buy and depart for the hike at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, March 11 - Sloan Canyon.  Here is one final opportunity for the season before hot weather sets in to experience the unique collection of petroglyphs found in the sandstone formations of the Sloan Hills south of Las Vegas.  For this hike the group will be approaching the destination from Esselmont Park, located at 2725 Anthem Highlands Drive.  The moderate out-and-back route will cover a total distance of 7 miles and overall elevation gain is minimal.  For those from the west side who are interested in participating, the initial meeting location will be at Best Buy leaving at 7:50 AM.  The main group can meet in the Von's parking lot at 2511 Anthem Village Drive for an 8:30 AM departure, with the combined group arriving at Esselmont Park about 8:45 AM for the start of the hike.  Coordinator - Annie Hoskin.

Tuesday, March 12 - The Whale (Orca).  This very strenuous out-and-back hike near the east end of the La Madre Range will cover a total distance of 7.5 miles and will climb an excruciating 2,570 feet to the top.  Located west of Summerlin and Bighorn Peaks on the north side of Las Vegas, the route involves steep scrambling with loose surface conditions, and provides exceptional views of the Las Vegas area.  The hike will originate from the equestrian parking lot at the west end of Cheyenne Avenue - this is the parking area with the white slat fence around the circumference.  Starting time will be 8:00 AM and participants should drive directly to the starting point.  Only those members capable of the most difficult hikes should plan on attending.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Wednesday, March 13 - Calico Tanks.  Enjoy one of the classic hikes in Red Rock Canyon on this moderate 3-mile out-and-back effort in a canyon in the Calico Hills.  Climbing about 700 feet of elevation, the official trail ends above a large depression that can hold water after seasonal rainfalls.  We won't stop at that point, however, but will continue a very short distance to a ledge above Ash Canyon that provides spectacular views of the southern half of Las Vegas stretching across Lake Mead to the Wilson Ridge in Arizona.  Along the route are the amazing colors of the surrounding sandstone and lush vegetation unlike that found in the desert just a half mile away.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Thursday, March 14 - White Rock/Sandstone Quarry Loop.  Starting on a section of the Grand Circle Trail from Sandstone Quarry, this moderate 7-mile loop hike gains 1,500 feet as it circles behind Cactus Hill and past Keystone Thrust on an old jeep track heading toward the La Madre Range on the north side of Red Rock Canyon.  At the high point, a trail turns down into a narrow drainage for an initial descent involving some minor rock scrambling over irregular terrain.  As the drainage levels out, it joins an expanding group of other washes that widen significantly as they head past the base of Turtlehead Peak back to the starting point.  The group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM for the drive to the trail head.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, March 15 - 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 the existence of 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, March 16 - Red Springs Loop.  A relatively short trek at just under 4 miles, this loop hike from the Red Springs Picnic Area is nevertheless rated as moderately strenuous because of the amount of off-trail scrambling involved.  The route will take the group along the eastern edge of the Calico Hills and climb through the sandstone to Angel Pass.  Descending toward Calico II Overlook on the Red Rock Canyon side, it passes a stone carving of an angel with unknown origin.  Scrambling continues in the canyon below Calico I Overlook and finishes after the route finally joins a trail coming around the south end of the Calico Hills.  The assembled group will leave from Best Buy at 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Kay Blackwell.

Saturday, March 16 - First Creek.  If we get any seasonal rainfall or heavy snow melt this year, the hidden waterfall on First Creek could be an amazing sight.  Just one level mile off the highway from the trail head, the waterfall is in a tree-lined alcove and spills over an impressive wall of large boulders.  The easy to moderate out-and-back hike will continue farther toward the mouth of the canyon in the escarpment along a trail with a bit more elevation gain for a break on some very large boulders above another seasonal waterfall.  Total distance to be covered is right at 4 miles.  This group will be departing from Best Buy at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Sunday, March 17 - Red Cap via Ash Canyon.  This strenuous out-and-back hike is essentially the first leg of the triple peak hike on March 5.  Again starting at the gravel parking lot at the northwest corner of Calico Basin, the group will scramble up the boulders and sandstone formations of Ash Canyon.  At the top, the route turns left and ascends Red Cap on the east face, which passes a couple of tinajas on the cream sandstone level below the actual peak.  The standard route will then be used for the summit.  After a break at the top, the group will reverse the route back to the starting point.  Overall distance should be 4 to 5 miles.  The group will meet at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Lettie Gutierrez.

Monday, March 18 - Rainbow Canyon/Anniversary Narrows Loop.  The last scheduled hike of the season in the Lake Mead area will be this moderate 7 to 8-mile loop that includes stops in the actual narrows and at the abandoned area above Lovell Wash where the ore was processed.  With spring approaching, there is a good chance of catching sight of blooms on the local bearpaw poppies.  West side group will assemble on the top floor of the Rampart Casino parking garage, leaving at 7:20 AM to join many of the other participants at the CVS Pharmacy on Lake Mead Boulevard and Hollywood for an 8:00 AM departure.  The final stop will be at Mile Marker 4 on Northshore Road around 8:15 AM to pick up the coordinators and any other south side participants before heading to the hike on the north side of Lake Mead.  Coordinators - Joan & Chuck Hawkins.

Tuesday, March 19 - Juniper Peak.  Another one of those "tough guy" hikes, the trek to the top of Juniper Peak is a very strenuous out-and-back hike to an elusive peak in the middle section of the escarpment.  The intended route will start from the Pine Creek pullout along the scenic loop drive and head into Juniper Canyon for some steep scrambling to the ramp leading to the peak.  Elevation gain is around 2,300 feet and there is plenty of significant scrambling along with a few sections of fairly serious exposure.  Expect this hike to take 5 to 6 hours to complete.  The group will gather at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor.

Wednesday, March 20 - Waterfall Canyon.  Those individuals who have visited this narrow side canyon off Rocky Gap Road always rave about the quality of the waterfalls and slides that usually exhibit flowing water year round.  It does take a bit of work to negotiate half a dozen areas of slick rock and the many crossings of the creek where wet shoes are sometimes the rule of the day, but few destinations in the Las Vegas area offer the same rewards with regard to scenery.  The actual out-and-back hike starts at Willow Springs, covers a total distance of 4 miles, gains about 800 feet of elevation, and is rated moderately strenuous because of the level of scrambling in the half mile long canyon.  The assembled group will depart from Best Buy at 9:00 AM.  Coordinators - Keith & Beth Lane.

Thursday, March 21 - Muffins to Tailings.  One of the few hikes canceled by weather in January is this moderately strenuous 9-mile hike that makes a big loop around the top of Blue Diamond Hill.  The route starts up the trail to the Muffins, follows along the eastern ridge of the hill past both of the notches with great views of Las Vegas, and ultimately reaches the tailings piles on the edge of the mining property.  The second half of the hike drops into an obscure canyon and eventually follows a trail back to Fossil Ridge going back to the Cowboy Stables parking lot.  Departure time for the group from Best Buy will be 8:00 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Friday, March 22 - Lone Grapevine Spring.  Cottonwood Valley is known more for its mountain biking trails, but it also contains some interesting hikes including this moderate 5-mile partial loop hike starting from a paved parking area along Highway 160.  A series of trails will take the group to an unnamed but protected spring near the base of Windy Peak, then lead over to a horse trough serviced by a hose from Lone Grapevine Spring.  A short climb leads to the protected spring and a field of ground level flat boulders, many with desert varnish and ancient petroglyphs.  Although elevation gain is only a few hundred feet, it occurs on the return leg of the hike.  The primary meeting location is Best Buy for an 8:15 AM departure and there is a secondary pickup point at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 159 and 160 at 8:35 AM.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, March 23 - Badger Pass.  The early hike for this Saturday is the longest of the alternatives involving the trail crossing at the top of a fairly low saddle in the Bird Spring Range.  Starting from the paved parking lot also used in the previous day's outing, this moderate 7-mile partial loop hike follows the trail up the face of the ridge on the north side of the pass, then drops down the eastern flank for a return through some interesting desert landscape with a number of shallow drainages.  The primary meeting location is again at Best Buy with a departure at 8:00 AM and a secondary pickup at the gas station at the Highway 159-160 junction around 8:20 AM on the way to the trail head.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Saturday, March 23 - Calico Basin Partial Loop.  The later Saturday hike this weekend explores the area on the east side of the small community of Calico Basin.  Starting from the entrance road before the first bend, the group will follow a wash that comes around a few low hills and enters the mouth of lower Gateway Canyon.  After a bit of exploring in this scenic area next to fabulous sandstone formations, the partial loop will continue along the south side of Krafft Mountain and through the boulder fields used by free climbers from around the country.  Round trip distance should be around 3.5 miles with an easy to moderate rating.  Meet the rest of the group at Best Buy for an 8:30 AM departure.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

Monday, March 25 - Oak Creek Canyon.  This moderate 5-mile out-and-back hike is one of those lower effort, higher reward outings that provides some great scenery near the base of the escarpment.  The initial route is the same as that used for Potato Knoll, but the combination of trails utilized stays to the north of the 500-foot hill and eventually climbs onto a level shelf on the north side of the creek as the cliff walls close in on either side.  At the turn around point where the snack break will occur the trail empties into the drainage in the heart of the canyon with a proliferation of large boulders scattered around.  A few crossings of Oak Creek in both directions along the route should involve some flowing water.  The group will gather at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Chris Dempsey.

Tuesday, March 26 - Gray Cap.  Although this distinctive peak has been the final destination for a number of previous club outings, this effort will involve a new loop route that will be very strenuous in nature.  Starting from the northwest corner of Calico Basin the group will climb Five Stop Hill and take the standard route up Gateway Canyon to the peak.  After the break, however, there will be a much tougher descent as the route heads east and descends through Gray Fox Canyon, a very steep route with lots of scrambling.  After dropping back into lower Gateway Canyon, the route reverses with a final descent down Five Stop Hill.  Assembly point for the group is at Best Buy with an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Michael O'Connor. 



Wednesday, March 27.  This 8-mile moderate hike on the new McCullough Trail, which is part of the Sloan Canyon NCA, extends from the Anthem area in west Henderson to Horizon Ridge Pk/Mission Drive area in east Henderson.  Too lengthy for an entire out-and-back, we will hike in from the newly established trailhead in east Henderson for 4 miles and then return to our starting point .  The hike is listed as moderate due to its length.  The elevation gain is minimal at about 400 feet.  The group will meet at the Fiesta Henderson for an 8:30 AM departure.   Coordinator - Gail Surgent

Thursday, March 28 - Windy Peak.  The traditional out-and-back route from Mountain Springs Summit is on tap for this strenuous 6-mile hike to a great perch at the south end of the escarpment.  The approach to the large red sandstone cap really exemplifies the sort of earth movement that is more accessible at Keystone Thrust.  As the back limestone moved over the sandstone formation some sixty million years ago it appears to have sliced off thin wedges of the softer rock and left it scattered at the junction.  While much of the route is on trail, there is some bushwhacking and a hundred feet of rolling exposure transitioning onto the sandstone.  The group will assemble at Best Buy for and 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Steve Anderson.

Friday, March 29 - Grand Staircase/Guardian Angel Loop.  If you missed this hike on February 22 here is another chance to experience some serious scrambling in the sandstone boulders at the south end of the Calico Hills.  This Friday the route will reverse that taken on the previous hike by going over Guardian Angel Pass and down past the angel carving to the Red Rock side of the sandstone hills.  After reaching Calico I overlook by trail, the group will ascend from the wash up the backside to the top of Grand Staircase and back down to Red Springs.  This 4-mile loop hike is rated moderately strenuous but has quite a bit of boulder scrambling and some exposure.  The group will assemble at Best Buy and leave for the hike at 7:45 AM.  Coordinator - Jim Billetdeaux.

Friday, March 29 - White Rock Hills Loop.  If you are looking for something a bit more relaxed in pace, then this moderate 6.4-mile loop hike will be right up your alley.  Starting from Willow Springs Picnic Area, the route will give participants the opportunity to see the sweeping changes that can occur in terrain and vegetation within a relatively short distance.  Conducted at a leisurely pace, one of the primary objectives will be to make sure people can enjoy the scenery without getting too much out of breath.  This second hike of the day is the one intended for the regular Friday group from Siena.  Everyone should gather at Best Buy for a departure at 8:15 AM.  Coordinator - Judy Warner.    

Saturday, March 30 - Conglomerate Gardens.  Starting at the Cowboy Stables parking lot on Highway 159 just west of the entrance to Red Rock Canyon, this moderate 6-mile loop hike follows a recently built mountain bike trail on the return section of the route.  It's interesting to note that the fairly straightforward climb along Fossil Ridge is accomplished in just 2 miles but the descent portion winds around so much it takes 4 miles to go between the same two points.  On the way down, the group will take a snack break in a field of conglomerate boulders similar to the Muffins and if you keep your eyes open you might spot a fairly large display of ancient seabed fossils.  Meet the other participants at Best Buy for an 8:00 AM departure.  Coordinator - Diane Dempsey.

Saturday, March 30 - SMYC Trail.  The assembly point for the group will be at Best Buy and they will depart for the hike at 8:30 AM.  Coordinator - Ann Cronin.

Currently there are only a few open dates on the schedule, with the most significant being Wednesday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 27.  It is certainly possible that club members may decide to coordinate hikes on those days as time draws closer and personal schedules change.  Watch for e-mails regarding any late notice hikes.  Otherwise, just enjoy those hikes already on the schedule that peak your interest.